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DEEP PURPLE released their 10th studio album ‘Come Taste the Band’ on 10 October 1975 through EMI/Purple in the UK and Warner Bros. in the US. The album was co-produced and handled by Martin Birch. This is Deep Purple’s only studio recording with Tommy Bolin, who replaced Ritchie Blackmore on guitar and also the last of three albums with Glenn Hughes on bass and David Coverdale on lead vocals before he later formed Whitesnake.
When Blackmore left the band in 1975, there was no clarity about the continuation of Deep Purple’s career, the same thing happened when Ian Gillan left in 1973. It was David Coverdale who asked Jon Lord to keep the band together, and Coverdale was also a major factor in the recruitment of Tommy Bolin. to take up the role of guitarist.
Musically, the album is more commercial than the Deep Purple Mark III releases, leapfrogging conventional hard rock with a focus on soul and funk music. The album was recorded at Musicland Studios, Munich on 3 August-1 September 1975.
According to Glenn Hughes and Jon Lord, at least 2 songs have been written to be included in the recording of this album. “You Keep on Moving” was written in 1973 by Hughes and Coverdale, but was rejected when it would be included on the album Burn by Ritchie Blackmore. “Lady Luck” was written by Bolin’s friend and co-songwriter Jeff Cook at the same time, but Tommy can’t remember the lyrics when the band entered the studio and the group couldn’t reach Cook. So, Coverdale rewrote most of the lyrics, and the song was approved by Cook.
The record is generally considered to be one of Deep Purple’s weakest works, although it did well at the time of its release (#19 on the UK charts, and #43 in the US) and received good response in the leading British music newspaper, the New Musical Express. The album was certified silver on 1 November 1975 by BPI, selling 60,000 copies in the UK. AllMusic gives 3.5 out of 5 stars for this album.
The tour to support this album started with enthusiasm, they headed to Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand as well as Jakarta.
After this tour was completed in March 1976, Deep Purple disbanded for 8 years. Tommy Bolin died of a heroin overdose in December 1976. A few years later the album received critical acclaim, especially Bolin’s contributions to the album. Ian Gillan (who left the band two years before the album’s release), on the other hand, stated that he did not consider the album to be a full Deep Purple album.
Track List: (1). Comin’ Home, (2). Lady Luck, (3). Getting’ Tighter, (4). Deal, (5). I Need Love, (6). Drifters, (7). Love Child, (8). This Time Around/Owed to ‘G’, (9). You Keep on Moving.
Personnel: • Jon Lord – keyboards, piano, synthesizer, • Ian Paice – drums, percussion, • David Coverdale – lead vocals (1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9), • Glenn Hughes – bass (all but 1), backing and lead (3, 8, 9) vocals, • Tommy Bolin – guitars, backing (1) and lead (4) vocals, bass (1). [sources/photo special]
