Genre: progressive
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Gemini Suite
Company: Purple
Catalog: BS 2717
Year: 1971
Country/State: UK
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: alternative cover; perhaps a later pressing
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4
Price: $10.00
Cost: $66.00
With Deep Purple
finding themselves early-'70s critical and commercial favorites,
singer/keyboardist Jon Lord and the other band members were suddenly free to
follow their creative muses. In Lord's case it resulted in 1971's "Gemini
Suite". A collaboration with the London Symphony
Orchestra, the largely instrumental set seems to have drawn on Deep Purple's
earlier work with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - remember "Concerto
for Group and Orchestra"? Backed by the Deep Purple rank and file
(Ritchie Blackmore replaced by guitarist Albert Lee), here's what Lord had
to say about the set (pulled from the liner notes):
"The music on this album was originally written as a commission for the
BBC and was first performed at the Festival Hall with Deep Purple and the
Orchestra of the Light Music Society in September 1970, when it was
broadcast live on British and Danish radio. I composed the Suite during the
first six months of 1970, each movement being "built" around the
musical personalities of the members of Deep Purple. However during the
period between the concert and this recording the music grew away from the
initial concept and became, to my mind, not so much a composition for
"Group and Orchestra" but, more simply, music for amplified
instruments and an orchestra. To this end we decided not to make it a Deep
Purple project, but to use specified soloists."
And the results ... mildly diverting background music. For the most part
overly pretentious, the highlight was the lone vocal "Vocals"
featuring Yvonne Elliman.
"Gemini Suite" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Guitar (Jon
Lord) -
2.) Piano (Jon Lord) -
3.) Drums (Jon Lord )-
(side 2)
1.) Vocals (Jon
Lord) -
2.) Bass Guitar (Jon Lord) -
3.) Organ (Jon Lord) -