Customer Reviews

Machine Head (Dlx)

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If you're reading this review, you probably already know what a great hard-rock classic Deep Purple's "Machine Head" was and would like to know if this deluxe edition is worth the extra cash. Yes, it is!

Disc One contains the entire original "Machine Head" LP correctly sequenced, along with a non album B-side and two slightly different remixes of different songs done for the long out-of-print Quad version of the LP. To be honest, to my ears the Quad remixes don't sound noticably different unless I have stereo headphones on, but they're nice to have.

Disc Two contains what Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover modestly refers to as "subtle" remixes. Anything but! Glover strips away the studio sheen of the original songs, leaving the original intros and endings intact. Thus, for example, we hear the band warming up to play "Highway Star" and jamming till they suddenly stop at the end of "Smoke on the Water." As you'd expect from a bass player-turned-remixer, Glover accentuates the bassier frequencies as a rule which lends these remixes a punch they didn't have in their better-known versions. Glover also substitutes previously mixed-out alternate versions of a couple of Blackmore's solos. While Ritchie Blackmore might not be delighted to hear the automobile sound effects returned to the climax of his "Highway Star" solo, lots of fans will be VERY pleased to hear bits and pieces of an alternate version of a classic album.

Some die-hard rockers might shudder at the word "remix," fearing that drum machines or synths were added. Fear not. Not one new note has been re-recorded and flown in. Everything you hear in the remix existed on the master tapes, although it may not have made it to the final version of the album as eventually released.

If you're a Purple fan, get this. And, if you aren't, I wouldn't be surprised if it turns out you like the remixes even better than the originals.

Here's a band that care so much for their fans. The remastered album sounds REALLY good, and the remixes are the best gift for Purple fans, featuring alternate solos and the complete recordings, without the fade out effect at the end of the song. Keeping the spirit of the 70's, with the sound cleaned up with cutting edge technology, the way that every 60's and 70's albums should be re-released. Besides the sound quality, the musical quality is over the top, the quality necessary to become a real classic and influent record. The interaction between Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore, the solid rhythm section of Glover and Paice, and the power lungs of Gillan are all combined in an all time favorite. If you want to start with Deep Purple, be sure to start with this one, not the regular CD release, but this 2 CD package, either the UK or the US version.

Deep Purple Machine Head is an absolutely fabulous album containing the smash hit Deep Purple songs, Smoke On The Water, Highway Star, Lazy, and Space Trukin.' This is a must have album for any hard rock fan and now its even better as a remastered CD. Disk One is the whole album remastered with 24 bit technology Smoke On The Water, Highway Star, Lazy, and Space Trukin, Maybe I'm A Leo, Never Before and Pictures of Home along (songs out of order in my review) Three bonus tracks; When A Blind Man Cry's (a B side), Maybe I'm A Leo and Lazy both Quadraphonic mixes. Disk 2 is all the original songs Smoke On The Water, Highway Star, Lazy, and Space Trukin, Maybe I'm A Leo, Never Before and Pictures of Home from machine head and the B side When A Blind Mans Cry's all remixed with different emphasis, for instance there are different Guitar and keyboard parts on many of the songs; Disk 2 is very very cool. The booklet is informative as well. Cool Pictures and a nice slip case for the Jewell case.

I can say very little about this album which has not already been said. Deep Purple's Machine Head is one of the finest albums ever produced in the hard rock/classic rock/heavy metal genres. It cemented Deep Purple's popularity around the world (their first major US success in addition to an expected hit in Europe and Japan) and remains the disc to which all their other titles are compared and judged. All their absolute biggest hits--"Smoke on the Water," "Space Truckin'," "Lazy," and the indestructable "Highway Star," are found herein, plus some of the finest solos ever produced by Ritchie Blackmore.

Chances are, Gentle Reader, you know this already. So why purchase this new edition? Because it sounds ten times better than the original CD. Although the album was recorded in December 1971 (in the lobby of an abandoned hotel), it could have been recorded on DAT two weeks ago, so well do all the instruments stand out and meld together. From the opening chords of "Highway Star," it is clear that this is a far superior Machine Head, capable of allowing even the most jaded listener an opportunity to hear everything again "for the first time." What little studio banter remains is included, plus alternate guitar solos for "Smoke on the Water" (actually a tad more laconic than the one we all know and love) and "Maybe I'm A Leo" (more aggressive). "When A Blindman Cries," one of Purple's most exquisite ballads by any lineup, also appears at the end for posterity, having been relegated to b-side status back in 1972.

Some purists will not like some of the remixing done on this edition. I direct these nay-sayers to the second disc, which is simply the album REMASTERED, not remixed. This CD is superior enough to the Warner Bros late '80s reissue to warrant the extra money spent. There are also a few quadrophonic mixes tacked to the end of Disc 2 as a gratis (take it or leave it).

If all this is not enough, the sleeve notes are some of Simon Robinson's finest, even if he writes purple (forgive the pun) prose at times. Clearly in love with his subject matter (as am I!), one never ceases to learn something new from his liner notes. Bassist Roger Glover is also kind enough to write down everything he can possibly remember about the events surrounding the making of the album.

