Deep Purple - Who Do We Think We Are

Details:

• Year of release : 1973
• Label : Purple Records TPSA 7508
• Review format : vinyl

Faced with the daunting prospect of following Machine Head it was almost inevitable that Who Do We Think We Are would fail to live up to expectations. What was perhaps a little less expected was that it would also mark the final studio output from this ‘classic’ line-up, at least for another 11 years anyway when the Perfect Stranger LP marked the first reformation.

It all starts off superbly however as Ian Paice’s drums and a signature Blackmore riff signals the hit single Woman From Tokyo. Celebrating the bands tour of Japan it’s trademark stuff with Jon Lord’s keys providing a fully textured backdrop over the mild mid-section and Gillan’s soft vocals before the memorable all out assault on the chorus. Quite accurately considered a Purple classic its also by far this releases stand out track and being first up there is a feeling of ‘all downhill from here’.

Mary Long presents a not so subtle attack primarily aimed at British moral rights campaigner Mary Whitehouse. The early 70s answer to Tipper Gore actually makes surprisingly good subject matter for a decent song which really on lacks a quality Blackmore presence to make it a classic. A nice Indian flavoured outro section courtesy of Jon Lord stands out nicely though. I hadn’t really spotted that before.

Unfortunately Super Trouper and Smooth Dancer are fairly ordinary fare when compared against the bands past. The former seems to borrow heavily from old releases, I’m sure I spotted a bit of Bloodsucker in there, and the latter is a rocker that tries hard to be another Speed King style romp but despite some suitably manic guitar and organ comes some way short in terms of overall quality.

Over on side two Rat Bat Blue starts things off and up the standard at last. A riff seemingly borrowed from Jimmy Page is a bit of a surprise but it gives a solid signature to the song and allows for a quite wacky keyboard solo from Jon Lord to take the song in a surprising direction. For me though, once again there is too little of Blackmore’s inspired guitar to make it a Purple classic, despite a strong Gillan vocal. The slow blues of Place In Line fails to illuminate the album also. An interesting vocal that at times, the end of the first verse for instance, sees Gillan almost apeing Dylan’s delivery style and it did occur to me that this type of song Gillan actually did better with his solo band. The track does speed up midway through allowing (at last) Blackmore a free reign for a superb bluesy solo spot that perhaps gave an early indication of where his mind was heading but again a song few would rank as one of the band’s finest moments.

And neither sadly is the album’s final song Our Lady. Almost gospel styled at times but instrumentally Lord’s keyboard seem to hark back to the late 60s with a very psychedelic sound. Once again, and not for the first time on the album, the full power of the line-up fails to show itself and the song feels unfulfilled.

If this were Deep Purple’s first album, even the first from this incarnation of the band then it might have ranked as promising, seeing the band searching for their sound. As it actually follows three of the best heavy rock albums in In Rock, Fireball and Machine Head it’s actually the sound of a band somewhat going through the motions.

Summary : The poorest of the four studio albums issued in the original years of the Mk II line-up. Lacking the power and inspiration of those others it only features one track that most would identify as a Purple classic and therefore, too much filler. Not an abysmal effort but by the high standards the band had set then not a satisfactory one either. Gillan would leave the band after the tour to support the album and bass player Roger Glover would soon jump ship too after hearing of Blackmore’s plans to replace him and once again re-shuffle the Deep Purple members.

If You Listen To One Track Listen To : Woman From Tokyo

Score : 2.5/5

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A good picture compilation to the music of “Woman From Tokyo”…

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Other Deep Purple reviews on “Rock Of Ages” …

Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers (1984)

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