This is a very unusual Deep Purple album, yet there is no mistaking it as Deep Purple. It's also a lot of fun. With the pandemic raging and various restrictions on travel and congregating in place around the world, the band decided to create an album with everyone recording their parts in their own studios rather than convening somewhere to do it. In the modern world, that's not unusual, but I have a hunch it is for this band.

All of that isn't the extent of how this set is different. First, there are no original songs, only covers. Secondly, this does include some guest musicians here and there. Some of them provide horns on a song or two, which is another change. The thing is, as different as this is in so many ways, it is trademark Deep Purple. It's also very strong.

This review is available in book (paperback and hardcover) form in Music Street Journal: 2022  Volume 1. More information and purchase links can be found at: garyhillauthor.com/Music-Street-Journal-2022.

This was originally from a gentleman named Huey “Piano” Smith, but you have probably heard a cover at some point. They put in a smoking old-school boogie performance of this. The piano is so classy on this thing. There is almost a jazz group vibe at points here. They really capture the kind of tone you'd expect from the tune, while also "Purpleizing" it. This is one of the songs with horns and Bob Ezrin contributes some backing  vocals to this.