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Title
Mercury High
Subtitle
The Story Of Ian Gillan
Artist
Ian Gillan |
Format: Double CD
Cat. No.: METRDCD534
Barcode: 698458703422
Playing Time: CD1 - 72:48 CD2-71:20
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| Deep Purple's celebrated frontman has enjoyed several periods fronting his own bands, often using the projects to explore more diverse sounds from his trademark heavy rock to r&b, ballads and jazz fusion. `Mercury High' shines the spotlight on the solo work of Ian Gillan, spanning 1977 to 2001. |
Track List
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| 1 |
Driving Me Wild (Fast Take) | |
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| 3 |
You Make Me Feel So Good | |
| 4 |
You Led My Heart Astray | |
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| 14 |
That's Why God Is Singing The Blues (live) | |
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| 1 |
She Took My Breath Away | |
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Can't Believe You Wanna Leave | |
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| 9 |
Loving On Borrowed Time | |
| 10 |
No More Cane On The Brazos | |
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ROCK LEGEND
Mention the name of Ian Gillan and the name Deep Purple immediately springs to mind. His trademark long-flowing hair, crazed conga-playing, and soaring classic rock voice have always personified the ‘70s hard rock supergroup. One of the foremost singers in heavy metal, few artists embark on their solo careers with as many record sales to their name. While the likes of David Coverdale and Ritchie Blackmore would attain greater commercial success after leaving the Purple ranks, Ian Gillan's solo output would ultimately prove the most prolific and off-the-wall. Unlike his Purple partners, Gillan set himself a challenge and made a conscious effort to try things differently.
Born in Hounslow, Middlesex on 19th August 1945, Ian Gillan formed his first band at the age of 16. Heavily influenced by Elvis Presley, he spent much of the early ‘60s fronting various semi-professional R&B bands such as The Javelins, The Hickies, and The Moonshiners before hooking up with established soul act Wainwright's Gentlemen. In May 1965 he was headhunted by Episode Six, a fully professional pop outfit who established a solid live reputation across Europe. A run of tours (including a bizarre club residency in Beirut) and single releases failed to produce any commercial chart pickings at home and by early 1969 the band had called it a day. However, the partnership Ian forged with Episode Six bassist Roger Glover would in time prove to be one of rock music's most enduring combinations.
CLASSIC ALBUMS
In July 1969, both Ian Gillan and Roger Glover were invited to join Deep Purple, forming the legendary 'Mk. 2' line-up alongside keyboardist Jon Lord, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and drummer Ian Paice. Debuting with the band at the Speakeasy club in London, Gillan and Glover soon helped to establish Deep Purple as a major attraction courtesy of an aggressive sound, characterised by lengthy instrumental workouts and powerful vocals. Pursuing a classic hard rock feel coupled with an explosive live show, Deep Purple became the epitome of Seventies hard
rock and entered their period of greatest success. Between 1969 and 1973 Gillan presided over a batch of classic albums that topped charts worldwide. The likes of 'Deep Purple In Rock' (1970), 'Fireball' (1971), 'Machine Head' (1972) and 'Who Do You Think We Are' (1973) spawned timeless hard rock anthems that became blueprints against which the singer's future output would be measured. By the end of 1972 Deep Purple had become the planet's biggest selling rock group and had entered the Guinness Book Of Records as the loudest band in the world. Their status as hard rock's premier attraction was further solidified by the classic live album 'Made In Japan' (1973). However, the tireless recording schedules and constant touring eventually took its toll on Gillan. Purple stagnated and internal conflicts with guitarist Ritchie Blackmore led to the eventual departure of both Gillan and Glover in June 1973.
