Deep Purple Burn (Expanded & Remastered) CD

Additional Tracks

Personnel: Glenn Hughes (vocals, bass guitar); David Coverdale (vocals); Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Jon Lord (keyboards); Ian Paice (drums).
Liner Note Author: Nigel Young.
Recording information: 11/1973.
Photographer: Fin Costello.
Although it shook the band's fan base to its core, the acrimonious departure of vocalist Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover served to rejuvenate Deep Purple in time for 1973's aptly named Burn album, which unquestionably showed huge improvement over their lackluster previous effort, Who Do We Think We Are. And in an interesting twist rarely attempted before or since, new recruits David Coverdale (vocals) and Glenn Hughes (bass and vocals, ex-Trapeze) traded lead singing duties on virtually every one of its songs -- an enviable tag team, as both possessed exceptional pipes. The phenomenal title track started things off at full throttle, actually challenging the seminal "Highway Star" for the honor of best opener to any Deep Purple album, while showcasing the always impressive drumming of Ian Paice. Up next, the intro to the equally timeless "Might Just Take Your Life," however simple from a technical perspective, remains one of organist Jon Lord's signature moments; and the downright nasty "Lay Down, Stay Down" roared behind wildly careening starts and stops and a fantastic Ritchie Blackmore guitar solo which left no doubt as to who was the band's primal force, regardless of lineup. Moving right along, though it was rarely included in later-day greatest hits sets, "What's Going on Here" was about as good a single as Purple ever wrote; "You Fool No One" was compelling for its sheer intensity; and the funky "Sail Away" was a sign of the band's direction in years to come. Lastly, the fantastic slow-boiling blues of "Mistreated" closed the album proper (let's ignore the record's only throw-away track -- boring final instrumental "A 200") with a command solo performance from Coverdale, as nuanced and sensitive as it was devastating. So impassioned was the singer's delivery, in fact, that the song would remain his personal, in-concert trademark with Whitesnake, long after his tenure with Deep Purple came to a close. Like the vast majority of Burn this song's greatness qualifies it for the highest echelons of hard rock achievement, and therefore ranks as an essential item in the discography of any self-respecting music fan. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia
The first Deep Purple album to feature Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale, resulted in a much more bluesy effort all round. Coverdale's throaty roar, combined with Hughes' soaring vocal, made for a heartfelt, rootsy record. 'Might Just Take Your Life' was a hit single, and the album featured a series of extended jams, which worked most spectacularly with the elongated 'Mistreated', later resurrected by Coverdale as a live favourite with Whitesnake. The title track and 'Lay Down, Stay Down' gave vent to their more familiar refrains and emphasized the strength of their songwriting.
The departure of vocalist Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover seemed to rejuvenate Deep Purple, and 1974's Burn was a huge improvement over their previous effort, the lackluster Who Do We Think We Are. In an interesting twist, new recruits David Coverdale and ex-Trapeze bassist Glenn Hughes share lead vocals on virtually every track: an enviable tag team, as both possessed exceptional pipes. The title track starts things off at full speed thanks to the phenomenal drumming of Ian Paice, and the intro to "Might Just Take Your Life" is one of organist Jon Lord's finest moments. Full of starts and stops, "Lay Down, Stay Down" features a fantastic solo from guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who, as usual, serves as the band's primal force. "What's Going on Here" is about as good a single as Purple ever wrote; "You Fool No One" is compelling in its intensity; and the funky "Sail Away" is a sign of the band's future direction. "Mistreated," a fantastic slow blues, clUncut (p.140) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[F]or the most part a dark and brooding affair....Marley, in particular, was keen to return to the roots - at once mystical and menacing - of the original Wailers."
Mojo (Publisher) (p.127) - 4 stars out of 5 - "[A] tense, creative triumph."