ABSTRACT
Despite the fact that all original members of the group-Blackmore, Lord, drummer Ian Paice, bassist Nick Simper, and vocalist Rod Evans-hailed from England, none of their recordings were released there through mid-1969. In the meantime, three U.S. albums-Shades of Deep Purple (Tetragrammaton 102; 1968; #24; including the Top 5 single, “Hush,” Tetragrammaton 1503), The Book of Taliesyn (Tetragrammaton 107; 1968; #54), and Deep Purple (Tetragrammaton 119; 1969; #162)—sold moderately well, blending classical motifs with hard rock (e.g., liberal borrowings from RimskyKorsakov’s Sheherazade in “And the Address”/” I’m So Glad” medley). The three-part song-suite, “April” (included within the ill-fated third album, which disappeared from retail outlets shortly after release when Tetragrammaton went out of business), anticipated the band’s next recording, Deep Purple/The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra “Concerto for Group and Orchestra” (Warner Bros. 1860; 1970; #149). Although the release earned some critical raves, sales were flat; a side project written and produced by Lord, Gemini Suite (Capitol 870; 1971), was the last flirtation with the symphonic format by band members.
