Machine Head

Oh my god please stop giving me shit old dad rock.

One of the giants of rock and the album that out them there. The legendary first chords learned by a generation of guitar players was the opening riff from the rock anthem Smoke On The Water. Richie Blackmore's guitar icon status aside, the secret sauce of Machine Head is Jon Lord's revolutionary sound design created by piping his Hammond organ through a Marshall amplifier, giving Deep Purple a key component of their signature sound. A landmark album front to back.

Deep Purple made great albums before and after Machine Head but it is here where everything worked. Like all classic albums, this one is defined as much by the deep cuts as much as it is the singles and the ones that endured on classic rock radio. The single and the track that everyone knows, is "Smoke in the Water", as memorable a classic rock song as any thanks not only because of Ritchie Blackmore's iconic guitar riff but by its chorus, Jon Lord's keyboard lines, and Ian Gillian's powerful vocal. Nearly as memorable is the soaring "Highway Star", where both Lord and Blackmore shine like the sun during their solos, and the glorious riffs that carry the excellent closer "Space Truckin". The aforementioned deep cuts are all killers as "Maybe I'm A Leo" is carried by another killer riff while "Never Before" is defined by its groove and Lord's magical keyboard lines while the driving "Pictures of Home" is anchored by the superb rhythm laid down by drummer Ian Paice and bassist Roger Glover and features more Blackmore goodness. Finally, "Lazy" is a tour de force for Lord that is one of those great tracks that is most appreciated after hours. Deep Purple made a ton of strong albums but Machine Head is their Mona Lisa.

I mean, "Smoke on the Water" amirite? I feel like you get an automatic 2 star bonus just for that song. That said, I can see why this band is often (erroneously) included on one-hit-wonder lists. Their songwriting is, for the most part, mediocre. It's just generic 70s, white-guy, early-metal. The guitar solos in particular are just really REALLY uninspired and boring. But this band was a powerhouse band that was instrumental in moving metal into the mainstream cultural conciousness. This album is an integral piece of the heavy metal story... but it's not the most important or impressive piece. I ALMOST gave this 3 stars but the insane keys intro for "Lazy" tipped it over to a 4 star review. That track is tasty as hell. In fact, the album is back-stacked with the last 4 tracks (starting at "Smoke on the Water" and ending with the non-album b-side, "When a Blind Man Cries") being head-and-shoulders better than the first 4 tracks.

cheddar. a big block of cheddar. i like cheddar, i don't like this album. 70s rock by numbers. cheesy in a bad way, like vegan cheese. a 1 star rating is harsh as i sat through it without feeling existential dread, so it's getting a 2.

5/5. Classic. In 2022 it will be 50 years great. Standouts: Highway Star Smoke on the Water Space Truckin' Lazy

Deep Purple in Rock was the first album I ever bought. My brother bought (or borrowed long term) qMachine Head shortly after. The cover screams I'm stoned. The marker of a Deep Purple classic is a song with a guitar solo followed by (or preceded by) an organ solo. This is the case on Highway Star, Lazy, Pictures of Home and Smoke on the Water (although in Smoke . . . the organ was just on the fade out as Ritchie did an extended guitar solo.) Ritchie Blackmore was a very capable guitar soloist but all bands had one of those. Jon Lord's organ playing is the unsung hero of this band and what set Deep Purple apart from the many three instrument bands. I'm not sure this band would have been as successful if they were from an era when songs had to be no more than 3 or 4 minutes long since they need 5 minutes to allow both an organ and guitar solo and need even longer to have a third instrument solo which they do with the mighty fine harmonica solo in Lazy. I like how in the lyrics to Smoke on the Water they call the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio the "The Rolling Truck Stones thing”. Guess they didn't feel the need to give The Glimmer Twins any free advertising in their song. They wanted to record in a place that gave this album the energy they had when playing live. imo using the Rolling Truck Stones Thing accomplished that goal.

