DEEP PURPLE (1968) - Anthem
2,593 views · Published 5 June 2014 · 6:33 · Indexed 20 September 2026
Channel: Rodrigo Cantillano · 2014 · Music
From the Deep purple album "The Book of Taliesyn", ANTHEM' was composer by Rod Evans & John Lord. - The term Anthem means either a specific Form of Anglican Church Music in music theory and religious contexts. ANTHEM is a form of Church Music, particularly in the service of the Church of England. Featured vocalist Rod Evans, and bassist Nick Simper, along with mainstays Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice. This, second album, "The Book of Taliesyn" followed on the heels of "Hush. Four months later, this album's cover of Neil Diamond's Top 25, 1967 gem "Kentucky Woman," went Top 40 for Deep Purple. In that time the group's own originals were creative, thought-provoking, but not nearly as interesting as their take on cover tunes. Ritchie Blackmore's leads zipping in between Rod Evans smooth and precise vocals. Progressive sounds leaning more towards psychedelia. The Band claim to be inspired by the Bard of King Arthur's court in Camelot, TALIESYN. John Vernon Lord, under the art direction of Les Weisbrich, paints a superb wonderland on the album jacket, equal to the madness of Hieronymous Bosch's cover painting used for the third album. Originals "The Shield" and "Anthem" make early Syd Barrett Pink Floyd appear punk in comparison. Novel sounds are aided by Lord's dominating keyboards, a signature of this group.´ Though "The Anthem" is more intriguing than the heavy metal thunder of Machine Head, it is overwhelmed by the majesty of their "River Deep, Mountain High" cover, definitely not the inspiration for the Supremes and Four Tops 1971 hit version. By the time 1972 came around, Deep Purple immersed themselves in dumb lyrics, unforgettable riffs, and a huge presence, much like Black Sabbath. The evolution from progressive to hard rock was complete, but a combination of what they did here -- words that mattered matched by innovative musical passages -- would have been a more pleasing combination. Vanilla Fudge would cut Donovan's "Season of the Witch," Deep Purple followed this album by covering his "Lalena"; both bands abandoned the rewrites their fans found so fascinating.