Pictures of Home

Last updated
"Pictures of Home"
Song by Deep Purple
from the album Machine Head
ReleasedMarch 1972
Recorded6–21 December 1971
Montreux, Switzerland
Genre
Length5:08
Label EMI (UK)
Warner Bros. Records (US)
Songwriter(s) Ian Gillan
Ritchie Blackmore
Roger Glover
Jon Lord
Ian Paice
Producer(s) Deep Purple

"Pictures of Home" is a song by the British hard rock group Deep Purple, from their 1972 album Machine Head. It begins with a drum introduction by Ian Paice and features a fast-paced, driving guitar riff and bass line with several instrumental solos. [1]

Contents

History

According to Classic Rock Review: "Pictures of Home" is Deep Purple at their most poignant, a driving rhythm topped by sweeping vocals pushing out deep lyrical motifs, all accented by the distinct, distorted Hammond organ of Jon Lord. Glover even gets a short bass solo in the middle section before Blackmore warms for lift-off before a surprising false stop and comeback makes the song all the more interesting". [2]

Ritchie Blackmore says that he was inspired by a short wave radio channel, "probably from Bulgaria or Turkey" when writing the main riff. Ian Gillan's lyrics were a result of studio paranoia and home sickness.[ citation needed ]

It is the only song from Machine Head that was not performed live during Deep Purple's 1972 tour. [3]

Blackmore refused to play the song live. Since his replacement with Steve Morse in 1994, the song has become a recent feature in Deep Purple's live shows. It has been the opening song throughout the Rapture of the Deep Tour. [4]

In 2010, Pictures of Home documentary film about Ian Gillan was made. The film is based on the footage, made in October 2009, during the rock stars’ visit to Armenia within the framework of “Armenia Grateful 2 Rock” project, and the interview with Ian Gillan, recorded in March 2010. [5]

Cover-versions

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References

  1. Classic Rock Magazine (2021-11-11). "Deep Purple: the full story behind new album, plus a limited edition CD - only in Classic Rock". Louder Sound. Retrieved 2021-12-05.
  2. "Machine Head by Deep Purple". Classicrockreview.com. 29 December 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  3. Jerry Bloom Black Knight: Ritchie Blackmore , p. 156, at Google Books
  4. "Deep Purple Tour Page | concert dates - tour diary". www.purple.de. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  5. "TV premiere of "Pictures of Home" film about Ian Gillan to take place this evening". Banks.am. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Cover versions of Pictures of Home by Deep Purple". Secondhandsongs.com. Retrieved 7 June 2021.