An absolute masterclass in rock musicianship and virtuosity without becoming overbearing or wanky. Every band member brings a tour de force performance, complimenting everyone else perfectly and the only negative is that they didn’t include When A Blind Man Cries on the original release. Best track: Highway Star

Makes me jizzum in my tighty whiteys

I had this album back when I was a teenager and I figured when it came up on 1001 I would give it only a 4 because I had grown weary of Smoke on the Water and Space Trucking, and the lyrics are a bit lame. However, there’s something about the instrumental passages, the way they’re structured and the interplay between the organ and the guitar that is sublime, especially on a track like Lazy, which seems like a cross between the Allman Brothers and Phantom of the Opera, And Richie Blackmore's guitar solos are so melodic and memorable. And you know (unlike many of the metal guitarists of the 80s and 90s) he’s not propping his guitar up vertically on his knee when he’s playing them. It’s a 5 for me.

Fuck you Jake this album is fantastic. One of the most foundational albums from one of the most foundational heavy metal acts of all time, incredible performances from all players, Blackmore bringing in the classical music ideals, Paice being the most underrated drummer ever, and just loads of fun songs. 2 stars my ass ya scrub.

I am inclined to agree with those who deem this list to be rockist and thus would love to engage in the fun sport of hating on old, cheesy rock... But, against my hater brain's wishes, my gut actually really enjoyed this. It is quaint and I don't imagine I will keep any of the songs to listen to casually. But I liked it nonetheless. "Smoke On the Water" isn't even the best track on here

Highway star : Why is that guitar solo so muddy ? Pictures of Home - Bass solo is amazing Never before - THE STEREO IMAGING ??? Holy hell if I close my eyes that guitar in the intro is right in front of me, a little to my left that's sick, tickles my brain SMOOOOKE ON THE WAAAATEEEEER tun tun tuuun - tun tun tunuuun - tun tun tuuun - tun - tuuun Lazy - That song sounds so jazzy I love it. That ride playing through the song, that swinged rhythm in the intro, hmmmmm juicy Space Truckin' - Absolute headbanger What happens in the stereo field in this album is insane, so much clarity in the space So much of the guitar melodies are legit earworms

Machine Head This is really only about Highway Star and Smoke on the Water - both songs clearly stand well above the rest on here. Those other songs aren’t bad, and there are some good moments among them, but they did pass me by rather unmemorably. Never Before does have a nice psychedelic middle eight and Space Truckin’ is decent enough. The organ/keys do give them a point of difference and I can appreciate their influence on metal/hard rock, but it does feel more like they established the rather generic template for it, which adds to the slightly forgettable nature of it. Overall, one of those albums that’s fine and doesn’t elicit a particularly strong reaction or many other thoughts beyond liking some of it and not being that fussed on the rest. For Highway Star and Smoke on the Water I’ll give it 3. 🟪🟪🟪 Playlist submission: Highway Star

Well I first discovered Deep Purple in the late 1990s and it has probably been a decade or so since I took the time to listen to them. Highway Star was always one of my favourite tracks, but honestly, listening to it again this time I'm utterly blown away. This is from 1972, nobody had done Heavy Metal before Deep Purple, Led Zep and Black Sabbath and this album absolutely exemplifies the genre. Love it, and although Smoke on the Water has become a massive cliche, this album rocks so goddamn hard. Amazing!

The very definition of 70s classic rock. Guitars are loud, vocals are good, lyrics are non-sense, but who cares cuz they’re fun as hell. Great. 4/5

Short and powerful. Classic hard rock with no filler.

