| Stormbringer | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 8 November 1974 [1] | |||
| Recorded | August–September 1974 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 36:31 | |||
| Label | Purple | |||
| Producer | Martin Birch & Deep Purple | |||
| Deep Purple chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Stormbringer | ||||
| Ritchie Blackmore chronology | ||||
| ||||
Stormbringer is the ninth studio album by English rock band Deep Purple,released in November 1974. It was the band's second studio album to feature the Mk III lineup including vocalist David Coverdale and bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes.
The cover image of Stormbringer is based on a photo. On 8 July 1927 a tornado near the town of Jasper,Minnesota,was photographed by Lucille Handberg. [4] Her photograph has become a classic image, [5] and was used and edited for the album's cover. The same photograph was used for Miles Davis' album Bitches Brew in 1970 and Siouxsie and the Banshees' album Tinderbox in 1986.
Stormbringer is the name of the second Elric of Melniboné novel by Michael Moorcock. It is the name of a magical sword described in many novels and comics by Moorcock and others which enjoyed enormous success in the 1960s and '70s. David Coverdale has denied knowledge of this until shortly after recording the album. In an interview with Charles Shaar Murray in the New Musical Express he claimed that the name was from mythology. [6] A few years later,Moorcock collaborated with Blue Öyster Cult to write "Black Blade",a song that actually was about the sword Stormbringer. [7]
According to Glenn Hughes,the slurred gibberish that is spoken by Coverdale at the beginning of the title track just prior to the first verse is the same backwards dialogue that Linda Blair's character utters in the film The Exorcist ,when she is questioned by the priest. [8]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Blogcritics | (favourable) [10] |
| Džuboks | (favourable) [11] |
| Record Collector | [12] |
| Rolling Stone | (mixed) [13] |
In a retrospective review Alex Henderson of AllMusic writes that "Stormbringer falls short of the excellence of Machine Head and Who Do We Think We Are ,but nonetheless boasts some definite classics –including the fiery "Lady Double Dealer," the ominous title song (a goth metal treasure),the sweaty "High Ball Shooter," and the melancholy ballad "Soldier of Fortune." [9]
Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple following Stormbringer and its subsequent tour,publicly citing his dislike for the funky direction the band was taking. [14] Glenn Hughes nevertheless praises the album and Blackmore's contributions:"People who listen to Stormbringer,please listen...Ritchie Blackmore is damn funky,whether he likes it or not. He played wonderfully on the album." [15]
In 1990,the album was remastered and re-released in the US by Metal Blade Records,with distribution by Warner Bros.
The Friday Music label released a version in the United States on 31 July 2007 (along with Made in Europe and Come Taste the Band ). It is unclear which tapes were used as a source for this release,but the label's website claims that the album was digitally remastered (but not expanded).
Additionally EMI (Deep Purple's label for much of the world outside the US) worked with Glenn Hughes on a remastered,expanded version of the album (much like the Burn rerelease) which included bonus remixes and alternative takes.
On 23 February 2009 the 35th Anniversary Edition of Stormbringer was released for the European/international market only. The release was expanded into a limited edition two-disc set:the first disc contained the full remastered album along with the new remixes,and the second disc was a DVD containing the quadraphonic mix in 5.1 audio as originally released in the USA on Quad reel back in 1974. After a limited run of the CD/DVD edition,the album became available in a single CD edition. A limited double gatefold vinyl edition was also released.
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stormbringer" | Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale | 4:03 |
| 2. | "Love Don't Mean a Thing" | Blackmore, Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Jon Lord, Ian Paice | 4:23 |
| 3. | "Holy Man" | Coverdale, Hughes, Lord | 4:28 |
| 4. | "Hold On" | Coverdale, Hughes, Lord, Paice | 5:05 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Lady Double Dealer" | Blackmore, Coverdale | 3:19 |
| 2. | "You Can't Do It Right (With the One You Love)" | Blackmore, Coverdale, Hughes | 3:24 |
| 3. | "High Ball Shooter" | Blackmore, Coverdale, Hughes, Lord, Paice | 4:26 |
| 4. | "The Gypsy" | Blackmore, Coverdale, Hughes, Lord, Paice | 4:05 |
| 5. | "Soldier of Fortune" | Blackmore, Coverdale | 3:14 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 10. | "Holy Man" (remix) | 4:32 |
| 11. | "You Can't Do It Right" (remix) | 3:27 |
| 12. | "Love Don't Mean a Thing" (remix) | 5:07 |
| 13. | "Hold On" (remix) | 5:11 |
| 14. | "High Ball Shooter" (instrumental) | 4:30 |
Deep Purple
Production
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| France (SNEP) [33] | Gold | 100,000* |
| Sweden (GLF) [34] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) [35] | Silver | 60,000^ |
| United States (RIAA) [36] | Gold | 500,000^ |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Publication | Country | Accolade | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classic Rock | United Kingdom | "100 Greatest British Rock Album Ever" [37] | 2006 | 62 |
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although their musical style has varied throughout their career. Originally formed as a psychedelic rock and progressive rock band, they shifted to a heavier sound with their 1970 album Deep Purple in Rock. Deep Purple, together with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, have been referred to as the "unholy trinity of British hard rock and heavy metal in the early to mid-seventies". Listed in the 1975 Guinness Book of World Records as "the globe's loudest band" for a 1972 concert at London's Rainbow Theatre, they have sold over 100 million records worldwide.
