Customer Reviews

Slaves & Masters

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Slaves and Masters was recorded in 1990/1991 after Ritchie Blackmore fired Ian Gillan from the band. Gillan was replaced by Joe Lynn Turner, who was Blackmore's cohort in Rainbow from 1981-1984. Consequently, this album turns out sounding like a Turner-era Rainbow album more than a Purple album. Personally, I'm not a fan of JLT Rainbow--give me Ronnie James Dio any day--but I have to admit that I like this album better than the three Rainbow albums with JLT. The first three tracks--King of Dreams, The Cut Runs Deep, and Fire In the Basement--are all pretty good. Unfortunately, after that, the album goes south rather quickly. Truth Hurts is an OK ballad-like song, but most of the album sounds like Ritchie is trying to get an 80s-style pop-rock hit. I'd recommend this only if you're a Purple fanatic completist like me or if you really, really, really love Joe Lynn Turner. Incidentally, Turner was unceremoniously dumped after the tour and Blackmore reluctantly replaced him with Gillan after much complaining from Lord, Paice, Glover, and fans.

I feel really sorry for all these one-track minded poor people out there, who are bashing so hard on this album, just because it doesn't sound like DP some 15-20 years earlier. For you guys maybe "Deep Purple = Machine head" and nothing else matters. Ask yourselves now whether you're one of these people. Well, if DP wanted to sound like they did during the early 70s, they would do it. Personaly I like the first line up (with Rod Evens) AND the Slaves And Masters album, especially the only song that Joe Linn Turner wrote for the album "TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH", is the best DP song for me ever. I've been listening to DP since a child, for more than 20 years and I own the whole DP and Rainbow discography, together with over 1200 other albums, I listen to alot of music almost every day, and I do my second year as a "Musical Arts" student (bass guitar), so believe me, I know what I'm talking about. Yes, and I like the 74-75 albums with David Coverdale more than Mahine head. Don't you ever get tired of listening to Smoke on the water? I would agree with everyone who says this album is not like mk2 DP, but I would NOT agree that this album is in any way worse than any other DP album. It's a pleasure giving album, and "Too much is not enough" just rocks with its groovy mood.

You know, I'm kind of a casual Purple fan. I own maybe 6 or 8 of their albums, and I like them all well enough. Richie Blackmore is, of course, a true guitar god - I've been playing for 25 years and he is just as good as they come. But I've never been passionate about DP. Except for this album. This is just as catchy rock and roll gets, and IMO is about the only album that ranks up there with Machine Head. The feel is less 'see what badass musicians we are' and more 'here's a catchy rocker for you.' The result is stunning, and I have no idea why anybody would think this isn't one of the best rock and roll albums ever. Although I've heard other Joe Lynn Turner songs where I wasn't impressed with his singing, here it is picture perfect. This is one of the few (out of hundreds) of my albums that I take out and listen to all the way through regularly. Do yourself a favor - buy this album, pretend that you've never heard of Ian Gillan's Deep Purple, and rock out!

Being a Deep Purple fan for more than 25 years, I must agree with all the other reviewers that this is an underrated album for Deep Purple. From my point of view, Joe Lynn Turner did a superb job with the vocals, songs like 'King of Dreams', 'Love conquers all' is nothing but Deep Purple; with Blackmore and Lord fantastic musical contribution. I would say that my favourite song is the 'The cut runs deep', inspite the fact that it is hard to pick one particular song from these great collection of songs.

The overall album is better than the 'House of Blue light'and I would think that was because of the tension of few members which was obvious in the songwriting and ended by Gillan leaving.

It is a must for Deep Purple fans, from my point of view.

I'm very upset to see that people call this album just allright. This is such a wonderful album. This album contains Joe Lynn Turner on vocals, surprising to see as he was RAINBOW's lead singer. With Joe Lynn on vocals it reminds me more of Rainbow than Purple but still an excellant Purple album. The openeing track, KING OF DREAMS, was at the time of release in 1990, a very radio friendly song. I can't say anything bad about any track on this album. I found this album much better than THE HOUSE OF BLUE LIGHT. I would still suggest the purchase of THE HOUSE, but this is an album worth the purchase. The mellowist song on here is LOVE CONQUERS ALL, but is almost the best song on this album. If I had to chose the best song on this album, I would have the biggest problem with doing so, but would have to chose TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH. The album consists of the normal brilliant guitar work by none other than Ritchie Blackmore. The organ/keyboard work of Jon Lord, well what can I say, is excellant. This is a worth while album to purchase and I strongly suggest doing so before you will be unable to do.

