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Deep Purple, Smoke On The Water - Amy’s First Listen and Analysis (Patreon)

Published:
2024-12-04 00:36:32
Imported:
2026-06
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Okay, yes, this IS a great riff! But there are other outstanding musical elements as well, and I especially enjoyed how they all interact! 

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Comments

Lee Kennison

I was hoping this would be your second part of your Deep Purple Weekend, simply because this is such an iconic song that I think should be a core part of your journey. When I was in high school in the 70s, I would say the three most iconic rock songs of our time were this, along with "Stairway to Heaven" and "Free Bird." So you have now heard all three (I'm sure others have their top 3 iconic songs during this period, but this was the case amongst my high school friends). Because of their iconic status they tended to be overplayed, so you will hear some old-timers grown when they are mentioned. By the way there are four key instruments, not three. You forgot Jon Lord's organ, which plays a key role in this song, along with organ being so key to the Deep Purple sound. You did mention the organ when you thought the bass might be organ pedals, but that part was the bass guitar and the organ features more prominently through the other parts. And yes, the drums do switch to double time during the guitar solo. The key thing about a drum kit is that the snare (sharpest drum sound) typically plays on the backbeat (2 and 4) in the typical 4/4 rock song. Great reaction, and I am so happy that this iconic reference point is now part of your journey. I like how you have been giving us a bit of a preview of what will be in the upcoming "Minutes After." At least that is what I am assuming the opening video clip with Ritchie Blackmore is coming from. So I will look forward to that.

Julian Ortiz

As a guitarist, I can confidently say Amy is correct. Virtually all guitarists of a certain age group, late Baby Boomers and Gen X specifically, learned how to play the main riff to Smoke On The Water at their first guitar lesson. Yours truly included. My first lesson was way back in 1978, and I never forgot it. My dad showed me. I love this song so much, but if there is a track on Machine Head I’m a little tired of, this would be it. Still, this was so cool to see Amy pick up on all the elements that make this song so iconic. Quick word about their drummer Ian Paice… he’s the only original member still in the band, and the last time I saw Deep Purple live (with Alice Cooper and The Edgar Winter Group!!) not only was he still playing all of the old Deep Purple material nearly perfect, it was up to album speed. Dude was 69 years old at the time and had suffered a stroke two months before I saw them in August 2017! He’s amazing and it’s no wonder he influenced a plethora of Rock and Metal drummers over the last 56 years. This was fun as always. I laughed out loud when Amy said “the Mothers?!” 🤣🤣

George Brady

I've seen this version of Deep Purple live in concert, three times. Amy, to your perfect discussion of the opening layers of this song, just add two things. The vocalist, Ian Gillian, began energetically marching in place after the riff was joined by Roger Glover's pulsing bass. And at that moment, the music of the four individual instruments somehow blended into a thick throbbing vibration, rhythmicly infiltrating our physical bodies in a thrilling, visceral way. All three times. I hope you will experience it someday. I'll never forget it.

Lee Kennison
>>157227966

Even though I didn't learn to play guitar in my 70s teen years (I learned later in life), even I played this riff back then, since I had several friends who were guitar players and they showed me how to play it on their guitars. One of my best friends in particular was an excellent guitar player, which I think intimidated me from picking it up in those days. I regret not having learned back then, which would have made me a far better player than I am today, since it isn't quite the same when you learn as an adult.

Julian Ortiz
>>157227966

Totally! All the guitar guys love showing everyone how to play the riff. Hey, at least you can play the guitar, Lee. I’m sure you’re a fine player nevertheless. 😎

Terence colin Shortman

Deep Purple were classified as Hard rock / Heavy metal but like many bands of this time they quite often crossed over into other genre's such as prog, straight blues and rock and roll. They all were exceptional musicians and lyricists and quit often varied timing and key Hard rock / Heavy metal music gained a cult following in the 1970s, led by British Bands Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple. Progressive rock developed out of late 1960s blues-rock and psychedelic rock. also Dominated by British bands, it was part of an attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility. Progressive rock bands attempted to push the technical and compositional boundaries of rock by going beyond the standard verse-chorus-based song structures. The arrangements often incorporated elements drawn from classical, jazz, and world music. Instrumentals were common, while songs with lyrics were sometimes conceptual, abstract, or based in fantasy. Progressive rock bands sometimes used "concept albums that made unified statements, usually telling an epic story or tackling a grand overarching theme." King Crimson as well as The Moody Blues have been seen as the bands who established the concept of "progressive rock". The term was applied to the music of bands such as Yes, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Jethro Tull, Supertramp and Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

TONY SURRATT

Enjoyed that. That riff is legendary, but it was the bass that my ear fell in love with. A bit of personal irony, when I saw Zappa, he stopped about a quarter of the way in a tune. He threaten the crowd, if they didn’t settle down and if one of those freebies lands on stage …That’s It Only concert that ever happened to me. And it made think what was Zappa take on Smoke On the Water ?

Andrew Moore

The whole Machine Head album should really be listened to. It’s a very strong album considering the circumstances under which it was recorded. I love the drum sound on it. It was recorded in a hall way in the hotel. I have always been a little dissatisfied with the guitar solo. It’s brilliantly executed but I always thought something could be done better harmonically with the underlying chords but this is a minor criticism and perhaps I feel this because there are so many strong moments on the album. Space Truckin’ is one of my favourites and a brilliant way to end the album. I am loving that you are enjoying Deep Purple. They have a special place in my musical education.

Jay

The spiritual that sounds similar would be “Wade in the Water”

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma

When I was in guitar class in junior high school in California, 1974... other kids would come up to me, trying to impress me by playing this song... and they always did it wrong! Funny thing, as an aside: One day a kid comes up to me and says, "I can play for you Stairway To Heaven." People... if you can believe this: the only song called Stairway To Heaven that I knew about in 1974 (3 years after its release) was a song I saw on a TV advertisement by an old crooner named Neil Sedaka... so, I wasn't particularly impressed... until, that is, he started playing the Led Zeppelin song!

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>157332494

I agree. In fact, for me, there were only 5 albums that I learned as an amateur drummer in the 6th grade (1973) - it was that important. And, here they are, in order: THE DOORS debut album of 1967 THE BEATLES Abbey Road THE WHO Who's Next DEEP PURPLE Machine Head YES The Yes Album

DJ Marquis Marc Rambeau du Tacoma
>>157227966

Speaking of the Edgar Winter Group... man, there is a SMOKING HOT video of those very talented guys performing their best known song, FRANKENSTEIN... If Vlad ever decides to do this super-classic song, I hope he chooses to show Amy an actual live version performed for television in 1973: https://youtu.be/Pb605jAQUlk