Deep Purple Album: “Burn [Hong Kong 30th Anniversary Edition]”

Burn (1974.), Deep Purple's eighth studio album

'Burn' ushered a new period for the great Deep Purple. A year earlier, the band was going through an extremely low point. Tensions in the band during and around the time of the making of the previous album, 'Who Do We Think We Are' between Gillan and Blackmore in particular was undermining the groups real true potential. Subsequently, Ian Gillan, Purple's legendary frontman handed in his resignation from the group and bassist Roger Glover left shortly afterwards. The great Mark II line up was no more but more importantly Deep Purple itself, after 7 albums was very close to folding completely. However, Deep Purple was to rise again from the ashes of its previous line up with the recruitment of David Coverdale, a relatively unknown vocalist and Glenn Hughes, a bassist and more than capable singer.....

The results were astounding. The new Mark III line-up produced this great album, one which has never been given enough credit. It is a great return to form and dispels any ideas that Deep Purple had lost its class with the loss of Gillan and Glover (note they were to return with the Mark II reunion in the 1980's). The sound of the new line up is a bit different. Coverdale, who was to become the lead singer for Whitesnake is very much a different vocalist to Gillan, in my opinion not quite as good but he is still excellent. Similarly, Glenn Hughes is a worthy successor to Glover - he also provides great support to Coverdale's vocals. 'Burn' itself has a slightly different style to previous efforts. I personally don't think it is quite as heavy as say 'In Rock' or 'Fireball' but it still has plenty of drive and passion in parts, some very racy sections and most importantly has no weak tracks. Some of Ritchie Blackmores finest guitar work is on this album and Jon Lord shows his brilliance many times over as his keyboard playing is ever present and he gives us some great improvisation.

Currently, 'Burn' has two editions available. There is the standard 8 track issue which is more than good enough or there is the 'Burn 30th Anniversary Edition'. This version was released late last year and is excellent, coming with an extensive booklet, bonus funky b-side track Coronias Redig and remixes of 4 of the tracks. However, do consider availability and cost. I bought the new edition but it is much more readily available and cheaper in the UK - it may not be worth paying double the standard edition price in other countries, such as the US, unless you are a Deep Purple die hard.

The whole album is a great and refreshing listen from start to finish. Burn, the title track is a great opening 6 minute rocker with the first introduction to Coverdale. Note he harmonises in parts with Hughes, something there is much of on this album. 'Might Just Take Your Life' is a great follow up. A slower pace with a bluesy funky feel - Jon Lord puts out a great solo at the end. 'Lay Down Stay Down' picks up the pace - powerful vocals, drumming with piano rather than Hammond Organ from Lord, which works well. 'Sail Away' is a brilliant track, with swop over vocals from Hughes/Coverdale and a good bit of guitar work from Blackmore in the middle. 'You Fool No One', perhaps the weakest track on the album is good nonetheless, loads of harmonisation, Blackmore rocks out this one. 'What's going on here' is quite catchy in parts, slower again with more piano presence. 'Mistreated' is perhaps the most telling track on the album, perhaps the best also. There's a real blues style to this and Coverdale gives the words to the song real emotion - this incidentally is the only track were he only sings. '*A* 200' is a clever, experimental instrumental track which provides a thoughtful finish. Futuristic keyboard styles fuse with some more great stuff on the guitar from Blackmore.

Quite simply, the Mark III line up deserves much more respect than it is given. 'Burn' is testament to this and it stands as one of Deep Purple's finest efforts. The new members never cowered in the shadow of the great Mark II predecessor and 'Burn' deserves as much attention as the Mark II era work.

NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED!

(Rhino has released this same album in the US for a less expensive price...)

1973: Deep Purple was in shambles. "Machine Head," "Made In Japan" and "Who Do We Think We Are!" had transformed them into superstars and Ritchie Blackmore was now recognized as a guitar god, but egos and strife were splitting the band. In what would usually demolish other bands, Blackmore replaced two key members of the group. David Coverdale, an unknown, and Glenn Hughes of the cult band Trapeze were in, Roger Glover and Ian Gillian were out.