Deep Purple are such an interesting case of a band when it comes to popularity. "Smoke On The Water" is such a hugely famous track that I bet if you asked a bunch of random non-rock fans if they knew the song they would say "yes" but they wouldn't know the name of the band that wrote it. Meanwhile, Deep Purple have written some really solid tunes outside of just that one, and we are lucky to get their arguably second best song - "Highway Star" on this record as well. "Highway Star" is a classic rock staple. It's got incredibly impressive musicianship throughout, it's got great energy, it rips, and it's got a seriously strong memorable hook with "Nobody gonna take my car I'm gonna race it to the ground Nobody gonna beat my car It's gonna break the speed of sound". I couldn't imagine being a teenager in the 70's and hearing this song as the first track on this album. I would have called every radio station on earth and begged them to play it over and over while I sped around town. "Smoke on the Water" is famously one of the most learned riffs of all time... maybe even considered mandatory for rock guitarists, or guitarists in general. It's perfect in it's simplicity, it's amazingly catchy, and it's hard rockin'. There's really not much else to add or remove from it. It's simply a perfect rock and roll riff. And amazingly, the rest of the track supports it wonderfully and doesn't hurt it in any way. I also adore "Space Truckin'", the final track. The energy is amazing- specially for a final song. I've been obsessed with octave pedals on guitars lately too and this one cruuushes you with those low octaves. Also, hell yea brother, a drum solo! This was a hard rate for me at first. I wanted to give it a 4, but after really thinking about it it's really a 5/5 album for me. It has the most famous rock guitar riff ever, it's got a huge classic rock staple in "Highway Star", and the rest of the album doesn't have any weak points. It's not a "good" album that has two standout tracks. It's a great album that has two of the best classic rock songs ever written.

Love this album! Every song is a winner - (evidenced by the fact that each track gets its own Wikipedia page - thanks for pointing this factoid on previous albums Emily!) Smoke on the water is overplayed for a reason and is still listenable even after about eleven thousand listens… 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘

"Smoke On The Water" is the ubiquitous track here, and the only time I purposely listen to is while watching the Season 2, episode 1 episode of The Sopranos. There's a scene of Tony Soprano driving happily while hearing Smoke Of The Water on his car radio. But then T has a panic attack when the song starts to skip (the man did not appreciate having his music interrupted), which means he was listening to it on Compact Disc. I'd be inclined to suggest it was this album Tony was enjoying, but knowing the character, it was likely a Best Of Deep Purple CD. Of course, his panic attack causes him to pass out and crash his car. "Smoke On The Water" is right in Tony's wheelhouse. Dude loved him some early '70's classic rock, so much so that his wife Carmela chooses to play "Smoke On The Water" when a doctor suggests she play some of Tony's favorite music while he's in a coma in a latter season episode. If I came of age during the late '60's/early '70's like a young Anthony Soprano, I would have been all into some Deep Purple. Instead, I only knew of them from songs like "Hush" and the aforementioned "Smoke". This album pretty much slaps from start to finish. I never noticed the "Frank Zappa and The Mothers" line during "Smoke" before listening to this album (in my defense, the song skips for a crestfallen Tony right at that line, where all we hear is "Zap Zap Zap Zap Zap Zap"). After listening to this album, I find myself wanting to stand up and yell a Tony Soprano line from the end of one the series' final episodes: I get it!

DP is a very talented bad and very under-rated. John Lord and Ritchie Blackmore playing over a driving rhythm section (Glover & Paice). This album really captures that.

Feels like a standard enough rock album from the time, but I like the way the record balances more layered, impressive musical moments against more stripped back melodic moments. In all, I don’t feel like this album is trying to make a huge show of itself and I appreciate that. Feels genuine.

Idk, I found this disappointingly pedestrian. If their aim was to capture the energy of their live shows then they failed because I’m hoping their live shows were more dynamic and exciting. Some half decent tunes in there but lacking oomph

Smoke on the Water might be the dumbest riff of all time. Highway Star, though? That song kicks ass.

Minus one point for having smoke on the water on

Not a huge fan of the vocals but really dig the guitars, especially the melodic solos.

the best thing about this album is that i’ll never have to listen to it again. i’m too gen z for this shit

I can’t understand not liking this album, at least not the big songs off of it. Highway Star, with the key solo, makes me wonder why there aren’t more hard rock bands that feature keyboards. The intro to Lazy made me not care if they ever started singing. And those are just two of the highlights. Great album all around. Understandable that it laid a lot of the groundwork for rock and metal to come.

