Deep Purple

Reissues

No extras, but by golly that purple wax looks sexy!

Originally issued between 1972 and ’77, these eight albums have been repackaged so many times before, the only real reason for investing in them again is for their new pressings on beautiful, heavyweight 180-gram purple vinyl. No bonus tracks are on offer but each album has been cut from the original master tapes. As Purps drummer Ian Paice points out, as products of the analogue age, this is how they were meant to sound. Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, they all come with a download code too.

As the home of Smoke On The Water, Machine Head (10/10) requires neither explanation nor justification. Given the levels of inner turmoil that would lead to Ian Gillan and Roger Glover’s exits, Purple summoned a minor miracle with Who Do We Think We Are? (7/10). Fronted by David Coverdale and with Glenn Hughes breathing down his neck at the microphone, the Mk.III line-up tore apart the monster and rebuilt it with new, soulful yet rock-solid components.

Blackmore became more and more disinterested via

Burn (9/10) and especially Stormbringer (9/10). Though the notion is nonconformist, the latter’s goosebump-inducing mix of funk and rock makes it this writer’s all-time favourite studio release by the group.

With Tommy Bolin on guitar, Purple were always likely to crash-land but Come Taste The Band (7/10) scrubs up well.

The series includes the live outings Made In Japan (10/10),

Made In Europe (6/10) and

Last Concert In Japan (4/10), each displaying varying levels of that must-own factor.