Philosophy Discussion Forums

I just listened to (probably) the best heavy rock band ever to grace a stage, at the peak of their powers, on tour in 1972: Deep Purple, Made in Japan.

The version I listened to (there are quite a few) is identified as "Deluxe edition [Linn remaster]". It's a hi-res 24/96 version, and the drums and bass are so much crisper it's easier to hear the whole band, and what each of them is doing.

And, for you video junkies: I doubt this is exactly the same version I just listened to, but it's still the very best of classic rock. Enjoy!

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑February 28th, 2021, 3:31 pm And, for you video junkies: I doubt this is exactly the same version I just listened to, but it's still the very best of classic rock. Enjoy!

Took a listen while I was coding - well familiar with a few of these. Seemed to have some of the same compositional tightness that Led Zepplin had. I noticed, even LZ's first album in 1969, it's like they landed with superband formula and I can see where Deep Purple had their own variant of something similar.

Papus79 wrote: ↑March 1st, 2021, 11:07 am

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑February 28th, 2021, 3:31 pm And, for you video junkies: I doubt this is exactly the same version I just listened to, but it's still the very best of classic rock. Enjoy!

Took a listen while I was coding - well familiar with a few of these. Seemed to have some of the same compositional tightness that Led Zepplin had. I noticed, even LZ's first album in 1969, it's like they landed with superband formula and I can see where Deep Purple had their own variant of something similar.

Yes, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple lead the (heavy rock) field in the late-60s and early 70s. To choose one over the other is nothing more than personal taste. I followed both avidly, and clearly remember the excitement and enjoyment as each album came out. LZ 2 and 4, and DP from In Rock to Made in Japan. They don't do rock like that any more, that I am aware of. Perhaps someone here knows different? I'm always open to recommendations!

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑March 1st, 2021, 11:49 am Yes, Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple lead the (heavy rock) field in the late-60s and early 70s. To choose one over the other is nothing more than personal taste. I followed both avidly, and clearly remember the excitement and enjoyment as each album came out. LZ 2 and 4, and DP from In Rock to Made in Japan. They don't do rock like that any more, that I am aware of.

I will say this - I had to scratch my head a few weeks ago when I went Youtube-diving for some earlier stuff from my youth.

I have to admit, at least in retrospect, that I was spoiled. My very first purchased album wasn't a cassette but a vinyl, at nine years old, and it happened to be Def Leppard's Hysteria. In my early 20's clearly there was some cultural red tape - Def Leppard, Motley Crue, or any of that was stuff that there was a lot of peer pressure to rip on - ie. it was stuff that some morbidly obese guy with a mullet in a rusted out Dodge Daytona would be listening to as he was sweating a puddle into the seat but - going back and listening to Def Leppard again TBH for what it was and the time it was they were credible. Actually putting them in context it's a bit like they were trying to carry musicianship of the 70's variety, a bit like a Led Zepplin with an 80's rock veneer, and that's not to say they were a knock-off so much as they were trying to keep a 70's musician's ethos in a time and place where synths were getting to be all the rage instead.

Perhaps someone here knows different? I'm always open to recommendations!
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I found myself tracking rock music a lot less after the 2000's but as far as a band who was of 1970's musicianship calibre - I'd definitely recommend Tool's Aenima and possibly their later albums to which I know some of them are quite good but I haven't listened to the others end to end in the same way.

Also the band Muse was compositionally pretty strong (Absolution was probably my favorite album by them) but it may or may not work for you - it's a bit like they took a lot of the mid 2000's garage rock swagger and fused it with what I'd think of as a trance music sonic ethos but did it with more typical instruments (although to wind that back a bit - very dynamic rather than flat).

Papus79 wrote: ↑March 1st, 2021, 12:12 pm I found myself tracking rock music a lot less after the 2000's but as far as a band who was of 1970's musicianship calibre - I'd definitely recommend Tool's Aenima and possibly their later albums to which I know some of them are quite good but I haven't listened to the others end to end in the same way.