Absolute classic.

essential hard rock/early heavy metal album. love when a man fucks it up on the organ

Based on my research, here is an in-depth review of **Deep Purple's *Machine Head*** (1972), examining its lyrics, music, production, themes, influence, and weighing its strengths and weaknesses. --- ## Overview Released in March 1972, *Machine Head* represents the creative peak of Deep Purple's classic Mark II lineup (Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice). Recorded under chaotic circumstances at the Grand Hotel in Montreux, Switzerland—after the Montreux Casino burned down during a Frank Zappa concert—the album became one of the most commercially successful and influential hard rock records in history. It reached #1 in the UK and #7 in the US, remaining on charts for over two years . --- ## Lyrics The lyrical content of *Machine Head* is perhaps its most divisive aspect. Critics have long noted that the words serve primarily as functional vehicles for the music rather than profound poetry. **Highlights:** - **"Smoke on the Water"** – The album's most famous track documents the real-life casino fire with almost journalistic simplicity: *"Frank Zappa and the Mothers were at the best place around / But some stupid with a flare gun burned the place to the ground."* The lyrics' very banality became part of their charm; as Lester Bangs noted in *Rolling Stone*, "This very banality is half the fun of rock 'n' roll" . - **"Highway Star"** – A high-octane narrative about automotive obsession and romantic conquest, featuring the iconic hook: *"Nobody gonna take my car / I'm gonna race it to the ground."* - **"Pictures of Home"** – Arguably the album's most evocative lyrics, reflecting paranoia and displacement during the Montreux sessions: *"Maybe I'll go out walking, maybe I'll stay home,"* capturing the isolation of hotel-bound recording . **Weaknesses:** The album suffers from what one critic called "placeholder" lyrics . Tracks like "Maybe I'm a Leo" and "Never Before" rely on standard blues-rock tropes of heartbreak and romantic strife. "Space Truckin'" veers into cartoonish sci-fi territory that some find charmingly absurd while others consider it juvenile . The band's admitted disinterest in lyrical sophistication—prioritizing instrumental prowess—means the words rarely transcend their utilitarian function . --- ## Music & Musicianship Where *Machine Head* truly transcends is in its instrumental architecture. This is virtuoso hard rock that never sacrifices feel for technicality. **Key Musical Elements:** **Ritchie Blackmore's Guitar Work** – Blackmore delivers career-defining performances, blending blues scale foundations with classical harmonic sensibilities. The "Highway Star" solo, composed during a tour bus interview with a journalist asking how the band wrote songs, demonstrates his ability to construct memorable melodic narratives within shredding contexts . His riff for "Smoke on the Water"—arguably the most recognizable in rock history—achieves maximum impact through minimal means . **Jon Lord's Keyboards** – Lord's Hammond organ operates not as accompaniment but as lead instrument, dueling with Blackmore throughout. The phased organ intro to "Lazy" and the frantic keyboard runs in "Highway Star" showcase his classical training applied through rock distortion . **The Rhythm Section** – Roger Glover and Ian Paice form what many consider rock's tightest rhythm section. Paice's drumming on "Space Truckin'"—described as "frantic" and "choreographed"—drives the album's heaviest moments, while Glover's melodic bass lines provide crucial harmonic foundation . **Ian Gillan's Vocals** – Gillan's four-octave range and theatrical delivery (honed in *Jesus Christ Superstar*) adds operatic drama. His harmonica work on "Lazy" provides textural variety . **Compositional Diversity:** The album balances concise rockers ("Highway Star," "Never Before") with extended jams ("Lazy" at 7:22). "Lazy" functions as a blues shuffle allowing each member solo space, while "Pictures of Home" incorporates proto-metal darkness reminiscent of Black Sabbath . --- ## Production **The Rolling Stones Mobile Studio** – The album's distinctive sound stems from recording in the Grand Hotel's corridors and rooms using the legendary mobile unit. Drummer Ian Paice had previously recorded in corridors for *Fireball*, seeking live ambience over studio sterility . **Sonic Characteristics:** The production achieves remarkable clarity despite (or because of) its unconventional setting. Each instrument occupies distinct frequency space—Lord's Hammond growls in the midrange, Blackmore's Stratocaster cuts through with biting treble, and Paice's drums possess room ambience that no artificial reverb could replicate. The sound is *heavy* but never muddy, setting templates for hard rock production