Machine Head - Song By Song

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

When A Blind Man Cries

This a nice gentle song, probably not suitable as an album closer and I'm sure if it had been part of the original release it would have been elsewhere. Yes it's a good song and while the lyrics are heart-felt and genuine I think they are a little cheesey. But that's a minor quibble.

[Zzzptm]

It's a great song, all the same, and I've grown in my appreciation of it with the passing years. For blues, it ain't Mistreated or Lazy, but it's still a lovely tune.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

The inevitable ranking of the songs:

Truly great songs:

Smoke on the Water
Highway Star
Space Truckin'

Still fantastic:

Lazy
Pictures of Home

By No Means Bad:

When A Blind Man Cries
Maybe I'm A Leo
Never Before

[Charger]

Space Truckin' is again one of those landmark songs. That intro, that riff, that mini drum solo...just damn near perfection all around.

The lyrics are on the funky side but they still work brilliantly. And Ian's delivery is absolutely top notch.


When A Blind Man Cries... Now this is a song that I didn't much care for to be honest... UNTIL I heard the incredible live version on Live At The Olympia. This is once again one of those songs that truly came to its own in a live setting.

I'm not a big ballad fan and the studio version always came off as bit dull...eventhough it was just a little over 3 minute song it always felt longer. But when I heard the near 8 (!!) minute live version it actually felt shorter! It added so much more emotion and energy to the deep blues song.
I still very rarely listen to the studio version. If I want to listen to this song live at the Olympia is the way to go. Ian's vocal preformance on that alone is to die for. And Steve's guitar work on that actually beats that of Ritchie's 100 to 5! I do ponder what this song would have sounded like back in 1972 had the band preformed it live...

[Zzzptm]

100% agree for WaBMC on the LatO set. It's the best version we can get our ears on.

Rankings...

Awesome:
Never Before

Excellent:
When a Blind Man Cries
Maybe I'm a Leo

WHY I LOVE DEEP PURPLE
Lazy
Pictures of Home
Highway Star
Smoke on the Water

DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUDE IT'S SPACE TRUCKIN' TURN IT UP
Space Truckin'

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Of the three DP albums we've analysed I would rank them as follows:

1) Machine Head
2) Fireball
3) In Rock

[Charger]

^^
My rating would be exactly the same.


Putting these tracks in order though is quite impossible...

But it might look something like this:

1.  Highway Star
2. Space Truckin'
3. Lazy
4. Smoke On The Water
5. Pictures Of Home
6. Maybe I'm A Leo
7. Never Before
8. When A Blind Man Cries

But the differences would be marginal at best! This album is just so damn GOOD!

[Zzzptm]

It's my favorite album, period.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Listening to these albums has hi-lighted in my mind why Blackmore wanted to leave and set up a band where he was in charge. He does stella work here, but quite often he's not doing that and letting other musicians (often Lord) take a prominent lead. In the early days that was probably fine but he's never been someone who plays second to anyone out of choice!

[Zzzptm]

Listening to these albums has hi-lighted in my mind why Blackmore wanted to leave and set up a band where he was in charge. He does stella work here, but quite often he's not doing that and letting other musicians (often Lord) take a prominent lead. In the early days that was probably fine but he's never been someone who plays second to anyone out of choice!

This has me thinking about another thread... brb...