Deep Purple

2CD: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
3LP: Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada

A 20th anniversary edition of Rapture of the Deep, Deep Purple's 18th studio album, offers a remix and resequencing of the album by Roger Glover, with two non-LP tracks ("MTV" and "Things I Never Said") now added into the sequence. This was the second album from the band's longest-tenured line-up, the "Mk. VIII" arrangement that joined Ian Gillan, Glover, and Ian Paice with former Rainbow keyboardist Don Airey (who replaced Jon Lord in 2002) and guitarist Steve Morse (a member since 1994, who'd worked with Kansas and co-founded Dixie Dregs). Recorded without a label at a time when bands of Deep Purple's vintage were a bit hard to categorize, the album remains a bit of a hidden gem in the group's discography, putting a fresh coat of paint on their heavy progressive sound. (The band wouldn't release another album for nearly a decade, but the time away from the studio revitalized their bond with fans on the road, and their next five albums all performed well in England, with 2017's Infinite and 2019's Whoosh! both hitting the Top 10. Since 2022, the band has been in its "Mk. IX" configuration, replacing Morse with Irish guitarist Simon McBride.)  The bonus disc, which will not be available digitally, offers an additional five rehearsal tracks, including a solo piece by Morse called "Closing Note." Liner notes by Geoff Barton and a newly-redesigned cover will complement the update of this album.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.​