Deep Purple/Studio Demos 1990-1993

The last two albums of the Ritchie Blackmore era, “SLAVES AND MASTERS” and “THE BATTLE RAGES ON…”. A title that covers all the demos is now available. DEEP PURPLE is a band with a long career, and surprisingly few demos or rehearsal takes have been leaked. The album’s production process seems to have been revealed by official sources. However, the sixth period with Joe Lynn Turner and the seventh period with Ian Gillan’s return have not yet been officially revealed to this kind of outtake (although it is unlikely that this will happen…), making them a black box for PURPLE enthusiasts. This is a two-disc set that shines a spotlight on such an era and brings it out into the light of day. This work is a classic that was once released as “DEMOS IN THE BASEMENT”. The demo and rehearsal takes of both “SLAVES AND MASTERS” and “THE BATTLE RAGES ON…” were first excavated under the title “THE BATTLE OF SLAVES AND MASTERS”, but this work is based on a higher master and is extremely fresh. The natural texture and sound brightness that are not affected by equalization have clearly improved, and you can feel the wonderful freshness of the master. In addition, the pitch that was out of whack in “THE BATTLE OF SLAVES AND MASTERS” is perfect in this work. [Disc 1: “SLAVES AND MASTERS” demo] And the hidden history of DEEP PURPLE, which is revealed with such quality, is the life of this work. First of all, disc 1 is the demo of “SLAVES AND MASTERS”. The song-less “Fire In The Basement” and the still-developing arrangement of “Fortuneteller” reveal the process of how the songs are being worked out, and the rehearsal take “Slow Down Sister #1” is also at the stage where the overall structure is becoming clear. What is most surprising is the rehearsal takes that first appeared in this work, starting with track 7’s “Jam Session #4”. The rush of precious takes, nearly twice as long as the previously known tracks, lasts for about 30 minutes, which is exactly the recording scene of the sixth period of PURPLE. That “Jam Session #4” is a blues session-style song that lasts more than 7 minutes. There are many jersey solos by Richie and John, and it is a very enjoyable take. The following “Unreleased Song”‘s “#1”, “#2”, and “#3” all have Joe’s vocals, which is a delight. Joe is searching for a melody as he sings, with a mid-tempo progression that gives off a vintage ’70s vibe, giving it a mood that is somewhat reminiscent of BAD COMPANY. This take is like a sample of “what happens when Joe sings naturally,” and it tells us why Richie liked Joe and chose him so many times. The reason is told by the “sound,” which speaks more eloquently than words. In particular, “Unreleased Song #3” is interesting in that it starts off with the idea that it might be the prototype of the “The Battle Rages On” riff, and then develops into a light, fast tune. The melody is also relatively solid, and if it had been completed as it was and included in “SLAVES AND MASTERS,” it might have been an album with even more RAINBOW-like colors. [Disc 2: “THE BATTLE RAGES ON…” demo] Disk 2 instead is the “THE BATTLE RAGES ON…” demo. You can enjoy seven tracks of Ian Gillan’s temporary vocals and different mixes. This one is also raised from a higher master than “THE BATTLE RAGES ON…” and the sound has been upgraded. You can enjoy the “song you know but you don’t know” with excellent sound quality, which is typical of a demo take. “A Twist In The Tale”, which is said to have a great melody before Joe Lynn Turner left the band, is unfortunately already the “Gillan version”. However, here you can listen to the ending that faded in the album. Although not all the songs on the album are included, you can enjoy the main songs with different expressions and colors, such as “Anya” and “Lick It Up” with different mixes, and “The Battle Rages On” with two takes with significantly different compositions and vocals. In addition, disc 2 includes a special bonus track, a 4-song sampler (all edited versions) that was only available in part at the time of the release of “THE BATTLE RAGES ON…”. This sample board has been difficult to obtain for a long time and is quite a premium. Despite the much-talked-about confusion surrounding member changes, there are still many mysterious aspects of the “SLAVES AND MASTERS” and “THE BATTLE RAGES ON…” eras. This demo album gives us a glimpse behind the veil of history. A luxurious package of rare recordings that may even change the way you hear the original studio albums.