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Steve Morse Era Deep Purple - SH Forums
What's your take?
Like it?
Here's my opinions:
Purpendicular-classic Purple album.
Nearly as great as Machine Head and In Rock.
Track after track of prime Purple.
If they had released an album as strong as this after Perfect Strangers, they might have enjoyed more commercial success.
Abandon-admirable that Purple went heavy and more experimental, but the songs aren't very memorable somehow.
A very cold album, IMO.
Bananas-Man, I've tried and tried but don't get the love for this one.
Gillan is up front in the mix and doesn't sound all that great.
The CD sounds awful.
And the songs are too peppy for my liking.
Some of it barely sounds like Deep Purple.
I'll bet Ritchie Blackmore would hate Bananas.
And that album cover...YEESH!
Rapture of the Deep-Real solid album this one is.
It still doesn't sound very good, but not as bad as Bananas, IMO.
But the songs are generally very good and a few of them are plain great.
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I think the odd numbered ones are the best-- Purpendicular showed how enthused they were for being able to break away from the usual Purple formula, and Bananas was great for the diversity and the songwriting quality (though I agree the mix is far from ideal)-- their first real "studio" album in a long while.
EVen the worst of these albums (probably Abandon) is preferable to the last three with Blackmore.
He was doing them no good anymore.
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I don't like Steve Morse one bit honestly but like the albums because of the rest of the guys, Gillan's singing and songwriting particulary.
I'd say I like them DESPITE Steve Morse.
Can't agree with Rael on Bananas - it's a great record which proved that Purple still knew how to write a good hook after a tune-less Abandon.
Of the 3 Abandon is easily the weakest but lately I started to like most of it.
Call it Gillan-adiction if you like...
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Not too crazy about Morse Purple at all.
About the only one of the four I kinda like is Bananas.
I liked Morse alot more in Dixie Dregs.
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Acquiring Steve Morse was an inspired move from the remaining members of Purple's "classic" lineup.
Glover, Gillan, Lord & Paice could have settled for a Blackmore clone, or even worse, a revolving door of clones.
Instead they found an amazing guitarist (and a nice guy) who helped make some FRESH new Purple music;
Unlike H&H or AC/DC who repeat the formula.
By the way, the other night I played AbandON (my least favorite Morse era album) and was pleasantly surprised to find, it's better than I thought.
Purpendicular: A+
Abandon: B
Bananas: A-
Rapture of the Deep: A
I'm looking forward to the new album in 2010.
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Kinda like it, but, again, my votes go for odd-numbered albums.
Purpendicular was nice hybrid of old-school cliches (the vocal part on Castle Full of Rascals has too obvious Speed King touch to it, for example) and newer-school guitar tone combined with that overall feel of 'democratic ventilation' after Blackmore's departure.
Songwriting quality varied but even fillers were even.
But now I feel that it could be even better if it was a bit shorter and wasn't undercooked and released in a rush to promote the new line-up (but the latter fact at the same time adds spontaniety).
Abandon ...
A tough one, interesting sound, uninteresting sounds.
Not bad, but even more undercooked (which was the goal of the band itself).
Bananas - the most well cooked one.
The most polished and perfectly arranged studio effort since House and Slaves , IMO (BTW, both '87 and '90 are in my DP Top 5, but it's another story).
Songs in general are good and varied, some of them have that illusive semi-gothic feel I really enjoy.
But overall it lacks some childish spontaniety of Purpendicular , so I give Purpendicular some edge (and a place in my Top 5).
Rapture of the Deep ?
Well, it was the most uninspired follow-up to Bananas I could imagine.
Maybe I'm wrong and someday it will grow on me, but for now this is the dullest DP ever.
Moreover, it sounds like an overage MP3.
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I actually prefer the latter two albums to the first two.
I like some songs on Perpendicular and Abandon , but most of them do not hold my interest.
Bananas is my favorite of the four.
It is just very energetic.
Rapture Of The Deep is almost as strong, but it seems more emotional, as well.
More, dare I say, deep.
I think Morse has done a decent job, but I can't stand to listen to the live recordings of the old stuff.
I am a major Blackmore fan and Morse just sounds wrong on those tracks.
That said, I don't think that DP would be any better had he stayed.
Slaves and Masters was a decent Rainbow album and The Battle Rages On is just wretched despite the lineup.
They continued the only way they could.
Overall, the Morse lineup has put together some pretty good music.
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I like Purpendicular, but the other albums don't do much for me....I'm not even sure you should call the last two albums Purple albums....
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I think Steve was the shot in the arm Deep Purple needed to regain respect and following.
He's very different from Ritchie but is just as good IMHO and plays the old school DP material just fine, IMHO.
Probably a zillion bands would welcome Steve into their fold!
As far as their studio releases with Steve, I admit I prefer the golden oldies but they are still pretty decent releases, with Purpendicular being my favorite so far.
And let's not forget that Don Airey is the new keyboardist and does a bang up job as well.
Dave
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Purpendicular and Rapture are among DP's best albums.
Yes, I really mean that.
(I'd also include Fireball, Machine Head, Burn, and Come Taste the Band among their studio efforts.)
Steve Morse is a superb player who is best when he gets to exercise that pseudo-country picking style that he has in a rock context.
In that sense, Dixie Dregs was actually the perfect vehicle for his playing.
The fit with DP isn't quite perfect, but his strengths are clear when jamming with whoever is on organ at the time.
One of the great things about Morse is that he sounds nothing like Blackmore.
This makes the current band less of a cover band and more of its own creative entity.
