Very High Frequencies Episode: 163 - Deep Purple

VHF-163 (Deep Purple) focuses on the prolific first half dozen years of the notoriously morphing line-up. With three studio albums released between 1968 and 1969, as well as tours of Europe and North America. Keyboardist Jon Lord, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, and drummer Ian Paice decided poor album sales were surely the fault of vocalist Rod Evens and bass player Nick Simper. So they got the boot and Ian Gillian took up the microphone. He insisted on bringing his bassist from his previous band, a chap named Roger Glover. Under Blackmore's increasing influence the band moved away from the  Jon Lord classically leaning Prog rock interpretations of contemporary hit songs. The first album featuring the Mark 2 line-up was called Deep Purple In Rock. It stated it's purpose and delivered the goods. This version of the band was the most popular and had the huge radio staple, Smoke On The Water
 Four studio albums, non stop touring and a gold record live album later, Gillian had had enough until 1984' s reformation. Very High Frequencies demonstrates the evolution of the sounds and styles the group experimented with from their formation in 1968 to the Mark 2 break-up of 1973. Perhaps Deep Purple are more than one very well known song. Amazingly Ian Gillian has announced that Deep Purple are heading into the studio to begin work on album 23. This week rock out with VHF-163 (Deep Purple) The First Half Dozen Years.