Deep Purple is easily one of the big Rock bands that has fixed references in one’s mind (if you lived in the ’70s). Their “Smoke On The Water” song is a chord set that many newcomers to the guitar attempt to play. With several big Mark lineups, including the unforgettable Mark II that generated their best sellers, Deep Purple has quite a legacy attached to them. At one time, they were listed in the Book of World Records as being the world’s loudest band in concert.
Machine Head, the band’s sixth studio effort featured the classic line-up of Paice, Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, and Lord. That lineup produced two albums prior to Machine Head (which was released in 1972). Those albums were In Rock (1970), and Fireball (1971). Machine Head was followed up with the last of the peak Mark II lineup album, Who Do We Think We Are? (1973).
On May 20, Rhino Records will pare the 2012 Deluxe 40th Anniversary Edition Box of Machine Head down to 2CD as opposed to the 5Disc set. For those that balked at the hefty edition, or refused to pay that much money to acquire it, or for whatever reasons you had to ignore the massive reissue that was that Box, there is this chance to acquire the core of the box. After all, unless you’re a die-hard fan, there’s not an actual need to pay huge sums for a set you won’t listen to much of outside the actual album.
I’m sure the booklet will be truncated from its original 64-page size, and the second disc may contain the album remix. But I’m not completely sure.
For your information.