If you have found yourself at this level, looking at obscure groups from the late sixties, and arrived at Deep Purple, you have discovered the motherload of Progressive Rock roots. If you are looking for more "Smoke on the Water" and Machine Head material, you won't find it here, that stuff is childish by comparison with this material. There is no better example of very early Prog Rock than Deep Purple 1968-1970.

They had reached the peak of their collective creative powers by the time they arrived at this their third album. With all but one original composition (Donovan!), this album combines moody organ and harpsichord foundation, acid guitar, polished vocals, and classical string arrangements to create a truly spooky atmosphere matched only by the bizarre and justly famous cover painting by Hieronymus Bosch (1450-1516).

Don't be mislead by what you think you know about Deep Purple. Although they saw their commercial success only from subsequent releases, the earlier years of 1968-1970 were when they were the most creative and innovative . Their work from this period includes the very ambitious classical/rock compositions by Jon Lord; Concerto for Group & Orchestra and Gemini Suite. Approach these with an open mind, and you won't be disappointed.

Still interested? Check out their first two albums, The Book of Taliesyn and Shades of Deep Purple. "Shades" includes their early hit Hush, and "Book" their second hit, Kentucky Woman (Neil Diamond composer). Those may be the 'hits' from those two albums, but the original compositions are the real gems.

Here, the first lineup of Deep Purple found the footing that, interestingly enough, would be the Mk 2 lineup's stock in trade. Even so, the approach here was still eclectic, as one can tell from the opening strains of "Chasing Shadows," wherein Paicey proves himself one of rock's best drummers (and to this day, still one of the most underrated) with what sounds like about 20 tracks' worth of African percussion. My only complaint with this track is the abrupt ending, as if the engineer ran out of tape while the band were still going strong but didn't catch it until after. "Bird Has Flown" still has some of the Hendrixian influence that was apparent on Shades of...; it reminds me a bit of Jimi's "Stone Free" (which is not necessarily a bad thing; both tracks have a great hook that doesn't let you go until the fadeout).

Of the bonus tracks on this expanded edition, "Emmaretta" is my favourite; this one could have been done with the Mk 2 lineup, although Ian Gillan's vocals would lend a different dynamic to the band's sound. "April" should take its place as one of the best examples of early progressive rock ever committed to vinyl.

For those wishing to explore Deep Purple, I recommend starting with the Mk 2 albums, most especially Machine Head, then first working backward, to get a sense of what came before, and maybe after that working forward to the Mk 3 (with David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes taking over for Gillan and Glover, respectively) and Mk 4 (Tommy Bolin replacing Ritchie Blackmore) lineups. If you're a casual fan, probably better to just go with the 2000 compilation Very Best of Deep Purple, as it does the best capsule version of Purple's best-known material. But with Purple Passages long since deleted, there is no better way to experience Purple Mk 1 other than diving headfirst into Shades, Taliesyn, and the eponymous 3rd LP.

I own this CD and probably heard it first (Vinyl) around '70/'71.

I loved it right away and did my early trippin' to it. What memories!

As the other reviewer said, this stuff beats out the following more

commercial material. The sound quality is the best you're gonna get.

It amazes me how the original tapes have held up after 35/40 years.

If you like acid rock with a few twists (the Donovan song "Lalena")

you will be glad you made this purchase. Go for it!

Breadmanwalking.....

I, am a big Deep Purple fan, even though I was only nine years old when this, their self-entitled third album,was realeased. I got into 60's music big time in my early 20's, the Beatles, Doors, and Deep Purple, oh yes. I got into all of the 60's bands back then (the early 80's, which wasn't the best era for music,lets face it, lol). But what is strange is that for years I have owned most all of Deep Purple's albums, my favorites being their first two, Shades of Deep Purple and Book of Taliesan, but I never owned this, their third. Well, my GOD IT ROCKS!!! I LOVE IT!! i KNOW that I have heard some of these songs on this album, but to think that I never owned the actual album, humm. Psychedellic music has always been a favorite of mine, and the way that this band blends it with progressive rock is phenomonal! I DECIDED TO order it from a vendor in England, to my way of thinking this made it even more authentic, being that Deep Purple is from England, lol. Took longer, but it was worth it. Any Deep Purple fan will love this cd. And take it from me, if you love a band, REALLY LOVE A BAND, Always check out their ENTIRE CATALOG OF MUSIC!!!

Of the 3 earliest Deep Purple albums, I had only heard the song, "Hush" (which prompted me to buy these) until I sampled them and never knew them as a psychedelic band before, but as a huge fan, I love it all!