Machine Head

by

Deep Purple

Edit

Deep Purple at their ultimate very best. The classic line up of Gillian, Blackmore, Lord, Glover and Paice. Too bad they only made a few albums with this grouping. Sure, we all know it's tough to get along with Ritchie Blackmore, but the esoteric types usually are. Blackmore shreds & slings like there is no tomorrow on Machine Head. All the band members click her, but most notably are Blackmore & Ian Paice. Paice is one of the most under-rated drummers ever... he cooks on this album. His drumming is smooth and almost effortless. "Highway Star" and "Smoke on the Water" are two songs that any person even slightly interested in rock & roll will remember. But, the songs that didn't make it to the radio (or got very little air play) are the ones that hold this great album together. "Pictures of Home", "Maybe I'm a Leo", "Never Before"... and "Lazy"... how can you not jump up from whatever you are doing and just run yourself silly? This classic hard rock is full of energy & heart. A 1972 essential in any rock library.

This was probably my 1st Rock album purchase - I have had 2 LP versions - one worn out, the CD, and now this DVD-A. No doubt I've listened to it more than any other recording I have.

Whoever put this together cared a lot less about Deep Purple. In fact probably not at all.

The mix is marginal at best.. Maybe I'm a Leo has a "new" guitar solo - an out take not nearly as sweet as the original release. That'd be OK for a bonus track, but I was expecting a good mix of the original. Perhaps the original tracks were damaged. If I can force myself to listen again - I'll try to notice other areas where it sounded like alternate takes were used on other tracks. No mention of any of this on the liner notes - maybe the re-mix dude didn't even notice.

Speaking of packaging and liner notes: lots of writing of band history and a story about the hotel burning, but mostly none of the orignal artwork from the album - and not on the DVD-A either.

There are two videos as well - what a waste - terrible audio quality - probably a board mix in mono, the vocal is overpowering everything. Just when Richie is about to cut loose on Highway Star solo, the video fades and ends????? Lazy, about halfway thru the guitar solo, the video fades and ends. Whoopie for this mess.

The original Stereo mix may be OK, but I'm not so sure about the re-mastering of it. Maybe the CD of the Original is best.

DVD-A can be a great format, but not done like this.