DEEP PURPLE - "Perfect Strangers"

Deep Purple
"Perfect Strangers"
Single / B-side: "Son of Alerik"
Released: October 1984
Album: Perfect Strangers (Released: 29 October 1984)
Writers: Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover
Label: Polydor (UK), Mercury Records (US)

"Perfect Strangers" is a song by the British hard rock band Deep Purple. It is the title track of their 1984 album Perfect Strangers.

Deep Purple's single: "Perfect Strangers" (1984)

Deep Purple - "Perfect Strangers (Vinyl)

This song is about reincarnation. It's a conversation between oneself from their past life and their present self. The song tells about memories this person has from their past life, but they (past and present self) "must remain perfect strangers" to each other.  It is one of the few Deep Purple songs not to feature a guitar solo. Nevertheless, band guitarist Ritchie Blackmore has called it his favorite Deep Purple song. The lyrics are actually inspired by the Elric books by Michael Moorcock.

"...The beginning of side two returns to classic mode with the deep and profound title song “Perfect Strangers”. This song contains a quasi-heavy-metal drive but with great melody and a really cool and subtle passage to the post-chorus Eastern-style phrasing. The rhythm is steady throughout, leaving Gillan the room to vocally paint the pictures of the rich scenery of the lyrics about reincarnation and passing through time..." (Classic Rock review)

Deep Purple's single: "Knocking at Your Back Door" / "Perfect Strangers"

Deep Purple - "Perfect Strangers" (music video)

The song has been covered of many musicians/band, among others: Dimmu Borgir on their album Abrahadabra as a bonus track (2010); progressive metal band Dream Theater on their EP A Change of Seasons (1995). Dream Theater also performed it live on a BBC Radio show along with Iron Maiden vocalist Bruce Dickinson singing the lead vocals; Hard rock vocalist Jørn Lande covered it on his solo album Unlocking the Past (2007); Finnish duo Timo Kotipelto and Jani Liimatainen have covered it during live performances and on their studio album Blackoustic (2012). 

The song also used by Extreme Championship Wrestling wrestler "The Franchise" Shane Douglas as an entrance theme. Soundalike versions were used for his later runs in World Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.

Deep Purple 1984

Line-up / Musicians:
Ritchie Blackmore - guitars
Ian Gillan - vocals
Roger Glover - bass
Jon Lord - organ
Ian Paice - drums

Link / Review:
wikipedia: Perfect Strangers - Deep Purple (song)
tunefacts: Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers
classicrockreview: Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers

DEEP PURPLE - "Anthem"

Deep Purple
"Anthem"
Album: The Book of Taliesyn
Released: December 1968 (US), June 1969 (UK)
Writers: Jon Lord, Rod Evans
Label: Tetragrammaton (US), Harvest (UK), Polydor (Canada, Japan)
________________________________________________________

"Anthem", the last original track on the album, resembles the structure on King Crimson's debut album title track, released a year later. This song is very organ driven and it is perhaps Deep Purple's deepest venture into classical music on a regular studio album, competing with "April" on the band's subsequent third album. In the middle of the song there is a baroque style part with organ and string quartet written by Jon Lord which is not based on a classical piece, but reminds a Bach organ fugue. Due to its complicated structure and the need for additional instrumentalists, no known live recordings of the song exist. 

Deep Purple - "Anthem" (from the album The Book of Taliesyn, 1969) 

Deep Purple Mark I, 1968 - 1969
(l - r: Jon Lord, Nick Simper, Ian Paice, Ritchie Blackmore, Rod Evans)

"...This ("Anthem") delightful ballad features what is arguably Evans finest vocal performance, supported what sounds like the rare appearance of a mellotron. The middle section is a classically based amalgam of strings, organ and guitar which combine in true prog fashion to create a wonderful whole..."

(Progarchives, review by Easy Livin)

Deep Purple - "Anthem" (vinyl version 1969)

Deep Purple psychedelic's cover album The Book of Taliesyn
(Photo courtesy Harvest - EMI)

"Co-written by vocalist Rod Evans and keyboard player Jon Lord - who also arranged the strings - "Anthem" is a very fine lachrymosal ballad about love lost. With Evans sounding like Elvis, and Ritchie Blackmore contributing a timely lead guitar solo, this is further evidence - as if any were needed - that Deep Purple would have been just as big if they had not changed the line up after their eponymous Third Album, although their particular brand of progressive rock would have taken them in an entirely different, and some would say entirely more fascinating direction."

(Songfacts, comment by Alexander Baron, London, England)

Line-up / Musicians:

Rod Evans – lead vocals

Ritchie Blackmore – guitar

Jon Lord – Hammond organ, keyboards, backing vocals, strings arrangement

Nick Simper – bass guitar, backing vocals

Ian Paice – drums

Links / Reviews:

Official website: deeppurple.com
Wikipedia: The Book of Taliesyn - Anthem 
Songfacts: Anthem by Deep Purple
Progarchives: Deep Purple The Book of Taliesyn