Comments for Deep Purple, The Book of Taliesyn

The 2nd Purple album improves on it's predecessor largely due to the better quality of the original songs and the impressive ensemble playing. Lord and Blackmore are starting to develop the roles they would display so fiercely in the near future. Still nothing here that makes the album an essential part of a collection. The pop songs are just too syrupy. The growing firepower of JL and RB is evident though and when Rod Evans isn't singing, the music can be breath taking. Jim C.

MK I Deep Purple starts to grow a little bit with more original songs (Standouts are The Shield and the instrumental "Hard Road"), though this album contains two of their best covers "Kentucky Woman" and "River Deep, Mountain High". Again, Rod Evans can''t hold a candle to Ian Gillan and some numbers are embarrasing (Anthem and Listen, Learn, Read On). However, there''s something irresitable about this album that happens whenever Blackmore and Lord take their talents to the extreme. And that they do, very frequently throughout the Book of Tayliesyn.

v Rod Evans g Ritchie Blackmore k Jon Lord b Nicky Simper d Ian Paice

Although this album is very dated (well, it was recorded in 1969 after all) it's a great album! All the songs are good. And I think Rod Evans does a great job on the vocals, too. Perhaps not up DP MKII at their best, but a great album.