Gillan’s vocal range
Here are seven excerpts of Gillan singing that illustrate his vocal range:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JX9SqSzKN_4
- an A2 from Poor Jerusalem
- a G2
- D2 from No More Cane on the Brazos
- the infamous scream with F#5 from Strange Kind of Woman, Made in Japan
- another scream from Made in Japan with a G#5
- A5 and G5 from Child in Time (studio version)
- F#5, G5 and two B5’s, from Fighting Man
I’m pretty much musically illiterate, so forgive me if I got my flats and sharps wrong.
D2 to B5 puts his range at 3 and 3/4 octaves. While this is very impressive, Wikipedia claims his range to extend from E2 to “G above soprano high C, or C6” (that’d be G6, right?) and I’ve seen other unsubstantiated claims that his range at the peak of his ability extended to 5 octaves.
Which brings us to the question: anybody can suggest other samples where he went higher or lower than in this clip?
Thanks to George Kikonishvili for spotting the clip.
Hello
August 28th, 2007 at 09:36Well, in fact, Ian Gillan himself says that he could reach a C (that is, one half-tone above the highest note in Fighting Man) in his youth. I haven’t checked, but you might find examples of that in Rat Bat Blue, in Message in a Bottle (Japanese version). I bought a BBC concert (from 79′ and 80′) where he reaches a D above that (so that would be D5, wouldn’t it?). It’s a bit of an accident, but a very beautiful scream nevertheless. When he was about 45, he could still go from low D to high B. In No More Cane on the Brazzos (the live version on video) he goes from low D to top A instantly, which is far from easy. Towards the end of Smoke on the water, he makes his trademark scream in high G, and takes it up a third to reach an A# ! And that’s the end of the concert, mind you! Nowadays, I think he goes from low D to high G. Comments about people singing on five octaves (like Mariah Carey, or even IG) are bullshit. The people who say that should take the time to measure things a bit. Mariah can certainly squeal very high notes, but she can’t sing all the notes in between, and certainly can’t go as low an A2, for instance. The octave span of great singers is the stuff of legends. What we can say is that IG could sing from D2 (although not with full power) to C5 (with full power, but in scream mode!). Glenn Hughes, whose voice is naturally higher used to reach a C or C#, but he would be much, much more limited in the lower octaves. I don’t think he can reach octave 2.
That’s all for now folks!
I think, Child In Time on Concerto (1969) was fantastic. Gillan has never sang in such a high octaves
August 28th, 2007 at 09:37I’m not very fit in notes.
But in my opinion albeit “Fighting Man” – One of the best tracks where Ian shows his higher and lower voice is without question “Place In Line” from “Who Do We Think We Are”. I always wanted this great song live.
He very easy canged between low and high tones there!
Karl-Heinz
August 28th, 2007 at 16:20IAN IS STILL A GREAT SINGER & I WILL ONLY LISTEN TO ANY VERSION OF DEEP PURPLE WHERE HE IS THE SINGER. ON A MORE HISTORICAL NOTE,
August 28th, 2007 at 17:38THERE WAS NO BETTER SINGER IN THE WORLD THAN IAN GILLAN FROM 1970 to 1973.
I hate to be pedantic but any talk of vocal range must be placed into context. To claim a vocal range of 2,3, or even 5 octaves the singer must be able to reach all the notes of every scale in their claimed range. Otherwise it’s like having a piano with half the keys missing. Therefore, being able to reach extremes of high and low notes is broadly speaking irrelevant.
What is in no doubt is that Mr. Gillan has an amazing voice, a voice so pure and powerful it can send a shiver down one’s spine. His technical ability is outstanding. I’ve seen him perform live on many occasions right back to 1972 and each time he was simply amazing. And, don’t forget his writing and lyrical ability. “When A Blind Man Cries” is sheer poetry.
Rock on Ian, you are one of the all time greats of the business.
