Search - Deep Purple :: Burn

Last great Purple

Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 08/24/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Shortly after singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover left Deep Purple, the new line-up featuring singer David Coverdale and singer/bass player Glenn Hughes recorded "Burn", once again using the Rolling Stones' mobile studio.



Coverdale and Glenn Hughes share lead vocals on all tracks except one, and "Burn" is by far the strongest album by Purple's Coverdale-lineup. It doesn't quite match the classic "Machine Head" in terms of potential hits, and "Burn" may fall a little bit short of "Fireball" as well. But it did produce some lasting classics, most notably the groovy, mid-tempo "Might Just Take Your Life", the explosive title track, and the magnificent, seven-minute blues "Mistreated" (which Coverdale sings by himself).

And most of the lesser-known tracks are good as well, particularly the swaggering, bluesy "Sail Away", and the classic rocker "What's Goin' On Here", which features some great piano from Jon Lord and excellent guitar playing from Ritchie Blackmore.



A bit bluesier and less idiosyncratic than the group's earlier albums, "Burn" is a really good, solid hard rock record.

Recommended."