Deep Purple - A Fire in the Sky (Compilation Album) (2017)
Deep Purple – A Fire in the Sky (Compilation) (2017)
A curated anthology of Deep Purple’s fiery live and studio moments
Released in 2017, A Fire in the Sky is a compilation album that showcases Deep Purple’s most energetic and iconic tracks, spanning multiple lineups and eras. The collection is designed to highlight the band’s hard-hitting rock anthems, progressive epics, and memorable live performances, making it a concise overview for both collectors and new fans.
The compilation mixes classic hits, live staples, and deeper cuts, capturing the raw intensity and musicianship that made Deep Purple one of the defining rock bands of all time.
🎧 Mini Album Review
A Fire in the Sky is fiery, concise, and celebratory, featuring:
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Classic Mk II tracks: Smoke on the Water, Highway Star, Child in Time, showcasing the band at their peak.
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Mk IV-era highlights: You Keep on Moving and Love Child, demonstrating their funk and soul experimentation.
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Modern Steve Morse-era inclusions: Rapture of the Deep and Time for Bedlam, illustrating the band’s ongoing creative vitality.
Verdict:
A dynamic and representative anthology, ideal for fans who want a single collection spanning Deep Purple’s most explosive moments.
🎶 Tracklist – Representative Highlights
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Highway Star
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Smoke on the Water
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Child in Time
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You Keep on Moving
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Rapture of the Deep
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Love Child
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Time for Bedlam
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Perfect Strangers
The selection captures a cross-section of Deep Purple’s five-decade career, blending classic riffs, modern innovation, and live energy.
👥 Personnel Across the Compilation
Because the compilation spans decades, multiple lineups are represented:
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Mk I (1968–1969): Rod Evans, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Nick Simper, Ian Paice
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Mk II (1969–1973): Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, Ian Paice
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Mk III (1973–1975): David Coverdale, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Glenn Hughes, Ian Paice
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Mk IV (1975–1976): David Coverdale, Tommy Bolin, Jon Lord, Glenn Hughes, Ian Paice
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Steve Morse era (1994–present): Ian Gillan, Steve Morse, Don Airey, Roger Glover, Ian Paice
This compilation celebrates Deep Purple’s evolution, highlighting contributions from all key lineups.
🎼 Performance Highlights
🔥 Highway Star
A quintessential hard rock opener, featuring tight riffs, blistering solos, and Gillan’s soaring vocals.
🌊 You Keep on Moving
Highlights Mk IV’s soulful vocal harmonies and Tommy Bolin’s fusion-inspired guitar improvisation.
🎹 Time for Bedlam
Demonstrates the modern-era band’s tight musicianship and contemporary energy, combining powerful riffs with melodic complexity.
⚡ Child in Time
Showcases the band’s dramatic dynamics, improvisation, and virtuosity, making it a highlight of any compilation.
🎸 Fun Facts & Trivia
🎤 Cross-era compilation
A Fire in the Sky spans Mk I through Steve Morse-era tracks, providing a complete overview of Deep Purple’s stylistic evolution.
🎹 Inclusion of modern material
Unlike traditional “greatest hits” compilations, this album incorporates tracks from the 2000s and 2010s, reflecting the band’s ongoing creative output.
📀 Collector’s appeal
The album is ideal for new fans seeking a career-spanning introduction or collectors wanting a concise, high-energy anthology.
🎸 Live energy preserved
Several tracks retain their live intensity, giving listeners the feeling of being at a concert.
🤔 Did You Know?
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The compilation’s title, A Fire in the Sky, symbolizes Deep Purple’s high-voltage energy and enduring presence in rock history.
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Ian Paice is featured on every track, reflecting his status as the band’s constant anchor.
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Tracks from Mk IV and the Steve Morse era demonstrate that Deep Purple has never been afraid to evolve, even decades after their peak.
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The album offers a rare chance to hear songs from multiple eras together in one listening experience.
🎼 Album Credits
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Released: 2017
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Label: earMUSIC / Edel Records
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Producer: Deep Purple archival team
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Format: CD, digital
🧠 Legacy & Final Thoughts
A Fire in the Sky is a celebration of Deep Purple’s enduring rock power, combining:
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Classic hard rock energy from Mk II
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Soulful experimentation from Mk IV
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Modern innovations from the Steve Morse era
For fans, it serves as both a career-spanning introduction and a fiery collection of the band’s most intense moments, reaffirming Deep Purple’s legacy as one of rock’s most enduring and influential acts.
