 May 11th 1968, 5 guys enter into a studio in England
to record SHADES OF PURPLE.
Ever since the man i
black has carried a shadow of purple, Deep Purple. The musical adventoure have
been lika a Rainbow – colourful. Now we have Blackmore`s Night. It is still
day.We will
comment briefly on the period leading up to the recording session in 68, and
celebrate as we hit the date.
Blackmore
is doing a lot of session work for a variety of artists. In 1965 he releases a
solo project of his own. Blackmores Orchestra releases a rare single. He
relocates to Germany.
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 Deep Purple ‘Concerto for Group and Orchestra’.
Yes I was there!! At the Royal Albert Hall in London for the most
spectacular concert with Deep Purple and the Royal Philharmonic
Orchestra! Of course, I still have the original LP (Harvest SHVL 767)
Hey, I’m in the photo of the crowd somewhere!
I was very fortunate because I worked for many record companies in an
era that was never to be repeated. It meant that I have fantastic
memories of seeing great rock bands up close. This was one of the
greatest concerts (although being at the Albert Hall to see Pink Floyd
and watch Rick Wright walking round the enormous theatre and up all the
stairs to the Royal Albert Hall organ to perform ‘Saucerful Of Secrets’
– is a pretty close second!!)
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Les mer...
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November 1967
Blackmore lives in Germany. He is asked to join a new band being set up.
Luckily the request to join awakes his couriousity and interest. He
decides to follow up on the question to join up.
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December 1967
Blackmore goes back to England and meets up with Jon Lord. They do the
groundwork for ”And the adress” and ”Mandrake Root” - it has started…..
Two giants in music have started something bigger than anyone could
predict. The two songs are later included on the first Purple release,
Shades of Purple.
Recommended listening for anyone who doesn`t know the release.
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January 1968
A lot of stuff happens in and around the project moving in direction of
becoming a band. Blackmore is essensial. Little is known about the events
to take place. This year, 1968, is to become extremely important in the
life of Blackmore and his development as a musiscian. Something is about
to happen.
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February 1968
Backmore, Lord, Simper og Woodman moves into a house to work with their
musikal ideas. They want to create a new band with the support of Tony
Edwards and John Coletta.
In February they start a long period auditions and rehearsals in Deeves
Hall, South Mimms.
Lord and Blackmore guest on a Boz Burrell single "I Shall Be Released”
this month.
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March 1968
Ian Paice replaces Woodman. Rod Evans is chosen as
vocalist. ”Mandrake Root” gets lyrics. Several tunes are created. A
coverversjon of The Beatles tune ”Help” is developed. They make a demo.
”Hush” , ”Help”, ”Love help me” and ”Shadows” are the tracks being
taped.
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April 1968
A demo is recorded in Trident Studios. Ritchie reaches his 23.rd birthday
on the 14.th of this month. 20.04.68 they play their first concert on
their first tour wich takes them to Denmark. Named Roundabout they play
several dates, kicking off at Tastrup Vestpoppen Parkskolen.
And the adress” og ”Mandrake Root” aret he only original songs to be
played on this tour.
Ritchie Blackmore succedes in getting them to change their name into ”Deep
Purple” and announces it on a live TV appearance during the tour. They
perform “Help” on this TV show.
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 May 1968
A vital period for the band. A historic event takes place. On May 11 - 13.
they are in studio and records their first album – “Shades of Deep Purple”. The
music is called prog, pop, psychedelia, later labelled as proto-prog by
some. ”Mandrake Root” av Blackmore og Evans is on the album. Also a
version of the Joe South song called “Hush” is recorded for the album.
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The record Shades of Deep Purple is launched in USA. Hush becomes a hit.
It is Blackmore who wanted to do a cover version of the song. MKI becomes popular in
USA and Hush proves to be their biggest hit in USA. The band is on radio, tv and do
concerts. The song is released by Purple 20 years later in 1988 on a single.
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From MKI to MKII, 1969 a year of great change.
Even though September 24th saw the performqance of the Concerto for group and orchestra and lot of media interest, something that really helped getting the attention they deserved in Uk we know it was 1970 that really lifted it. Yet the concerto was not their first live performance, that took place 10th of July at Speakeasy in London. After the Concerto they did a gig at Montreux in Switzeland in October, not knowing what that venue would mean to them a few years later….
Their first release was also put out in 1969, the single Hallelujah/April part 1(recorded in June) was released in several countries, in November it came out in Japan making us think forward, eh? Not making a lot happen among fans. The single was made to promote the Concerto in U and was released 24 th of July. Still it is their first and worth a note 40 years later – and it was a strange one, one MKI song and one MKII song! The title seem to be prophetic – I certainly can get into a Hallelujah over the fantastic music of Deep Purple MKII.
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Project 40 