August 28th, 2007 at 19:28That G2 is from No Worries. It´s great example of his range because in this song he hits F5 just few seconds before this G2 – over three octaves in one songs in few words. 🙂
I think that Gillan´s voice is relatively well studied. Highest notes in total, highest notes in full voice (I think D or E5 in Men Of War) and lowest notes. But I´d like to study in this style voice of Glenn Hughes! I´m absolutely SURE that he is in same league as Gillan (D2 – B5) or Mercury (F2 – D6) too.. I don´t have all GH stuff, so I´m not able to compare all studio or live tracks – highest note we founded was the same as Gillan´s highest note B5 (in Coast To Coast Burning Japan Live), but his reserve is so big, that I´m SURE that he is able to hit C, maybe C# or even D… Problem is with his low singing, I almost can´t find it…. Really LOW singing like this No More Cane or part of Jesus Christ
August 28th, 2007 at 19:34Glenn’s spoken voice is quite high. He can sing as high or even slightly higher, but he probably doesn’t have access to the lower octave in any usable way.
August 29th, 2007 at 08:16I completely agree that Gillan has an impressive range, but the focus on it seems to detract from the rest of his singing ability. Particularly now, when it would make far more sense (IMO) for the live shows to have more material in that shows off his current voice. For all he had a great talent from the start, if you listen to the earlier recordings (I mean early 70s) I find the standard of the delivery, of the shaping of the notes, the line as music and also expression of the words, is just nowhere near the standard he achieves now.
Obviously the “old favourite” songs get this benefit of this as well as the new ones, but even so I reckon that his singing such a high proportion of old material is almost like getting a writer to read always from books he wrote in his early twenties.
August 29th, 2007 at 10:14Hi, Karl-Heinz. It’s really a pity that we don’t have “Place in line” on stage. For me it’s the track n#1 of Deep Purple, followed by “Lazy” and “No, no, no”. Despite of their inumerous classics. I saw Ian at 61th recently and got impressed. What a great singer he is. The magic is the same.
August 29th, 2007 at 11:38CHECK OUT MONEY LENDER FROM CLEAR AIR TURBULANCE WHICH CAME OUT I THINK IN ’79. PRETTY SERIOUS RANGE THERE.
August 29th, 2007 at 13:10LISTEN TO THE SCREAM IN “OVER THE HILL” FROM THE WONDERFUL CLEAR AIR TURBULENCE,(IT SEEMS HE GOES EVEN HIGHER THAN FIGHTING MAN),OR TO BLACK NIGHT( LIVE IN STOCKOLM 70).NOONE IN THE WORLD HAS GONE HIGHER THAN GILLAN!
August 29th, 2007 at 16:21I agree with George – Child In Time on Concerto (1969) – absolutely highest Gillan’s voice. In the second part of the song screams are terrific! DVD-A and SACD versions both great sounding.
August 29th, 2007 at 16:35Ian voice is magic to the ones ears!
It is so clear and then he can get rough and wild:
Ian can do a blues like You led my Heart a stray and then belt out Purple Sky!
I still love the scream he does on Women from Tokyo! She get me HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Also Happy Brithday Ian from last week! 19th Aug! Have a coldie on me!
I went back stage for Heaven and Hell and Ronnie and Tony say hallo!
The trick to getting a high voice according to Micheal Jackson is wearing childrens underwear!
I think Ian said it is tight trousers!
Ian probably says “I wish I had a dollar for scream Ive done!”
When I was in my band Valhalla I used to say “I scream to get rid of the pubic hairs out of my throat!”
August 29th, 2007 at 17:33cheers
PS Listen to the song “Nervous!” What a scream!
PS I forgot the song “You make me feel so Good” from the Jap Album! What a scream!
August 29th, 2007 at 17:34The highest note Ian could hit in his prime can be heard on the cut Strange Kind Of Woman from made In Japan during the guitar/vocal duel. During said duel, both Ritchie and Ian fire rapid four note barrages back and forth at each other–Ian with his voice and Ritchie with his guitar. The top note is a C. Considering that Ian is a baritone, that’s a very high note. His falsetto range was incredible back then.
As for Glen Hughes–a tenor, I believe his top note was a D or D sharp.
