Fireball 1971 Album

Deep Purple

This album (and probably a few others) are the reason why most critics hate Deep Purple. Other than the title track and maybe "No One Came" they don't even dare match the maelstrom energy of In Rock. Some tracks fumble around in search of good grooves or, even worse, were just half-baked ideas to begin with ("Anyone's Daughter", which ends prophetically with Gillian remarking "wot do ya think of that?"). The U.S. edition replaces "Demon's Eye" with the more front-heavy "Strange Kind of Woman". Even the cover is cringe. Overall, the more self-indulgent side of the group comes bubbling to the surface, and it's to their detriment - or at least that's what the critics would say. Still, there's some fun stuff to be heard - the title track is a great party-starter in the mold of "Speed King", but with impressive work behind the kit from Ian Paice. As a whole, it's worth hearing being in the middle of the group's two biggest successes.