A poem written for children in 1802 would not have been the most obvious subject for Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover for tackle, but that's precisely what he did in 1974 with The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast.  Glover wrote, produced, and played on the pop/rock opera concept album which yielded the hit "Love Is All," sung by Ronnie James Dio.  Now, that original album has been expanded to 3 CDs for a new box set from Cherry Red's newly-reactivated Purple Records imprint.

In 1973, William Roscoe's original poem inspired a picture book by illustrator Alan Aldridge and poet William Plomer.  Glover, who had just left Deep Purple, was approached by producer John Craig about turning it into an album which would then, in turn, become a film.  In Malcolm Dome's liner notes to the new expanded edition, Glover recalls that both Purple's Jon Lord and the members of Pink Floyd had been previously approached.  Glover seized the opportunity to show off another side of his compositional and musical talent in service of a relevant story for children of all ages.  The original press release (reprinted in the booklet here) described the concept as "the story of the day all the creatures of the countryside decided to stop fighting, stop killing, and come together for The Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast."  The book and subsequent album touched upon both the desire for peace and the need to protect the environment - both themes which still, of course, resonate today.

Glover primarily composed the whimsical, theatrical songs himself, joined on a few tracks by pianist Eddie Hardin and also by Ronnie James Dio, who was also enlisted to sing on three tracks.  To complete his cast, Glover also called upon veteran session singers Helen Chappelle, Barry St. John, and Liza Strike, as well as rockers John Lawton, John Gustafson, Tony Ashton (who was then recording for Purple Records), Mickey Lee Soule (Dio's then-bandmate in Elf), Purple associate and future Whitesnake founder David Coverdale, Neil Lancaster, John Goodison, and others.

Glover employed pop and rock sounds throughout his score, expanding the instrumentation to include horns and strings.  A core band was assembled of Glover on multiple instruments, Eddie Hardin on piano and keyboards, Les Binks on drums, Ray Fenwick on guitar, Mo Foster on bass, Mike Moran on piano, plus the group of Ann Odell (piano), Mike Giles (drums), Nigel Watson (saxophone), Eddie Jobson (violin), Jack Emblow (accordion), Chris Karan (tabla), and Robin Thompson (bassoon).

The versatile Dio sang the powerful lead on the bright, catchy "Love Is All," which became a major hit around Europe and topped the charts in Holland and Belgium.  Dio also brought his commanding pipes to the baroque ballad "Sitting in a Dream" and the wistful finale "Homeward."  Dio's then-bandmate in Elf, Mickey Lee Soule, sang the brassy "No Solution," imploring "Don't drink the water."  Based on Glover's desire to "cast" each singer in a different role, the album's vocals are diverse for such quirky tunes as the hard-hitting "Watch Out for the Bat" (featuring Gustafson), the finger-snapping "Old Blind Mole" (sung by Goodison), the choral ode to a "Harlequin Hare" (led by Lancaster), and the hard-rocking "Sir Maximus Mouse" (with Hardin).

The original album is on Disc One of this set, while the second disc features eight alternate mixes and one demo (all previously released on the 1995 Repertoire reissue), plus the entirety of 1974's The Roger Glover Butterfly Ball Radio Special in which Glover discusses the album in between musical excerpts.  The third CD replicates the original "Love Is All" EP, also featuring "Old Blind Mole" and "Musician Moth."  All three discs (housed in paper sleeves) are packaged in a clamshell case which boasts a 20-page booklet and foldout poster with full lyrics for the album.  Andy Pearce and Matt Wortham have remastered all audio for this release.

While only a short film was ever produced, Glover holds out hope that The Butterfly Ball could still be adapted to stage or screen.  This unusual, imaginative, and eclectic rock-musical treat from Purple Records is available now at the links below!

Roger Glover and Friends, The Butterfly Ball and The Grasshopper's Feast (Purple Records 1C 062-96 026, 2018 - reissued Purple Records PURPLEBOX016, 2018) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

CD 1: The Original Album

1. Dawn
2. Get Ready
3. Saffron Dormouse and Lizzy Bee
4. Harlequin Hare
5. Old Blind Mole
6. Magician Moth
7. No Solution
8. Behind the Smile
9. Fly Away
10. Aranea
11. Sitting in a Dream
12. Waiting
13. Sir Maximus Mouse
14. Dreams of Sir Bedivere
15. Together Again
16. Watch Out for the Bat
17. Little Chalk Blue
18. The Feast
19. Love Is All
20. Homeward

CD 2: Bonus Tracks

1. Love Is All (Demo)
2. Dawn (Alternative Mix)
3. Magician Moth (Alternative Mix)
4. Harlequin Hare (Alternative Mix)
5. Magician Moth (Alternative Mix 2)
6. No Solution (Alternative Mix)
7. Waiting (Alternative Mix)
8. Fly Away (Alternative Mix)
9. Aranea (Alternative Mix)

The Roger Glover Butterfly Ball Radio Special (1974)

10. Band I
11. Music: Old Blind Mole
12. Magic Moth
13. Band 2
14. Music: Aranea
15. Band 3
16. Music: Sitting in a Dream
17. Band 1
18. Music: Watch Out for the Bat
19. Band 2
20. Music: Love Is All

CD 3: Love Is All EP (Purple PUR 125, 1974)

1. Love Is All
2. Old Blind Mole
3. Magician Moth