CHILD IN TIME
Striking bravely out on his own, in 1974 the former frontman recorded a solo album but it was rejected by the Purple label as being far too radical. Teaming up with Roger Glover in late 1975 to form Ian Gillan's Shand Grenade didn't prove fruitful either although his involvement with Glover's 'Butterfly Ball' show eventually convinced him to make his return as a solo artist. The singer formed the Ian Gillan Band with guitarist Ray Fenwick (ex-Spencer Davis Group), drummer Mark Nauseef (ex-Elf), keyboardist Mike Moran and bassist John Gustafson, signed a solo deal with Oyster Records and released his debut solo album 'Child In Time' in 1976. Breaking all connections with the Deep Purple organization, the IGB (featuring new keysman Colin Towns in place of Mike Moran) signed to Island Records. Released in April 1977, the group's second offering 'Clear Air Turbulence' (sporting a striking cover by sci-fi artist Chris Foss) demonstrated an innovative jazz-rock influence. But this approach didn't rub, especially set against the grain of punk rock. In October 1977 the singer reverted to type with 'Scarabus' which brought the focus back to hard rock. With the Ian Gillan Band firing on all cylinders a world tour was undertaken - a performance in Tokyo was recorded for release, but with band and label eventually parting company, 'Live At The Budokan' (a record that majored on his recent solo material with a couple of Purple classics thrown in for good measure) would remain unreleased in Britain until the mid-‘80s.
GLORY ROAD
With solid rock very much on the menu, Ian Gillan dissolved the IGB (but retained keysman Colin Towns) and was back in the recording studio in the summer of 1978 with a new band with the snappier name of Gillan. After various personnel changes the Gillan / Towns partnership settled on a line-up featuring bassist John McCoy, guitarist Bernie Torme (later replaced by current Iron Maiden man Janick Gers), and former Episode Six drummer Mick Underwood. Signing up with Virgin Records between 1979-1982, they released a handful of albums and singles, some of which went on to see major UK chart action. The success of the albums 'Mr Universe' (1979), 'Glory Road' (1980), 'Future Shock' (1981), 'Double Trouble' (1982) and 'Magic' (1982) coupled with numerous appearances at the Reading Festival saw Gillan at the forefront of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement proving that, having been there first time round, he was still a force to be reckoned with. At the tail end of 1982 the singer wound up Gillan, reportedly on doctor's orders to rest his vocal chords. But his pedigree preceded him and by May 1983 he'd been recruited to sing for Black Sabbath, recorded the album 'Born Again' and toured with the band. This 'legendary' collaboration was, however, short-lived. On March 10th 1984, the classic Deep Purple 'Mk. 2' line-up of Gillan-Glover-Blackmore-Lord-Paice reformed, signed a lucrative deal with Polydor Records and cut the million-selling 'Perfect Strangers' (1984).
SECOND COMING
The reunion seemed rosy following a memorable comeback UK performance at the 1985 Knebworth Festival, but old tensions resurfaced during the recording of 'House Of Blue Light' (1987) and the follow-up promotional global trek (captured on the 1988 live album 'Nobody's Perfect'). By May 1989 it was all over for a second time although Gillan did manage to participate in a Band-Aid style remake of 'Smoke On The Water' for the Rock Aid Armenia project. It was back to basics. Having not released a solo album since 1982 and although still a member of Purple, he released 'Accidentally On Purpose' in 1988 (recorded with Roger Glover) to fulfil a contractual obligation to his former label Virgin (who had already cashed in by issuing a compilation of the singer's solo material). A somewhat off-the-wall collection, it served the purpose of escaping the confines of his day job. On leaving Purple, Ian Gillan took to the road in the spring of 1989 with his new alter ego, Garth Rockett. By the end of the year the singer had put together a band of respected musicians and had signed to EastWest, releasing the quickly conceived ‘Naked Thunder' in July 1990. The majority of his solo albums prior to rejoining Purple had hit the charts so the singer put together a formidable touring band(comprising of Garth guitarist Steve Morris, former MSG skinsman Ted McKenna, ex-MSG / Alex Harvey bassist Chris Glen, and Greg Lake / Gary Moore keyboard player Tommy Eyre) to promote it. Press reaction was unfortunately less than enthusiastic.
PURPLE RETURNS
The high sales-return expected of 'Naked Thunder' didn't materialise. Having bonded well with guitarist Steve Morris, Gillan immediately formed a new four-piece rock band with the addition of drummer Leonard Haze (ex Y&T) and bassist Brett Bloomfield and recorded another album.
