Deep Purple - The Book Of Taliesyn (1968)

Artist...............: Deep Purple
Album................: The Book Of Taliesyn
Genre................: Rock
Source...............: Cd
Year.................: 1968
Ripper...............: Exact Audio Copy
Codec................: APE
Information..........: TntVillage
Covers...............: Front
Total Size...........: 239 Mb


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Several months after the innovative remake of "You Keep Me Hanging On," England's answer to Vanilla Fudge,

was this early version of Deep Purple, which featured vocalist Rod Evans, and bassist Nick Simper, along

with mainstays Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice. This, their second album, followed on the heels

of "Hush," a dynamic arrangement of a Joe South tune, far removed from the flavor of one of his own hits,

"Walk a Mile in My Shoes." Four months later, this album's cover of Neil Diamond's Top 25, 1967 gem

"Kentucky Woman," went Top 40 for Deep Purple. Also like Vanilla Fudge, the group's own originals were

creative, thought-provoking, but not nearly as interesting as their take on cover tunes. Vanilla Fudge did

"Eleanor Rigby," and Deep Purple respond by going inside "We Can Work It Out" -- it falls out of nowhere

after the progressive rock jam "Exposition," Ritchie Blackmore's leads zipping in between Rod Evans smooth

and precise vocals. As Vanilla Fudge was progressively leaning more towards psychedelia, here Deep Purple

are the opposite. The boys claim to be inspired by the Bard of King Arthur's court in Camelot, Taliesyn.

John Vernon Lord, under the art direction of Les Weisbrich, paints a superb wonderland on the album jacket,

equal to the madness of Hieronymous Bosch's cover painting used for the third album. Originals "The Shield"

and "Anthem" make early Syd Barrett Pink Floyd appear punk in comparison. Novel sounds are aided by Lord's

dominating keyboards, a signature of this group.

Though "The Anthem" is more intriguing than the heavy metal thunder of Machine Head, it is overwhelmed by

the majesty of their "River Deep, Mountain High" cover, definitely not the inspiration for the Supremes and

Four Tops 1971 hit version. By the time 1972 came around, Deep Purple immersed themselves in dumb lyrics,

unforgettable riffs, and a huge presence, much like Black Sabbath. The evolution from progressive to hard

rock was complete, but a combination of what they did here -- words that mattered matched by innovative

musical passages -- would have been a more pleasing combination. Vanilla Fudge would cut Donovan's "Season

of the Witch," Deep Purple followed this album by covering his "Lalena"; both bands abandoned the rewrites

their fans found so fascinating. Rod Evans voice was subtle enough to take "River Deep, Mountain High" to

places Ian Gillam might have demolished. Some CD reissues contain an additional five tracks.




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Tracklist
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01. Listen, Learn, Read On
02. Wring That Neck
03. Kentucky Woman
04. a) Explosion, b) We Can Work Is Out
05. Shield
06. Anthem
07. River Deep, Mountain High