But the band rose to the challenge. Bolstered by the prospect of using two lead singers, the band created an album that is second only to "Machine Head" is terms of consistency. Roaring forth with the title track, with Jon Lord's majestic organ and keyboards plus a killer riff from Blackmore, there was no way to deny that Deep Purple was once again a fireball. The other major contribution seemed to be the spark that Hughes and Coverdale brought to the band's writing. With the exception of "Sail Away" and the instrumental "A-200," everyone of "Burn's" original 8 songs is a DP classic. After the "Stormbringer" album, Blackmore split and the albums afterwards just never measured up.

So just absorb this classic example of what made early 70's rock so fabulous to listen to. There's the rocking blues of "Mistreated." The great split vocals on "Might Just Take Your Life." Blackmore's excellant solo on "Lay Down Stay Down." Then on "You Fool No One," proof that Ian Paice's drumming was as strong a backbone for Purple as any band could wish for.

The bonus b-side "Coronarias Redig" is pretty much superfluous, and I can't really say what the value of the "2004 remixes" are supposed to be. The liner book is informative and interseting, too. 1974: "Burn" was the one last amazing album when Deep Purple had all the parts working together.

I bought the LP when it was first released, and after a few minutes of having to accustom myself to new vocalists, this quickly became my favorite Deep Purple album and has remained so all through the years. Therefore, I was eagerly anticipating the remaster, as the previous CD remasters from the DP catalog have been outstanding.

I compared the new BURN CD remaster to my original LP, which is still in stellar shape, and as superb as my turntable is, this is one digital remaster that actually improves on the original analogue vinyl, something I can't say very often.

It sounds much more "alive" than the album, with the highs and lows are more prominent, but not annoying in any way. It's probably the way the masters would have sounded when the album was first recorded, only by the time the vinyl reached the stores, we were already a whole bunch of generations away from the master.

So nice to hear the piano without its "thuddiness," and the stereo separation is better, bringing to life some of the guitar interplay like never before. The album is reinvigorated by this release, and it was always so high-octane that it wasn't exactly in need of resuscitation.

If you're not too familiar with Deep Purple, while this isn't the sound of the band that become the "classic rock" group, it's one of their most exciting albums performance-wise, and the songs are superb. A great mix of moods and styles, and everyone in the band sounds like they're having such a great time.

It's a shame that this particular incarnation of the group didn't stick around for a few more albums, as they might have created some other works that remain as enjoyable 30 years on as BURN does today. If you don't like this version of BURN, you will probably never like the album, as I can't picture it sounding any better than this. If you want to hear hard rock as good as it can get, you can't go wrong here.

Con muchas ganas esperaba ver la luz este cd, principalmente luego que de la edición aniversario de Made in Japan nada nuevo bajo el sol en cuanto a las ediciones posteriores remasterizadas, Aca se hace justicia al menos con la formación Mk III, la cual, por seguro, mantiene la misma fuerza que Mk II pero con unos toques mas rockeros, guitarras ,mucho mas libres, como si la salida de Gillan fortaleciera aun mas el ego de R. Blackmore, aun asi las versiones remasterizadas son exelentes, buenas realmente, provocan una verdadera sorpresa principalmente si estas acostumbrado a la versión original, de verdad que es mas que necesario explorarlo y tenerlo.

Compralo, de verdad que no te arrepentiras y a esperar sobre todo el "Come taste the Band"..un disco donde Tommy Bolin realmente es el heroe.

Remarkable, this is one of the strongest remixes of the last decade.

Every vocal and every instrument are in perfect balance with each other and are audible in all their clearness.

One can realy overhear it in all its dimensions.

For instance, snare drum and tambourine are matching very well into each other and are at the same time, quite recognizable.

'Burn' and 'Mistreaded' deserve to be hits again. They have a very powerful mix, especially the vocal part and the instrumental solo's. .

'Coronarias Redig' is a jewel wich has a timeless dignity of a melancholic, instrumental 'Purple' evergreen and justify its presence on this anniversary edition.

If promoted the proper way, this album could hit the charts again.

A quality CD together with a comprehensive and interesting booklet !