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Deep Purple, Detective, John Denver — 539, 538, 537

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ALBUMS: Deep Purple ‘Stormbringer’ (1974); Detective, ‘Detective’ (1977); John Denver’s; Poems  Prayers and Promises (1971).

MVC Rating:  Stormbringer, 3.5/$$$; Detective 3.5/$$; Denver 3.5/$$

ADDITIONAL ADDS (SEE NOTE BELOW) Deep Purple Made in Japan Live:45/$$$$; Machine Head 4.5/$$$$; Who do we  think we are — 3.5/$$$

I more or less have been untethered from the Internet, and thus my blog, for a long weekend out of state.

It was an accidental untethering. I forgot my laptop and phone charger. I really did. But it forced me to actually be more ‘there’ with family and friends. So, that was great. I  highly recommend forgetfulness in certain parts of your lives, forgiveness in other parts.

Anyway, I’m working my way through the D’s and thought I’d do a three-fer. Only other time I did three artists in one post on this blog was for the Bongos, Blue Rodeo and BoDeans. If you missed those, check them out. Some good music by those groups.

This time I have three records that are widely different except that they came out in the 1970s. They come at different turning points in these bands’ careers.

Deep Purple, Stormbringer

This heavy metal band is known for giving us the most recognizable (and simplest) riff in rock and roll history. At least it’s in that conversation. That rift being the crunching seven-chord sequence opening ‘Smoke on the Water.’

The riff is so well known it’s a cliche.  I’ve heard their are music stores (where they sell guitars) that have signs posted: “No Smoke on the Water allowed.”

Deep Purple has had some good musicians over the years. By the time Stormbringer rolled around, there had been several personnel changes. The album was basically the beginning of the end. The group still had (disgruntled) guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore. This was to be his last DP album before leaving and forming Rainbow.  He does blister the guitar on the way out of the door though. While some fans call this an underrated album, I hear a distinct drop-off from their previous two.

For those interested in Deep Purple I would recommend a live  album I no longer have (whoever borrowed it 30 years ago, please give it back, Nevermind keep it): The album is  Made In Japan and is actually worth a little money if you can find it.

On that album Blackmore’s guitar solo on ‘Highway Star’ is arguably a top rock solo of all time.

NOTE UPDATE:  After publication of this blog, AL.com’s J.D. Crowe, our in-house cartoon drawer and illustrator surprised me with not only ‘Made In Japan,’ but also a primo version of ‘Machine Head.’ Thanks JD, that puts me into the purple.

Detective

This is the debut album of this group and one of only two studio albums. They were signed by Led Zeppelin’s Swan Song label. (Bad Company was also on  that label).

Detective is heavily influenced by Zeppelin, probably to a fault. It’s hard to imitate the sound that Zeppelin created. To me Zeppelin teetered toward a parody of the blues, but avoided that pitfall by sheer will of outrageously creative playing and performances. In other words, they took the blues and made it their own.

It was a magical elixir that Robert Plant and company put together. I do think Detective is good and there are some rabid fans out there who say their live concerts were as good as any in the late 1970s.. To my ears, they were missing an ingredient.

What’s that ingredient?

I don’t know. That’s why it’s a magical elixir.

John Denver, Poems Prayers and Promises

OK, don’t hire a lawyer for the whiplash I am giving you right now.

John Denver after a Led Zeppelin soundalike band and the heavy guitar sounds of Deep Purple is like slamming on the rock and roll brakes.

This is not rock and roll ladies and gentlemen. This is a pleasant voiced singer-songwriter putting out his fourth album, a commercial breakthrough, which led to a  meteoric rise to celebrity-hood. With his golly gee outdoorsman image and environmentally friendly folky tunes, he won over middle America before tragically dying in a glider/experimental plane crash off a cliff in California.

This album has some covers such as ‘Let it Be’ by the Beatles which is somewhat unnecessary. But it has a couple of songs that made Denver a household name: Sunshine on my Shoulders, and (Take me home) Country Roads.  While I can tolerate Country Roads, Sunshine on my Shoulders makes me run screaming from the room; the only thing that could possibly be worse would be Detective trying to do ‘Stairway to Heaven.’

Still if you think you’d like Denver music, and many millions do, it’s probably best to start at one of his greatest hits albums.