Machine Head is a classic for the ages, and this expanded edition will achieve the status of holy bible for all fans of Deep Purple.

The remastered disc one is an improvement over the vinyl and nonremastered versions as the bass is more prominent and punchier and the high end is crisper and cleaner. But the story of this release is disc two. There is a VERY, VERY NOTICEABLE improvement over the original. I have often criticized Roger Glover for his inadvertent attempts at sabotaging Deep Purple albums such as House of Blue Light or The Battle Rages On with his flat, lousy production where all the instruments were compressed together so that none could be heard distinctly. But I have to give credit where credit is due. Glover's remixing job on disc two has to be the best remixing job I have ever heard. Each and every instrument can be heard with such crystal clarity that it gives a three-dimensional quality to the sound. When there is a solo, whether it be guitar, keyboards, harmonica, drums or bass, the instrument just JUMPS out of the speakers at you. It sounds as if the group is performing "live" in front of you. And there are nuances in the music I have never heard before, such as the strange, ghostly, slightly echoey, slightly reverbed effect in the guitar solo in Highway Star. I swear I can hear Ian Gillan's high-range screaming in the backround as Highway Star is ending. The explosive drum solo in Space Trucking comes at you from all directions and will leave your head spinning. The tape hiss and the slightly muffled high end have been cleaned up. The vocals, which on all previous versions had at times been mixed a little weakly so that the lyrics were not always decipherable, can all be heard clearly here, but they haven't been boosted so much that the overall mix sounds out of whack. The power of the drums can be felt with force and the high end is so crisp and lifelike it is as if Ian Paice is bashing the cymbals right in your face. In short, this is a PERFECT remixing job. Disc two is worth its weight in gold. It is rare that a remix adds such a clarity and depth to the music that it is far superior to the original in every respect. Forget about the vinyl or nonremastered versions. I have always liked this album very much, but only through this disc two remix do I now fully appreciate what an awesome and powerful album this is as a whole new dimension has been added to the sound. Please, get this NOW. You will wonder how you ever got by with the slightly muffled, slightly muddy previous versions of this album all these years.

Possibly the best Deep Purple album ever, Machine Head sounds fresher than before with its remastered sound. None of the tracks suffer from the hiss and hum that were inherent in the original CD reissue. The sound is well balanced, neither too bassy nor too bright. There are plenty of pictures and liner notes to read while you listen to the CD.

The second disk features the tracks as they were actually recorded before editing, fade-outs, etc. were made. Kudos to Roger Glover for a great job in remastering and preserving these tracks.

This 2-CD set is worth every penny for the classic rock collector.

THE BAND: Ian Gillan (vocals), Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Jon Lord (keyboards), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums & percusssion).

COMMENTS: Originally released in 1972. I put off getting this "Anniversary" disc for some time... thinking I all ready had the original "Machine Head" on CD that was released in the mid 1980's... so what's the point? I'm sure many DP fans have at one time thought this, but do yourself a favor. Trade in your old CD and get replace it with this "25th Anniversary" edition. The difference in the original being remastered is worth the price alone. But, you get so much more - I look at it like it's a piece of history. For those classic rock fans; who wouldn't jump at the opportunity to obtain some old alternate versions of songs from Zeppelin, The Who, Kiss, Van Halen or Aerosmith remastered? Roger Glover, using today's technology, made this CD sound up-to-date. This remastered version is crisp and dynamic. It sounds like Ian Paice has his drum kit right there with you while you're listening to the CD. The 2nd disc is a treat. All those famous Blackmore trademark guitar solo's are just a tad bit different. Gillian's vocals are for the most part the same, but there are a few instances where his highs are higher and his lows are lower. Glover's & Paice's roles remain for the most part in tact and unchanged from the original. The addition of "When A Blind Man Cries" is nice. It shows a softer side to the Purple we've come to know. The liner notes are extensive with some wonderful pictures to boot. I rank this album in my all-time 'Top 10' list of rock albums. Essential... "MACHINE HEAD" is absolutely (5+ stars).

"Machine Head" is a classic for anyone who appreciate Deep Purple's contribution to rock music. The music speak for itself (I guess if you are reading this review you know all the songs anyway) but the real surprise is the sound quality. Anyone who listened to the original recordings remembers this sort of flat and not very clear sound. This edition will be a surprise for you, because the band almost sounds like it was recorded today. Roger Glover did superb job remixing the original tapes. Definitely worth the money. However, don't fall into the trap with anniversary edition of "In Rock" like I did. You will be back to the high school boombox!

Wow ! ... Never mind that this is one of the best recordings of the modern rock era ... What a terrific job of remastering ! This recording will simply blow you away ! "Smoke On The Water" and "Highway Star" have never sounded better ! Why can't all remastering be of this calibre ? Don't waste your time or money with one of those "ordinary" recordings of this classic ... Buy this one without giving it a second thought ! Deep Purple rules again ! ...

A hybrid SACD version is also available here on Amazon. It will play on standard CD players as well as SACD players, and the standard CD layer sounds even better than this anniversary edition. I have both since I want the best sounding Machine Head available and the second disc of Roger Glover remixes in this anniversary edition. This is a good sounding remaster of the original album, but it can't hold a candle to the hybrid remaster.