Machine Head - Song By Song

[Zzzptm]

Oh whoops, I was gonna do When a Blind Man Cries before getting to side 2.

I'll say that I first didn't care for it, but it's a song that gets better with each listen. I think it's the Mk2 song that's closest to the Morse era of all their material. It also points directly towards Dio-era Rainbow with the mix of classical and blues influences in the guitar part. It's a very mature song, probably why teenage me didn't like it, twentysomething me couldn't care one way or another, but the me of the last 20 years or so has liked it more and more.

[Zzzptm]

Smoke on the Water

For the discussion, consider the source material for the music and lyrical phrasing:

The dah-da-da of Bossa Nova became DUH-DUH-DUH of Heavy Metal.

[Zzzptm]

Smoke on the Water...

... Astrud Gilberto aside, this song has a great riff. Take the Bossa Nova, slow it down, chunk it up, and it gets a fair aggro feel to it all. This one is another tune like "Highway Star" that points the way to Stoner/Desert rock, especially with the 8-cylinder drum and bass rhythm. It's a simple tune, exceptionally well played.

I once made a playlist of ALL the versions of Smoke on the Water that I could find. Then I played the list to see how long I'd last with it. About 20 versions, all but one live, and it's great all the way through. I love singing along with it, both the lyrics and the growling DUH DUU DUU DUH DUU DU-DUUUUHHHHHHH. How many kids started playing guitar with that riff line? Think about that.

Legendary song, and rightly so. It does not fade with age.

[Charger]

Smoke On The Water is a stone cold classic.

It is a solid proof that a simple riff can a big song make. But honestly there's so much more to this song than that iconic riff. The solid drum work from Paicey, the masterful keyboards from Lord, and ofcourse the brilliant delivery of vocals by Ian. And ofcourse the iconic true story told by the lyrics is nothing short of suberb.

This is also where Purple went miles ahead of Sabbath. They made a rather simple riff a-la Paranoid as well BUT they added much more to the song and their big hit actually turned out to be a great song where Paranoid is just something overly simplistic hobbled together in 30 minutes.

What a song...just what a song.

[Zzzptm]

I like the angle you take on comparing the two songs. There's definitely way more structure and form to SoTW - and the lyrics even tell a proper story, from a stupid with a flare gun to Funky Claude.

[Charger]

I thought the comparison here was necessary...after all those two songs are their greatest hits. Both pretty much because of the riff...

[Zzzptm]

... and although I don't have a recording of Blackmore doing Paranoid, I do have several of Iommi doing Smoke on the Water. And Iommi playing that tune is just as amazing as Blackmore at his height.

[Charger]

Yeah I don't think Ritchie has ever played Paranoid...not exactly his style of a song anyways...

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Lazy

One thing which I always fail to appreciate is just how long it takes for the vocals to arrive (ca 4:20)!

I am not a fan of the opening keyboard solo, but as soon as the jam starts proper it's a fantastic song. I think the song could work without the vocals but Ian does a good job so it's fine.

[Zzzptm]

Lazy

One man's "I'm not a fan of" is another man's "Oh wow this was totally my favorite part."

Let me tell you how that keyboard intro is my favorite part of the whole album, especially when it reaches down deep and loud and mighty. Totally blew my mind. Lazy isn't my favorite song, but that intro is my favorite part of the album.

[Charger]

Ah Lazy.

As Ian likes to introduce it "The instrumental with lyrics". And that is what it is.

Another such a wonderful song. This is Jon Lord show through and through. The keyboard work here is nothing short of suberb.

But honestly there is so much going on in this song that it's almost impossible to dissect it. But in addition to the keyboards one stand out feature is Ian's harmonica work. Adds such a nice different layer to the song.

This has always been one of my favourites...but then again...this whole album is filled with "one of my favourites"...

[Zzzptm]

What's so wild is that unlike other albums, there are no tracks on the cutting room floor or in drawers waiting to be rediscovered. Those 8 tracks, that's what they did, that's what you get.

[Zzzptm]

DUH DUH
DUH DUH DUH
DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH DUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUH
DUH DUH



I love this song, dudes. I have always loved this song. I will always love this song. It's got a fun nonsense sci-fi lyric about driving trucks in space. THAT IS SO FUN. The band are totally not caught up in themselves and are having great fun blowing out the speakers with this awesome tune. Great finish to arguably the best of the DP albums.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Space Truckin'

Another masterpeice. Musically great and lyrically "tongue-in-cheek", it's a fine way to finish the album (if exclude When A Blind Man Cries from the Anniversary Edition).

A slight problem is that whenever I hear the title I'm reminded of the 1987 novelty song by The Firm called Star Trekkin'! I think I found it vaguely amusing the first time I heard it, but it's long since lost its charm, sorry I couldn't help sharing the pain ...

[Zzzptm]

Not gonna click on that video!

This is why I put WaBMC after Never Before, because Space Truckin is such a monster closer tune.