Machine Head

!!!

Space Trucking is such an underrated track. Not full of bangers, but a really solid mid-70s rock/metal album.

I always forget how good Deep Purple are. Machine Head is easily their best album. Great drumming, excellent bass, and even better guitars. This album is much sharper than In Rock too, which seemed to drift along a bit too much. There isn't a song I don't enjoy on here, which I don't find all that common.

So much more fun than I expected. I thought they were dad rock (maybe they are and I'm just into that now). The sound was much more metal than I expected. Love how thick and theatrical the sound is. Excellent to drive to. That epic first track is so good

classic

Goodness me, this is tedious! Speaking as a dad, could you stop calling this "dad rock" please? This music now sounds so Jurassic that it should be called "grandad rock" instead. Honestly, if any child of mine ever bought me a "dad rock" CD for Father's Day (featuring such toe-curling drivetime "classics" as Smoke On The Water), I would immediately disown them *angryface*

Vocals are the weakness here, just can't compare to contemporaries Robert Plant or Ozzie Osbourne. Also, the songwriting, especially the lyrics. The riffs must be acknowledged as monumental, but I think 80s hairmetal ruined 70s Deep Purple for me. It's good, but I can't get into it. 1001 is a long list, so I wouldn't say it doesn't belong here, it's definitely a historic, genre-defining album, but I don't really dig that part of music history. 2.5/5, but rounding up.

Very respected album but i didnt find that all interesting but its good nonetheless.

"Highway Star" "Smoke On The Water" and "Space Truckin'" are fun and I've already forgotten the rest. Would also help if they recorded it in a real studio. Three remasters, and it still sounds pretty archaic.

Not bad, short and sweet with some classics

True hard Rock really doesn't get much better than this. Heavy and memorable. Favorite track: Highway Star

Metal relativament chill, bastant guapo, no sabia que smoke in the water era d'aquest grup

Not memorable, didn't feel like anything new, but most of this genre is not usually my personal preference.

Si bien no es el tipo de música que suelo escuchar, hay hits que todos hemos escuchado y es muy placentero de escuchar. Mención especial para When a Blind Man Cries.

pleasant

I expected to hate this tbh. Great guitar solos, good vibe overall. 3.5

Deep Purple recorded Machine Head in pretty extraordinary circumstances. in an attempt to create more of a "live" feel in their studio work (and as a possible bid for a double album with one studio LP and one live LP), they took a mobile recording studio owned by The Rolling Stones to the Montreux Casino in Switzerland. the double-album thing didn't pan out, for reasons that were immortalized in "Smoke on the Water"; when I was first learning how to play guitar about 15 years ago, that was still the song pretty much everyone learned as their first riff. I have no idea if the kids even know what this song is nowadays. the simplicity of that riff is indicative of Deep Purple's reverence for the fundamentals of rock 'n' roll, which they nail pretty expertly across these seven songs. far from being a boilerplate hard rock album, however, the band sees fit to incorporate blues jams ("Maybe I'm a Leo"), proto-metal power chord chugging, lengthy instrumental diversions ("Highway Star") and some seriously involved drumming from Ian Paice. Ian Gillan's lead vocals were starting to feel a lot more developed as well! the one complaint I have comes down to the production; I feel like the mix is begging for that Led Zeppelin kind of heaviness and loudness, but instead it feels unusually boxed in. that being said, Ritchie Blackmore's riffs and (especially) solos are some of the best I've come across from the British hard rock boom, which more than covers the difference. light 8/10.

This album just rocks tops to bottom and it has a song called Space Truckin'. Excellent album.

put it on at work in the background. great album! favorite song is lazy

love smoke on the water!

Solamente conoci una canción de este álbum. Pero, no está tan mal, mi puntaje es 6/10.

Buen comienzo, nunca había escuchado la banda pero todas las canciones me han gustado, el tipo de rock clásico que me gusta

It’s aight. Classic rock sounds, a bit of too much standard blues in them but with some splashes of cool harmonic movements and fantastic soloing from Blackmore. I am not liking the vocals tho.

solid 8

Every song is great

Very good album, enjoyed that one.

Deeply uncool, but sometimes dads do know how to rock.

Fun, early heavy metal music! I can very easily imagine some of these songs being used in a soundtrack for Thor Ragnorak and Love and Thunder, and I'm counting that as a good thing. I recognize the "Smoke on the Water" from Guitar Hero lol.

I was not caring about this at all then I got to ‘when a blind man cries’ and really enjoyed that? But that song + smoke on the water, I don’t think that adds up to an important album so still a low rating from me I’m afraid.

Muito música de pai divorciado. Muito bom

Perfectly entertaining but never quite profound. And I’m just fine with that.

This is fire and Pictures of Home is an absolute masterpiece Everyone who says Smoke on the Water is boring and played out should get their ears checked and get that stick removed from their arse

This is the record with Highway Star and Smoke on the Water on it, and SOMEHOW it's still better than you expect it to be on that basis. Absolutely monumental.

Its loud but a bit moronic. Smoke on the water aside (and thats played out) this is one for rock enthusiasts only.

Llega a ser divertido y por ahi muy aburrido pero al final cierra, si sos fan del rock debe ser una joyita .

buen rock&roll papaaaa

pues que clasicón!

musikalisch eigentlich gut aber vom ding her langweilt es meine seele

Really cool album. Title makes me think of the movie Redline, first song Jojo. Didn't know Smoke on the Water was from this album. Shockingly iconic. The basslines are incredible. Really really really good. I can see why it's recommended.

