If you're looking to absorb some more of Deep Purple's rib-crunching, dramatic hard rock, but want something that hasn't been as endlessly re-released on compilations or on classic rock radio lately, "The House Of Blue Light" is an ideal find.
Released in 1987, Deep Purple's second "reunion album" was overlooked upon release, but is actually one of their most precisely formulaic albums since "In Rock." While it's not as daring as their 70s releases, "Blue Light" is a highly enjoyable blueprint for the plan of finding a hit. Each track sounds like an attempt to score a hit single, which means the band rarely crosses any musical boundaries, but that's part of the album's hard-edged charm. Despite a strict, limited approach, Deep Purple's musicianship still carries the power of a fiery chariot battalion, and they gut it out on each song with admirability. What's most important is that the group takes the seemingly cliched ideas of 'Mad Dog,' 'Bad Attitude,' or 'Black and White' and presents them as stunning, addictive hard rock tracks. If one were to hand these musical ideas to most other bands, the results would not be as satisfying. Ian Gillan's lyrics do the impossible task of sounding fresh, despite the limited formula, and Richie Blackmore and Jon Lord are typically dazzling, anchored by the rhythm section of producer Roger Glover and Ian Paice. Virtually all of the music here is catchy and exciting, most notably on the addictive 'Call of the Wild,' 'The Unwritten Law,' 'The Spanish Archer,' and 'Dead Or Alive,' a song that expresses the dangers of drug addiction, with a very frank, that's-the-way-it-is perspective, preached with force by musicians who have been there and back. 'Hard Lovin' Woman,' 'Bad Attitude,' and 'Dead Or Alive' would be featured on the in-concert "Nobody's Perfect," the latter receiving a blazing treatment including a slightly bluesy intro.
Due to the unfortunate fact that it was dismissed upon its release, "The House of Blue Light" is quickly becoming more and more rare to find in music stores, like its two predecessors "Slaves and Masters" and "The Battle Rages On." This makes it all the more pertinent that these albums not be lost among Purple fans. They are worthy additions to an already-bracing cannon of work.

This was Deep Purple's half-hearted attempt to fit into the mainstream sound of the late 80's. Too much synthesizer, bad lyrics, uneven vocals, and unimpressive guitar and bass plague this album. The best songs on here are "Bad Attitude" and "Spanish Archer," but I wouldn't buy the album for those two songs, and they are only mediocre by Deep Purple's standards.

The comparison must be made between this album and "Who Do We Think We Are?" Both followed impressive, 5-star masterpieces, and both reflect the tension between guitarist and vocalist. The rest of the musicians - Glover, Lord, and Paice - seem caught in the cross-fire between Blackmore and Gillan. How many songs can Gillan write to Blackmore, imploring him to change his difficult ways and criticizing his personality? Four, apparently: "Bad Attitude," "The Unwritten Law," (which should have been "The Unwritten Song"), "Mad Dog," and "The Spanish Archer."

Anyone who reads my reviews of Deep Purple can tell that I favor this band greatly, but I have to be honest: This is just not a good album. Don't let the mammoth success of "Perfect Strangers" lure you into buying this album. Personality clashes (as in the case of Gillan-Blackmore), often produce either truly fabulous music (think "Machinehead" and "Perfect Strangers") or truly horrendous music (think this album and "Who Do We Think We Are?").

When HOBL was released in the '80's there were two versions. The CD featured a full length "Strangeways" and the vinyl LP a cut down "Strangeways".

On this remaster, the record company got it WRONG. Yes, they bring you the cut down LP version.

This album is way better than Perfect Strangers, which was a rather flat attempt to be another Machinehead. Instead HOBL adds new dimensions to the Purple sound. It is a hard rock album AND a sophisticated peice of music.

I encourage you to go find a copy of the original CD and leave this remaster turkey alone.

In my opinion, HOBL is the most underrated album of the band. True, only 3 years after their legendary reunion, Deep Purple was going through another crisis, which probably had its influence on the way fans received this recording... "Ahhh, this is one of their worst albums because I heard that the band was going through tough times". Also, the sound here is different than what we always expected from them.

Bad Attitude and Unwritten Law - as heavy as DP does it. Sound here reminds of the "In Rock" days and at the same time shows an innovative side of the band. Excellent vocals by Gillan.

Call of the wild is a never-seen-before piece of Purple. SOmewhat mellow and unusual.

Mad Dog - simply an excellent work! Very heavy and fast Black and white - blending vocal chorus works out well. The song sounds like a slow heavy train that just got back onto its tracks Hard Lovin Woman - rock'n'rollish tune, one of the concert favorites in 80's Spanish Archer - another classic. Remarkable play by Ritchie and great lyrics Strangeways - quite an odd song. Again purplishly heavy rhythm. Mitzi Dupree - pinch me... Is this DP? Call it blues rock, call it white blues, but again the band shows something unique. Finally, what a great closing with Dead or Alive. Highlight of the song is the keyboard solo by Jon Lord and another great vocal parts make this song.

Overall, this album shows the DP in quite an unusual light. Blue light.

One of Purple's best but least-known and underrated albums, House of Blue Light has strengths that made Deep Purple so great are evident on this album. This album is humorous with clever lyrics, top quality musicianship and killer solos from both Blackmore and Lord. The songs are well-crafted and tightly-woven together.
The songs are great, with Bad Attitude and The Unwritten Law starting things off in fine fashion! Mitzi Dupree is entertaining in an Anyone's Daughter kind of way.
The Spanish Archer and Mad Dog are great straight-ahead rockers.
Strange-ways is unlike anything Purple has done before - it's refreshing; different.
Dead or alive and Hard Loving Woman are timeless tracks and my favorite is probably Call of the wild.

This album is stronger than Perfect Strangers, with a greater variety of songs and a lot more experimentation. An overlooked and unappreciated album. This was my favorite reunion era album until Bananas in 2003. A must get.