August 29th, 2007 at 23:03Ian Gillan is the Voice Of Rock. Nobody Past of present has a voice like him. Over the years it has changed and unfortunately the SCREAM is not where it use to be. But then again Ian is in his 60’s. If you want to hear a high Scream. Listen to the track FREEDOM from the FIREBALL aniversery album. He screams the whole 3rd verse in key and then hits a high note on the word Freedom. Never heard anyone hit note like that in my life. “Take that Celine Dion”.
August 30th, 2007 at 03:39a,b,c,d,e,f ???? Who cares, the man could scream like no other.
He may only be able to manage a ‘croak’ these days, but for an ‘old man’ he still manages to front DP like no other!!
August 30th, 2007 at 08:31Don’t know anything about keys or notes, but I do like the voice of Ian Gillan. Over the last decade I more and more gain an interest in his lower voice. The intro on Loving in Borrowed time from Gillan’s Inn is so beautyful, and there he goes from low to high as well.
I must admit that you can hear the cracks in his voice as he is getting older, but nevertheless he’s achieving things that younger people can’t.
What about putting Ian and Glenn on one stage for a couple of songs?
I do love the voice of Glenn Hughes too, but Ian Gillan is my favourite.
(Time to look for the Jesus Christ Superstar album again… it’s been a while since I played that… 😉 )
August 30th, 2007 at 10:26GILLAN VOICE WAS PERFECT UNTIL 79,FANTASTIC UNTIL 1991,AND REALLY GREAT UNTIL NOW.ONE THING IS SURE, THE GREATNESS OF IAN IS NOT ONLY IN HIS SCREAMS.HE IS THE GREATEST SINGER OF THE STORY,(WHITOUT HIM THERE WOULD NOT BE THE METAL SINGER)AND COVERDALE HAS THE GREATES VOICE.
August 30th, 2007 at 11:42I FOROT TO MENTION THE SCREAMS AT THE END OF DEMON’EYE.
August 31st, 2007 at 12:36Men Of War
You Muthers!!
August 31st, 2007 at 13:51Bullshit! No one in the purple family can hit the high notes like Glenn…and he can go incredible low as well…I know after attended several Glenn Hughes gigs!! Ian is still great….but sadly not, as he once used to be!!!
September 1st, 2007 at 04:03My HERO Ian Gillan wasted his extraordinairy voice with drinking and smoking.
September 1st, 2007 at 12:06What a shame………
But at least he enjoyed himself and still made his historical mark with his work when he was young………
That’s more than most of us can say.
Arnaud
September 1st, 2007 at 13:58what is the concert and the song in which gillan reach the nore D above?
STEFAN have you heard Glen singing Burn in 2007? if not, see this video and you’ll guess how awfull it is.
when he must scream: BUUUUUUUUUUURNNNNN he sings in too low notes, he can’t scream BUUUUURN aat all.
September 1st, 2007 at 19:45go youtube and search Deep Purple Burn 2007, see the first video
September 1st, 2007 at 19:51When Gillan sings “really high he sings in falsetto. He dosent´have a very high “mainvoice” compared to Glenn H. who sings with his “mainvoice”
September 1st, 2007 at 21:00really high ( used to anyway ). Listen to Gillan singing “Heaven and Hell”,not very good. No way he could sing Mk III songs as good as D.C or G.H.
He couldn´t hit the nigh not in “Child in time”even on the -93 tour. It was done with harmonizer. These guys are getting old 😉
Well George,anyone can have an off-day including Glenn!That said you´re quite right! When he performed “Burn” at the Copenhagen gig last november he simply blew us away in a kick ass.groovin´ funky version of that song!!
September 1st, 2007 at 22:24Glenn rules!!!!!
September 2nd, 2007 at 11:09Can anyone explain to me how come he misused himself so long with drugs and still have that voice while others(…)clearly have damaged voices now……
Gillan rules
If Glen ruled ever, he would had sang Child In Time, but but but but he never did it, ’cause he couldn’t. And Gillan could 🙂
September 2nd, 2007 at 19:37Dear George! You´re clearly a musical ignorant! The reason Glenn never or ever will sing “Child in time” is very simple…..the song is too emotionally connected to Ian Gillan! It´s a matter of respect and recognition towards Ian!
Could he do the job?………You bet your lilly white ass he could!!!! You just have to accept the facts George….Gillan just isn´t the vocalist he once were! Why?….You´re guess is just as good as mine…….but in my opinion……old age,hard living…etc,etc…!!!!
September 2nd, 2007 at 23:49Roberto, the concert is an import from Japan called “Gillan at the BBC”. There are two songs with such screams, but I’m only sure of Smoke on the water on disc one (towards the end). I’d also say Mr. Universe, but it’s only a wild guess… These are tracks from 79/80, and I’m sure they were released under another title in Europe (was it “the gillan tapes”?). My japanese import was released in 97, so I didn’t buy the european versions. His voice goes off during a “normal” scream, and he reaches those very clear notes.
September 3rd, 2007 at 14:51I hope it helps !
Gillan’s scream is as significant to DP as was RB guitar playing. Sadly the latter left to live on an island somewhere. The former still fronts, performs, and contributes to one of the best rock bands ever.
We have managed to live without RB’s guitar, but as history shows us, Deep Purple aint Deep Purple without Gillan.
September 3rd, 2007 at 16:30Not the right place to ask, I know, but didn’t IG sing Pictured Within in Aus on the Concerto tour?
September 3rd, 2007 at 17:19Has anyone heard this?
Where is it available?
USER: Child In Time – you are right, that’s right, oh my god, today i was thinking and at last, I thought that Deep Purple sound without RB is DP sound, great DP, but DP without Ian Gillan isn’t Deep Purple.
Ritchie Blackmore’s fans listen even to first 3 albums of DP (with Rod evans) Burn, Stormbringer, Slaves And masters – these’re the most unsuccesfull albums of DP, as these albums aren’t real DP sound, ’cause Ian Gillan isn’t there. 🙂
September 3rd, 2007 at 19:11PERFECT STRANGER:
maybe this song is awailable on the CD of concerto 2000
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I PLAYED A SUPER GUITAR LICK 4 ALICE IN E WHEN HE WALKED OUT THE DOOR I ALLWAYS ENJOY FREE COFFEEE THERE & PLAY 4 FUN TO EVERYONE & WATCH THE WHEELS OF TRAFFIC LIKE JOHN LENNON SAYS – THEY SAY JOHN CAME IN THE GREEN IN 1974 OPENED UP HIS GREY SUIT TO SHOW RAINBOW FANCY INSIDE LINING FANCY SUIT & MADE EVERYONE SING WALRUS & MAGICAL MYSTERY ONE DAY A GUY TOLD ME THAT WAS THE GREATEST EVER WISH ED WE ALL COULDA BEEN THERE – ANYWAY ALICE IN 1988 WALKED UP TO THE GREEN I WAS SUPER HAPPIEST EVER HE LIKED MY ACOUSTIC GUITAR LICK AT THE SUPERMARKET AND HE LAFFED LIKE A MAD SCIENTIST THEN ALICE WALKED UP MILL HILL RD TO THE GREEN STOOD ON THE CORNER BY THE CLOUDS STORE NOBODY KNEW IT WAS ALICE & ON THE GREEN SOME GIRLS WAS TALKING & A GIRL IN A GILLIAN GILLAN VOICE EXCLAIMED – WHO ASKED YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!! – ALICE ACROSS THE STREET ON THE CORNER DAYDREAMING AT THE SKY MADE A SONG OUT OF THAT WITH A MUSIC THEORY ROCK N ROLL MELODY FROM MY GUITAR LICK HE HEARD AT THE SUPERMARKET & ALICE LOKKED AT THE SKY & STARTED SINGIN WHOOOOOOOO ASKED YOUUUUUUUUUUU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 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HE WAS HAPPY AND MARVELOUS & JLT SAID HE WAS