- Perfect Strangers (album)
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Perfect Strangers 
Studio album by Deep Purple Released 16 September 1984 Recorded August, 1984 at "Horizons" in Stowe, Vermont Genre Hard rock, heavy metal Length 39:28 (Original LP)
44:13 (Original CD)
54:15 (1999 CD re-issue)Label Polydor (UK)
Mercury Records (US)Producer Roger Glover
& Deep PurpleDeep Purple chronology Come Taste the Band
(1975)Perfect Strangers
(1984)The House of Blue Light
(1987)Perfect Strangers is the eleventh studio album by Deep Purple, released in October 1984. It represents the first album recorded by the reformed, the most successful and popular, 'Mark II' line-up.[1]
It was the first Deep Purple studio album in nine years, and the first with the Mk II lineup for eleven years, the last being Who Do We Think We Are in 1973. Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover arrived from Rainbow, Ian Gillan from Black Sabbath, Jon Lord from Whitesnake, and Ian Paice from Gary Moore's backing band.
The CD and cassette versions of the album contained the extra track "Not Responsible" (one of few Deep Purple songs with profane lyrics, as the word "fucking" can be heard in the song). The album was remastered and reissued June 22, 1999 with the bonus instrumental track "Son of Alerik". The latter had previously been available as a B-side on "Perfect Strangers" in 1984.
In 1985 they headlined the Knebworth Festival in England.
Contents
Critical reception
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic 
[2]Rolling Stone [3]Deborah Frost of Rolling Stone gave it a review of two out of five stars, remarking that "the material consists of hastily knocked-off jams". The review also stated that "Blackmore's Strat has such a great roar that you're willing to just let it reverberate in your eardrums for a bit. And it's nice to hear Jon Lord's synthesized organ squalls, Ian Paice's electrifying drumming, Ian Gillan's howls and whispers and Roger Glover's solid bass lines once again."[4] The album reached #5 in the UK (staying for four weeks in the top-40) and #17 in the US (staying for 28 weeks in the Billboard 200).[5]
The tour was so successful that the band had to add many additional dates to the U.S. arena tour, as tickets sold out very quickly. Their U.S. tour in 1985 out-grossed every artist that year except Bruce Springsteen.[6]
Track listing
All songs by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan and Roger Glover except where noted.
Side one
- "Knocking at Your Back Door" – 7:09
- "Under the Gun" – 4:40
- "Nobody's Home" (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice) – 4:01
- "Mean Streak" – 4:26
Side two
- "Perfect Strangers" – 5:31
- "A Gypsy's Kiss" – 5:14
- "Wasted Sunsets" – 3:58
- "Hungry Daze" – 5:01
Bonus track on the CD
- "Not Responsible" – 4:53 (originally cassette and CD only—not on vinyl LP)
Additional bonus track on the 1999 CD re-issue
- "Son of Alerik" (Blackmore) – 10:01 (not on original cassette, vinyl or CD release; used as an edited 7" B-side, or full version on the 12" of the "Perfect Strangers" single)
Personnel
- Ian Gillan - vocals
- Ritchie Blackmore - guitar
- Jon Lord - organ, keyboards
- Roger Glover - bass
- Ian Paice - drums
- Engineered by Nick Blagona
- Produced by Roger Glover and Deep Purple
Charts
Album
Year Nation Chart Position 1984 Norway Norwegian Record Charts 2[7] 1985 United States The Billboard 200 17[8] Singles
Year Single Nation Chart Position 1984 "Perfect Strangers" United States Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 12[9] 1985 "Nobody's Home" United States Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 20[9] "Knocking at Your Back Door" United States Billboard Hot 100 61[9] United States Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 7[9] Sales accomplishments
RIAA certification[10] (United States)
Date Designation Total Sales January 15, 1985 Gold 500,000 April 9, 1985 Platinum 1,000,000 BPI certification (United Kingdom)
Date Designation Total Sales November 23, 1984 Silver[11] 60,000 April 28, 1985 Gold[12] 100,000 CRIA certification[13] (Canada)
Date Designation Total Sales January 1, 1985 Gold 50,000 March 1, 1985 Platinum 100,000 References
- ^ Review by Allmusic
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ Rolling Stone review
- ^ Albumn Review. Rolling Stone. Originally written Feb. 28, 1985.
- ^ Deep Purple Essential Collection - Planet Rock
- ^ Jon Lord Interview at www.thehighwaystar.com. [1]
- ^ "VG-lista album info: Deep Purple - Perfect Strangers". http://lista.vg.no/album_info.php?AlbumOp=show&albumId=1247&albumtype=album&albumtype_id=1. Retrieved September 12, 2009.
- ^ "Billboard album chart history-Deep Purple". http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Albums&model.vnuArtistId=4436&model.vnuAlbumId=802834. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
- ^ a b c d "Billboard singles chart history-Deep Purple". http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.chartFormatGroupName=Singles&model.vnuArtistId=4436&model.vnuAlbumId=802834. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
- ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=deep%20purple&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
- ^ "BPI certified awards Silver". http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=22336. Retrieved February 21, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "BPI certified awards Gold". http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=22337. Retrieved February 21, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "CRIA certified awards". http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php?page=1&wclause=WHERE+artist_name+like+%27%25pu%25%27+ORDER+BY+cert_date%2C+cert_award+&rcnt=63&csearch=20&nextprev=1. Retrieved February 21, 2009.
External links
Categories:- Deep Purple albums
- 1984 albums
- Albums produced by Roger Glover
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