"Who Do We Think We Are" (Original Recording Reissued, Original Recording Remastered)

by

Deep Purple

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Released in March of 1973 this album was the last of the classic original Mark II lineup (until the mid-eighties) which included Ian Gillian, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover and Ian Paice. The album produced one hit in "Woman From Tokyo" but the album was full of great songs including "Rat Bat Blue", "Smooth Dancer", and "Mary Long", etc. During the recording of "Who Do We Think We Are" there were apparently "intense personal differences" that led to both Gillian and Glover leaving the band. This special remastered version includes seven never before released remixes, outtakes, etc. The sound quality of this remastered cd is excellent and superior to the earlier versions of this cd. There is also a 23 page booklet included which has some rare pictures of the band as well as information on the making of the album. A true classic album that represents one of rocks most talented and loudest bands. Highly recommended!

I must say that I'm not at all a devoted Deep Purple fan, but I respect this band for the impact they made in the history of rock music. So, my opinion is totally unbiased, and probably won't please the fans.

Of many DP's line-up changes, this one (Gillan-Blackmore-Lord-Glover-Paice), known as Mark II, is the strongest. Together they released 4 studio albums in the 70s, that became instant hard-rock classics. This album is the 4th by Mk II, and I'm sorry to say, it is the weakest of them. I don't know what happened. Either they really ran out of ideas, like the other reviewer suggested, or personal problems and the inevitability of their break up casted a shadow on the songwriting, or whatever else, but half of the songs here fail to ignite a spark in me. They sound too generic rockers to my ear. I'm talking about "Woman from Tokyo" (surprise!), "Super Trooper", and "Smooth Dancer". On the other hand, there are some really hitting bluesy rockers, like faster-paced "Rat Bat Blue", or "Place in the Line", that shifts from balladry to rock towards its later half.

The remastered CD contains bonus tracks, that are fans-oriented. You have remixes of 3 tracks from the original album, that sound a little more sharp, but nothing special, and 2 minute-and-a-half outtakes from studio writing tapes. There's also a new track "Painted Horse", which doesn't stray very far from the mood of the album. The only thing making sense to me among the bonus-tracks is an excellent 14+ minute studio jam, where the professionalism of the band-members shines.

My attitude towards this CD is strange. Half the times I listen to it, I have pleasure, the other half, it bores me to death. Its definite saving grace is phenomenal virtuoso keyboardist Jon Lord, whose performance is excellent to say the least. I'd give a try to ths record just to hear him play! Though this album is better than many hard-rock albums of the 70s, it's definitely inferior to any other Mk II recordings, and, perhaps, to "Stormbringer", too.