Artist: DEEP PURPLE
Album: BBC SESSIONS 1968 -1970 (2CD)

Release date: 2011
EAN/UPS: 5099967955121
Media type: CD

Deep Purple are remembered by most folks as the Ian Gillan-fronted hard rock band that recorded the iconic "Smoke on the Water," but as is the case with most recording artists, there's a whole lot more to the story, and in this case, the preamble part of Deep Purple's career might arguably actually be more exciting and interesting. The first incarnation of the band featured Rod Evans as the lead singer, and of course the guitar playing of Ritchie Blackmore, and if there's a better opening single for a band than Deep Purple's classic cover of Joe South's "Hush," well, there's little doubt "Hush" would hold its own. This two-disc set will be a treasure to Deep Purple fans, for it collects in one place for the first time all of the band's live BBC sessions between 1968 and 1970, and it catches both versions of Deep Purple and spotlights the transfer of one to the other. The sound, particularly on the first disc, is subject to minor imperfections on the master tapes, but it is always exciting and listenable, and the sound of the second disc is top-notch. There's a lot to be impressed with here, including two versions of "Hush," a sharp take on "Hey Joe," a racing version of Skip James' "I'm So Glad" (that owes a lot to Cream's arrangement of the song), and the fascinatingly ornate yet rocking "Bird Has Flown." A lot of these tracks have been issued as bonus tracks on other Deep Purple reissues, but this is the first time all of the BBC performances have been brought together.

DISC 1:

1. Hush [Version One/BBC Top Gear Session]
2. One More Rainy Day [BBC Top Gear Session]
3. Help! [BBC Top Gear Session]
4. And the Address [BBC Dave Symonds Show Session]
5. Hey Bop A Re Bop [BBC Top Gear Session]
6. Emmaretta [BBC Top Gear Session]
7. Wring That Neck [BBC Top Gear Session]
8. Brian Matthew Interviews Rod Evans [BBC Top Gear Session]
9. Hey Joe [BBC Top Gear Session]
10. It's All Over [BBC Top Gear Session]
11. The Painter [Version One] [BBC Sounds Like Tony Brandon Show Session]
12. Lalena [BBC Sounds Like Tony Brandon Show Session]
13. The Painter [Version Two] [BBC Chris Grant's Tasty Pop Sundae Session]
14. I'm So Glad [BBC Chris Grant's Tasty Pop Sundae Session]
15. Hush [Version Four] [BBC Chris Grant's Tasty Pop Sundae Session]

DISC 2:

1. Ricochet [BBC Symonds on Sunday Show Session]
2. Bird Has Flown [BBC Symonds on Sunday Show Session]
3. Speed King [BBC Stuart Henry Noise at Nine Session]
4. Jam Stew (aka John Stew) [BBC Stuart Henry Noise at Nine Session]
5. Hard Lovin' Man [BBC Mike Harding's Sounds of the Seventies Session)
6. Bloodsucker (BBC Mike Harding's Sounds of the Seventies Session]
7. Living Wreck [Version Two] [BBC Mike Harding's Sounds of the Seventies Session]
8. Jon Lord Interview [BBC Transcription Services Session]
9. Black Night [BBC Transcription Services Session]
10. Grabsplatter [BBC Transcription Services Session]
11. Into the Fire [BBC Transcription Services Session]
12. Child in Time [BBC Transcription Services Session]