Now What?! is the 19th studio album by English rock band Deep Purple. It was released on 26 April 2013[4] and produced by Bob Ezrin. A dedicated official web site was also created by the band to post updates about the album. It is the band's first studio album in over seven years; Deep Purple's previous studio album, Rapture of the Deep, was released in late 2005.
On 26 February 2013, the album's title was announced.[5] Additionally, a new single featuring "Hell to Pay" and "All the Time in the World" was released in both CD and vinyl formats on 29 March 2013.[6] The band confirmed that the new single "Vincent Price" will be released on 7 June as download, CD single and 7" transparent vinyl. Single would also include previously unreleased song "First Sign of Madness", two tracks from now unavailable Rapture of the Deep limited edition and video-clip.[7]
Two songs are dedicated to Deep Purple founding member Jon Lord, who died in July 2012 – "Uncommon Man" and "Above and Beyond", which includes the lyrics "Souls having touched are forever entwined". "Uncommon Man" is partly inspired by the classical composition "Fanfare for the Common Man", and features a synthesizer-generated fanfare theme composed by Don Airey.
AllMusic's Steve Leggett commented that the album sounds like a product of progressive metal's golden age, while the album appeared on Sputnikmusic's list of the "Best Progressive Rock Albums Of 2013."[8][9]
Reception
Following its release, Now What?! has been met with mostly positive reception from critics. Steve Leggett with Allmusic gave the album four stars out of a possible five, saying "Some things really shouldn't change, and Deep Purple recognize that. They haven't changed a bit, and the group's many fans are going to find this release comforting in that regard".[10] Sputnikmusic gave the album three and a half stars out of a possible five, writing "Fans of Purpendicular and the group’s last two albums will find several pleasing moments and the band should feel proud of the outcome too'.[11]
Now What?! sold 4,000 copies in its first week in the US.[12]
Six months after its release Now What?! was certified gold in Germany (100 000 copies sold).[13]
It was the first Deep Purple studio album to enter the UK top 40 albums charts since The Battle Rages On in 1993.
Track listing
Standard edition
All tracks written by Don Airey, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Steve Morse, Ian Paice and Bob Ezrin, except "It'll Be Me" by Jack Clement.
1. |
"A Simple Song" |
4:39 |
2. |
"Weirdistan" |
4:14 |
3. |
"Out of Hand" |
6:09 |
4. |
"Hell to Pay" |
5:10 |
5. |
"Bodyline" |
4:26 |
6. |
"Above and Beyond" |
5:30 |
7. |
"Blood from a Stone" |
5:18 |
8. |
"Uncommon Man" |
7:02 |
9. |
"Après Vous" |
5:24 |
10. |
"All the Time in the World" |
4:21 |
11. |
"Vincent Price" |
4:46 |
12. |
"It'll Be Me" |
3:02 |
13. |
"First Sign of Madness" |
4:26 |
12. |
"It'll Be Me" |
3:02 |
13. |
"First Sign of Madness" |
4:26 |
14. |
"Hell to Pay (Instrumental)" |
5:11 |
15. |
"Après Vous (Instrumental)" |
5:23 |
12. |
"Highway Star (Live From Hard Rock Cafe, London, UK/October 2005)" |
8:09 |
13. |
"Perfect Strangers (Live From Hard Rock Cafe, London, UK/October 2005)" |
6:41 |
14. |
"All the Time in the World [Alternative Radio Mix]" |
3:48 |
12. |
"It'll Be Me" |
3:02 |
13. |
"Smoke on the Water (Live From Hard Rock Cafe, London, UK/October 2005)" |
6:50 |
14. |
"Wrong Man (Live From Hard Rock Cafe, London, UK/October 2005)" |
4:29 |
15. |
"Hell to Pay [Radio Edit]" |
3:42 |
The Now What?! Live Tapes bonus CD
This is Disc 2 of the November 2013 "Gold Edition Deluxe" double CD.
1. |
"Strange Kind of Woman (Rock In Roma, Ippodromo Delle Capannelle, Rome, IT, 22/07/2013)" |
6:06 |
2. |
"Hard Lovin' Man (Skovdalen, Aalborg, DK, 08/08/2013)" |
6:24 |
3. |
"Vincent Price (Skovdalen, Aalborg, DK, 08/08/2013)" |
4:29 |
4. |
"Contact Lost (Skovdalen, Aalborg, DK, 08/08/2013)" |
3:38 |
5. |
"All the Time in the World (Dieci Giorni Suonati, Ippodromo Del Galoppo, Milan, Milan, IT, 21/07/2013)" |
4:56 |
6. |
"No One Came (Getaway Rock Festival, Gasklockorna, Gaevle, SE, 10/08/2013)" |
5:21 |
7. |
"Bodyline (Rock In Roma, Ippodromo Delle Capannelle, Rome, IT, 22/07/2013)" |
4:22 |
8. |
"Perfect Strangers (Live in Gaevle)" |
6:53 |
9. |
"Above and Beyond (Dieci Giorni Suonati, Ippodromo Del Galoppo, Milan, Milan, IT, 21/07/2013)" |
5:29 |
10. |
"Lazy (Getaway Rock Festival, Gasklockorna, Gaevle, SE, 10/08/2013)" |
8:22 |
11. |
"Black Night (Rock In Roma, Ippodromo Delle Capannelle, Rome, IT, 22/07/2013)" |
9:03 |
12. |
"Smoke on the Water (Rock In Roma, Ippodromo Delle Capannelle, Rome, IT, 22/07/2013)" |
7:18 |
Personnel
- Deep Purple
- Additional musicians
- Jason Roller – acoustic guitar ("All the Time in the World")
- Eric Darken – percussion ("Bodyline", "All The Time in the World")
- Mike Johnson – steel guitar ("All The Time in the World", "Vincent Price")
- David Hamilton – additional keyboards ("Uncommon Man", "Weirdistan", "Above And Beyond")
- Students of Nimbus School of Recording Arts – gang vocals ("Hell to Pay")
- Bob Ezrin – additional backing vocals & percussion
- Production notes
- Produced by Bob Ezrin
- Assistant Engineer: Li Xiao Le
- Additional Engineers: Zach Allan, Jarad Clement (The Tracking Room), Rob Harris, Mike Airey & Nathan Sage (Rainbow Recorders)
- Mixed by Bob Ezrin & Justin Cortelyou
- Mastered by Greg Calbi, Sterling Sound, New York City
Charts
Certifications
Country |
Date |
Award |
Amount (units) |
Germany[34][35] |
October 2013 |
Gold |
100,000 |
Russia[36][37] |
May 2013 |
Gold |
25,000 |
Poland[38][39] |
June 2013 |
Gold |
10,000 |
Czech Republic[40][41] |
October 2013 |
Gold |
2,500 |
Accolades
Publication |
Country |
Accolade |
Year |
Rank |
Classic Rock |
United Kingdom |
"Classic Rock Albums of the Year 2013" |
2014 |
13 |
Teraz Rock |
Poland |
"10 Best Albums of 2013" |
2014 |
5 |
Awards
Revolver Golden Gods Awards 2014 – Comeback of the Year[42]
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