Comments for Deep Purple, Fireball

Fireball is the somewhat disappointing follow up to In Rock. Although it is a great album in it''s own right, it never managed to get out of the shadow of it''s predecessor. It will always be "the album between In Rock & Machine Head". It was the first album to break into the top 40 in the US since their debut "Shades of Deep Purple" in 1968, largely due to the heavy airplay Strange Kind Of Woman got. It''s eclectic mix of musical styles seemed to turn of the fans of In Rock and seemed strange to new fans expecting the pop/rock of Strange Kind Of Woman. In retrospect the album is a testament to a band refusing to be pigeonholed into one kind of music. It was also the last time DP allowed themselves to indulge into a wide variety of styles. Subsequent releases stayed in a narrower field of hard rock style songs. Highlights? Depends on your cup of tea. They''re all here. Loud, fast and heavy? The title track. Country-blues? Anyone''s Daughter. Slow and heavy? No No No. Heavy blues? Demons Eye. Progressive? The Mule. This album deserves better than the reputation it has but the band bad-mouthed it after it was released which didn''t help. (Ritchie in particular) Jim C.

v Ian Gillan g Ritchie Blackmore k Jon Lord b Roger Glover d Ian Paice