that influenced Van Halen, Metallica, and countless others . **The Montreux Circumstances:** The casino fire forced last-minute relocation to the hotel, creating the "pressure-cooker" environment that fueled the album's intensity. The incident provided not just the subject for "Smoke on the Water" but a narrative of adversity that permeates the recording's urgency . --- ## Themes **Automotive Obsession** – "Highway Star" and the album's title (referencing the tuning pegs on guitars) celebrate machinery, speed, and technical precision—fitting for a band operating at peak instrumental capability. **Dislocation and Paranoia** – Written while stranded in a foreign hotel during winter, several tracks reflect isolation. "Pictures of Home" explicitly addresses the psychological toll of constant touring and temporary living spaces . **The Fire Narrative** – "Smoke on the Water" transforms disaster into art, immortalizing not just the event but the resilience of continuing to create despite circumstances. The song mentions "Funky Claude" Nobs (Montreux Jazz Festival founder who saved lives during the fire), embedding real human drama within its simple framework . **Blues Tradition vs. Metal Future** – The album sits at a crossroads, honoring 12-bar blues structures while accelerating tempos and distortion to forge what would become heavy metal. --- ## Influence & Legacy *Machine Head* stands as one of rock's most influential documents, frequently cited alongside Led Zeppelin IV and Black Sabbath's *Paranoid* as foundational heavy metal texts . **Direct Influence:** The album's DNA appears throughout subsequent decades—Van Halen's guitar showmanship, Metallica's rhythmic precision, Judas Priest's twin-guitar harmonies, and Iron Maiden's galloping rhythms all trace lineage here . The "Smoke on the Water" riff remains the first learning exercise for countless guitarists globally . **Critical Status:** Widely considered one of the greatest rock albums ever recorded, it appears on numerous "best of" lists. However, some progressive rock critics find it "overrated," noting the abandonment of earlier artistic ambitions for straightforward hard rock . The European press's designation of Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath as "The Unholy Trinity" of heavy rock origins speaks to its historical weight . --- ## Pros & Cons ### **Pros** 1. **Virtuosic Musicianship** – Every member operates at peak capability, creating interplay rarely matched in rock 2. **Production Innovation** – The mobile recording approach yielded clarity and power that defined hard rock sonics 3. **Songcraft Efficiency** – Seven tracks, no filler; each song serves distinct purpose within the album arc 4. **Historical Significance** – Foundational text for heavy metal and hard rock genres 5. **Instrumental Balance** – Hammond organ and electric guitar as dual lead instruments created template for keyboard-guitar harmony 6. **Live Energy Captured** – Successfully translated the band's concert power to studio environment ### **Cons** 1. **Lyrical Weakness** – Functional but rarely profound; "banal" by design according to some critics 2. **Overshadowing Single** – "Smoke on the Water" became so ubiquitous it obscured the album's deeper cuts for general audiences 3. **Inconsistent Styles** – The funk elements in "Never Before" disrupt the album's heavy rock flow for some listeners 4. **Exhibitionism** – Occasional sense that technical display supersedes song service; "too flashy when the flash is old" 5. **Omission of "When a Blind Man Cries"** – The non-LP B-side (included on some reissues) should have replaced weaker material 6. **Commercial Peak = Creative Decline** – The band's subsequent *Who Do We Think We Are* (1973) disappointed, and Gillan departed later that year, suggesting *Machine Head* represented an unsustainable zenith --- ## Conclusion *Machine Head* is the definitive document of Deep Purple Mark II—a band operating with telepathic cohesion at the intersection of blues tradition and metal innovation. While its lyrics rarely challenge listeners intellectually, the instrumental performances constitute some of rock's most exhilarating moments. The album's influence on hard rock and heavy metal cannot be overstated; it established the template for virtuoso-driven, high-energy rock that prioritized feel and power over polish. For all its acknowledged limitations—primarily lyrical—it remains essential listening, a 37-minute masterclass in what happens when five elite musicians lock into collective purpose. The fact that it was born from disaster (the Montreux fire) and recorded in makeshift circumstances only enhances its legend as proof that constraint breeds creativity. **Rating:** 4.5/5 – A landmark that deserves its canonical status, even if one wishes the words matched the music's magnificence.