Was happy to hear this full album. I've known the hits, but many songs have escaped my attention. LAZY was so good !!

Whenever a 12-year old slowly plops out the riff to Smoke on the Water on a $100 Squier, a rock and roll angel gets its wings.

This is the kind of dopey—literally and figuratively—hard rock my punk forefathers rebelled against in the '70s. You could call it clichéd, except this album helped establish those clichés! All that said, I've got no beef with this. It gets wanky and deeply silly ("Space Truckin'"), but the classics on here have endured for a reason.

Pretty cool album. Very 70s white band sound.

Just a solid album with a good feel.

This isn't the genre of music I normally go out of my way to listen to, but I really, really liked this! I think I recall playing through a number of these songs on Guitar Hero, so that brought on some nostalgia.

Highway Star and Smoke are the stand outs. It is a solid album and it influenced a lot of great bands, but why does this feel like basic dad rock to me?

Reminded me of the Queens album we just heard. I think influential, but not great. I can hear a lot of late 80s and 90s bands in the music. But not something I’d come back to.

Not for me, thanks.

Highway star- what a way to start the day. Didn't realize smoke on the water was on the same record. That was a cool surprise! These guys rock and I should probably listen to the spin-off bands.

Just a great, solid rock record.

kinda fun

idk if we needed a second deep purple album on here..

…cool. Seems like biker bar anthems. The guitar and bass are ripping, I’ll give them that. The lyrics and delivery are lacking.

Good album, very easy listen. 4/5 stars

Listening session: march 29th, while getting ready in the morning Listened to before: heard one song before Thoughts: of course Smoke On The Water has an iconic guitar riff bu that actually wasn’t even my favourite track of this album. I quite enjoyed some of the organ work and guitar solos on here Favourite tracks: Highway Star & Lazy

If only everything on this album was like the neo-classical space-rock of Highway Star. When they do more generic blues it passes over me. But Smoke on the Water, Lazy and the B-side (When a Blind Man Cries) which I'll include here as it is included on some version are all great. If only the lyrics caught up with the music.

i genuinely enjoyed this more than i thought i would. strong 3.5

I feel like I've listened to this before and not been so enamored, but this time I'm really enjoying it. Really heavy parts, strong vocals, driving rhythm section. Kinda wish I had it on louder... I'll just put it on my bigger speakers. Yes. This is good. It slows down a bit at the end and I wasn't a big fan of the last track, but highway star through to space trucking were very enjoyable. Some lovely rock organ playing which seems to be a lost art these days.

Approaching decent while on the road, then when listening on solid ground I couldn’t stay awake

1 pretty good song and a bunch of forgettable stuff

Magnificent

Not a die hard fan of heavy metal/hard rock, but will still rock out!!

10/10 So far, this is the only album that I went back and relistened to right after I finished it the first time. Fast, energetic, and just pure raw hard rock. Great all around. Favorite Tracks: Highway Star, Pictures of Home, Smoke on the Water, Lazy, Space Truckin' Least Favorite Track: Never Before

Highway Star and Smoke on the Water were the only songs i was familiar with before listening to this album. Interesting album but not one I’d go back and listen to. I did go back and listen to HA and SOTW.

Super short to the point rock album you know smoke on the water nothing super memorable but nothing too terrible it’s a solid rock album perfectly in the middle

A classic full of some bangers!

Is good at what it does especially for its time. Only ever heard smoke on the water but actually enjoyed much more than the radio hit

épico álbum pensé que iba a ser un rock mas pesado pero ~me agrada buenísimas guitarras y pianitos

3 on first listen, 4 on second. Overall it’s pretty good

Good

It's alright, not really my style. It's good I just don't resonate with it

Обещали нечто глубокое и фиолетовое, но в итоге остались над водой вместе с дымом

Базовая база от базированной баз-рок группы. Лично для меня немного не хватает чего-то, несмотря на один из главных риффов в истории и культовое соло в highway star, но я просто уже избалован, а для тех времен пушкабомба. Но все же жду дип пёпл ин рок

Думала будет душно, но оказалось норм. Без этого сайта так бы и не включала deep purple никогда в жизни. А так какое-то разнообразие в жизни вне нового альбома slayyyter.

Гораздо интереснее, чем я ожидал

Лучшая песня: Highway Star Худшая: Lazy В принципе уже за соло Лорда в первой песне можно ставить 5 всему альбому

местами даже норм, можно поставить и 4

Каждый раз поражает, насколько глубоко в мейнстриме был рок в середине прошлого века. Smoke on the water слышала даже я, интересно, будет ли такой же феномен в середине во второй половине этого столетия. Но именно такие группы отбивали у меня охоту слушать рок все мое детство и юность

This is Deep Purple at their peak. Their three biggest hits are on here, including the famous (or infamous?) beginner guitar tune ‘Smoke on the Water’. I’m a big Deep Purple fan, and this is a very solid record, but I prefer their live stuff to the studio albums. Their live performances are always a little bit funkier and have more energy to them. This is a solid album regardless of the distinction between live and studio, a 4/5 for me.

