This 1984 release--one of the most anticipated of that year, eventually going platinum--saw Deep Purple's most successful line-up in a somewhat tentative reunion, fortunately bowing to pressure from their public to record and tour again. The first (and best) document of Purple's 80s reunion era, "Perfect Strangers" is a thrilling album, one of the supergroup's finest. The compositional output of Roger Glover, Ritchie Blackmore, and Ian Gillan is rough and gutsy, while remaining mystic and intriguing.
The near lack of sincerity of Deep Purple's reunited friendship is showcased in the hard-hitting, gripping songs, such as the agressive 'Under the Gun,' 'A Gypsy's Kiss,' and the anti-preachy 'Nobody's Home,' as the shaky reunion is captured more sympathetically on the ominous title cut. 'Hungry Daze' and 'Wasted Sunsets' are a gaze back at Purple's fast-living days past (one full of fury, the other longing and lonesome), and 'Knocking At Your Back Door' gave the group a smash hit single. 'Son Of Alerik' is a bonus track for this remaster, a driven and alluring studio jam.
The sound of the musicianship on this album could not be immitated; Blackmore's trademark guitar is facinating, Glover's bass reaches brilliant madness, Gillan's barbed wire voice soars, as Jon Lord's organ is a highlight as usual, and drummer Ian Paice remains out of his head. This album is a landmark for Deep Purple, and is aptly titled--the band was reunited only by pressure from their public, making them no longer musical mates, but "Perfect Strangers." Not withstanding, the group were not strangers at all when it came to their common goal of making music.

This is Deep Purple's (Mark II) 1984 reunion album, and an album that fans had been waiting for since 1973 (when the famous Mark II line-up broke up because of internal conflicts within the band). As most fans I was a little concerned. Many years had gone bye since their last album together, and music had changed over the years. Gillan had his own band, Ritchie and Roger were doing great with Rainbow and Jon Lord spent his "sparetime" in Whitesnake with David Coverdale.

Well, as this album shows there were no reason to worry about their ability to record a truly great album together. This is one of the few albums that I honestly can say that only contains great songs, and it has a lot of musical energy all the way through. The duelling soloes between Jon and Ritchie is way beyound great, and Roger's and little Ian's bass and drums keeps this train on the tracks. Big Ian's vocals are amazing (even though he can't scream as high as before- who needs screaming anyway?), and this album proves that he is one of the greatest rocksingers of all time.

Stand-out tracks: Well....in fact- all of them!

If you haven't got this album yet, it's your great loss! I suggest that you buy it:-)

I love listening to this album, yet I find myself wishing the lyrics were written in a tongue I couldn't understand. In Deep Purple's past albums, there were some cool lyrics, and some terribly silly lyrics (Let's Go Space Truckin'!), but the words in songs like "Gypsy's Kiss" (Mind Body Heart and Soul/ We got Rock and Roll/ And there's nothing they can do") or "Knocking at Your Back Door" (Sweet Nancy was so fancy, to get into her pantry......)are hard on the ears!

No worry though, there are also some good lyrical moments, though no words as cool as "Highway Star" or "Smoke on the Water."

This was Deep Purple's first release in some time, and while their classic days were behind them, Ian Gillan's amazing vocals drive this album home. Gillan is mind-blowing on "Wasted Sunsets," a song that would fall flat if any other classic rock vocalist attempted it! In fact, the best reason to buy Perfect Strangers is that of all Deep Purple albums, this release is the one that best showcases Ian Gillan's voice. The only other music that does full justice to Ian Gillan's talent is the original "Jesus Christ Superstar," where Gillan's Jesus is so great that it ruins the role for all who have attempted it since then!

This is not to take anything away from the rest of the band, especially the great guitar work as only Ritchie Blackmore can do! The occasional bad lyrics aside, this album's appeal will catch you spinning the CD over and over.

I remember waiting for this album like waiting for Xmas; And while only a handful of tracks could be considered 'classic Deep Purple', every song is solid, and all the players are in fine form. Blackmore is his usual unusual self, complete with angular, odd-scales, blues flurries, and his trademark, stinging vibrato; Ian sounds right at home, and the band just seems to follow close behind. This has been recently remastered(I don't know about the paticular version I'm reviewing, but I know it's out there...), so it sounds even better. And for being close to 25 years old, it still sounds great to me. A good CD to introduce younger listeners to these guys...it's old, but not that old.

Perfect strangers 1985 was the continuing story after Come Taste the band album 1975, where the Deep Purple Mk IV at that time under the command of David Coverdale had been splited. This reunion album 1985 was a little bit commercial in the rock market, though the whole songs are not bad. I love the knocking at your back door, the album title, Gypsy kiss and of course Wasted sunsets. These songs are timeless.....Gillan and Blackmore Co still kept the old PURPLE sound, what they ever had done during their hey days in the early essential 70's. Buy this one! and also buy the next reunion album HOUSE OF THE BLUE LIGHT 1987. Long Live DEEP PURPLE in the Rock n roll hall of fame as the best Hard Rock in the highest rank.