SUPER HAPPY TO BE BACK WITH RITCHIE RITCHIE IS SUPER PERFECT MUSICALLY MARVLOUS & I WAS AMAZED JLT SAID THEY WAS LOOKING 4 MUSICAL IDEAS AND I HAD A CASSETTE I ACTUALLY RECORDED IT SINGING IN THE CAR DRIVING OVER THERE ALL MY SONGS & SPACETRUCKIN WITH ONLY MY VOICE IN A HAND HELD CASSETTE RADIO WALKMAN CAUSE LIKE I ONLY HEARD LIKE THE DAY BEFORE ON THE RADIO PURPLE WAS GONNA BE THERE SO ANYWAY YALL YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT SOUND SOUNDS GOOD TO ANY OF THESE GUYS LIKE MANY TIMES I EXPERENCED THAT WHEN YOU MAKE YOURSELF A FANCY STUDIO TAPE SPEND LOTS OF MONEY MIX THE INSTRUMENT EVERYTHING THE SOUND DONT QUITE COME THROUGH OF THE SONG TO TURN ON BIG RECORD COMPANY PRODUCER GUYS OR ROCKSTARS BUT OFTEN MANY TIMES EVEN A SIMPLE CASSETTE RECORDING LIKE JUST SINGING IN THE WALKMAN OR PLAYIN ACOUSTIC IN A WALKMAN OR JUST IN 2 MICS IN A GOOD RECORDER GETS THE SONG GROOVY HAPPENING LIKE EVEN MANY TIMES PAUL MCCARTNEY & KIETH RICHARDS & GUYS GOT STORIES OF FAMOUS SONGS LIKE THAT LIKE SOMEHOW THE SONG & THE SOUNDS & THE WORDS GOTTA GROOVE ON THE TAPE & TURN ON LITTLE KIDS & BIRDS & EVEYBODY SOMEHOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SO I GOT HAPPY JLT LIKE MY TAPE I THINK IT INSPIRED SOME NOTES THAT GOT ON THE ALBUM SO IM HAPPY TO HELP MAKE THE GLORY OF THE PURPLE SO EVERYONE ENJOY THE SLAVES MASTERS ALBUM ANYWAY AUPER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PURPLE & MOLLY HATCHET & DJS & US HAD A PERTY AT A CLUB & A LOCAL BAND PLAYED ON NEON COLOR IBANEZ STRATS & RITCHIE LIKED EM & WAS SUPER HAPPY & THEY PLAYED SOME TESLA SONGS & I TOLD RITCHIE I MET TESLA IN WOODSTOCK AND PLAYED WITH EM & RITCHIE SAID TESLA WAS GOOD SO THAT MADE ME FEEL SUPER HAPP CAUSE LIKE IF YOU EVER GET FRIENDS & PLAY & EVEN MAKE SONGS & ALBUMS IN BEARSVILLE OR ANYTHING AT ALL YOU KNOW YOU AINT LIKE RITCHIE & BEATLES BUT ITS INCREDIBLE IF YOU MAKE EM HAPPY !!!!!!!!!!!!! I GUESS THEY KNOW ALL THAT & TRY TO TEACH YA HOW TO BE A SUPER MUSICIAN ALL THEY CAN & BE THEIR PRODIGYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE LIBERACES PRODIGY I THINK IS DINO ON BAPTIST TV SO ITS GREAT TO KEEP THE SUPER SHOW & GET BETTER HOPEFULLY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 DANNY JOE BROWN SINGER OF MOLLY HATCHET & THEM WAS THERE I THINK THEY WAS FEELIN THE SAME GROOVY FEELINGS LIKE HES LIKE A SOUTHERN BOY KID NEXT TO RITCHIE I THOUGHT BUT IT WAS GREAT TO BE WITH HIM & THEM TOO & NOW I REALLY REALIZE THAT WAS PRECOIUS MOMENTS CAUSE WE GOTTA ALLWAYS PRAY FOR DANNY JOE BROWN IN HEAVEN NOW HOPE HES GROOVIEST HAPPY THATS LIKE WHAT ITS ALL ABOU &ALLWAYS SAVE ALL BEING & MAKE GOOD KARMA LIKE TIBET MONKS SAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IT WAS AWESOME TO STAND NEXT TO RITCHIE HE WAS GROOVIN LIKE DANCING WITH THE MUSIC OF THE LIVE BAND PLAYIN & THEY GOTTA ALL THOUGHT WOW WERE PLAYIN 4 RITCHIE WE BETTER BE PERFECT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I WAS SURPRISED HE ENJOYED NEON BEUTIFUL IBANEZ STATS I LIKE REAL STATS BEST BUT I LOVE SUPER PSYCHEDLIC COLORS MAYBE RITCHIE WAS EXPERENCING THAT I THINK EVERYONE WAS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SLOWLY IT GOT EMPTY & DANNY JOE BROWN & ME WAS TALKING TO EACH OTHER WONDERIN WHERE RITCHIE WENT THEN LATER ME & A FEW ORLANDO KIDS WAS GONNA GO TO A PARTY AT THEIR HOUSE WE GOT LOST IN 3 CARS LASTLY ME & AGUYTALKED TWEEN OUR CARS SAYING WOW THAT WAS THE GREATEST WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THEN I HAD TO GET THE CAR HOME BEFO SUNRISE SO MY DAD COULD DRIVE TO KENNEDY SPACE CENTER KSC TO TRACK SPACE SHUTLLES & SATELITES ON THE HUGE DISH ANTENNA YOU CAN SEE OUR DISH ANTENNA ON STAR TREK ITH KIRK & SPOCK WHERE THE GUY & THE KITTEN CLIMB UP PAD39B !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IN A MAGAZINE PURPLE SAID THEY LIKED THE ORLANDO STUDIO CAUSE IT STILL HAD GREAT 16 TRACK TAPE RECORDERS LIKE GOOOD LOE DAYS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PURPLE SAID WOW YOU COULD EVEN HEAR THE HISS ON THE TAPE THERE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROGER ROLL GLOVER SAID PERFECT STRANGER WAS RECORDED IN THE REAL FAMOUS SOUND OF MUSIC GIRL MARIA VONTRAPPS HOUSE UP NORTH & YOU WOULDNT BELIEVE THE SIZE OF THE TINY ROOM BUT IT HAD GREAT ATMOSPHERE FOR THE PERFECT STRANGER!!!!!!!! ANYWAY YALL KEEP SINGING&PLAYIN YER GUITARS 7STUFF & WE ALL GOTTA BE SUPER EXCELLENT BETTER PRODIGYS HEY WHO ELSE IS GONNA KNOW HOW TO DO IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IF YALL COME TO FLORIDA ENJOY ALL THE ROCKET LAUNCHES & TELL ALL POLITICIANS TO FUND SUPPORT NASA !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! NASA ALLWAYS GOT LESS THAN 1 % OF THE BUDGET & POOR PEOPLE ALLWAYS GET LIKE 30% SO ALLWAYS GET THE POLITICIANS TO SUPPORT NASA & WE GOTTA GET THE WHOLE STAR TREK HAPPENIN & LIKE IT GIVES YA THESE GREAT COMPUTERS TECHNOLOGY INTERNET STUFF NOW LIKE WE NEVER HAD IN 1969 YKNOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! EVERYBODY CMON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CMON !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! TO PAD39BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LETS GO SPACE TRUCKIN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CMON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LIKE SIR JETHRO SAY = ELLY I DONE FILLED UP THIS HERE ATLAS ROCKET FROM NASA WITH GRANNYS MOONSHINE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!! IM GOIN TO THE MOON & BE KISSIN MOON MAIDENS & SNACKIN ON GREEN CHEESE !!!!!!!!!!!!! ELLY LITE THE FUSE I IS GOIN TO THE MOON !!!!!!!!!! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE = HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
September 4th, 2007 at 12:34George, You are a FOOL. The first 3 DP albums are wonderful albums full of gems.
They laid down the fundation of the sound. You can already hear that.
Let’s celebrate the induction in the hall of fame of Rod Evans.
Those first albums have Blackmore, Lord and Paice, THE CORE of the band, lots of great songs, a lot of organ(During Morse era mostly mixed down during live shows!!!), craftful lyrics, wonderful atmosphere, vocals really ful of feeling, …….
Songs like And the Adress, April , Mandrake Root, Wring that neck, The painter, Bird has flown, Hush(…), Chasing shadows, Blind, and so on……….compared to lots of drivel on albums like Abandon and Rapture, come on!!!!