Also the band Muse was compositionally pretty strong (Absolution was probably my favorite album by them) but it may or may not work for you - it's a bit like they took a lot of the mid 2000's garage rock swagger and fused it with what I'd think of as a trance music sonic ethos but did it with more typical instruments (although to wind that back a bit - very dynamic rather than flat).

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll try Tool and re-approach Muse.... Like you, I started off with heavy rock, but then moved in many other directions too. Hendrix, Cream, Zeppelin and Purple were my first loves. Then I added jazz-rock and prog-rock (although we didn't call it that then), then classical (no opera or dance music, thank you!), and finally I made the jump, and moved strongly into jazz of all kinds, which is mainly what I buy these days. Unlike some other music-lovers, I still like the stuff I used to like; I've just added to it. I'm happy to listen to Genesis' Nursery Crymes, and to Hiromi's latest album. I just like music, really.

I forgot reggae! How could I forget reggae?

Papus79 wrote: ↑March 1st, 2021, 11:07 am

Pattern-chaser wrote: ↑February 28th, 2021, 3:31 pm And, for you video junkies: I doubt this is exactly the same version I just listened to, but it's still the very best of classic rock. Enjoy!

Took a listen while I was coding - well familiar with a few of these. Seemed to have some of the same compositional tightness that Led Zepplin had. I noticed, even LZ's first album in 1969, it's like they landed with superband formula and I can see where Deep Purple had their own variant of something similar.

I loved both bands back in the day, and Black Sabbath too. They were loud alright. I saw Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow in the 70s and that was a real tinnitus-inducing show.

Another classic four piece, the Jeff Beck Group (with Rod Stewart), played heavy blues-rock before all of those bands, and they are widely thought to have had a major influence on Jimmy Page when he formed Led Zep, having played with Beck in the Yardbirds. There was friendly competition between the two at the time, as we can see below.

1968 JB Group
1969 Led Zep
Led Zep even covered the same Muddy Waters song. They stripped back Beck's approach, and they played it heavier thanks to the incomparable John Bonham.

Sy Borg wrote: ↑March 1st, 2021, 8:40 pm I loved both bands back in the day, and Black Sabbath too.

I liked Sabbuff, but not like LZ or DP, both of whom seemed to me to be rather more talented.

Sy Borg wrote: ↑March 1st, 2021, 8:40 pm Another classic four piece, the Jeff Beck Group (with Rod Stewart), played heavy blues-rock before all of those bands, and they are widely thought to have had a major influence on Jimmy Page when he formed Led Zep, having played with Beck in the Yardbirds. There was friendly competition between the two at the time, as we can see below.

Jeff Back never received the acclaim that other - perhaps less talented - musicians did. That kind of thing just happens sometimes. In the prog-rock genre, Gentle Giant were easily as good as the bands that topped the (LP) charts at the time, but it never quite happened for them. Anyone who's never heard of them could do a lot worse than check them out. . Octopus is one of their best albums, but they're pretty good live anyway, so most performances will give you video junkies the idea. I haven't watched the video I just linked, of course. TVs are for watching video; computers are for stills and text. So there.

Papus79 wrote: ↑March 1st, 2021, 12:12 pm I'd definitely recommend Tool's Aenima and possibly their later albums to which I know some of them are quite good but I haven't listened to the others end to end in the same way.

As, like you, I have drifted away from heavy rock, I wasn't totally overboard with Aenima. It's a cross between DP/LZ and Rage Against The Machine (one-hit wonders: one exceptional album only). I don't see them as being quite as talented as DP or LZ. Fans more centred on heavy rock would love Tool more than I do, I think. I can certainly see the appeal. Thanks for the tip anyway. All new discoveries happily accepted! But now I'm off to listen to some 50s jazz....

A question - or maybe a poll? - for music-lovers:

Q: Who are the old bands who can still cut the mustard? The ones who put on a great show that is worth watching and enjoying even without the benefit of nostalgia?

I'll start: and .

Your turn...