"Slaves And Masters" is one of the least heard and most misunderstood Deep Purple albums. Released in '90, it got a bit of notice for the great leadoff track, 'King Of Dreams', then...nothing. The cd isn't even in print in the US (or the UK as far as I know) anymore. A lot of Purple fans dismiss this one as well, not because of the music, but because this is the only Purple album to feature Joe Lynn Turner as lead vocalist. I could care less who's singing, as long as the vocals are good and the music works. And those two qualifications are, of course, met and exceeded. There is some classic Deep Purple material on here. Of course, as has been the case with every Purple release since the '84 regrouping, there is also some filler. But the great material far outweighs the mediocre. The only problem I can see with "Slaves And Masters" is the production-- too slick. The mix is a tad too steeped in '80's metal for the full power of some of the tracks to come through. But that's a minor quibble; after all, it was 1990. Check out this cd, by all means.

Back around 1990 I kept hearing this song on FM Rock stations called King of Dreams. I absolutely loved the sound and the vocals of it. When I found out it was Deep Purple I was blown away. I grew up listening to DP in the 70's, first from the "Made in Japan" album, then at the Californis Jam. To me it didn't matter who the lead singer was, it was all about the music. VERY few groups could boast the tightness of DP with Blackmore and Lord trading solos. Needless to say I ran right out and bought the tape.

Overall this is a slightly different sounding DP. Of course Turner as lead singer contrasts with any other singer DP ever had. He has more of a gritty sound to him, and the music here seems to have been included to accentuate that. Highlights here are the afore-mentioned "King of Dreams", "The Cut Runs Deep" and "Wicked Ways". All three can match up well to any Deep Purple song.

I would recommend this to any DP fan who is looking for a very strong sounding CD.

I don't understand why so many critics break their spears on this masterpiece. This is absolutely great work from one of the best bands in the history of rock'n'roll. In fact, I think that "Slaves And Masters" together with "Perfect Strangers" make the only two really great albums Deep Purple recorded after the reunion. And who says that Joe Lynn Turner does not fit well into the Band? Yes, his voice is much more "passionate" and slightly lower-pitched than Gillan's, but lets face it - even in 1984 Mr. Gillan showed only the shadow of his former power. Consequent albums (with Gillan back) proved to be real disaster. I think the only mistake Deep Purple made was to let Turner go after "Slaves And Masters", because all that followed was mockery comparing to what Deep Purple once were. Take my word for it - buy this album, you will enjoy it. By the way, "Love Conquers All" actually made me cry and there are very few songs that had such power on me (none of Gillan's definitely).

I just can't put less than 5 stars to a DEEP PURPLE album.Of course Slaves and Masters is far behind Machine head or In rock or Stormbringer but is still a great album.
Joe Lynn Turner-on vocals on this album-sings like he has never sing before, the music is much stronger than on Rainbow's turner era and he pushes his voice to the limits, coming sometimes close to Coverdale.Slaves and masters suffers from a typically 90's production-Ian Paice's drumming lacks the famous ghosts notes, which makes it more rigid.
STill SLAVES grooves hard with FIRE IN THE BASEMENT ,BREAKFAST IN BED, rocks hard with THE CUT RUNS DEEP or WICKED WAYS and puts you in magical moods with KING OF DREAMS, LOVE CONQUERS ALL,...
Some might say it's more of a RAINBOW album than a DP, well then it's the best Rainbow album since Rising!
This break in MARK 2 was not in vain, it prepared the come back of GILLAN for the final Mark 2 BATTLE RAGES ON album and gave us the chance to hear songs like BURN performed by DP in the 90's on stage.
The more I write about this album, the more I remember it and the more I want to listen to it and if you still want to hear an album 11 years after its release, it sure means it is a good one.

Well, Deep Purple had a noticably different (matching the times) sound post-reunion as it was, but this album sounds different even from the ones around it. It's the "Machine Head" lineup, but with Ian Gillan replaced on vocals with Joe Lynn Turner, who has a very different style - Turner has a smoother, crooner rock voice like David Coverdale (I've noticed Blackmore never tried to find another singer in the Gillan vein when he worked with different singers in Purple!). The band similarly seems toned down to match - this album doesn't seem to have the kick of "Perfect Strangers" or "Battle Rages On". So, if your looking for more like that you won't find it here! But, the songs are good hard rock more in the style of mid/early 80's Whitesnake, and I rather like this album now I've gotten used to it for what it is.