Songs
Speed King
Ted the Mechanic
Long Time Gone

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"Now comes that magic time when the songs are ready, but they still belong to us for a little while longer. Come next year they will be public property (in a sense) and will carve out a life of their own, good or bad, with all of you."

- Roger Glover
  Second Purpendicular Studio Report
  2nd October 1995

(The full report)

That quote from Roger gave me the idea for this new, hopefully ongoing, series of articles looking at various Deep Purple songs, which, over the years, it can definitely be said have developed a life of their own.

I've kicked things off with a look at two songs, both of which were in the live show before they were released on album, and both of which would act as show openers - Speed King and Vavoom: Ted the Mechanic, and contrasted this with a newer song which has only been performed once or twice.

Over the next few months, you can expect several additions of both older and newer material, and one day I may even get around to doing Smoke on the Water. In the mean time, mail your suggestions in to me, and I'll see what I can do.

Doug MacBeath.