Deep Purple

Come Taste the Band

WHAT A GOOD ROCK ALBUM!

Review Score:

(10/10)
So there isn't the classic Purple line-up in this CD! What, Blackmore doesn't play? But, what if I forget that it was supposed to be a Purple album, then I avoid any comparisons to Machine Head and Made in Japan and just listen to the songs? Man, then I would conclude COME TASTE THE BAND is a terrific collection of rock songs!

All the musicians were in fine shape. The vocals by Coverdale and Hughes were as powerful as ever, the rhythm section perfect, and Bolin just kicked! I mean, can you enjoy old heavy rock and not be thrilled by his performance in "Coming Home", "Dealer" and "Drifter"? That's impossible! It is a very well-produced album, thanks to Martin Birch. When you listen using headphones, you can truly appreciate the qualities of the mixing.

The band was very energetic. Most of the songs are heavy and with lots of excitement. The infatuation for funk is evident in "I Need Love" and "Getting Tighter". Now that probably would be the reason why so many fans disliked this album. "This isn't the way the band was supposed to sound", some said. Well, if you are ready to accept some strong R&B influences in a white rock'n'roll band, then you can dig them. But don't worry, there are a lot of heavy riffage and soloing in this album. The 3 ones mentioned when I wrote about Bolin are the heaviest of the pack, but we shouldn't overlook "Lady Luck" ("she was a juke-box dancer/ a blue-eyed gypsy queen", we know we've reached Coverdale territory), "Love Child" (that's what I call a rock riff, man! I'd only have included a guitar solo instead of that crappy synth)and the majestic "You Keep on moving" (the final, and perhaps finest, vocal duet of Coverdale/Hughes). "This Time Around" is a piano ballad that, if included in Stevie Wonder's Songs in the key of life, would be considered cool. In this album, it shows what a fine white-soul career Hughes could have had after Purple. And "Owed to G" is the best instrumental track in any Purple album. Bolin did it again!

This line-up was dogged by personal problems soon after the recording of the album, some shows of the following tour were a disaster, perhaps they should have changed the name of the band... I agree it was a troublesome period for our beloved Deep Purple. But COME TASTE THE BAND is a very good album, and even without the classic sound of the MkII, is much better than Who do we think we are (the last MkII album) and definitely much heavier than Stormbringer.

Give this album a chance! Listen to it!

More Reviews: