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Bananas
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Reviews of Bananas
Amazon UK
Associated Press
Business Standard
Classic Rock Revisited
Moe Cullity
Robert Daems
Electric Basement
Rich Franz
Fabricio Geo
Robert Gloria
Rasmus Heide
Tracy Heyder
Dave Hodgkinson
Paer Holmgren
Benny Holmström
Ted Hurst
Ed 'Janx' Jankauskas
Fredrik Jiglund
Dennis Karlsson
Martin Karski
Mark Dorson King
Stefan Krüger
Christer Lorichs
Don Love
Jeremy Marples
Melodic Rock.com
René Mikkelsen

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Gatefold vinyl Bananas
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2003 promo photo
Jon Lord's Bananas
Does Jon Lord like Bananas?
Charting Bananas
Associated Press
Bananas in Berlin
The pros of Bananas

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Roger Glover's website
Ian Gillan's website
Michael Bradford's website

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Thanks to Bradford

Boy, this new CD is one pleasant surprise. After listening to the 30 second sound clips I had some misgivings. With a very few exceptions (most notable being "House Of Pain") I didn't think I was going to like this album at all!

Then the CD arrived in the mail and I started listening to it and a most amazing thing happened. As each song played, I said to myself, "I really like this song". I ended up saying this for every song - and this on my first listening! I can't remember the last time this happened to me.

Just a few comments before I delve into each song individually... "Bananas" is a perfect title for this CD. It's so off the wall, different, fresh, unexpected, and great - just like the music. Don Airey fits into the band seamlessly! I only hope that his performance will quiet the nay-sayers who continually compare Don to Jon. Don Airey is the keyboard player for Deep Purple and the decision to bring him on board was a very good one, just like the decision to make Steve Morse the new guitar player was some nine years ago. Now on to the songs...

HOUSE OF PAIN
Starting off with a funky, crunchy, Steve Morse rift (accompanied by Paicey on cow bell, no less) then Ian screams, and it's off to the races... Fantastic start for a new Deep Purple album! It's got all the elements... a nice little Steve solo, followed by a nice little Don solo, and towards the end, Ian on harmonica. This song (more than any other on the album) reminds me of Purpendicular/Abandon. Favourite lyric... "My friends all say I'm loosin it big time."

SUN GOES DOWN
Ominous keyboards from Don start this one. Kind of a syncopated feeling to this song. Little Steve solo. Nice work by Don at the end. Favourite lyric(s)... "I never tried to walk the walk 'cos the steps are elusive" ... "you know the line's so long it's almost disney"...

HAUNTED
For the life of me I don't know why some don't like this song, Ian sounds great... There's some wonderful Steve work, and it's just a very nice ballad. Favourite lyric... "All that's left is the ghost of your smile, it stays awhile then fades away"...

RAZZLE DAZZLE
Didn't think I would like this song. (Damn those 30 sec. sound clips!) The band is obviously having fun. Some great honky -tonk piano. Favourite lyric... "I don't have the time of day, I don't know what day it is"...

SILVER TONGUE
Marvelous chunky rhythm work here. Power keyboard chords. nice song. Favourite lyric... "Sometimes I ramble then I'm lucid"...

WALK ON
This is the 2nd of the Gillan/Bradford penned songs (the 1st being "House of Pain") and it's just a joy to listen to. A nice, moving, slow tempo song. Favourite lyric... "Well the heart inside me burns, and the world around me turns"...

PICTURE OF INNOCENCE
This starts kinda funky slow then starts rockin'. It kicks ass. Contains a blistering Steve solo and a real nice Don solo. Favourite lyric(s)..."No drinks, no smokes, no dickin around and no dirty jokes" ... "There goes my mannish boyhood"...

I GOT YOUR NUMBER
Some very tasty Steve power cords here, and a great Steve solo, followed by a great Don solo. "Great" song. Favourite lyric... "Take it girl or leave it, don't be reading out the label on the can"...

NEVER A WORD
Starts out with 30 seconds of nice organ work, followed by some nice acoustic Steve work for another 2 minutes. Then Ian joins with some very pretty harmonies... he sounds great here. The song has a very "medieval-y feel to it. Favourite lyric... "Never a word was said in vain, some were never said again"...

BANANAS
A rocker! Nice harmonica work. Great back-and-forth between Don and Steve. My only question... is Alice the "wonderland" Alice? Favourite lyric... "Don't help me I'll help myself, I'll pull some crackers off the shelf"...

DOING IT TONIGHT
For some reason I picture the band playing this in a open air, small Caribbean venue, with Ian shoeless of course. Great Steve and Don solos. Favourite lyric... "Let me tell you 'bout this cherry, I never got a single bite"...

CONTACT LOST
Too short... then again so were the lifes of the Columbia astronauts. Very moving.

A couple of more things I want to touch on... Roger Glover and Ian Paice, the rhythm backbone of DP, usually don't get enough recognition, I just want to thank them for doing marvellous work here. If I had my fondest (concert) wish it would be to have DP play two sets; One set would be this album in its entirety, and the other would be their "greatest hits". Well, I can dream, can't I?

I especially would like to thank Michael Bradford. You sir, have produced a "sonic love letter" for all us Deep Purple fans and I, for one, will be eternally grateful. Bravo, well done!

Rich Franz

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