While Black Sabbath introduced the concept, Deep Purple took the concept of heavy metal and ran with it. So near perfect as a template, I am going to round it up to full marks.

I regret to inform you that Dad Rock really does rock. 3.5

I didn’t think I knew who Deep Purple but oh my god all these songs are so famous. For as much as I’ve heard these, they do still sound pretty great. Very good older rock. It basically felt like a greatest hits of 70s rock in a way (sorry for anyone that offends)

Meh

I hadn't heard any of this besides Smoke on the Water. Kind of interesting to hear it in context. It really stands out on an otherwise unremarkable album.

Very nice album

3.5 / 5

I would really like to rate this higher because some parts of this record are so damn good. Really not a fan of the vocals.

Great guitar riffs keeps you concentrated

I just don't like heavy metal, and this is just that, i'm sure its great in that genre, but not for me

Awesome drum triplets

Killer killer early hard rock record! Fun to revisit this for the first time since I was a kid.

Yikes! Horrid has a name and that name is Deep Purple. 1 great song does not a classic make. Please, remove this from this list. I'll give it 2 stars for Smoke On The Water. But that's it The rest of the album sux donkey dix. 2 begrudging stars

Solid rock record. I gotta get a beat on that keyboard tone - OOF. I liked the record best when it was a bit weird - Highway Star is a great example.

Listen, it's not bad in any way. But it's not for me. There are certain bands that if you don't fall in love with when you're a teenager, it'll never happen. I still think Deep Purple's best stuff is on their first two albums. While they are very good musicians, (I always loved Ian Paices drumming and sound), this album doesn't really do it for me. Enjoyable, but not mind blowing. Ian Gillan is a good singer, but I usually don't enjoy his voice. I was listening to a lot of Black Sabbath lately, and comparing to them, I just don't find Purple especially interesting. Nonetheless, this album is a respectable flat 3. 3.2.

Great guitars, great organs, great drums, great everything. The hits especially carry this one

Enjoying this a lot more than the live album. Highway Star is great. I only knew Smoke on the Water before this

The machine seems particularly slow. I wonder if the purple parts are actually rust… ★★★

That rocked in a cheesy old way but also in a timeless rock way.

Beats 8/10 Fav song: Lazy Not the biggest fan of the lead singer

Kinda yelly not my favorite

Ok with classic rock appeal. It felt repetitive.

First, the elephant in the room: "Smoke on the Water". A legendary yet simple riff made into an otherwise-mediocre song about them being unable to record at a venue because it caught fire. The rest of the album is an excellent exposition of early-70s rock including some amazing guitar and Hammond organ work.

I could almost give this a 4 for Smoke on the Water, but the rest of this is pretty meh.

Surprisingly badass. And not just the song that Beavis and Butthead love.

I think I liked it better than “Made In Japan”, but probably not enough to bump this up to a 5

Man, Smoke On the Water isn’t even the best song on this album.

1 good song, maybe worth revisiting

Really good album! Incredible compositions, song maintained pretty good pace all the way trought. Highlight: Lazy

Machine Head is Deep Purple’s opus work. We had it on vinyl at 4Ex, the three song B Side got some play (and is one of the best B sides on 70’s vinyl.) This was a quick, fun trip back to the seventies for me. (3.49*s) I’m putting’ this album on next time I’m at Fan’s.

Machine Head keeps the motor running throughout the album. Some good battles between the keys and chords. Got that hair metal, stadium rock sound and they improved from In Rock. Deep Purple certainly accomplished the goal of bringing that live show feel. The record has their biggest hit and I like the backstory on its influence. Pretty fitting that Zappa burnt down their original studio choice. Not too bad at 2.42 stars.

I'll admit I had previously dismissed Deep Purple as just another run of the mill rock band from the 70's/80's. A couple hits but nothing with any major staying power from my end. After now listening to a couple albums and talking with a friend who is a big Deep Purple fan I have a much better appreciation for them. Machine Head is a really strong album. It's a great example of hard rock sounds that paved the way for the heavy metal genre without being too aggressive. Smoke On The Water is a well known hit but I never knew the full story about the Montreux Casino fire so that's a cool bit of trivia to add to the whole thing. The album is solid pretty much all the way down and holds up really well 50+ years into its life. All in all I really enjoyed Machine Head and might need to take a Deep-er look at the rest of their catalog at some point. Preferably this will be on vinyl at my buddy's house in the near future. Color me impressed by this one. 3.57 stars

smoke on the water was obviously good but the rest of the album was cohesive and I liked the vibe

wow I forgot about highway star. That whole album was awesome, really cool moments esp in organ and bass. A cohesive work

This was a lot more relaxed comparatively with Deep Purple In Rock, but still energetic and anthemic nonetheless. Just like ...In Rock it has some of the most unique guitar riffs I've ever heard in my life, Ritchie Blackmore must worship the devil or something to come up with all these riffs. This album had a lot more consistent high than ...In Rock, but that album had more drastic highs and lows. Highlight Song/s: "Maybe, I'm a Leo", "Highway Star" and "Smoke on the Water"

Macho posturing disguised as music

pretty sick album 3.5

okay dad music!

Not really my thing,but i guess it is a sound that has endured for many …

I know that a lot of the elements on this album now feel like a parody of itself, but to hear it in its entire day reminded me how much this album must’ve hit when it first came out and how influential elements of it were in rock ‘n’ roll after.

fine. classic. I knew some of these songs. Would probably give it 3.5 if that was an option.

influential

Smoke on the water and highway Star I'm pretty familiar with abd consider the classic songs. The album itself starts off with great energy and just winds down as it goes. I kind of find it weird, as if the music got tied while I was listening.

A great A-side but getting worse at the B-side

good album. every song is a jam

Back in July 2025 I listened to Deep Purple in Rock. I gave it one star, comparing the album to Spinal Tap. I guess I should have realized at the time that this album would also be on the list, and now I got it at album 301. I'm going to be a bit kinder to this record, for two reasons. The first is that Smoke on the Water was the first song I ever learned to play on guitar. Such a simple riff, but it felt good to play something that sounded like a real song. While I don't really care for the actual tune, it holds a place in my heart. The second reason is that this was a band that at least let everyone have their solo-guitar, keyboards, drums, and yes bass too. I suppose that's worth something. I didn't enjoy any of this, and the few songs that I knew from classic rock radio have never been ones I liked. But at least I have those two reasons not to give it a one star rating.

Didn’t we do this already? Or was it live? Pretty redundant either way.

Better than I thought it would be. I've never been a big Deep Purple fan but I see what fans like. A few decent songs, some bluesier than I would have expected but definitely a decent album.

Jooo gaaf! Vet om weer eens een album helemaal te luisteren. Smoke on the water luister ik nooit meer omdat het zo grijs gedraaid is, maar stiekem toch wel vet hoor.

Best vet maar ook niet echt mijn ding (bluesier en langdradiger dan ik ze graag hoor), maar je kunt natuurlijk niet zeggen dat je van Thee Oh Sees en King Gizzard houdt en dan hier op zitten haten. Eerste keer dat het me opvalt dat Frank Zappa wordt genamedropped op Smoke On The Water which is kinda wild

World’s most played riff? Doet me denken toen ik 18 was en met coole boys omging. Logisch dat ie in deze lijst staat

7.5

Killer riffs.

I like this kind of hard rock so beautiful I like it like an opera effect I really appreciate the lyrics and the way of playing

eu gostei só de uma música. achei meio mais ou menos de novo

that was actually pretty fun. i could hear the traces of blues and other genres (some middle eastern riffs in the guitar solos on the opener?) which made it a little more interesting than the typical music from this canon. i still wouldn't say I love it because i find the vocal delivery a bit goofy and hard to connect to, but i liked this more than i thought i would. Fav track: Highway Star

Funny how all the even-numbered tracks are passable, verging on dated 70s hard rock, but all the odd-numbered ones are too damn iconic and heavy to ignore.

Had no idea smoke on the water was on this album

Went into this album thinking my favorite song would be smoke on the water, came out with it being the one I liked the least (but still really, really liked it) It amazes me that this album has flown so far under the radar for the past 50+ years when talking about all time greats. Sure, there might only be 2 known songs on here, however every track is performed so well, each having multiple solos that sound amazing Shockingly, this album is the most perfect I've listened to so far. 5/5, no further notes

My favourite Deep Purple album

me encanto!!!!! me guarde el disco. discaso. todo me gusto.

This was pretty good. Enjoyed it

What fun

Gods of rock they may be, but it's not really for me.

Zappa mention

Dad music but good

Always liked Highway Star and Smoke on the Water but was impressed by the other offerings on this album, especially Maybe I'm a Leo. A harder rock sound than I lean towards, but great bass lines. Listened through twice with no skips and enjoyed it! Not one I'll reach for often, but solid.

sounds kind of like twisted sister. i can see how this album has influenced other artists within the genre and i think it’s pretty ahead of its time

Sweet keys

Metal mastery!!!

Good!

I loved this record as a teenager. Nowadays the hits don’t hit quite like they used to, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed some of the deeper album cuts like “Pictures of Home”. It’s still a great “hard rock” album largely due to Gillian’s supreme hard rock voice and was important to the development of heavy metal particularly due to Blackmore’s classical influences. I think I like IN ROCK a bit better though.

"Another" hard rock album, but this one is one of the better ones in the list. The mixing is delicious and smooth, and the songwriting is for the most part, straightforward in a good way, and effective. I am withholding from a 5 since while this is a hard rock classic, it's got a bit too many fillers for me to be able to play this back to back without feeling a need to reach to the "next" button. The highs are high but the rest is pretty meh.

i think everyone knows "smoke on the water". maybe "space truckin'". surprised to learn this is their sixth album as it doesn't seem to be that polished. makes me think of high school (idk, why - this is the first time i've listened to the whole album) - just sounds like a band that some high schoolers would make - not necessarily a negative here.

