Deep Purple - Child in Time

otto pankrock wrote: WatcherOfTheSkies88 wrote: Wasn't sure if I should post this topic in this forum or the "proto-prog" forum... but I think this song is definitely progressive rock. Anyway, just wanted to say that I think "Child in Time" by Deep Purple is the best rock song ever made. There aren't really enough words that one can use to describe how perfect this song is... but it really is just a thing of beauty! In particular, Gillan's spine-tingling screams and Blackmore's unbelievable guitar solo. The song just builds and builds, with multiple climaxes. The whole thing is just an orgasm for my ears.

    

Child in Time has great (rough and melodic) composition!

 

Sean Trane wrote: BTW, They did the same with Lazy and IABD's Don & Dewey

And quite a few other songs (Black Night, Fireball, Burn) contain stolen ideas as well. 

CiT definitely is progrock. Nobody had done something like this before. While one of the main themes comes from It's a beautiful Day indeed, the way that theme is developed was unique in 1969. The same for the coda. Also note that that coda doesn'r represent a catharsis, like so many epics inspired by CiT would (Stairway to Heaven, November Rain), but an apocalypse.

This is a bit typical for DP. They have done quite a few new things (by far not always with success; think of In Concert for a prime example) that have become so familiar that it has become hard to recognize the novelty factor. Fireball (the song) is proto speed-metal, Never Before is quite poppy in a way that only would become popular in the 80's and even the (in)famous Smoke on the Water defines the genre of arena-rock in an unprecedented way. Boy, am I happy that in 1972 the guys didn't realize yet that it's perfect for a tasteless audience sing-a-long (sure enough they would many years later).

Btw IABD's Don and Dewey is based on DP's Wring that Neck. Seems those two bands had a thing going on. Quite funny.

Completely subjective: DP were the greatest, but only in 1972 and 1973 (plus In Rock).

Better than any Zeppelin song. 

MNb wrote: ... Also note that that coda doesn't represent a catharsis, like so many epics inspired by CiT would (Stairway to Heaven, November Rain), but an apocalypse. ...

Not just the coda, but the entire piece represents an apocalypse. It's an unusually creepy song by Deep Purple's standards.

Yeah, "Child In Time" has to be the band's finest hour from I think to be the band's finest album (Deep Purple In Rock).

"Bombay Calling" is also nice.

Dellinger wrote: I'm afraid to say I only know Dream Theater's version, and I do think it's very good. But I wouldn't call it the greatest song of all time.

what? Dream Theater has a cover of Child in Time? didn't now that.

anyway, Malmsteen covered the song on his 1996 covers album called inspiration; suprisingly good, i expected worse I have to say.

I had thought .."It's A Beautiful Day" recorded the basis of this tune and it's melody before Deep Purple , but beyond that, I recall it's origin to derive from European Folk. It might be a European melody hummed ..but played with a different rhythm. If you play the "Spanish Ballad" on the guitar in the U.S., a few people may recognize the melody, but if you played the piece in Italy...many people would be familiar with it as a melody often sang around the house or at social gatherings. Deep Purple's "Child In Time" is very powerful and very influential to the development of the progressive side to Metal. I often attribute this piece to Ian Gillian destroying his voice with the hellish screaming night after night. The live version from Made In Japan is outstanding.

Sean Trane wrote: [ hate to bring it to you, but Child In Time was musically lifted by Purple from It's A Beautyful Day' s Bonbay Calling

Exactly so. "Bombay Calling". ( I think "Hard Road" was also lifted from some band.)
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Was listening to the first track off Fireballet's "Night on Bald Mt." lp and, after all these years, only now noticed that - after some 60 seconds into the song - they are lifting one of the most beautiful tunes ever writ: George Martin's "Theme One" (which appears on the Canadian press of VDGGenerator's "Pawn Hearts" lp.