Deep Purple – Essential Rock [CD 1997]

Tracks

1. Highway Star (6.10) Live version 1987 taken from “Nobody’s Perfect” [1988]. Originally from “Machine Head” [1972]
2. Strange Kind Of Woman (7.34) including an excerpt from “Superstar” ¹; Live version 1987 taken from “Nobody’s Perfect” [1988]. Originally a single in 1971 and from the US & Japanese releases of “Fireball” [1971]
3. Smoke On The Water (7.46) Live version 1987 taken from “Nobody’s Perfect” [1988]. Originally from “Machine Head” 1972
4. Black Night (6.06) Live version 1987 taken from “Nobody’s Perfect” [1988]. Originally a 1970 single release
5. Fireball (3.24) from “Fireball” [1971]
6. When A Blind Man Cries (3.33) from b-side of “Never Before” single in 1972; released on Mark I & II [1973]
7. Knocking At Your Back Door (7.00) from “Perfect Strangers” [1984]
8. Nobody’s Home (3.55) from “Perfect Strangers” [1984]
9. Perfect Strangers (5.23) from “Perfect Strangers” [1984]
10. Hard Lovin’ Woman (3.25) from “House Of Blue Light” [1987]
11. Mean Streak (4.20) from “Perfect Strangers” [1984]
12. Call Of The Wild (4.47) from “House Of Blue Light” [1987]
13. Hush (3.30) Re-recording February 1988, taken from “Nobody’s Perfect” [1988]. Originally from “Shades Of Deep Purple” [1968]

Release information

CD: September 1997, PolyGram South Africa, MMTCD 2007

This CD was released as part of Polygram South Africa’s excellent Essential Rock series. Other artists in this series included Bachman Turner Overdrive, Status Quo and Rod Stewart. Sleeve notes by Chris Venter who also compiled this CD. The 1987 tour was not their best, but this album is a pretty good introduction to the music of Deep Purple Mark II & Mark IIb, both live and in the studio.

Musicians

• Ian Gillan: vocals
• Ritchie Blackmore: guitar
• Jon Lord: keyboards
• Roger Glover: bass
• Ian Paice: drums