“The House of Blue Light” is the twelfth studio album by
The British rock band Deep Purple, released in 1987. It is the second recording
by the re-formed Mark II line-up, and the sixth studio album overall by this
formation of the band.
The album's creation was an exceedingly long and difficult process, which singer Ian Gillan compared to the recording of “Who Do We Think We Are” in Rome. Gillan has remarked on how strained relations within the band compromised the album: "I look back at “House Of Blue Light”, there are some good songs on that record, but there’s something missing in the overall album. I can’t feel the spirit of this band. I can see or hear five professionals doing their best, but it’s like a football team, it’s not functioning. It’s like eleven superstars that are playing on the same field but are not connected by the heart or by the spirit". Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has said much of it was re-recorded, and confessed, "I think I played like shit on it, and I don't think anyone else really got that into it."
Added organist Jon Lord, "House of Blue Light was a weird album and hard to put together. We made the massive mistake of trying to make our music current. We discovered that people didn't want us to do that."
Despite the band's concerns, “House of Blue Light” sold well. It hit #10 in the UK charts, #34 on the Billboard 200 in the US, and reached the top ten in six other countries.
The album's creation was an exceedingly long and difficult process, which singer Ian Gillan compared to the recording of “Who Do We Think We Are” in Rome. Gillan has remarked on how strained relations within the band compromised the album: "I look back at “House Of Blue Light”, there are some good songs on that record, but there’s something missing in the overall album. I can’t feel the spirit of this band. I can see or hear five professionals doing their best, but it’s like a football team, it’s not functioning. It’s like eleven superstars that are playing on the same field but are not connected by the heart or by the spirit". Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has said much of it was re-recorded, and confessed, "I think I played like shit on it, and I don't think anyone else really got that into it."
Added organist Jon Lord, "House of Blue Light was a weird album and hard to put together. We made the massive mistake of trying to make our music current. We discovered that people didn't want us to do that."
Despite the band's concerns, “House of Blue Light” sold well. It hit #10 in the UK charts, #34 on the Billboard 200 in the US, and reached the top ten in six other countries.
“The House of Blue Light” este al doisprezecelea album de
studio al trupei britanice de rock Deep Purple, lansat in 1987. Este al doilea
inregistrat in componenta reunite Mark II si al saselea album de studio in
aceasta componenta.
Crearea albumului a fost un process extrem de lung si obositor, pe care cantaretul Ian Gillan l-a comparat cu inregistrarea albumului “Who Do You Think We Are: in Roma. Gillan a remarcat cum relatiile incordate din interiorul grupului au compromise albumul: “Privesc inapoi la “House of Blue Light”, acolo sunt cateva cantece bune inregistrate, dar este ceva care lipseste peste tot in album. Nu pot simti spiritual trupei. Vad doar cinci profesionisti facand ce pot ei cel mai bine, dar e ca o echipa de fotbal, nu functioneaza. Sunt ca unsprezece superstaruri care joaca pe acelasi teren, dar nu sunt legaturi de suflet intre ele”.
Chitaristul Ritchie Blackmore a spus despre aceasta re-reinregistrare si s-a confesat:”Cred ca am cantat ca un rahat pe album si nu cred ca altcineva a patruns in sufletul albumului.”
Claparul Jon Lord a adaugat: ”House of Blue Light a fost un album ciudat si a fost greu de a pune totul la un loc. Am facut marea greseala de a pune muzica noastra in rand cu vremurile. Am descoperit ca oamenii nu asta doreau de la noi.”
In ciuda ingrijorarilor trupei, “House of Blue Light” s-a vandut bine. A atins locul 10 in chart-urile britanice si 34 in Billboard 200 in Statele Unite si a atins Top 10 in sase alte tari.
Crearea albumului a fost un process extrem de lung si obositor, pe care cantaretul Ian Gillan l-a comparat cu inregistrarea albumului “Who Do You Think We Are: in Roma. Gillan a remarcat cum relatiile incordate din interiorul grupului au compromise albumul: “Privesc inapoi la “House of Blue Light”, acolo sunt cateva cantece bune inregistrate, dar este ceva care lipseste peste tot in album. Nu pot simti spiritual trupei. Vad doar cinci profesionisti facand ce pot ei cel mai bine, dar e ca o echipa de fotbal, nu functioneaza. Sunt ca unsprezece superstaruri care joaca pe acelasi teren, dar nu sunt legaturi de suflet intre ele”.
Chitaristul Ritchie Blackmore a spus despre aceasta re-reinregistrare si s-a confesat:”Cred ca am cantat ca un rahat pe album si nu cred ca altcineva a patruns in sufletul albumului.”
Claparul Jon Lord a adaugat: ”House of Blue Light a fost un album ciudat si a fost greu de a pune totul la un loc. Am facut marea greseala de a pune muzica noastra in rand cu vremurile. Am descoperit ca oamenii nu asta doreau de la noi.”
In ciuda ingrijorarilor trupei, “House of Blue Light” s-a vandut bine. A atins locul 10 in chart-urile britanice si 34 in Billboard 200 in Statele Unite si a atins Top 10 in sase alte tari.
List of tracks
1. "Bad
Attitude" (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord) 5:04
2. "The
Unwritten Law" (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Paice) 4:54
3. "Call
of the Wild" (Gillan, Blackmore, Glover, Lord) 4:48
4. "Mad
Dog" 4:36
5. "Black
& White" (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord) 4:39
6. "Hard
Lovin' Woman" 3:25
7. "The
Spanish Archer" 5:31
8. "Strangeways" 7:36
9. "Mitzi
Dupree" 5:05
10. "Dead
or Alive" 5:00
Personnel
Deep Purple
Ian Gillan – vocals, harmonica
Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
Jon Lord – keyboards
Roger Glover – bass
Ian Paice – drums, percussion
Production
Produced by Roger Glover and Deep Purple
Recorded at the Playhouse, Stowe, Vermont, with Le Mobile
operated by Guy Charbonneau
Engineered by Nick Blagona
Mixed by Harry Schnitzler at Union Studios, Munich, West
Germany
Mastered by Greg Calbi at Sterling Sound, New York
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