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Who Do We Think We Are

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Allmusic[1]

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). Although 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.[2]

"Woman from Tokyo" 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). "Place in Line" has a darker blues mood.

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.

— [3]

The last Mark II concert in the '70s before Ian Gillan and Roger Glover left was in Osaka, Japan on June 29, 1973.

On the back cover of the album, "Woman From Tokyo" is misspelled "WOMAN FROM TOKAYO" which reflects the way in which the word was pronounced in the vocals by Ian Gillan.

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

Side one

All tracks are written by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice

No.TitleLength
1."Woman from Tokyo"5:48
2."Mary Long"4:23
3."Super Trouper"2:54
4."Smooth Dancer"4:08

Side two

No.TitleLength
5."Rat Bat Blue"5:23
6."Place in Line"6:29
7."Our Lady"5:12

Bonus tracks on the Remastered edition CD re-issue

No.TitleLength
8."Woman from Tokyo" ('99 Remix)6:37
9."Woman from Tokyo" (Alternate 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

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

Certifications

Certifications

United States of America

Certification Date Amount (units)
Gold[4] December, 1998 500,000

France

Certification Date Amount (units)
Gold[5] December, 1977 100,000

Germany

Certification Date Amount (units)
Gold[6] August, 1974 250,000

Other Countries

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Japan (RIAJ)[7] Gold 0^
Sweden (GLF)[8] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ Allmusic review
  2. ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  3. ^ Deep Purple: The Interview. Interview picture disc, 1984, Mercury Records.
  4. ^ Deep Purple Certifications RIAA - "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". Retrieved February 19, 2009.
  5. ^ Deep Purple Certifications SNEP - http://www.infodisc.fr/CD_Certif.php - December 20, 2011
  6. ^ Deep Purple, Who do We Think We Are Certified Gold in Germany (based on classic certification numbers, prior to Bundesverband Musikindustrie era, in 1975)- http://www.musicline.de/de/product/780014202729/Deep+Purple/Who+Do+You+Think+We+Are+24k-Gold-CD/2577281/CD.html - December 20, 2011
  7. ^ "Japanese album certifications – Deep Purple – Who Do We Think We Are" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan.
  8. ^ "Sverigetopplistan – Deep Purple" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan.
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