Runboard.com
Слава Україні!
Community logo


runboard.com       Sign up (learn about it) | Sign in (lost password?)

Page:  1  2 

 
Christos Gatzidis Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 2517
Reply | Quote
Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


After playing Sarabande quite a lot the last few days I have reached the following conclusion; it must be the best album that ever came out of a Purple member. Period! Forget the Ready N' Willings, Risings and Glory Roads (all excellent albums in their own right of course but also products of their times and confined within specific boundaries of the so-called 'hard rock' genre which only makes them sound even more dated) this is where it's really at, here we have a record truly timeless, inspiring, introspective and of timeless quality. It is also the best fusion of rock and classical I have ever stumbled upon, a great concept not hampered by technical or composition inadequacy as so many others of its ilk which makes works like the Concerto and the Gemini Suite sound positively hesitant and amateurish. My favourite moments would be the almost jazzy title track, Aria (which evokes an amazing mood every time I play it), Gigue and my all-time fave Bouree which is the showcase piece of the album for me, the eastern riff working wonders. I only wish that Jon, now that he can afford to have the time for something like that, could take a small solo tour on the road (like he did for Pictures Within only covering other parts of Europe as well) doing 3-4 tracks from this stellar piece of work. Sounds like a far more exciting prospect for me than seeing Purple do Black Night for the millionth time!
24/10/2003, 9:05 Link to this post Send Email to Christos Gatzidis   Send PM to Christos Gatzidis
 
Sandbagger1 Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

I can Handel it

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 1015
Reply | Quote
Re: Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


I thought that was "Malice In Wonderland" ? emoticon Only joking. You're quite right there, it's Jon's masterpiece but PW comes in a pretty close 2nd. Jon is on the right track now, I wouldn't mind if he spends the rest of his career playing classical(ly inspired) music. Also interesting to see the "Super Drumming" versions of "Sarabande". Incidentally, there are many cool pics on Pete York's official site at: http://www.peteyork.net/

24/10/2003, 10:08 Link to this post Send Email to Sandbagger1   Send PM to Sandbagger1
 
Nighthawk Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 1421
Reply | Quote
Re: Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


What shines through from Jon (and all the musicians involved) on both Sarabande and PW is that he really does know what he's doing - these are not 'pastiches' or take-offs, but an evolution and blend of two radically different styles of music JL loves and understands. On balance I'd pick PW as the ultimate 'antidote' to Jon's rock pedigree (if only for the melancholy tone and superb production values on that CD), but I won't argue that Sarabande is a great homage to the 'classical suite', and thoroughly enjoyable to listen to. emoticon
25/10/2003, 21:09 Link to this post Send Email to Nighthawk
 
Christos Gatzidis Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 2517
Reply | Quote
Re: Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


If I had to compare Pictured Within with Sarabande (both pinnacles of Jon's solo work, the rest of his output is not as consistent) I'd take the latter over the first one any day. The only aspect of Sarabande that pales in comparison to Pictured Within (for me anyway) is quite obviously the great production, Sarabande is a 70s recording and it shows it (or should that be wears in on its sleeve with pride?). I love Pictured Within but its biggest failings (for a very demanding and critical listener emoticon) is the overlong running time and also a slight uncertainty of direction, sometimes it wants to be classical and others new age music. Sarabande is very much like a concept album, it flows so smoothly and the transitions between tracks seam it into one solid piece...
25/10/2003, 21:41 Link to this post Send Email to Christos Gatzidis   Send PM to Christos Gatzidis
 
B3Burner Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Dominant 7th #9

Registered: 10-2003
Posts: 2200
Reply | Quote
Re: Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


I acquired Saraband just last year.

Nice flow from piece to piece, and it seems to have a "music from all over the world" feel to it, which shows Jon's true appreciation for music as an international art.

If music for the time was the goal, then I think he achieved his goal. Produced around 1975-77 (I think), it has that weeeeeewwwwweeeeewwwweeeeewwwww "Moog synth with a pitch bend wheel" sound all over it. Very 70's sounding.

However, being the dark old Hammond B3, Mark I Purple dude that I am, I personally found Concerto and Gemini much more satisfying than Sarabande...but my opinion alone is not to take anything away from the accomplishment of Sarabande.

I just get a little annoyed when people say to me, "Hey John, if you love Deep Purple, you gotta' listen to early Genesis, or Rick Wakeman,..." (or whatever); "...it's got lots of cool organ, just like you like."

So I go to the store to buy this stuff, take it home, only to find out it all sounds like Chick Corea or Herbie Hancock synthesizer!!