Morse brings enough history and individuality to the guitarist role that he does not live in RB's shadow.
Morse didn't win Guitar Player's Player of the Year award multiple times in the 80's for nothing.
I also didn't like Abandon at first, but these days I really dig the highly rhythmic stuff on it such as "She Was" and "'69."
To me, "Bananas" is worst of the four just because the songs aren't as strong.
That said, there are several keepers, and the title track belongs on any Best of Deep Purple compilation worth its salt.
Don Airey's organ breaks on that one are epic.
Agree that the sound quality leaves something to be desired on that album.
I love the humor in the cover art.
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Quote: : What's your take?
Like it? Bleah (To be fair, I quit listening after Abandon .
May be they got better )
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I've always been a Steve Morse fan and always thought this was a good match.
No, he's not Ritchie and he shouldn't be.
I saw the band about 10 years ago in a club in DC and it was just a fantastic show, one of the best I've ever seen.
I loved Perpendicular, but was disappointed with Abandon (common theme) and I haven't picked up the last two.
Though I don't listen to as much hard rock as I used to I'm thinking I need to have them.
It's a shame there doesn't seem to be decent sounding (vinyl) versions available for Bananas or Rapture.
As mentioned above, Steve's a really good guy in addition to being an amazing talent.
I met him after a show in the 80's and he's the one that actually told me he was joining Kansas.
He seemed unsure of the move at the time.
Me and my friend we're pretty excited at the news and he seemed relieved.
When I saw that band live he smiled at me from the stage.
I was flattered. I'm really glad that it's worked out for him with DP.
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Quote: : I think Steve was the shot in the arm Deep Purple needed to regain respect and following.
He's very different from Ritchie but is just as good IMHO and plays the old school DP material just fine, IMHO.
Probably a zillion bands would welcome Steve into their fold!
As far as their studio releases with Steve, I admit I prefer the golden oldies but they are still pretty decent releases, with Purpendicular being my favorite so far.
And let's not forget that Don Airey is the new keyboardist and does a bang up job as well.
Dave But you still can't help think - whats the point of Deep Purple without Lord and Blackmore, lets face it Deep Purple 2009 is just the Ian Gillian band in all but name!!
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Quote: : But you still can't help think - whats the point of Deep Purple without Lord and Blackmore, lets face it Deep Purple 2009 is just the Ian Gillian band in all but name!!
Tis true, and they aren't even making very good Ian Gillan records.
I much prefer One Eye To Morocco to any Morse Purple I've heard.
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Quote: : But you still can't help think - whats the point of Deep Purple without Lord and Blackmore, lets face it Deep Purple 2009 is just the Ian Gillian band in all but name!!
I used to feel this way, but I have to admit that those albums sound more like Deep Purple albums than they do Ian Gillan albums.
The precedent of continuing without Blackmore was set in 1975 and Lord retired of his own accord.
To me, the Mark II lineup was the first truly solid lineup since Mark I was only together for a little over a year, despite three very good albums.
So, to my way of thinking, there are still three original members.
That's more legit than the current lineup of Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Blackmore isn't coming back and I don't think Lord is either.
It is either this Deep Purple or no Deep Purple.
I would just as soon there be this Deep Purple.
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Quote: : Tis true, and they aren't even making very good Ian Gillan records.
I much prefer One Eye To Morocco to any Morse Purple I've heard.
Curbach, if I were I would give Bananas and Rapture a chance - Ian Gillan's influence is all over them and the songwriting is superb, much better than Abandon.
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Quote: : Curbach, if I were I would give Bananas and Rapture a chance - Ian Gillan's influence is all over them and the songwriting is superb, much better than Abandon.
I don't know, if Purpendicular didn't do it for him, I don't see how Bananas or Rapture of the Deep will.
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Quote: : I don't know, if Purpendicular didn't do it for him, I don't see how Bananas or Rapture of the Deep will.
They are more Gillan-influenced albums and anyone who likes mature Gillan songwriting and singing will certainly enjoy quite a few tracks from each.
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After Blackmore lost interest in Deep Purple I think Steve Morse is the best thing that could happen to the band.
He made them all smile again and Deep Purple is clearly a 'happy band'.
I met Roger Glover and he told me that the smiles on their faces when they're on stage are genuine.
They don't pretent they are happy like other bands do;
They simply enjoy what they are doing these days.
When Jon Lord decided to quit I thought Deep Purple had had it but Don Airey fits in perfectly and they managed to move on.
I know some won't agree with me but without Blackmore and Lord Deep Purple is a different Deep Purple but they're still Deep Purple (hope it makes sense).
Just like when Deep Purple did "Come Taste The Band" and "Slaves And Masters".
Those two incarnations of Deep Purple were different from each other but still it was Deep Purple.
Anyroad, I think "Purpendicular" is a great album although there are a few tracks that stinks.
I have never been able to get into "Abandon".
I simply don't understand it and it leaves me cold - in fact, I've forgotten the tracks even before they are over ....
"Bananas" is the most commercial thing they've ever done but it works very, very well.
There are some great tracks and the band is in excellent shape.
I like it a lot but it's such a shame the mastering stinks, leaving clicks and pops here and there and compression has been added much too heavy-handed.
"Rapture Of The Deep" is a great album too, also showing that the band once again is in great shape.
However, the sound quality is even worse than on "Bananas" and the compression has been used even more heavy-handed here and makes the listening experience difficult.
Hope they'll a different producer next time becuse the sound is getting worse and worse ...
What a shame sinece the band is so great ...
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Purpendicular is the only DP feat.
SM album I like...
The others are weak and almost unlistenable (sound).
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