Un classique, pas une découverte

Great album, quite blues oriented, but lazy showcases jon lord and ritchie Blackmore at their best. Maybe I'm a Leo is a bit weak, but the rest of the album more than makes up for it.

How can you not love this to infinity ♾️

"Machine Head" is a superb five-star album. While it perhaps lacks the raw, "in-your-face" savagery of Deep Purple In Rock, it more than compensates with refined production and sophisticated song-writing. Self-produced by the band and engineered by the legendary Martin Birch, the record captures a group at the absolute peak of their powers, with Ian Gillan’s vocals sounding nothing short of superb. The original 1972 release featured just seven tracks, though it remains a mystery what Ritchie Blackmore was thinking when he vetoed the inclusion of "When a Blind Man Cries". Relegated to a B-side at the time, this soulful, bluesy track has thankfully been restored on later anniversary editions. I have included it here as an essential component of the Machine Head experience. While the album demands a full, uninterrupted listen, these tracks represent the key takeaways: - "Highway Star": The definitive speed anthem and a masterclass in high-octane precision. Ritchie Blackmore’s neo-classical solo remains a blueprint for generations of guitarists. This is complimented by the peerless Jon Lord's Hammond Organ keyboard solo and the interplay with Blackmore. - "Pictures of Home": A driving, majestic tune that rarely receives the credit it deserves. It features a rare and wonderful bass solo from Roger Glover. - "When a Blind Man Cries": Despite his veto, Blackmore’s performance here is magnificent, providing a delicate, bluesy counterpoint to Gillan’s emotive delivery. - "Smoke on the Water": Beyond that iconic riff—arguably the most famous in rock history—the track serves as a vivid chronicling of the Montreux Casino fire and the chaotic birth of the album itself. - "Lazy": A seven-minute tour de force of swing and swagger. This largely instrumental piece allows the band’s collective virtuosity to truly shimmer. - "Space Truckin’ ": The "hardest" track on the record; it is the one song that would have felt perfectly at home on the more aggressive In Rock. For the uninitiated, the live album "Made In Japan" contains performances of several tracks from this record. It must be said: those live versions are, without exception, superior to the studio cuts. They remain the truly iconic renditions of "Highway Star", "Smoke on the Water", and "Space Truckin'". I also highly recommend "In Concert '72". Recorded as a BBC promotional session for the album's release, it features live versions of six of the original seven tracks. Interestingly, "Pictures of Home" is the sole omission - it simply wasn't part of the setlist! 1 "Highway Star" (5/5) 2 "Maybe I'm a Leo" (4/5) 3 "Pictures of Home" (5/5) 4 "Never Before" (4/5) 5 "When A Blindman Cries" (5/5) 6 "Smoke on the Water" (5/5) 7 "Lazy" (5/5) 8 "Space Truckin'" (5/5) Total - 38 Average - 4.75 238/1001 131/238 albums reviewed were new to me.

A stinking classic right here

Another album which I listened since I was a child and firmly believe is a rock masterpiece. So easy easy 5 starts, however I still will listen to it today, because who can resist those awesome John Lord keyboard runs??! 5/5

Awesome

One of my favorite albums in my teenage years. Lord's organ playing on these songs is awesome and became one of my favorite instruments. Blackmore is awesome with his guitar playing. Ian Gillan on vocals one of rocks best frontmen. All hel together with a rhythm section of Paice on drums and Glover on bass. Plus one great sing after another. Space Truckin Highway Star and Smoke on the Water are highlights

An absolute classic!!

