'' is the ninth studio album by
Deep Purple , released in December 1974. On this album, the soul and funk elements that were only hinted at on ''
Burn '' are much more prominent. This shift in direction alienated some fans as well as
Ritchie Blackmore , who departed the band not long after ''Stormbringer'' was released. Many fans consider Stormbringer to be a major turning point in the band, and the mark of an era's
end.
This record, which has been out of print in the US for over 20 years, is scheduled to have 2 re-releases during 2007: EMI has worked with Glenn Hughes on a remastered, expanded version of the album (much like the one done with
Burn ) which includes bonus alternate takes/mixes and is due on the fall (which seems to be aimed at the European/international market only), and Friday Music label released it stateside on July 31, 2007 (along with
Made In Europe and
Come Taste The Band ). It is unclear which tapes were used as a source for this release, but the label's website claims that the album has been digitally remastered (but not expanded).
All songs written by Blackmore/Coverdale/Hughes/Lord/Paice except where indicated.
# "Stormbringer" (Blackmore, Coverdale) – 4:03
# "Love Don't Mean a Thing" – 4:23
# "Holy Man" (Coverdale, Hughes, Lord) – 4:28
# "Hold On" (Coverdale, Hughes, Lord, Paice) – 5:05
# "Lady Double Dealer" (Blackmore, Coverdale) – 3:19
# "You Can't Do It Right (with the One You Love)" (Blackmore, Coverdale, Hughes) – 3:24
# "High Ball Shooter" – 4:26
# "The Gypsy" – 4:13
# "Soldier of Fortune" (Blackmore, Coverdale) – 3:14
Recorded at
Musicland Studios ,
Munich in August and mixed at
The Record Plant ,
Los Angeles during September 1974
- Engineered by Martin Birch ; assisted by Mack and Hans
- Mixed by Martin Birch and Ian Paice; assisted by Gary Webb and Garry Ladinsky
- Produced by Deep Purple and Martin Birch
A
Quadraphonic remix was released in the USA in 1975.
Progressive
Death Metal band
Opeth covered "Soldier of Fortune" for the re-release of their 2005 album ''
Ghost Reveries '', and Finnish
Industrial Metal band
Turmion Kätilöt covered "Stormbringer" on their 2005 EP
Niuva 20 . "Soldier of Fortune" was also covered by
Australia n
Power Metal band
Black Majesty on their
2007 album ''Tomorrowland''.
Glenn Hughes recorded a new version of the song "Highball Shooter" for his 2001 album ''
Building The Machine ''.
