There are bands and there are bands. This band has gone through so many transitions that even I, The Geek, can not keep up with all of them, but I do know that in their original lineup that they were close to, if not actually, great.
Deep Purple were a sort of late on the invasion set band from England, only releasing their first record in 1968. They did some original material, but their first hit was a cover of Hush, by Joe South, written for Billy Joe Royal, and it was an OK hit.
I only intend to treat the Mark I lineup, because I personally found their material to deteriorate quickly after the band were realigned, although their big hits were later. Please come with me and explore what was to later become one of the first big hair bands, and one of the loudest in concert.