Wow. A white 70s rock album. Ground fucking breaking. Why. Why god. Why me. Why oh why. I love 70s rock I really do I swear I look like I like 70s fucking rock but I don't like the 20th album that supposedly I need to listen to before I die that sounds exactly like the last fucking 19. I could've called it at the first there's nothing new. It sounds fucking good I fucking like it it's fucking groovy but why is it on this fucking list oh my god. I feel a little passionately about it this. Fuck. I don't even know what to say to this. Like yeah I guess. Favourite: Smoke On The Water Least favourite: When A Blind Man Cries

I feel like Deep Purple is often overlooked as a mainstay of rock radio and history. (In my mind and for society.) Occasionally I'll see an article that lists them in the top 10 of rock bands and I think... Really? And then I take the time to listen to an album like this and I get it. They really made some solid music. All the parts fit together well and it's quite good. Great riffs, solid bass and drums (even the 2 mini drum solo bits are fun.) and that all-over-the-place keyboard is awesome! How many 7 song albums have 3 Great hits? PLUS the other songs are pretty good on their own, too! Now, this firmly sounds like a rock band/album from the 70's and I don't think I'll be popping it on again without prompting. But I'm glad I got reminded oof how good they really were. This is quality rock! Is it influential? Did it change Rock? I don't think so. But, it is a decent album to show off and teach someone about the basics of rock music from "back in the day" I'm going all out and giving it a 4 today!

Dos TEMAZOS. El resto bien

Good heavy Rock Classic.

Some of the best and heaviest drumming I think I’ve heard from this era. Smoke on the water is a classic but I’ve gotta be in the right mood for this. Was good but didn’t blow me away

Dobar, kompaktan, nema nekih skipova, jak vibe classic rock

Deep purple forever The best album

Everyone has heard the riff, but I've never actually heard Smoke on the water before...

think we've already had one or their albums. This one wasn't as good

The Instrumentation especially the electric guitar was incredible. They don’t make albums if this musical quality anymore. The lyrics were depressing and rock isn’t my taste

Good vibes even if it didn't blow my mind.

Sick riffs

fine.

A solid example of the genre.

Terrific

Unc slop

Prom 2.5. Kinda boring blues rock. I used to hate Smoke on the Water because it felt overplayed, but it is definitely the highlight of the album.

Possibly the first time I’ve listened to this album end to end but a great example of early British heavy metal. John Lord’s Hammond B3 stabs and probes keep this moving on at a fine pace and Richie Blackmore’s guitar solos provide some very nice lead lines. Gets the blood moving in a morning. 4

04/03/26 um álbum que eu gostaria de ouvir como músicas de fundo caso eu estivesse em um restaurante meio escuro conversando com pessoas que eu gosto os solos são bem interessantes (embora alguns sejam um pouco chatos, mesmo diversificados), o que faz a duração das faixas não se tornar maçante alguns momentos (principalmente de solos fora do tradicional) foram hype, mexi a cabeça um pouco (consegue ter seu ar de pauleira) rock clássico que meu pai deve achar mais do caralho que eu 6/10

No me gustó. Ultimamente pasa eso, jaja

This sounds like a cross between heavy metal and classic dad rock. I am sure this influenced a lot of bands in the 80's.

Jag blev positivt överraskad av detta. Kommer nog inte lyssna igen, men jag har en ganska trevlig lyssning trots att denna typ av rock inte alls brukar vara i min smak. Kul!

Bästa sortens rock! Inte hört mer av Deep Purple än Smoke on the water tidigare (tror jag), men det ska det bli ändring på i framtiden! Stark fyra!

Vilken rökare! Tror inte jag kommer runt fullpotten den här gången.

Vilken platta och vilken start. Highway Star är en sån otrolig låt. Frågan är om inte rock-orgel är ännu ballare än en rock-flöjt? Har en till fråga. Är det ens lagligt att lyssna på Smoke on the water? Känns som ingen satt på den låten sen man var basic junior. Är nästan så man känner sig skyldig när riffet startar. Hade glömt hur fet basen är! Nää, känner mig generös men måste ge en till femma. De e inte så att det bara är ovanstående låtar heller utan, Pictures of Home, Space Truckin och When a blind man cries är ju ruuuuggigt tunga dom med. Och glöm inte alla solon från RB och lorden 🤤

rökare på rökare! min inre rockgubbe vaknar till liv med det här projektet!

Stark fyra. Eller vafan. Yolo. I'm a highway staaaaaaar. Finns det någon låt som fångat själva essensen av pepp som denna? En låt jag gång på gång använt som musikalisk kokain innan spelningar.

I already liked Highway star and Smoke in the water, but this album was so much cooler and groovier than I thought it would be

classic classic rock. sounds like a real band. great rhythm. great performances (overall), especially by Richie Blackmore on guitar and Jon Lord on Hammond organ. Organ played like a guitar often. Nice natural overdriven guitar tones. Highway Star - Proto-Iron Maiden guitar and organ harmonies, interesting delayed bass in intro. Maybe I'm a Leo - a vibe, great drumming and rhythmic feel in general. Doors-y blues middle section (Crawling King Snake). Nice combination of guitar, Rhodes, and Hammond. Pictures of Home - Another cool proto-Maiden song, in the galloping and chord changes. Cool harmony. Sweet chromatic harmonized Hammond solo. Great bass solo. Never Before - fun room reverb on L guitar. Led Zeppelin Good Times Bad Times riff Smoke on the Water - Absolute cinema Lazy - decent live bluesy song Space Truckin' - silly concept, but legendary riffs. Kind of like Not to Touch the Earth. sweet closing song. would be killer live. **(steal the "bloop"y guitar sound on the right at 2:40. Sounds like a cool synth patch. ** **Also steal the cowbell at the end.)**

I prefer Perfect Strangers or Burn, but this one still is a solid and defining album from the band.

