release date: Jan. 13, 1973
format: vinyl (TPSA 7508) / cd (2002 remaster)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,86]
producer: Deep Purple
label: Purple Records - nationality: England, UK
Tracklist: A) 1. "Woman From Tokyo" (4 / 5) - 2. "Mary Long" (4 / 5) - 3. "Super Trouper" (3 / 5) - 4. "Smooth Dancer" (3,5 / 5) - - B) 1. "Rat Bat Blue" (4 / 5) - 2. "Place in Line" (3 / 5) - 3. "Our Lady" (3,5 / 5)
7th studio album by Deep Purple released on Purple and produced by the band had its official release in the US in January and in the UK and Europe one month later. With this the band has moved somewhat away from the harder heavy metal sound they have showcased on Deep Purple in Rock (1970) and Machine Head (1972), and are more blues rock founded. Deep Purple always had a huge crowd of fans in the US, as they saw as their primary market, and they have throughout their career paid tribute to the blues and especially the Hendrix version of blues rock.
The album sold well, although peaking at number #4 in the UK and number #15 in the US, but it still made it to top the albums chart lists in several countries in the throughout Europe.
Although, fans of the band and many critics do not agree, I find that this is one their better albums. It's the last with the 'Mark II' constitution of the band as both Ian Gillan and Roger Glover left the band in the summer of '73 due to tensions and heavy disputes within the band.
Imho, this is the last fine studio album by Deep Purple.
[ allmusic.com album 2 / 5 stars ]
