Machine Head

MACHINE HEAD breathes the rarefied air of being among the best that classic rock has to offer any generation since Elvis. Besides standing the test of time, 98% of Deep Purple fans agree it's the finest album featuring Glover, Gillan, Paice, Lord & Blackmore. Even Glover, Gillan, Paice, Lord & Blackmore think it's their best. Considering where MACHINE HEAD was recorded and how little time Purple had to write and record it, it should've sounded awful and been rife with lackluster songwriting and half-baked musical ideas. The finished product sounded so good the only surprise was the band never again tried recording in a hallway in the Grand Hotel. In 1972 Glover, Gillan, Paice, Lord & Blackmore were the cutting edge of hard rock musicianship, revered as virtuosos in the Zeppelin weight class. I'll take the Pepsi challenge and put MACHINE HEAD up against any Led Zep album any day of the week. I won't say that about any other Deep Purple album except putting the unedited, unfixed MADE IN JAPAN up against the heavily-doctored THE SONG REMAINS THE SAME. The way Purple constructed the songs on this is brilliant. Hearing the ingenious way Lord and Blackmore comp behind one another while the other solos is a wonderful give-and-take between them AND when they really light it up and play the same lines at the same time they sound like one guy. Paice's hyper drumming propels the front line on, aided and abetted with Glover's frenetic but clever bass work. Gillan has to put a face on all this and does so with aplomb by singing often humorous and self-deprecating lyrics, i.e. the character delusional with loneliness asking an empty room "where have they hidden my throne." The vocalist seldom essays his patented shrieking in key here, until the last song 'Space Truckin' when he gives it his best, better than 'Child In Time' I'd hazard to say. The magic of MACHINE HEAD is the way the band performed the material. Purple's listeners are presented with five superb musicians playing in the most relaxed fashion, almost to the point of nonchalance; the band is a hot rod capable of cruising at 160 mph BUT they idle along at 90. An example would be comparing Purp's 'Highway Star' to Zep's 'Achilles Last Stand.' Both are ferocious rock songs: Zeppelin sounds like they're giving it all they've got, like it's the last chance they'll ever get to play; Purple burns just as hard but they've got rocket fuel to spare, like they're just getting warmed up. They could've ripped MACHINE HEAD's music to shreds but they didn't. What the listeners are left with is a feeling of understated majesty, a restrained power so casual it belies how smokin' every tune on the album is. The mix is ultra clean, you feel like you're standing in the middle of them in that cold hallway while they're laying down each track. I was particularly interested in Roger Glover's remixes. They're good, the highlight being the alternate guitar overdubs on three or four of the seven songs. But truth be told MACHINE HEAD is such a classic that I still prefer the remastered originals over Glover's remixes. Purple and Martin Birch chose the best takes forty years ago, but the remixes are a lot of fun to listen to. The inclusion of 'When A Blind Man Cries" recorded at the original sessions is a nice but unnecessary bonus; I can hear why Blackmore didn't like it and why it was only released as a B-side instead of on the album. It might even have spoiled the classic-ness of one of rock's brightest great moments.

This 1972 release by English heavy metal group Deep Purple is thunderous; a massive wall of progressive hard rock that overwhelms at times. Although I have not listened to this record in a long (long) time, the memories came back pretty quickly and it is every bit as good as I remember it being. Better even, because there no skips and pops with the CD format. For me, the Mk. II lineup defined the Deep Purple sound; the ensemble playing and group dynamic that they established on Machine Head is awesome. Roger Glover (love the tone he gets out of his Rickenbacker bass) and drummer Ian Paice burn on this album and Ritchie Blackmore proves himself a virtuoso on the electric guitar. I am a huge fan of Jon Lord's Hammond organ playing - he runs it through a fuzz box (I think) which gives his organ a simply ferocious sound - the classical flourishes are also nice. Last but certainly not least, is lead singer (screamer) Ian Gillan. This guy has one of the most powerful voices in rock (then and now); a voice that occupies a space somewhere between Peter Hammill and Arthur Brown. Although Highway Star and (especially) Smoke on the Water suffered from overplaying on the radio, the album still sounds fresh today - the sound on Machine Head is not dated in the least. Many of the tracks are built around (awesome) riffs - the guys vary the riffs though, so they do not simply lapse into an endless ostinato over which solos are layered. There is a somewhat improvisational feel to certain of the tracks - this would be explored further on the live album Made in Japan (1972). My favorite tracks include Pictures of Home and the bluesy track Lazy - this is a great tune to jam to. This remastered album is great and features liner notes by Roger Glover, a few extra tracks (singles), and various remixes of the album (one by Roger in 1997). The 1997 remix sounds like a "live in the studio" recording - the remix of Lazy is excellent. There are also quadrophonic mixes of a few tunes. I have to admit that I am a stick in the mud when it comes to these things and really have no interest in the extra tracks (I have the vinyl album burned into my mind). However, they should prove of interest to fans. The sound quality of the original remastered album is outstanding. All in all, this is a fantastic album of hard rock that boasts the definitive Deep Purple sound. Highly recommended along with the blistering In Rock (1970), the more experimental Fireball (1971), and one of the landmark live rock albums Made in Japan (1972).

