Perfect Strangers LP: How Has It Aged?

[Zzzptm]

I remember picking this up when I was in the 11th grade, back in 1985, and I was so stoked for it. I had been a massive DP fan since the 8th grade and was resigned to the fact that they weren't ever getting back together, what with Blackmore doing Rainbow and Gillan doing his solo stuff and then going to Black Sabbath, Lord and Paice in Whitesnake... or Garry Moore...

... and then "Destiny brought them together. Again." Loved that sticker on the plastic wrap.

Brought it home and did all I could to love it as much as Machine Head.

I tried, really really hard.

First thing I noticed was that Paice's drumming was really restrained. Not a lot of fills, like he'd done on MH or Burn or MiJ... Blackmore played like he did in Rainbow, not like he did in early DP. Lord's soloing was minimal. I liked the record, I don't think I gave myself any other option at the time, but there were some songs that, even at the time, just sounded a bit too 80s and not enough like the sound they used to have.

"Perfect Strangers", the title track, has been able to best stand the test of time. "A Gypsy's Kiss" is another that I've been able to keep listening to - but it's pretty clear to me that Gillan was in charge of the parts where he was singing and Blackmore had full run of the instrumental section. "Wasted Sunsets" never really clicked with me, and neither did "Nobody's Home". That last one was pretty poppy, maybe to get the kids interested in the dinosaurs, who knows...

But, listening to it again, I feel like it pales next to not only its older cousins, but the younger ones, as well. Both Purpendicular and Now What!? are far better offerings, in my opinion. Unlike my revisit to CTTB, going back to PS reminds me of when I was a kid, but doesn't open up any new realizations.

[AnnoMundi]

This has to be one of my favorite DP albums


It has aged very well.

[Charger]

I have some mixed emotions about Perfect Strangers...

I mean the title track and Knocking At your Back Door are both stellar tracks...right up there with any Purple classic...but the rest of the album is not even closely in the same league...the other standout tracks are Nobody's Home and Gypsy's Kiss...the rest are nothing great. There is a very strong 80s sound present here...which clearly came from Ritchie and his overly commercial Rainbow stuff at the time.

And I do agree with ZZZ that this was more of an Ian Gillan/Ritchie Blackmore show than a proper band outfit. The power and presense of the classic Deep Purple wasn't there. But also in a way this is a natural continuation for Who Do We Think We Are which was already was a bit softer and cleaner release compared to the "classic" 3 from Mk2.

But frankly this is a must have album just for the title track alone which is one of Deep Purple's best ever tracks.

[discman69]

I will give a listen today at work. Other than the title track and back door I haven't really listened to this album much.

Edit: So on Spotify Under the Gun, Hungry Daze, and Not responsible are not available to listen to.

[Tyr66]

This has to be one of my favorite DP albums


It has aged very well.

+1 

[discman69]

So after giving it a full spin, I would say it's still a solid album. The fact for me that it has one of the best DP tunes of all time helps it keep it's freshness. Mean Streak is a pretty bad tune but I think the rest is still rocking. I mean it does sound very 80's, but that was the sound back then.

[Zzzptm]

So after giving it a full spin, I would say it's still a solid album. The fact for me that it has one of the best DP tunes of all time helps it keep it's freshness. Mean Streak is a pretty bad tune but I think the rest is still rocking. I mean it does sound very 80's, but that was the sound back then.

True. The 80s were very 80s...