Forget gladiators and pizza, kids! The real Italian job came in 1970, courtesy of Deep Purple's "In Rock," not just any pressing, but the Italian 12" vinyl. This wasn't some opera for the highbrows; this was a sonic earthquake, a declaration that the old guard of rock was getting a swift kick in the pants.
Now, historically speaking, 1970 was a strange brew. We had the aftertaste of Woodstock's peace and love, but also Hendrix's tragic demise, Vietnam raging... the world was a mess, and music was the mirror reflecting that chaos. Enter Deep Purple, not some peace-preaching choirboys, but a band ready to channel that unrest into pure, unadulterated noise.
Genre-wise, they weren't reinventing the wheel. Hard rock, blues roots, a touch of classical bombast courtesy of Jon Lord's organ... but it was the *way* they did it that mattered. "In Rock" wasn't about technical showmanship, it was about power, about primal energy. The Italian pressing, with its slightly warmer sound, only amplifies this. It's like the band's performing in the Colosseum, amps turned up to eleven, shaking the ancient ruins.
Speaking of amps, let's talk about that lineup. This ain't your mama's Deep Purple; this is Mk. II, the classic one. Ian Gillan's vocals aren't pretty, they're a freakin' primal scream, especially on tracks like "Child in Time," the ten-minute epic that became an anthem for a generation with its soaring vocals and dramatic shifts in tempo. Ritchie Blackmore's guitar solos aren't noodling, they're a sonic assault, and his riff on "Speed King," a blistering opener that set the tone for the entire album, is the stuff of legends. And let's not forget the instrumental madness of "Into the Fire" and the epic organ showcase on "Child in Time," solidifying Lord's status as a keyboard god.
The rhythm section, Glover and Paice, are the engine driving this beast, relentless and tight. Paice's drumming on "Flight of the Rat" is a masterclass in controlled chaos, while Glover's basslines on "Hard Lovin' Man" are the backbone of the groove. The interplay between the two is especially evident on "Bloodsucker," a bluesy rocker with a driving beat and a menacing swagger.
Production-wise, don't expect over-polished studio trickery. This was the band themselves, along with Martin Birch, capturing the raw energy. Abbey Road studios might sound fancy, but the vibe is pure sweat and grit. This ain't no concept album, it's a gut punch, each track hitting you right in the solar plexus.
Now, controversy? Oh yeah, it had that too. Some squares back then clutched their pearls at the lyrics, calling them violent, rebellious... but that's missing the point. "In Rock" was the sound of a generation saying, "Screw your rules, we're pissed off!" It wasn't about pretty words, it was about catharsis through noise. "Living Wreck" and "Bloodsucker" weren't exactly radio-friendly, but they resonated with those who felt the burn of societal discontent.
So, if you're lucky enough to get your hands on this Italian pressing, don't just admire it, play it LOUD. Feel the needle hit the groove and let that raw energy wash over you. This is a piece of rock history, a testament to a time when music wasn't afraid to get its hands dirty.
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