Mk 1 is not 1st on the Market
10/25/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"... but the pearls are hidden from an idle eye. If powerful songs of Mk2 are forced into your head, this album devilers songs(not tracks) which make your mind open. This is the best of Mk1 and on par with "Machine Head". The group was far from petrified "one groove" state of later albums, so here on one Album DP fan can find full spectrum of ideas which made them the best hard rock group ever: full of young energy "Why did not Rosemary?" is among my favorites like "Pictures of Home" and "Demon's Eye"; "Bird Has Flown" with almost tangerable texture; "Lalena" is better than "Soldier of Fortune"; "Blind" and "April" leave me speachless, nights after nights I was listening to it in the dormitory of Moscow university; "Chasing Shadows" and "The Painter" are the blueprints for all the later glory. The only one literally "against the grain" is experimental "Fault Line". Bottom line: 8 pieces - 7 unforgettable songs each with its character and individuality. When I eventually found the CD in Montreal shop, well - "..I don't need a poem, just give me words to say..."- it was the happies acquisition in my entire CD collection."
A masterpiece!
04/19/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I bought this album in vinyl practically the day it came out and, as a guitarist and songwriter myself, I consider it to have been one of my greatest influences and inspirations. Thank God somebody had the courage to release it on CD, if only as an import. This music predates and is a forerunner to great prog rock music bands like YES and Genesis and, frankly, I was disappointed when Deep Purple sold out and changed their sound from "IN ROCK" and beyond. Sure, it's all great music, but the first three albums, (not to mention "Concerto for Band and Orchestra") demonstrates an artistry and musical/lyrical intelligence that succeeding albums could not manifest. You'll never hear any of these cuts on 90's AOR Rock stations or even classic rock stations for that matter. The piece "April" alone is worth the price of admission, where Jon Lord did the unspeakable in 1969 by injecting an awesome classical moment using a real chamber orchestra which he penned himself! This album is a true rock masterpiece which, along with the first two studio albums, should never have gone out of print."
Track Listings (13) - Disc #1