Burn is the eighth studio album by English rock band Deep Purple. It was released on 15 February 1974 by Warner Bros. and Purple/EMI internationally. It was the first album to feature then-unknown lead singer David Coverdale. The group's Mark III line-up for their recording debut included Coverdale, Glenn Hughes on bass and vocals, Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, Jon Lord on keyboards, and Ian Paice on drums.
Deepest Purple: The Very Best of Deep Purple is a compilation album by the English hard rock band Deep Purple, released in 1980 on LP. It features the original hits of Deep Purple before their 1984 reunion. Aided by a TV advertising campaign it would become Purple's third UK No. 1 album. In 1984 this compilation additionally was published on CD.
Come Taste the Band is the tenth studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on 7 November 1975. It was co-produced and engineered by the band and longtime associate Martin Birch. Musically, the record consists of stronger influences of funk than the band's previous albums.
Made in Europe is a 1976 live album released by Deep Purple, recorded on the final dates in April 1975 before Ritchie Blackmore left the group. It was released in November 1976, after the group had broken up. It is the band's third live album. They tried to gain the same success as they did with 1972's Made In Japan, hence the title, but it didn't perform as well commercially.
Live in London is a live album from Deep Purple. It was recorded on 22 May 1974 at Gaumont State Theatre in Kilburn, London by the BBC for radio broadcast, but was unreleased on vinyl until 1982. It features the Mk 3 lineup of Blackmore/Coverdale/Hughes/ Lord/Paice during the tour for their album Burn.
Listen, Learn, Read On is a box set released by the English hard rock band Deep Purple in 2002.
The Anthology is a compilation album by the English hard rock band Deep Purple, containing material by Mks I (1968–1969), II (1969–1973), III (1973–1975) and IV (1975–1976) line-ups. It was released as a double vinyl album and double-cassette, and included a few previously unreleased tracks and mixes. The sleeve-notes were written by Chris Charlesworth, author of Deep Purple – The Illustrated Biography.
California Jamming is a live album by English hard rock band Deep Purple, recorded in 1974 and originally released in 1996, it was re-released as a remastered edition in 2003 with the complete concert including the missing track "Lay Down, Stay Down".
Burning Japan Live is a live album by former Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Trapeze vocalist and bassist Glenn Hughes. It was recorded at the Club Citta in Kawasaki, Japan on Tuesday 24 May and Wednesday 25 May 1994 in support of the studio album From Now On....
"Burn" is a song by English rock band Deep Purple. It was released on the album of the same name in 1974. In the US and Japan it was also released as the second single by the Mark III lineup, after "Might Just Take Your Life".
Live in Paris 1975 is a live album by the English hard rock band Deep Purple, recorded in 1975 at the Palais des Sports in Paris. It was meant to be released before the 1975 Come Taste the Band album, but was not released until 2001 by Purple Records.
Live In Tokyo is a live album by Hughes Turner Project, a collaboration between Glenn Hughes and Joe Lynn Turner ; it was released in 2002 on MTM Music and Pony Canyon Records.
Deep Purple in Rock is the fourth studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on 5 June 1970. It was the first studio album recorded by the Mark II line-up of Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.
"Soldier of Fortune" is a rock ballad written by Ritchie Blackmore and David Coverdale and originally released on Deep Purple's 1974 album Stormbringer. Although Deep Purple has never released the song as a single and it has never placed on the record charts, it has developed a cult following over the years and has been covered by many artists and bands.
"Mistreated" is a song by the English rock band Deep Purple taken from their 1974 album Burn. The song was written by the band's guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and new vocalist David Coverdale, who, along with new bassist Glenn Hughes, brought new blues and funk elements to the band.
Smoke on the Water & Other Hits is a compilation album by the English rock band Deep Purple, released in 2001.
Phoenix Rising is a combo CD/DVD live album by the Mark IV line-up of Deep Purple, released in May 2011. It includes rare live tracks from Mk IV history, Rises Over Japan, a concert film directed by Tony Klinger, Gettin' Tighter, an 80-minute new music documentary about the band's 1975/1976 tour, and some extras.
Smoke on the Water: The Best Of is a compilation album by the English hard rock band Deep Purple in 1994. It was first released in France where it sold very well, attaining double gold disc status in December 1998. It was subsequently released in other countries, like Italy, Australia and New Zealand.
The Purple Album is the twelfth studio album by British hard rock band Whitesnake. It contains remakes of songs from Deep Purple band lineups Mark III and Mark IV, when Whitesnake lead singer David Coverdale was a member of that band. It was released on 29 April in Japan, 15 May in Europe, 18 May in the UK and 19 May 2015 in the US through Frontiers Records. On 8 September 2023, Whitesnake and RHINO reissued The Purple Album: Special Gold Edition in celebration of Coverdale's 50th anniversary of joining the Deep Purple, besides remixing and remastering, "features previously unreleased recordings, including the very demo that secured Coverdale's spot with Deep Purple".