MEMO TO EVERYONE: A synthesizer is not Hammond Organ. When I say I like organ, please refer to Shades of Deep Purple. After listening, THEN refer me to bands that sound like THAT, and I'll spend my gas money driving to the record store. Until then, don't tease me like that!!

That's how I felt about Sarabande. Well composed album, but I wanted to hear organ, not synth.

Even Jon Lord himself later admitted that the pendelum swung too far in favor of synth, and that he was glad he re-established the importance of Hammond all over again, as his number one keyboard instrument. Here, here Jon! That's the real reason I like JL so much. He never completely gave in to the new trends. Toyed around with them, but never forgot his Hammond roots.

Last edited by B3Burner, 26/10/2003, 23:06


---
John O'Flaherty
-------------------
"It's got a weight and a gravitast to it. It's a Hammond Organ! And...you can't just be kinda' pussy-footin' around with this thing....you got to control it."

-Jon Lord
26/10/2003, 23:01 Link to this post Send Email to B3Burner   Send PM to B3Burner
 
Christos Gatzidis Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 2517
Reply | Quote
Re: Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


Fair points there but the whole purpose of Sarabande was not to play over the top Hammond solos, he was doing that for years in Purple and probably just wanted to try his compositional strengths out of the band and the constraints it put on him. How would you feel if you had to play Smoke On The Water (on a Hammond no less) for every night for the rest of your life? emoticon Concerto and Gemini Suite do have more Hammond sounds than the aforementioned piece of work but for me are less inspiring as pieces of music compared to Sarabande (not too mention they feature less keyboard playing overall).
26/10/2003, 23:27 Link to this post Send Email to Christos Gatzidis   Send PM to Christos Gatzidis
 
B3Burner Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Dominant 7th #9

Registered: 10-2003
Posts: 2200
Reply | Quote
Re: Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


In the final analysis, I know you are right. Jon's intention was not to reinvent the Hammond wheel, but to branch out and "reach" a little.

In that respect, he more than succeeded, which I sense was the original gist of your post.

Any counter-argument to that probably exposes my shortcomings more than it does Jon Lord's-- that's for sure!

As for playing Smoke on the H2O for the rest of my life:

I wouldn't wish that on a death row inmate. I can see how any opportunity to separate himself from that, was very welcomed on his part.

---
John O'Flaherty
-------------------
"It's got a weight and a gravitast to it. It's a Hammond Organ! And...you can't just be kinda' pussy-footin' around with this thing....you got to control it."

-Jon Lord
27/10/2003, 0:55 Link to this post Send Email to B3Burner   Send PM to B3Burner
 
dirty dog Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Purple fan

Registered: 09-2003
Posts: 471
Reply | Quote
Re: Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


Sarabande is avery good album, but I would not say it is the best purple related album - tehre are to much different styles to say this is the best. It is hard to compare Rainbow Rising, or Whitesnake Ready n´Willing or Addiction from Glenn Hughes or Private Eyes from Tommy Bolin and so on. It is definetely one of the best and to me the best of Lord.

dd
31/10/2003, 13:22 Link to this post Send Email to dirty dog   Send PM to dirty dog
 
Thomaso Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Purple fan

Registered: 07-2004
Posts: 2
Reply | Quote
Re: Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


Any time I listen (again) to Sarabande I am fascinated like the first time (many many years ago). Great synth-sound, beautiful solo-piano, wonderful orchestral arrangements, the accoustic guitar, the huge number of percussion instruments. It's outstanding. Its very 70's. And you can't compare it with "Concerto". It has a other idea behind it.

I know the three songs from "Sarabande" from the 1999 tour. Are there any other know live-performances of the material? It's said that (1975?) have been a (one?) performance of David Bedford's "Odyssey", including Jon Lord as one of nine keyboard-players, offering him some time to play music from "Sarabande". Does anyone knows more/has been there/a recording? If so, let me know (email...)

Thomas
9/7/2004, 15:38 Link to this post Send Email to Thomaso   Send PM to Thomaso
 
silasandjerome Profile
Live feed
Blog
Friends
Miscellaneous info

Purple fan

Registered: 07-2004
Posts: 93
Reply | Quote
Re: Sarabande... Best Purple related album ever?


I'm with you Christos, it's my all-time fave. Sarabande itself swings and builds to an amazing conclusion and Pavane must be the most beautiful blend of classical and jazz music ever.
14/7/2004, 16:33 Link to this post Send Email to silasandjerome   Send PM to silasandjerome
 


Reply

Page:  1  2 





You are not logged in (login)