DEEP PURPLE - SHADES 1st UK Press Vertigo Swirl 1969 EX Yellow/Black

	£		276
	$		366

DEEP PURPLE -

Self Titled

  HARVEST

 PCS 7055

1st UK Press 1968

Machined matrices: -1   -1

If one seriously considers this body of work, you will find that it stands in stark contrast to that from which Deep Purple drew their fame in the 1970’s. ‘Shades Of Deep Purple’ is heavily organ based and rides closely on the heals of what many of the progressive blues rock bands like Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly and Cream were investigating. Yet in the same breath, one needs to draw comparisons between the trippyness laid down by early Pink Floyd, and what is found here ... certainly making this release as conceptual as Meddle ever was. And as Deep Purple slip into “I’m So Glad,” I have to ask you, “What’s not to love,” as they extend and jam this song into hyper drive, while Cream seemed content to throw it out there off handily.

Listen, I’m not trying to say that ‘Shades’ is an unqualified success, but for the sheer courage of many of the songs, it deserves a place in your music library. Just listen to “Mandrake Root,” and you will hear chords that will eventually turn into the hard driving blistering guitar work that made Deep Purple a band to be reckoned with. Yet again, with a smile on my face, “Mandrake Root” is right out of the Spinal Tap catalog, making it a bit laughable today, but then the ability to laugh at how seriously we took ourselves in the late 60’s is part of the reason so many of my generation shine so brightly.

The best reason to own this release is for the covers ... “Help” is marvelously slowed down, spiraling on and on into the open universe, “I’m So Glad” has been extended, and lushly filled out, making it feel thick and full bodied, while “Hey Joe,” which was a requisite cover for all bands of the day, jabs, ebbs and flows, washing in and over itself so often, that it is quite impossible to tell where the song begins and where it ends ... a psychedelic overture of the first magnitude. Which brings me to the song “Love Help Me,” an instrumental, and if you can convince me that The Ramones were not listening to this song, then you could probably sell me the Brooklyn Bridge.(rateyourmusic.com)

Vinyl: EX+.  Looks barely played!! A couple of spindle traces. The audio is fantastic and this vinyl sounds out of this world, a majestic album that went largely unnoticed with poor distribution. The condition of this vinyl is stunning and would be an upgrade for most experienced collectors.The audio has beautiful separation and there is barely any background noise. I played this twice in full and thoroughly enjoyed it. There are no marks or hairlines.  Played in full on my Linn Sondek/ Rotel/B&W set-up. Needless to say NO jumps, sticks, clicks or ticks. The audio of this recording is simply outstanding and will be an upgrade to most collectors. Wow!!

 Sleeve: EX. Single front laminated sleeve without any damage and just a couple of tiny thumb creases . A very hard to find debut pre-fame Deep Purple record. Not often seen as a first press Garrod & Lofthouse version. There is just the lightest of storage wear to the top edge. The spine is fully legible. The rear has the two laminated flipbacks to the top and bottom. NO writing, NO splits, NO tears etc. The pictures tell all.

It has the original inner advertising sleeve in EX condition.

This is a unique investment opportunity!!! The next psych/prog album to go completely through the roof. The chance of finding this album in any condition at all is negligible so late in the day. Finding it in this splendid condition will prove nearly impossible!! Get this while you still can. This value of the album is only going to go one way ... up and up ... until it will be totally unavailable at all for a reasonable price.

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