Deep Purple – BBC Sessions 1968–1970 (2011)
Unearthing the band’s earliest live-in-studio brilliance
Released in 2011, BBC Sessions 1968–1970 is a career-defining archival compilation that captures Deep Purple during their formative Mk I and early Mk II years. Recorded for BBC radio broadcasts, these sessions offer an unpolished, immediate, and vibrant glimpse of the band before studio albums polished their sound.
This release is essential for collectors, historians, and hardcore fans, as it preserves performances that are historically significant and musically thrilling, demonstrating Deep Purple’s evolution from psychedelic pop to hard rock pioneers.
🎧 Mini Album Review
BBC Sessions 1968–1970 is a raw, intimate, and exciting portrait of a band finding its voice.
Key highlights:
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Mk I Psychedelia: Tracks like Hush and Help! reveal the band’s early experimental tendencies and radio-friendly leanings.
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Transition to Mk II: Early performances of Mandrake Root and Speed King showcase the development of their signature hard rock sound.
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Energy and spontaneity: The band’s live-in-studio approach allows for improvisation, extended solos, and kinetic chemistry.
Verdict:
A must-listen for fans who want to hear Deep Purple grow, bridging the gap between their debut album and the emergence of the classic Mark II lineup.
🎶 Tracklist – Representative Highlights
While exact tracklists vary depending on edition, key tracks include:
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Hush
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Help!
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Mandrake Root (BBC version)
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Chasing Shadows
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Kentucky Woman
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Black Night (BBC version)
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Speed King (BBC version)
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Child in Time (early live version)
Many tracks feature alternate arrangements, solos, or vocal inflections not present on the original studio albums, making this release particularly appealing to collectors.
📊 Commercial Performance
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Released primarily for archival and collector markets
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Strong reception in Europe, Japan, and among UK collectors
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Did not chart significantly, but widely regarded as a definitive document of Deep Purple’s formative years
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Strengthened Deep Purple’s legacy as a band that was already dynamic and experimental in the studio even before their commercial breakthrough
👥 Personnel (Mk I & Mk II)
Mark I (1968–1969)
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Rod Evans – Vocals
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Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
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Jon Lord – Keyboards
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Nick Simper – Bass
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Ian Paice – Drums
Mark II (1969–1970)
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Ian Gillan – Vocals
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Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
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Jon Lord – Keyboards
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Roger Glover – Bass
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Ian Paice – Drums
This compilation captures both lineups, allowing listeners to hear the band’s stylistic evolution firsthand.
🎼 Performance Highlights
🔥 Hush
An energetic Mk I favorite, showcasing Evans’ vocals and Lord’s swirling organ lines.
🌊 Mandrake Root
Already a platform for improvisation; the BBC version features extended solos and interplay.
🎹 Child in Time
An early live version, with Gillan’s voice still developing its range and power, hinting at the screaming prowess that would define Mk II.
⚡ Speed King & Black Night
Aggressive, tight, and raw, these performances illustrate Deep Purple transitioning to a heavier, harder sound.
🎸 Fun Facts & Trivia
📻 Broadcast-only performances
Most tracks were recorded live at BBC studios for radio shows, such as Top Gear and Saturday Club.
🎤 Vocal experimentation
Ian Gillan’s early performances show experimentation with vocal tone, phrasing, and range, foreshadowing his classic-era voice.
🎹 Jon Lord’s signature organ
Even in these early sessions, Lord’s Hammond organ dominates the texture, setting Deep Purple apart from other late-’60s British rock bands.
📀 Rare material
Several tracks, particularly non-album B-sides and alternate takes, are exclusive to these BBC sessions.
🤔 Did You Know?
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The BBC sessions were often recorded in one take, meaning mistakes or spontaneous improvisations were preserved on tape.
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Mandrake Root served as an improvisational vehicle, sometimes extending well beyond the length of the studio version.
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Ian Paice’s drumming is already remarkably tight and inventive, despite the band’s early developmental stage.
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Some tracks on this compilation had never been commercially released prior to 2011.
🎼 Album Credits
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Recorded: 1968–1970 at BBC Studios, London
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Released: 2011
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Label: EMI / Purple Records
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Producer: Various BBC engineers and Deep Purple archival team
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Format: 2CD set, digital
🧠 Legacy & Final Thoughts
BBC Sessions 1968–1970 is more than just a historical curiosity — it is a living document of Deep Purple’s transformation.
Fans experience:
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Mk I’s psychedelic and pop experimentation
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Mk II’s explosive hard rock emergence
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Early improvisational brilliance that would become a Deep Purple trademark
For collectors and historians, it’s essential listening. For new fans, it’s a raw, unpolished introduction to the origins of one of hard rock’s greatest bands.
This compilation proves that even in their earliest days, Deep Purple were a band destined for legendary status — fiery, inventive, and fearless.
