Deep Purple – Fireball (1971)

You know you're old when not only are you looking at a 25th anniversary release of an album, but find that it was released in this format nearly 30 years ago.

While I never owned this album, Deep Purple were one of my earliest musical tastes, before the discovery of prog, Canterbury and punk, possibly the first thing I took notice of beyond the top 40 pop charts.

The title track, Fireball, was one of the first singles I ever bought, the last of the band's three top ten singles during 1970-71, and it's with the whoosh!, then frantic drum roll followed by Ian Gillan's distinctive vocals and the 100 mph accompaniment that the album kicks off, complete with Jon Lord organ sections. I'll argue, that whatever came after, this isn't a metal album, it's much more a blues sound, with hints of psychedelia, and this is never more evident on the next two songs No No No and Demon's Eye (which was the B side of the Fireball single). Both are fine, and Ritchie Blackmore's guitar shines through, but not classics. Anyone's Daughter is a silly, country-bluesy piece, a bit out of character, certainly for what Deep Purple were to become, but still enjoyable.

The Mule was to become a live favourite, giving the band the opportunity of extensive soloing, much of which they cram into the five minutes her, while Fools, the longest song on the album, and it's a bit of a slow blues-rock marathon, with the original album ending with No One Came, a bit of an anti-climactic ending to the album, although its funky feel in the jam sections are more enjoyable than the song itself.

Of course, as the 25th Anniversary reissue, there's more bonus tracks than originals, some more worthwhile than others. The hit single Strange Kind Of Woman, a bit of a plodder but nice to hear again is there, along with it's B-side, I'm Alone, worth its place as a B side.

There are a couple of pointless remixes, a couple of album outtakes - Freedom and Slow Train, neither awful, neither a massive omission from the album, the instrumental Fireball, and a couple of bits which come under the category of "Dicking About In The Studio" and should never have seen the light of day.

But the original album is a joyful step back half a century, with enough to merit occasional revisiting. But we all know, I'm not following them down the metal road!

Link to full album

4* - this still sounds ahead of its time, and a great listen.