Today I smiled.

I just got done listening to the new Deep Purple release; “All I Got Is You‘ and it was the most satisfying thing I’ve done in the past week. DP is one of my top 5 bands. I was introduced to them at a very young age, and of course, Smoke On The Water was the first song I ever learned on guitar.

They’re a band that has a reputation for revolving members. I think at last count, 8000 different musicians have been in the band. I consider myself a die-hard fan, but admittedly, and I assume to my detriment, I’ve snubbed the releases after the departures of Ritchie Blackmore. Once after Stormbringer, in 1975 and then again after releasing Slaves and Masters in the 1990. During those runs without Blackmore, I’ve struggled to find a song from them that hits me like “My Woman From Tokyo”, or “Space Truckin’,” with the exception of “Burn” which is a staple in my rock playlists.  I even really like Tommy Bolin, who joined in the 70’s, and Steve Morse who joined in the 90s.

It was the same lament I felt when Ian Gillan left the band in the late 70’s. Not that David Coverdale was a bad singer, on the contrary… and his vocals were a fine compliment to their sound. As were Joe Lynn Turner’s vocals in the late 80’s. But to me, it just wasn’t right. The MARK II version of the band, gave us most of the songs we associate with the Purple sounds. Especially Jon Lord’s keyboards. With Lord’s departure in 2002 and his subsequent death in 2012, I assumed the band would fold up.

Not so. They went ahead and hired Don Airey when Lord retired. Again, an excellent choice, as Airey has had stints in pivotal DP connected bands like Rainbow, Black Sabbath, and he played keys on Whitesnake’s eponymous release, (yes, THAT Whitesnake record!) and went on to play on Purple’s next three albums; Bananas, Rapture of the Deep and NOW What?!.

Last year, I heard they were in studio working on a new album and I admit, I was skeptical.  In my mind, they were reaching. The last three albums had been received luke-warmly by the public and critics, and I will come clean, here and tell you, I didn’t even listen to ONE track off NOW What?! Shame on me. Just SHAME ON ME and my damned soul.

But today, as the new song “All I Got Is You” fell into my email, I decided to open and listen, if purely to have my pre-conceived notions affirmed. Thankfully, from the first note of the song, I was hooked. Streaming through my tinny plastic desktop speakers was this ethereal combo of organ and slow-burn British blues guitar, a staggered beat keeping time just under… Then a quick bridge with classic organ riff… and finally the raspy, time-aged vocals from Gillan, floating verses about an unruly woman and her unsavory antics. As all instruments reach a crescendo, a spacey, swirling keyboard solo carries you through to a truly masterwork of a seriously soulful guitar solo.

Kids… I declare Deep Purple is back (even though they really never left). You can hear this song on the air, beginning today (3/10/17) and also on V100’s VORTX.

I’ve also had the song on repeat for the entire time I’ve been writing this article. I hope that makes up for my past Purple-related transgressions.

Enjoy the video. The new album, “inFinite“, available on iTunes, CD and vinyl, is due April 7, 2017. Deluxe Box Sets will also be available. You can pre-order HERE.

Lyrics:
Oh yeah I see the way you roll your eyes
The way you purse your lips
Throw your stuff into a suitcase
Put your hands upon your hips
I’m unmoved by your evil glare
The way you toss your head
You make stupid accusations
By which time I’ve lost the thread

Sometimes I wonder how it is you get
To piss me off this much
I may be heavy-handed
And I lack the tender touch
You moan and groan about me staying out and
Drinking with the guys
How ‘bout I bring ‘em home?
Try that one on for size

There’s something awfully wrong with this deal, babe
Any fool could see it’s true
Can’t you understand how I feel, babe
You’ve got me
But all I got is you

I guess I just don’t have it in me
To keep you satisfied
To be honest with you, babe
I’m only in it for the ride
You may never bring yourself
To take me as I am
But in case you haven’t noticed
I don’t give a f@#*ing damn

Publishing: Dislocated Music Publishing, Ltd., Ezrin Music/Irving Music Inc., Notting Hill Music, Rugged Music, Ltd., Thames Overtures, Ltd.
Writer(s): Bob Ezrin, Don Airey, Ian Gillan, Ian Paice, Roger Glover, Steve Morse

With sales of over 120 million worldwide, Deep Purple is one of the most respected British rock bands of all time and as such, was inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Deep Purple has inspired and shaped generations of hard rock musicians and fans with milestone albums like “In Rock” or “Machine Head.”  Their live album “Made in Japan” is often referred to as one of the best (if not “the best” live album of all time.) “NOW What?!,” released in 2013, brought Deep Purple back to the top of the charts worldwide. The band is made up of original member Ian Paice, long time members, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover (since the classic Mark II album) and completed by Don Airey (about to release his 4th album with the band, who has played with many rock legends including Rainbow, Black Sabbath and many others) and Steve Morse (who has been in the band for over 20 years, releasing 6 studio albums with them).