Following a showcase gig at London's Marquee Club, the critically acclaimed 'Toolbox' hit the streets in October 1991, setting the record straight with its focus very much on powerful rootsy hard rock. Despite an extensive tour that encompassed some 27 countries, commercial
returns were still short. In an effort to rescue the situation, the singer renamed his band Repo Depo and cut some new tracks with ex-T'Pau guitarist Dean Howard. The ultimate lure of re-joining Deep Purple for a third time now seemed too good to resist and Mr. G hooked up with his
former band mates once again in December 1992 to record 'The Battle Rages On' (1993) followed by a world tour celebrating the group's 25th Anniversary. With Blackmore quitting the line-up and Steve Morse coming in, Ian Gillan's fortunes with Purple took a turn for the better and
has since resulted in a string of strong product. Recent additions to the Purple catalogue, 'Perpendicular' (1996), 'Abandon' (1998), 'In Concert With The LSO' (1999) and 'Bananas' (2003) all display a new fire and verve. To date (in between still experimenting with some more off-the-wall solo material) he is still recording and touring with 'that band'.
Mark Crampton
A dedicated Deep Purple fan and a flag-bearer for classic rock and heavy metal, Mark Crampton has written for various music publications, founded Riff Raff rock magazine in 1989 and compiles for several top music labels. He is currently furthering the rock music cause in new media circles.
1. Driving Me Wild (Fast Take)
2. Music In My Head
3. You Make Me Feel So Good
4. You Led My Heart Astray
One of Ian Gillan's first experiences away from Deep Purple had been performing the title role on the soundtrack to Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber's groundbreaking rock opera 'Jesus Christ Superstar' in 1971. After leaving the band he had no immediate plans to re-enter the music business. Instead he purchased a recording studio, became involved in a motorcycle business and a crazy hotel development, projects that all proved abortive. These tracks (recorded after Ian Gillan's first departure from Deep Purple in 1973) were recently rediscovered and released in June 1999 as 'Cherkazoo & Other Stories', a collection of the singer's early solo recordings. A good mix of hard rock, blues and even orchestrated pop numbers (like 'Music In My Head'), these sessions display an honest versatility and find Gillan attempting to establish a hard rock style he was comfortable with prior to the release of his debut solo album 'Child In Time' in ‘76. Most of the players featured here had come fresh from backing Joe Egan / Gerry Rafferty on Stealer's Wheel's 'Fergusile Park' album but only keyboard player Mike Moran survived this initial incarnation (going on to feature on 'Child In Time'). Bassist Dave Wintour, drummer Andy Steele and guitarist Bernie Holland all went back to their own studio projects.
5. Clear Air Turbulence
6. Money Lender
7. Over The Hill
Ian Gillan was probably at his most experimental on his first solo album release of 1977, 'Clear Air Turbulence'. His willingness to take chances is admirable, employing a five-piece brass section (sax solos were order of the day here). Recorded at the singer's Kingsway Studios (formerly De Lane Lea) in Central London, the newly formed Ian Gillan Band worked without the pressures of limited recording hours. In fact, they had so much time on their hands that they
recorded the album twice to meet Gillan's high standards (a late 1976 tour was even cancelled so the band could perfect their work). The album featured only six tracks (four of which lasted over seven minutes each). From the trademark hard rock of 'Money Lender' (a track written about a former manager following a hefty tax bill) to the jazz-fusion, prog rock indulgences of 'Over The Hill' and the album's title track, the record showcased a wealth of professional playing.
8. Scarabus
9. Twin Exhausted
10. Mercury High
11. Slags To Bitches
12. Mad Elaine 4:19
13. My Baby Loves Me 8:12
With the focus firmly back on shorter songs, the October 1977 long player 'Scarabus' saw the Ian Gillan Band at its best, less inclined towards muso hyper-drive. At the time, the singer was credited as citing the punk and new wave movements for directing him back to his rock roots and, with a few exceptions, the majority of the tracks on the album hit the four-minute mark. Compared to its predecessor, the album sounded more like unadulterated hard rock with an occasional flourish of funky indulgence. It proved a point. Ian Gillan was at his best when he was simply rocking. Island Records picked up on the shift in musical direction commercially, releasing the tracks 'Mad Elaine' and 'Mercury High' as a double-sided taster for the record in January 1978. When 'Scarabus' was reissued in 1989 on CD it came with an exclusive bonus track (an eight minute-plus jam of 'My Baby Loves Me') showcasing the group in its element live on stage.