Counting down my 678 vinyl records before I die of brain disease.

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Rhymes with Reason

‘

Rhymes with Reason

When does knowledge hit the ceiling

Nothing there revealing

-=-=-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-=-=

I’m standing at the intersection of flesh and spirit

Groans gain ground

Can you hear it?

No corners in a round

Make the circle sound in season

Anything that rhymes with reason

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

When do the words stop meaning?

I see demeaning of the meaning

I live a lifetime in just one morning

Had you never heard the warning?

How many people must whisper to be heard?

How can you know before it has occurred?

678 records; 678 nuns

Trying still to find the right word.

The right word?

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Have you, my plainspoken love?

Have you listened, have you seen?

The solo flight of the white dove?

Have you heard? Surely you’ve heard.

The plaintive cry of the yellow bird.

To everything there is a season

Anything that rhymes with reason

 

–Mike Oliver–

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Derek and the Dominos — 540

ALBUM:  Layla and other assorted love songs (1970),

MVC Ranking: 5.0/$$$$

This is one of my all-time favorites, a true desert island album. I don’t know why this was so big an influence at about age 16. It was blues by a bunch of white guys who were  reportedly PUI (playing under the influence).

But they weren’t just any guys off the street. They were  Eric Clapton, whose transmogrification of black blues through his decidedly English filter earned him the nickname: God.

Then there was the 23-year-old guitar prodigy Duane Allman, already being whispered about in reverent terms whose time would end tragically a year or so later. The mythology was the he ran into the back of a truck hauling peaches. And that’s why the Allmans named the next album was entitled ‘Eat a Peach.’ The truth however was that he c

There also was the slightly obnoxious and opinionated Bobby Whitlock, a fine keyboardist, songwriter and singer. And carrying the bottom, drums and bass, were Jim Gordon and Carl Radle, among the best in the business. Clapton and Allman particularly were at a crossroads in their careers. Clapton zooming through the Yardbirds, Cream and Blind Faith. And Duane just getting ready for the spotlight in his familial band from Jacksonville, FL. and Macon, GA, the Allman Brothers.

They came together, looking for some kind of light. Clapton and Allman, who had never met, hit it off, personally and professionally.

The result a blues album of original material and some great classic blues like  Big Bill Broonzy’s ‘Key to the Highway,’ and Billy Myles’ ‘Have You Ever Loved a Woman’ (popularized by Freddie King). And a nice cover of Jimi Hendrix’s ‘Little Wing,’ a relatively new song at the time.

‘Bell Bottom Blues’ ached. ‘Why Does Love Have to be So Sad’ whip-snapped stinging guitar over Whitlock’s and Clapton’s alternating shouts of anguish. ‘I Am Yours’ consoled.

And of course there was  Layla, a rocket launched by the twin guitars of Allman and Clapton, a  rocker of break-up love, the pain boiling over and anger surfacing.

I tried to give you consolation
When your old man had let you down.
Like a fool, I fell in love with you,
Turned my whole world upside down.
Layla, you’ve got me on my knees.
Layla, I’m begging, darling please.

Counting down my 678 vinyl records before I die of brain disease.

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Miles Davis — 541

ALBUM: Milesones (1958)

MVC Rating: 5.0/$$$$$

ALBUM: Milestones (1958)

MVC Rating: 5.0/$$$$$

I don’t know if it’s a Lewy thing but I’m enjoying this jazz more than ever.  I’ve played this Miles record, both sides about five times in the past two days.  It’s old  new jazz. (Also jumped into a Dizzy Gillespie record,  I’ll review in the G’s.}

It’s modern jazz, sometimes ‘played too darn fast’ Chuck Berry famously complained. It’s modern but it’s 1958, a year before I was born and a year before Davis gave us his masterpiece (IMHO) ‘Kind of Blue.’

But this one with  Cannonball Adderly and John Coltrane burned pretty well. I gave it a ‘5’ anyway. I remember buying this used at some kind of flea market in Anniston, AL.  Would have  been 1982.  I knew who Davis was but upon seeing the cover photo I felt like  I had to have the album. Pretty intense and cool looking dude. And that’s what his music looks and sounds like: Him.

Below, Miles and company play:

Counting down my 678  vinyl records  before I die of  brain disease.