A few small ticks and pops, but nothing obtrusive. Soundstage is nice and wide, with great dynamics, which you would expect from a Kevin Gray mastered vinyl. I used to have an original (probably late 70's reissue) that I played to death in my youth. Somewhere along it's journey, I loaned it to a friend and never had it returned. I never replaced the vinyl as I at one point purchased the CD, then the Roger Glover remix double CD, which were my primary listeners. Spinning this now, it takes me back to my youth. Actually, this one probably sounds better from a quiet vinyl standpoint. As others have noted, this could probably use a touch of treble if you have a warm system. The noise floor is pretty deep, so it can take some volume (as any DP should!). The low end and the drums/cymbals sound perfect in the mix. And that organ solo on the intro to Lazy sounds so thick, you just have to turn it up! Ritchie's guitar slices through like the proverbial fiery sword through butter. Now off to the Ultrasonic to see if I can't rid myself of those few minor ticks. Oh, and the packaging could be better...a little seam tear on the inner sleeve, as the LP was just in it's shrink thrown in a much too large box, not the usual quality I expect from the Zon.

Had this album when it came out. Great music, all time classic that still resonates today. Had the album till I divorced and left it with 300 other albums in California . Still can’t believe I left this album behind, along with many other great albums. But it’s mine again.

This record needs no introduction to the music and how good it is. If you're looking at it, it's a great album to add to your collection. I rounded out my Deep Purple collection with this. The first record I got had a big bubble in the vinyl that bumped out on both sides, it also had the side two label on both sides of the record. I ordered a replacement and this pressing was of good quality and sound (180 Gram) but unfortunately the label situation was the same. I'm keeping the second record since the vinyl is sonically sound. Only reason for four stars is the quality control of the manufacturer, the music is outstanding.

My only complaint with this one is that it's too short. Smoke on the Water is on this, but in my opinion, it's the worst song here. Highway Star, Lazy, and Space Truckin' are my favorites. Easy to see why so many headbangers revere this album- it was almost metal before metal existed. I don't know if Deep Purple were rivals to Led Zeppelin or not, but it sounds like they easily could have been.

This was a real treat! As I've been getting back into vinyl collecting over the last year and a half, I've come across a few LPs that really surprised me with just how great they sounded. And Machine Head was one of those LPs! I had expected that this album would sound great but it sounded even better than I had thought it might. It was a 180 gram vinyl LP and I believe that it it was a remaster. I'd have to take a look at it again to check but that information would also be in the description of this vinyl record here on Amazon anyway. The low end bass, as well as the high-end frequencies and mid-range too, were a perfect blend with a rich and full dynamic range on this pressing. I had also bought another Deep Purple remastered LP a day or two later but it was nothing like this remaster of Machine Head unfortunately. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't as good and surprising as Machine Head was. I would highly recommend Machine Head to any classic rock lover because this one is outstanding in the job done on it. It is very rich and mixed very well and it's one of the better albums I've come across in the last 6 months or so as far as the quality and richness of the sound is concerned. I may wind up buying a second copy just to keep an extra around because I will be playing this one a lot :-)

This item arrived on time and in good condition. It is a great rocking album.