14. That's Why God Is Singing The Blues (live)
Recorded live with Deep Purple at the Royal Albert Hall in September 1999 and featuring the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Mann, this innovative slow blues number catches Ian Gillan's voice at its soulful best (as opposed to the soaring high-pitched one he's best known for in rock circles). Perhaps a nod towards his 'crooning' teenage musical heroes, it was featured on the singer's 1998 solo release 'Dreamcatcher'.
CD 2
1. She Took My Breath Away
2. I Can't Dance To That
3. Can't Believe You Wanna Leave
4. Lonely Avenue
5. Telephone Box
1988's 'Accidentally On Purpose', a collaboration with Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover, was largely recorded in George Martin's Air Studios in Montserrat while the singer was still a member of 'that band'. Self produced by the duo, it was surprisingly the first time that the Gillan / Glover partnership had worked together without any outside influence and most of the album was actually laid down to tape before they embarked on a US tour with Purple. For creative purposes they decided to travel together alone without their fellow band members, allowing them enough time to write the rest of the record. When the tour ended abruptly after Purple guitarman Ritchie Blackmore broke his finger, Gillan and Glover headed straight to New York and hooked up with piano legend Dr John, drummer Andy Newmark and horn man Randy Brecker to finish off the record at Minot Studios and the Power Station. An eclectic collection (and one of Ian Gillan's personal favourites), it features a wide variety of contrasting original material such as 'She Took My Breath Away' (released as a single in January 1988) and 'Telephone Box' (a song inspired by friend Chet King when he tried to call home from the tour bus toilets’ internal telephone). There are also a number of excellent covers including 'Can't Believe You Wanna Leave' (featuring piano man Dr John) and Doc Pomus' 'Lonely Avenue'.
6. Gut Reaction
7. No Good Luck
8. Nothing But The Best
9. Loving On Borrowed Time
10. No More Cane On The Brazos
A much underrated effort, 'Naked Thunder' (released in July 1990) pulled no punches. The hard rock legend, battered but not bruised, was out to impress having just jumped off the Deep Purple 'Mk 2' reunion gravy train. The album features both his incredible vocal talent and some very fine songwriting. With a large degree of self-control, working alongside Swedish producer Leif Mases (famed for his work with rock luminaries like Jeff Beck and Led Zeppelin and home exports such as Abba and Europe) proved fruitful. Centred around hard rock with a funky blues feel, the record served up a healthy dose of trademark Gillan cuts - notable rockers 'Gut Reaction' and 'No Good Luck' and the somewhat off-the-wall Negro chant of 'No More Cane On The Brazos' (an offshoot from the singer's previous collaboration with Roger Glover) illustrating just how versatile he could be.
11. Hang Me Out To Dry
12. Toolbox
13. Candy Horizon
14. Don't Hold Me Back
15. Pictures Of Hell
Adorned by a striking photo portrait, 'Toolbox' (released October 1991) was arguably the singer's most rocking solo collection of songs. Produced by Chris Tsangaridis (Gary Moore / Thin Lizzy / Tygers Of Pan Tang), it was dubbed by the press as his 'hardest album ever' and compared admirably with the classic Purple recordings of the early 1970s, marrying a sharp straight-ahead rock 'n' roll edge with an offbeat sense of personal humour. For the recording sessions Gillan retained only Garth Rockett guitarist Steve Morris (who'd most recently collaborated with him on the album 'Naked Thunder') while in the bass and percussion departments he brought in Brett Bloomfield and former Y&T man Leonard Haze. This solid Anglo-American line-up served up a host of dynamic hard rock aces, with prime metallic movers such as 'Candy Horizon', 'Pictures Of Hell', 'Hang Me Out To Dry' (featuring guitar from Mountain's Leslie West) and 'Don't Hold Me Back' all sporting the frontman's trademark screams. As fate would dictate, it was to be Ian Gillan's final solo outing before rejoining Deep Purple for a third time.
16. Via Miami
Another track recorded live with Deep Purple at the Royal Albert Hall in September 1999 and featuring the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Paul Mann. This rollicking country fried version of 'Via Miami' (a track which originally appeared on Gillan / Glover's 1988 album collaboration 'Accidentally On Purpose') features both Ian Gillan and Roger Glover in a more 'relaxed' mode taking their lead alongside the Kick Horns. In retrospect, it's a light number that takes this particular compilation full circle, very much harking back to the days of the beginning of their partnership during the 1960s with Episode Six.
Mark Crampton |
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