*Chef Kiss*

Pretty good album, not much to add

Man, that album was amazing. But harmonica on Lazy ruined the perfect score

Last song was the best of the album. Not really a fan of the genre. Smoke on the water is cool

Didn’t liked all the album but still this is good Song I like: Smoke on the water, Lazy, when a blind man cry

Review - wow why have I never listened to a full Deep Purple album? This whole record is great, basically no flubs. It was cool back when hard rock included a guy going ham on an electric organ, and the bass parts were still both audible and interesting. Review - 9/10 Need to listen? YES

Big dumb rock and I love it. Much has been said about Smoke on the Water and its riff, but that guitar solo is so melodic and tasteful. Blackmore may be an early shredder. The difference for me is compared to van Halen, Blackmore’s playing sounds like it’s so much work. It’s so visceral. 4/5.

I am decidedly not the audience for this album. Smoke on the water, though!

Alongside Black Sabbath, this monolithical thing paved the way for heavy psych music and remains influential until this day. Not my favorite album from them, but it is quite relevant.

This album gets off to a strong start with Highway Star. The rest of the album is a bit of a let down for me. Favorite songs: Highway Star

En demi teinte, j'ai beaucoup aimé au début, mais le style devient répétitif un peu sur la fin, j'ai eu du mal à le finir avec la même énergie que le début.

Les solos de guitare sont exceptionnels ! Super album, pas grand chose à redire, c'est excellement bien exécuté ! C'est maîtrisé de bout en bout. Incroyable à écouter et à réécouter ! Note : 4 À réécouter : Oui

Vraiment pas mal, construction musicale intéressante 👌

Highway Star is all-time, but couldn’t see myself turning to this over any of the goats early 70s British blues hard rock era. Hard to take some of these songs seriously when Zeppelin I ,II, III, & IV had already released before this.

Smoke on the Water is an iconic song that will live on through history. The rest is kinda boring.

I already listened to Deep Purple in Rock. I think I like that one better, but this is a really good album still. Blackmore on guitar is amazing. This is one of my favorite types of music done very well. I would definitely give this another listen.

That's the rock we're all talking about..

yeeeey

Band cardine dell’hard rock britannico, e questo è uno dei loro album migliori

3 stars for Lazy, 2 stars for SOTW , minus 3 stars for the rest: bilge - mediocre and uninventive

This is a fantastic rock album especially from that era.

Nice hard rock haha! Smoke on the water intro is a classic

Holy soooocksssss!!!

Excelente disco

Eu tinha um mp3 do Smoke on the Water no meu celular na 4a-5a série, por conta do Rock N Roll Racing.

2.5

7.0/10

The Taylor Swift or Bruno Mars of Hard Rock. Nothing impressive, except for Highway Star and the beginning of Lazy, which turns boring pretty early. Like, those guys needed to straight their ideas, are you playung space rock, progressive, boogie rock or blues? Could be a nice mix, but i think they were just lazy and high

Having already been a fan of Highway Star I was excited to listen to the rest of the album. It didn’t deliver. Deep Purple is good if you wanted to listen to a much worse Zeppelin, Black Sabbath or Cream.

i went in thinking i was going to hate this. highway star immediately changed my mind. incredible start. the rest of it was fine. great moments. lazy was a huge standout. forgot jesus was in this band. huge plus.

Not my bailiwick. My dad liked Deep Purple. It never did much for me. 2/5

I’ve heard quite a lot of Deep Purple by now, they’re great. Some great guitar solos. i prefer ‘Deep Purple In Rock’ to this album I think. Fav song is ‘Smoke On The Water’.

Deep Purple's sixth album has a couple of landmark hard rock tracks and a fair number of also-rans. The pulse-raising, uptempo opener "Highway Star" has a lean arrangement that (mostly) keeps the excess to a minimum - ditch the organ and guitar solos and you practically have proto-punk! "Smoke On The Water" with its iconic riff, catchy melody and lyrics *literally about its own creation*, is a titanic rock and roll track. The slower and more blues-oriented numbers that make up the balance of this record are competent but not exceptional.

COOL surtout la dernière (when a blind man cries) voilo

For an album that has Smoke on the water, this was a pretty un-rememberable album. It wasn't bad, but there wasn't anything to really get me to want to give it a second listen.

Perfect classic metal album. Everything is great. Smoke on the Water is incredible.

Definitely an iconic one adding to the foundation of all things Rock. But there are better ones out there

It’s definitely dad rock. The instrumental parts are really nice.

Återigen ett album som jag tror att jag uppskattat mer när det släpptes. Nu... Det är ok men inte mer. Jag trodde att det skulle vara hårdare rock men det var det ju inte. All heder till Smoke on the water, verkligen en låt som hållit under alla år. Kanske ett av världens mest uttjatade gitarr-riff? Ett nja från mig. Absolut inte dåligt, jag hade bara förväntat mig mer och bättre.

Yes! Early '70s rock at its finest. One of my all-time favorite Deep Purple records. Highway Star is hands-down one of the ultimate driving anthems, right up there with Radar Love and Born to Be Wild.

gäsp

There was a time when I listened to this. Really only remember the hits. Highway Star and Smoke on the Water. Guess we’ll see how I like it now. This is fun and rocks. Highway Star is a great rocking opener with Awesome guitars. That solo! After that, there’s a defined heavy metal/hard rock sound throughout the rest of the first half, with guitar riffs and solos dominating the sound. This all sounds like stuff Jack Black would love, and I’m not knocking it. Smoke in the Water is a classic and rightfully so. Great track. One thing this album has is just great guitar solos on every track. Lazy just rocks. Really good. I think this is a solid well deserved 4. Part of me was pushing it to a 5, but don’t know if it gets there for me.

