Stormbringer (UK) [IMPORT]

Deep Purple

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 10, 1998)
• Original Release Date: 1974
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: EMI Europe Generic
• ASIN: B000005RTA
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #144,947 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Track Listings

1. Stormbringer

2. Love Don't Mean a Thing

3. Holy Man

4. Hold On

5. Lady Double Dealer

6. You Can't Do It Right

7. Highball Shooter

8. Gypsy

9. Soldier of Fortune

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

1974 album for EMI, a top 20 release in the U.S. album charts. Nine tracks featuring the line up of Blackmore, Coverdale, Hughes, Lord & Paice, including 'Stormbringer' & 'Lady Double Dealer'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bring It On, December 12, 2004

By	Michael Ladano "Rock Aficionado" (Kitchener, ON) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Stormbringer is another awkward CD in the Deep Purple canon. Some say that for every "great" DP album, there is a poor one that follows it. I don't agree with this formula, though it is the same formula many Trekkers use when discussing their favourite movies. In Rock was followed by Fireball, which some (including many in Deep Purple) felt was substandard. That was followed by the brilliant, immortal Machine Head, which was in turn succeeded by the tired Who Do We Think We Are!

Stormbringer followed Burn, a rebirth of sorts for Deep Purple. Gone were shouter Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover. In were rookie David Coverdale, and his partner in crime Glenn Hughes. Coverdale was a bluesier singer, and Hughes was a funky bass player who enjoyed singing soul music. Their addition brought new life to Burn, an excellent record with hints of these new influences.

Stormbringer, however, seemed to be more a product of the new members than the old. Hughes was now singing leads instead of just backups (see "Holy Man") and Richie Blackmore took a step back in the songwriting; a first for him. Two songs do not bear his writing credit at all. In addition his guitar stylings, where once aggresive and powerful, were now largely smooth and sublime.

A lot of fans did not like the funkier, softer direction of the band. You can understand this, of course. A fan who loved In Rock, one of the heaviest records of any decade, was going to be turned off by the radio-ready soul funk of "Hold On".

Here's the good news: Whatever Deep Purple set their minds to, they could do. And they could do it well.

Blackmore may not have liked the album, and may have taken a step back in the mix, (you can barely hear any guitar on "Hold On") but he could adapt and play any style. His playing here, while sparse, is still excellent. Ian Paice adapts to the funky rhythms very well, laying down some excellent grooves. Jon Lord steps up to the forfront, supplying some excellent, funky keys.

There are a few songs that hark back to the past: "Stormbringer", the title track, sounds as solid as any epic the band had ever composed. It could have been on Burn as easily as this record. In fact, it stands out as being out of place: As the opening track, fans must have been shocked and surprised when the rest of the album was so different. "The Gypsy" is a slow moody piece, perhaps akin to "Mistreated" from the previous album.

One track showed an interesting glimpse of the future. "Soldier Of Fortune" is an acoustic track which forshadowed much of the music Blackmore would do with Rainbow, and even now with Blackmore's Night. David Coverdale in fact performed it live with Whitesnake on an acoustic CD in the late 90's. It is one of Richie Blackmore's finest compositions.

With Stormbringer being such a departure, it wasn't surprising that most of the band felt that a return to a "rock" sound would be wise for its followup. The band were quoted in interviews at the time stating that the next album would be a "rocker". It would also be the first without Richie Blackmore on lead guitar, as Stormbringer was the nail in the coffin for him. He was replaced by American Tommy Bolin. With Bolin Deep Purple did indeed return to a rock sound (retaining some funk) and put out the splendid Come Taste The Band...continuing the Deep Purple saga of a strong album following a weaker one.

Having said all this, I give Stormbringer five stars because it's an extremely entertaining and interesting listen. You'll never again hear Blackmore playing as funky as he does on "You Can't Do It Right", and it's a treat. Viewing this album as a temporary departure from the core Deep Purple sound, five stars seems appropriate.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Deep Purple's Most Misundersood Album, January 18, 2006

By	JAMES MCCORMICK (cedar rapids, Iowa United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Deep Purple - "Strombringer"

5 Stars = Masterpiece

Just about everybody's least favorite DP album, but "Stormbringer" is an excellent vocals showcase. Coverdale & Hughes just sing their hearts out on this album, showing their sincere & valid love of r & b & soul. The songs are just incredible in achieving their goals as they transcend their influences for an album unlike any other Blackmore era Deep Purple, or any other album by a heavy metal band at the time for that matter. Fans of the band hated this album & any many still do, to bad to, because "Stormbringer" showed that a heavy metal band could be both heavy & soulful on the same record & make it work. No small achievement, a real gem!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Musical evolution inside Deep Purple MK III in 1974, December 13, 2005

A Kid's Review

never heard of DP? therefore you gave this album 1974 only 3 stars? This line up 1974 was a legendary MK III (David Coverdale on voice, he formed whitesnake later in 1978).
The title track itself is excellent, a heavy title Deep Purple always played on stage during the 70's hey day.
The other songs like love do not mean a thing (you will enjoy it while you're sitting in the bar and drink your beer), holy man (a very slow but absolutely an enjoyable soul rock song), the gypsy (a classic hard rock ballad), high ball shoother (a classic rock n roll song), Lady double dealer (a wonderful hard rock masterpiece). The last track Soldier of fortune is a moody pretty ballad you will never forget!
Stormbringer album is a transition from DP's typical hard rock sound into heavy bluesy rock & soul rock sound. As a result: Deep Purple plays all musical tunes since the last 34 years...they play anything such as Blues rock, classical elements, hard rock/heavy Rock n roll, soul-funky metal, beautiful ballads, Jazz fusion Rock, instrumental playing guitar or electric piano/organ etc...
Deep purple does all musical directions in their different albums with different line ups 1968 - 2003:
Ian Gillan (long time ago singer and a current singer), Roger Glover (long time ago bassist and a current bassist), Ritchie Blackmore (long time ago guitar man), David Coverdale (long time ago singer), Glenn Hughes (long time ago bassist), Jon Lord (long time ago organist but also a current organist, retired in 2002), Don Airey (a current Keyboarder & Lord's replacement since 2002), Steve Morse (a current guitar player), Tommy Bolin (a long time ago guitar man - RIP), Ian Paice (long time ago and a current drummer).

Deep Purple fans can't be wrong