Now you’re talking!! This is the kind of record that doesn’t ask for your attention — it seizes it, reshapes it, and sends you down a path you never walk back from. A true ignition point, loud and undeniable that made me Deep Purple fan for life. Great Album!!

Obviously heard of them but hadn't heard much by them, really good

Some of these instrumental passages are 100% pure distilled rock

This album came out when I was 14, I own(ed) it and I really liked it for songs like Ironic, Head over Feet, Hand in my pocket ... But listening to the entire album as an middle aged adult .. Wow! It is so much deeper and emotional than I realized

Even if this album just had Smoke on the water it would need to be on the list. The sheer number of guitarists that play that riff as their first piece on a guitar would be a staggering statistic. The fact that the rat of the album is as solid as it is ad even starts out with another hit just solidifies its need to be on the list. Great album

I got this rock in my bones.

🤘🏻

- sosososo peak - stuck in head now - classic

Vibes! A good morning album, to listen to when driving or walking to work. Sometimes a bit cheesy, but mostly pleasing to hear all the themes and ideas from blues, and the those that show up metal albums later.

almost all tracks are good, felt like high school

This one took me over a week to review, largely because I liked it more on each subsequent listen and wanted to see where it would top out. These mother fuckers are tight and rock out. I’d heard tune from Deep Purple before, but like many Yanks I hadn’t given them the attention they deserve. To my credit, “Smoke on the Water”, perhaps the least interesting song on the album, received the most airtime in the US. As I learned while researching this album, the European press called Deep Purple, Zeppelin and Sabbath “The Unholy Trinity”. This album convinced me that this band deserves as much attention as the latter two. It is remarkable that this album was written and recorded over several weeks, although more careful scrutiny of the lyrics makes this somewhat more obvious. The diversity of sounds throughout the track is impressive and the back-and-forth solos between the keys and guitar is fucking cool. My favorite tracks were “Space Truckin’”, “Lazy” and “Highway Star”. However, the album is solid from start to finish. I’ve explored almost all of the music from the other bands in the unholy trinity, now it is time for me to give Deep Purple their due.

Solid album. Listened to it twice on repeat. All good songs on here, especially highway star, pictures of home and lazy.

Absolute groovy bangers.

Very good album had some absolute bangers and instrumentals, def ahead of its time.

Pure unadulterated rock

Some absolutely gruesome guitar and base tone in this album. This whole album rocks and is the epitome of "classic rock" in my opinion. 10/10.

Deep Purple is the best! This was one of my first albums as a kid I’m pretty sure my parents bought me.

The Riff alone is worth 5 stars. The rest of the album is superb as well!

Love it. Own it.

Some bangers in here! I have a soft spot for some of these songs as they were in Rock Band. Many follow similar structure, but each are enjoyable in their own rights.

Fuckin rocks

Jan 4-11

very cool guitar solos

Mother of Rock 🤘🏼

Wow! Super heavy, rockin', great tempo and feel changes. The guitar work is second to none. One of the greatest rock albums of all time.

An amazing album, space truckin is perfection

This was awesome! The two hits (Highway Star and Smoke on the Water) were great, but I think I actually liked most, if not all, of the other tracks (none of which I had heard before, with the possible exception of Space Trucker) even better. This is pretty much right up my alley, so it's not a surprise that I loved this album, but I guess that doesn't take anything away from it. I loved it so much I listened to it three times and almost went back for a fourth. Five stars, easily.

A supreme collection of hard rock classics

Love it. Perfect retro dad tunes

This album was a blast, all songs are extremely fun. I have a fond memory of a “Pictures of Home” cover in one of my music recitals when I was a kid, it was great then, it’s great now.

Bom demais

I'm a sucker for a good riff/guitar solo and this album is FILLED to the brim with them.These guys truly don't get the love they deserve. They're more than just Smoke On The Water.

Classic hard rock. Template for all hard rock bands to come. Virtuosic playing.

Classic rock at its best.