Solid rock album. Terrible album cover

banger

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Near Perfect - Although I probably prefer In Rock overall, this is a great album. Highway Star, Smoke On The Water and Space Truckin' are absolute classics. The highs are incredibly high and at their peak, Purple were some of the best to ever do it. A few less interesting moments hold this back from absolute perfection but I was pretty torn between 4 and 5 here.

Very good hard rock album

Maybe I’ve heard Highway Star and SotW too many times, but I feel like every other track on the album was way better. Good listen and had some hits. 9/10

Overall a nice sounding album. I enjoyed the funkier and groovier tracks so it didnt become too stale. Good listen.

An era of great music and this band certainly made an impact. Smoke on the Water is a memorable piece of music.

No conocía esta banda, al parecer, según Wiki: Deep Purple es una banda británica de hard rock (con razón mi critica) fundada en 1968 en Hertford, Reino Unido. La banda es considerada como una de las mejores y pionera de dicho género, además de influir a futuras bandas de rock y heavy metal junto a Black Sabbath y Led Zeppelin. Machine head es su 6to álbum grabado en dic de 1971 y publicado en marzo del 72' Impresión general: álbum muy rockero para mi gusto, aunque eso si, muy buenos solos de guitarras (se destacan mucho siempre, son las que sonorizan las canciones). Pocas letras, y si las hay, es medio al estilo ACDC, grito poco entendible jaja. Creo que mis favoritas (escuchándolo x primera y única vez) son Lazy y When a Blind Man cries, que, btw, muy buena canción de cierre después de un álbum tan potente; pasar de escuchar Space Trucking a WaBMC es como cuando estás aturdido en el boliche y te vas afuera o al baño y te vuelve la paz... Creo que es un álbum que tranquilamente escucharía para entrenar! Esas melodías en guitarra son muy motivadoras para estar al palo, ni en pedo para ir escuchando en un viaje en auto...

Middle of the road dad-flavored buttrock that has some good riffs now and then, but very little of it is interesting to me in any way. I know that I'd heard this album before and it left just as little of an impression on me this time around as it did when I first heard it. I have no idea what it is about this album that makes it so essential to listen to.

For a 37 minute run time this was a solid record.

Didn't totally grab me but I'd be a bold-faced liar if I said songs like Highway Star or Smoke on the Water didn't have me rocking out a lil bit

Great album all-around. Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord really bring it together.

Great rock album from seventies giants

uuurgh not for me at all sorry

Loved it

Classique. Rock n Roll, let’s go.

I liked this very much I remember learning smoke on the water on guitar when I was 7. I quit my lessons soon after :)

Absolutely shreds, great album front to back.

A rock classic. 4/5

As an elder millennial who is into guitar guys every guy I've ever heard tinker around on a guitar knows that riff to Smoke on the Water. Classic. The rest of the album delivers a simple but steady and overall pleasing set of guitar licks.

A cast-iron classic. A much more "straightforward" offering than the proggy grandeur which can be observed on "In Rock", but the kaleidoscopic riffs on here are undeniable, and the vocal harmonies are ever-ingraining. The b-side of this album is about as strong as any you'll come across, anywhere in music.

I’ll tell you what, this was not as bad as the first Deep Purple album we had. I wasn’t worried that any animals were being harmed as I listened to it. But that’s hardly a ringing endorsement. Giving it’s 3 because I gave the last one a 2 and this was better.

….And we’re back to the big 70’s rock sound that I really enjoy. Musicians actually playing instruments and playing them well. Heavy drums lead every tune supported by strong guitars and powerful vocals. I’ve heard Deep Purple songs before but never listened to an entire album. This was a good addition to the list.

Heavy, bluesy guitar rock. Just what it needs to be. Long tracks with lots of solos, but this is driving music and you need a few jams to get you through. Overall, it’s fine if a little monotonous in places. Still one Ian too many!

So much better than their In Rock. Band sounds tighter and the songs are on another level. I was expecting a new producer in the credits, but it turns out they self produce their own albums. In Rock was only the second record they self produced, and it showed. Three legendary tracks on this album, those alone carry Machine Head to a strong rating. Rest of the album is made up of strong, quality songs that hold their own. This is solid rock and roll, no frills, well done hard rock and roll music.

J'ai ouï dire que Guillaume a un faible pour KPop Demon Hunters. J'adorerais l'entendre chanter Soda Pop.

Je ne m'attendais pas à tripper comme ça, wow! A la croisée des chemins entre Steely Dan et Iron Maiden avec des belles touches de psyché et de prog. J'oserais dire que Smoke On the Water, la seule que je connaissais, est la moins bonne de l'album. Un band que je tenterai de découvrir!

Moins inspirant que d’autre hard rock des années 70. Genre donne moi ledzep et black sabbath avant!

