Who Do We Think We Are

Untitled

Who Do We Think We Are! is the seventh studio album by the English rock band Deep Purple. It was recorded in Rome (in July 1972) and Frankfurt (October 1972) using the Rolling Stones Mobile Studio. It was Deep Purple's last album with the Mark II lineup of the group until Perfect Strangers (1984).

Overview

Although "Woman from Tokyo" was a hit single, the group - riven with internal strife - struggled to come up with tracks of the quality of their previous three albums (and first live album). Whilst it hit number 4 in the UK charts and number 15 in the US charts, it did not sell as well as previous albums. Nonetheless, Deep Purple was the best selling artist in the USA in 1973 (see also Machine Head and Made in Japan). The album was certified Gold on April 11, 1973 by the RIAA, selling 500,000 copies in the US.

"Woman from Tokayo" was recorded in July 1972 and is about touring Japan for the first time (e.g. the lyric "Fly into the Rising Sun"). The only other track released from the Rome sessions is the out-take "Painted Horse". The rest of the album was recorded in Frankfurt after more touring (including Japan). "Mary Long," "Smooth Dancer" and "Rat Bat Blue" have the sound of classic Deep Purple. "Place in Line" has a darker blues mood reminiscent of Purple's earlier song "Child in Time."

Ian Gillan left the band following this album, citing internal tensions widely thought to include a feud with Blackmore. However, in an interview supporting the release of the 1984 Mark II Deep Purple comeback album Perfect Strangers, Gillan stated fatigue and management also had a lot to do with it. "We had just come off 18 months of touring, and we'd all had major illnesses at one time or another. Looking back, if they'd have been decent managers, they would have said, 'All right, stop. I want you to all go on three months' holiday. I don't even want you to pick up an instrument.' But instead they pushed us to complete the album on time. We should have stopped. I think if we did, Deep Purple would have still been around to this day."

The last Mark II concert in the '70s before he left was in Osaka, Japan on June 29, 1973. Roger Glover followed Ian Gillan in leaving the band after learning on June 15 that Blackmore had plans to fire him.

Later editions

A digitally remastered version of the LP was released in 2000 with bonus tracks. "First Day Jam" is a lengthy instrumental jam featuring Blackmore (on bass), Lord and Paice. Glover (the group's usual bassist) was absent, lost in traffic.

In 2005 Audio Fidelity has released the LP on a 24 karat Gold CD.

Track listing

All songs written by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

Side one

1. "Woman from Tokyo" – 5:48
2. "Mary Long" – 4:23
3. "Super Trouper" – 2:54
4. "Smooth Dancer" – 4:08

Side two

5. "Rat Bat Blue" – 5:23
6. "Place in Line" – 6:29
7. "Our Lady" – 5:12

Remastered edition bonus tracks

8. "Woman from Tokyo" ('99 Remix) – 6:37
9. "Woman from Tokyo" (alt. bridge) – 1:24
10. "Painted Horse" (studio out-take) – 5:19
11. "Our Lady" ('99 Remix) – 6:05
12. "Rat Bat Blue" (writing session) – 0:57
13. "Rat Bat Blue" ('99 Remix) – 5:49
14. "First Day Jam" (instrumental) – 11:31

Personnel

• Ritchie Blackmore - guitar, bass
• Ian Gillan - vocals, harmonica
• Roger Glover - bass
• Jon Lord - keyboards
• Ian Paice - drums

Additional personnel

• Produced by Deep Purple
• Engineer – Martin Birch
• Rolling Stones Mobile Unit: Jeremy Gee & Nick Watterton
• Equipment – Ian Hansford, Rob Cooksey, Colin Hart, Ron Quinton
• Cover Design – Roger Glover & John Coletta
• Original album mixed by Ian Paice and Roger Glover
• Bonus tracks remixed by Peter Denenberg with Roger Glover
• Remastered and mastered by Peter Mew