Awesome time full of bangers. Alongside the centerpiece Smoke on the Water I loved Highway Star and Space Truckin' most

Wonderful album - I remember it well from when it first came out. I did forget the name of it tho!

Wonderful!

Honestly, a lot better than I remembered. Great and virtuoso performances by all band members. Some risky ideas. I don't think I will go back to listening to a lot of Deep Purple (I had a phase as a teenager), but I have to give this album 5/5.

Late night drive home rocking out to this album. Not my usual jam, but the true rock does something to the soul

Melhor álbum da lista até o momento, sem dúvidas. Obra prima irretocável. Tudo nesse álbum é perfeito. Ian Gillan é um vocalista tão lendário que Bruce Dickinson (outra lenda) o tem como a sua maior inspiração. Ritchie Blackmore, um dos maiores guitarristas da história, fez suas maiores composições nesse álbum. O restante da banda, apesar de não terem o mesmo pedigree, não ficam pra trás nem um pouco. Enaltecer esse álbum é chover no molhado, no fim das contas, pois é amplamente considerado um dos melhores da história do rock. Melhor do álbum: "Highway Star". Pior do álbum: "Maybe I'm A Leo".

My opinion is biased, because my music journey really started with this band, actually with the made in Japan live album. Machine Head is a very cohesive and consistent album with epic song (highway star), stories (smoke on the water, maybe I'm a leo) and jam (lazy). Probably my most played cd...

Never listneded before and enjoyed it very much.

This was the first CD I ever bought, and probably one of the albums I listened to the most when I was in my early teens. It’s basically Deep Purple’s own Led Zep IV, a definitive hard-rock statement. Sure, the lyrics are clunky with this wink of self-mockery running underneath and it’s more straight-lined than In Rock, but there isn’t a single note from the keyboard or guitar that’s ever left me. Everything is razor-tight with the Mark-2 and then there’s Lazy, a showcase which still hits hard. I was honestly scared I’d find this album disappointing with some distance. But no, it’s almost even better now.

Eines der Alben für die einsame Insel! Mitreißender, melodischer, einprägsamer Rock vom feinsten. Batterie ist sofort auf 100, wenn diese Platte läuft!

shoutout to Frank Zappa and having some idiot with a flare gun at one of his concerts inspire rock music's Louie Louie riff part two.

Three of seven are iconic heavy metal songs, but “Lazy” blew me away with its bluesy jam. Only the second song is a throwaway.

Love Deep Purple, such an underrated band.

A landmark album for hard rock and that says it all. Highway Star and Smoke on the Water iconic songs. But I was impressed by the composition Lazy. I haven't listened to this album for a long time, so I forgot about it. Starting to sing five minutes into a song is powerful. And in terms of structure, Lazy is real progressive rock. If you don't want to listen to the whole album, then don't pass by Lazy, please.

In the 50+ years since Machine Head was unleashed onto the world, there has been no better album for driving. One of the finest rockers ever made.

One of the best classic rock albums out there, Deep Purple are an extremely underrated group in the history of rock.

I actually knew only the hits, but it's the more uncommon songs that really drove this home to me like Pictures of Home and Lazy. Glad I listened.

peak dad music I’m a dad now

Every song is better than the last.

If the worst song on your record is Smoke on the Water you’re in pretty good shape.

0-3-5 0-3-6-5 0-3-5 3-0

This was an absolutely amazing album. Only one song didn’t make it onto my playlist.

I bet this went triple platinum on the American highways in the 80s. Like the vibe and great guitar. Specific rating - 4.3 Fav song- space truckin Least fav- when a blind man cries

bangers

Very classic 70's dad rock.

This is loud early 70s hard rock. Lyrically, it's godawful, with lyrics being either trite, incoherent, or both. Musically, however, it's great. The interplay between the organ and guitar give the Purple a distinctive sound no one has really replicated, and the vocals are suitable for the music, if not the best. It's one of my personal favorite bands, so I'm probably a little biased in my rating. But, alas, everyone here is; no one person can truly rate an album objectively. Such is the beauty of art.