People complain about 3 dexy's albums, but they should be complaining about 3+ bloody deep purple albums. This was maybe not as bad as the other 2 I have listened to it, but I was glad for it to be over. 2.5 stars

Could not wait for this dross to end

I only like the first song lol

Can understand other people loving this but I don’t

Very good album- Need to do a proper review 3.5/5-GEMV (12.02.2026)

Hard charging classic rock.

Perfeito. Inclusive muito melhor do que lembrava. Lazy talvez seja a melhor música da história do gênero.

Deserved place in the hard rock trifecta

I think most everyone is familiar with "Smoke On The Water", as it's probably one of the iconic rock songs of all time. Outside of that, one other song was familiar to me, but the rest of the album was not. This album is exactly what you want in a rock album - classic guitar riffs, lots of guitar solos, and pounding drums throughout. The lyrics aren't deep and aren't going to blow you away, but the music itself is what makes this album a classic. Definitely worthy of the list!

Infectious, big Dumb Rock that I'm not ashamed to say that I love. Is it stupid? Yes. Are lyrics shallow & simplistic? Yes Does it Rock? FUCK YEAH! It's just Hair Metal in it's infancy. I often wonder what music Strippers stripped to before Hair Metal. It's this! 3

Pretty standard rock and roll from that era. Nothing to hate or get too excited about.

I was properly introduced to Deep Purple through their live album Nobody's Perfect. I loved it. Their live energy was palpable and their virtuosity apparent, even on this, a bargain-bin purchase and, as far as I know, an unheralded release. This studio album captures a lot of the same energy on that live album. I can only imagine what seeing them live was actually like. There is no fat on this album, just seven great rock songs from one of the best bands to ever do it.

p good! nothing really stood out except smoke on the water lol, but like a 3.5 for me

sorry i am so behind i don't remember this one at all. it was like generic dad rock right. i dread these kinds of albums. i don't care for dad rock at all

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.

I've never listened to much deep purple, outside their biggest hits. But really enjoyed this album, the drums, bass and guitar are sick, especially love the guitar and the bluesy solos, I have something new to learn

Absolute classic.

This is music to listen while cruising down the highway, windows down and the volume way up. It's a very specific situation that this abum thrives in but I still really enjoyed it. I have a very vivid memory of playing Rayman Raving Rabbids 2 and playing "Smoke on the Water" as a Rabbid, so of course, the song is very iconic to me. I also enjoyed Never Before, they intended it to be their hit single and I get why, it's very catchy.

7/10 - good rock, could have been from the late 80s

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

I don’t like rock music all that much so the sound just wasn’t for me. It’s more beat-heavy more than melody so I ended up just skipping through the songs in a few minutes. I didn’t pay attention to the lyrics so I have nothing to say about them.

Wow this was an amazing listen. I personally do not listen to rock, but this album made me dance and put on a mini performance while working. One thing I appreciate from rock is hearing the instruments as if you're at a live concert. My favourite songs has to be Highway star, smoke on the water, lazy and when a blind man cries. Rock on 🤘

Another solid but mostly forgettable album. I knew the song Space Truckin from my space playlist.

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.

мимо

Ты какую группу уважаешь? 8/10

Really fun album. I enjoyed this! Highway star is peak. And I can just here myself playing smoke on the water riff for the first time on my shitty acoustic guitar.

Really good album, Smoke on the Water is the overplayed song unfortunately when there is a lot really good tracks on here

Un classique, pas une découverte

smoke on the water was probably one of the earliest rock songs i was shown and liked when i was really young so i knew i was gonna have a good time with this

4/5 2 músicas bem icônicas, o resto ok. Destaque a "Lazy", música com pouca visualização dentro do álbum, mas que entrega um solo insano.

Jeg er ikke kæmpe fan af deep purple men det her er et sejt nok album. Man kan godt høre deres indflydelse på metal

Endnu federe end den anden Deep Purple. Har lært af listen at jeg synes tidlig-70er-heavy-metal er virkelig fed.

What a banger! Including one of the most iconic guitar riffs og all time!

no

Inventive energy and drive. You really are space truckin through this one

it took me on an explorative journey in rock and blues field, which is not my everyday choice. Enjoyed it surprisingly more than expected. Good vibes, feels fresh even if it's over 50 years old. Maybe only for me though. (reaaaallllllyyyyyy cool album cover – graphically 8/10) saved 3 songs out of 8 3.5 out of 5

Smoke on the water pretty good kind of short actually liked Picture of Home the most probably because I haven't heard it as much. 8/10

As classic as classic rock gets! Absolutely badass blues rock riffs, crushing distorted keyboard tones, Ian Paice on drums, and nut-crushing high screaming vocals. The only drawback to Machine Head is that it's so influential that it sounds a bit rudimentary and a bit cliche with songs like Smoke On The Water. It's obvious that in the decades following its release, rock bands have built upon the sound, making it deeper, better, and more complex.

Nothing like 70s rock to put you in a good mood

This is what you think of when you hear classic rock. Shout out to one of the most iconic rock riffs for Smoke on the Water though. Best Songs: Highway Star, Maybe I'm a Leo, Smoke on the Water Worst Songs: Pictures of Home, Never Before

Kind of boring but some of the solos were good.

when a blind man cries is probably the best track on this album but the rest of this is boringggggggg Would I listen again: No Deserves to be on this list: No 2.1

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.

this is almost certainly the best Deep Purple album in this book and also a classic rock record. some of the tracks do feel mildly bloated though.