Deep Purple - Winning Combinations: Deep Purple and Rainbow (Compilation Album) (2003)
Deep Purple – Winning Combinations: Deep Purple and Rainbow (Compilation, 2003)
Two legendary bands, one powerful package
Released in 2003, Winning Combinations: Deep Purple and Rainbow is a budget compilation that pairs tracks from Deep Purple and Rainbow, highlighting the shared musical legacy of Ritchie Blackmore and the broader hard rock family. The album is designed as a double attraction for classic rock fans, bringing together essential tracks from both bands in one accessible package.
This compilation targets casual listeners and collectors looking for a concise taste of two influential bands, rather than die-hard fans seeking rare or unreleased material. It illustrates the creative link between Deep Purple and Rainbow, showing the evolution of riff-driven rock from the 1970s onward.
🎧 Mini Album Review
The compilation is structured to give equal weight to both bands:
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Deep Purple tracks emphasize classic hard rock anthems, including “Smoke on the Water” and “Highway Star”
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Rainbow tracks highlight Ritchie Blackmore’s post-Purple work, often featuring Ronnie James Dio-era classics such as “Stargazer” and “Since You Been Gone”
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Sound quality is remastered from original recordings, though no rare versions or live tracks are included
The result is a cohesive listening experience for fans interested in the continuity of riff-driven rock across both bands. While not comprehensive, it effectively showcases the hallmark guitar-driven energy that connects the two groups.
Verdict:
A solid compilation for casual listeners interested in classic rock legacies, particularly fans of Blackmore’s guitar work.
🎶 Tracklist – Typical Edition
Deep Purple Side
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Smoke on the Water
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Highway Star
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Black Night
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Child in Time
Rainbow Side
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Since You Been Gone
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Stargazer
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Man on the Silver Mountain
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Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll
This configuration highlights both bands’ iconic moments, balancing Deep Purple’s classic Mk II era with Rainbow’s powerful early albums.
📊 Commercial Performance
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Targeted primarily at budget-conscious buyers and casual fans
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Limited promotional push, mainly in retail and international markets
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Did not chart prominently, but served to maintain catalog visibility for both bands
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Popular in Europe, Japan, and North America among classic rock audiences seeking value compilations
The release was part of a series of “Winning Combinations” compilations issued in the early 2000s, pairing artists with interlinked histories or shared members.
👥 Personnel (Core Tracks)
Deep Purple (Mk II)
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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
Rainbow (Early Lineup)
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Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
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Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
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Craig Gruber – Bass
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Gary Driscoll – Drums
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Micky Lee Soule – Keyboards
Some tracks may feature later Rainbow lineups, particularly tracks from Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll. The focus is on the classic Blackmore-led configurations.
🎸 Fun Facts & Trivia
🎸 Ritchie Blackmore’s connection:
This compilation highlights Blackmore’s influence in both bands, showing how his signature riffs and melodic phrasing defined a generation of rock.
🎤 Dio’s early Rainbow:
Rainbow tracks feature Ronnie James Dio’s powerful vocals, bridging the dramatic hard rock style with Deep Purple’s heavy sound.
📀 Budget compilation philosophy:
Part of a broader “Winning Combinations” series that paired artists with historical or stylistic connections to maximize value for casual buyers.
🎹 Keyboard highlights:
Jon Lord’s Hammond organ contrasts with Rainbow’s often more guitar-focused arrangements, giving listeners a sense of the different textures between the bands.
🤔 Did You Know?
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Rainbow was formed immediately after Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple in 1975, making this compilation a musical bridge between the two eras.
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Many Rainbow tracks included here are from the Dio-era albums (1975–1978), considered some of the band’s most critically acclaimed work.
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This compilation is often confused with other budget Deep Purple collections released in the early 2000s, but it’s unique in its dual-band format.
🧠 Legacy & Final Thoughts
Winning Combinations: Deep Purple and Rainbow is not a collector’s box set or a deep archival release — it’s a gateway compilation that appeals to fans of classic rock and guitar-driven hard rock.
For casual listeners, it introduces two connected bands in a concise package. For fans of Ritchie Blackmore, it demonstrates the continuity of his signature guitar style from Deep Purple to Rainbow.
