DEEP PURPLE – Fireball [Japan SHM-CD mini-LP remastered] *HQ*

Regarding DEEP PURPLE second MKII album ”Fireball”, which reissue in the digital era sounds better? We tested some and this Japanese LP-replica pressed on SHM-CD wins. There’s other fine reissues, however this one feel clearer and pretty close to a vinyl LP sonic range.
It’s a pity – not only physical CD releases are becoming rare, but these SHM-CD pressings seems to be collector items now, as Japanese companies doesn’t show plans / campaigns of using this format anymore.
”Fireball” is one of Deep Purple’s indispensable albums, responsible for many people becoming musicians such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich, Michael Monroe – all stated that this album changed their lives.
”Fireball” saw Purple broadening out from the no-holds-barred hard rock direction of the previous year’s cacophonous ‘In Rock’.

Metal machine noises introduced the sizzling title track – an unusually compact but explosively tight group effort on which Jon Lord’s organ truly shined. “Strange Kind of Woman” is an all time classic, then the innuendo-encrusted hilarity of “Anyone’s Daughter” features one of singer Ian Gillan’s first (and still best) humorous storylines to go with one of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore’s most uncharacteristic, bluesiest performances ever.

“The Mule” opened the vinyl album’s second side with what is perhaps Purple’s finest instrumental, and on the hyper-extended “Fools,” the band members proved they could flirt with progressive rock without plunging off its cliff.
And closing the album was the exceptional “No One Came,” where intertwining instrumental lines locked together beautifully, Gillan wove another entertaining yarn that was part autobiography and part Monty Python, and the often underrated skills of drummer Ian Paice helped the song sound so unreservedly fresh and intuitive that one could almost be convinced the band had winged it on the spot.

Sure, the following year’s Machine Head would provide Deep Purple with their commercial peak, but on Fireball, the formidable quintet was already firing on all cylinders.
Highly Recommended

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01 – Fireball
02 – No No No
03 – Strange Kind of Woman
04 – Anyone’s Daughter
05 – The Mule
06 – Fools
07 – No One Came

Ian Gillan – vocals
Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
Roger Glover – bass
Jon Lord – keyboards, Hammond organ
Ian Paice – drums

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