Concerto For Group & Orchestra - DEEP PURPLE***

First Movement: Moderato-Allegro/Second Movement: Andante Part 1/Second Movement: Andante Conclusion/ Third Movement: Vivace-Presto

At the turn of the decade several attempts to try and bring about a fusion between progressive and classical music were attempted but, as here, not always successfully. Concerto For Group & Orchestra was the first album featuring the classic Deep Purple line up. (US:149 UK:26)

"A fine mixture of epic orchestral pieces and Mark I Deep Purple's Hammond-soaked psychedelia, it's hard to think of many other bands that tried this combination out as early as 1970. For what it is, it's definitely worth hearing, and any fan of Deep Purple should seek it out, if only to hear the band embarking on quite a wild experiment."

"An interesting experiment that never really seems to mesh at all. The orchestra play classical music, then the band plays rock, then the orchestra plays a bit more classical, then the band plays a bit more rock."

"I find it difficult to imagine many fans of Deep Purple's style of rock, being much interested in this overly ambitious project. Indeed, critical reaction to it at the time was almost universally negative, perhaps not so much for the initial performance, as for the resulting album. To me, those portions of the album where the rock group is performing are only better than average, while the orchestral passages are entirely dispensable. Interesting idea, but not adequately fleshed out."

"The legendary Mark II line up of the band makes its album debut here and while it isn't a true Purple album, each band member gets to shine in his own distinct way."

"This would seem to be an attempt at fusion between classical music and rock. It really doesn't succeed because the two forces involved spend very little time playing together. More like they wait for one another, play, and then retreat. Plus, side two has too many drum solos."

"There is plenty to fault here. It seems that Jon Lord's composition style is a bit on the naive side. There are certain passages which, while sounding perfectly acceptable being played by a rock band, end up coming off a bit trite and simplistic when played by a whole orchestra."

"This is a valid experiment, and has its moments. However, the recording is spoiled by an under-rehearsed and unenthusiastic orchestra."