Mindyou, apart from the discussion of Morse vs RB, DP mark 1 vs Mark8(or whatever they are by now) I like albums like Pupendicular and Bananas on their own, but it’s not worthy of the name DP.
September 4th, 2007 at 15:09Living in the past again Priest………….
Its the hear and now……………….Gillan, Morse, Pace, Glover, Airey………the band is DP, and they live upto that name.
Blackmore, Lord, Simper, Evans, Coverdale, Bolin, Hughes, JLT………………..are no more. Consigned to the history books.
Ghosts have been layed to rest……….try and do the same
September 4th, 2007 at 16:25Thanks George its not there with IG singing.
September 4th, 2007 at 16:56Hey!Deep Purple are wonderful in many of its incarnations and great in the rest.But here we have to find the highest gillan’s scream and not discuss about the best mk! so look for it!
September 4th, 2007 at 18:55The high vocal harmony in ‘Disturbing the Priest’ is disturbingly high too. Never checked to see what notes they are.
September 5th, 2007 at 04:29Say, Rascal……… please do not give me NON arguments.
Living in the past because I praise certain people who achieved their fame years ago?
What about J.S. Bach, the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix and The Doors, etc? Are they irrelevant to you because they do not play anymore?
Then you’re a FOOL too.
Talking about “fools”……. What’s the intention of this “silvercreatur dude”? Are we supposed to read all that?
September 5th, 2007 at 15:36And then saying I’m strange………….
purplepriest1965
You are FOOL, NOT me.
Did you understand what I say? The first 3 albums of DP are genious, really great, Rod Evans has quite good voice, I love it BUT. BUT it’s not reall DP sound, this isn’t sound of HARD ROCK MONSTER DEEP PURPLE. first 3 albums are mixture between rock and classic music. BUT their songs amd Rod’s voice was howere alike Beatles, so, that was old fashionable. That was reason, the third album (called Deep Purple) sold quite bad.
Rod Evans’s voice and early DP’s sound wasn’t interesting anymore for people.
And then, suddenly appeared Ian Gillan who wrote songs like Speed King, Child In Time, In To The Fire, and it was like groundbreaking for the world music. Actually, this was the brend new genre of music, Toooooooo much energetic, fresh. Gillan screaming geniously. I’m sure more of us has even for one time listened Child In Time in live, when Gillan screams, anyone is like their souls are screamind and tearing.
That’s great, That’s real Deep Purple.
remember albums when gillan was not in group: first 3 albums, Stormbringer, CTTB, SAM. they are good albums in their way, but they’re the worst albums of DP.
now remember DP’s albums when Ritchie wasn’t in gruop, but Gillan was: Purpendicular, Bananas, Rapture of The Deep. Even song “Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye” from Rapture is greater, than Whole album “Slaves And Masters”.
Take attention that SAM was Ritchies favourite album, they have done after Strangers 1984.
TAKE ATTENTION: All DP Classics (Exept hush and Burn) are written by Gillan: Speed King, Child In Time, In To The Fire, FIreball, Highway Star, Pictures Of Home, Lazy, Perfect Strangers, Knocking At Your Back Door, Woman From Tokyo, Black Night, Strange Kind Of Woman, Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, Anya, The Battle rages On. AND, AND, AND, AND of course: Smoke On The Water.
Isn’t this enough? 🙂
September 5th, 2007 at 17:56It’s very difficult to compare IG and GH. I have utmost respect for both of them. Currently, i think GH is a better singer simply because he preserved his voice more than IG. But back in the 70s, I think Gillan was simply unbeatable. To me, he had a perfect rock voice, a very diverse voice. A very unique scream that many singers have tried to execute, but didn’t even get close.
What has always impressed me about GH is his ability to hit high notes. I really do believe that he could top Gillan in that area. Just listen to Mistreated (California Jam version) when he does his last scream. That is ridiculously high. It wasn’t only high, but crystal clear as well. He could hit high notes with ease, whereas Gillan would always get veins popping out of his neck 🙂 Another thing I like about GH’s voice is his tone. Whatta sweet voice he has, don’t you agree??
Anyhow, I love them both equally and I am glad that they both left their mark with Deep Purple, the greatest hard rock band ever.
September 6th, 2007 at 07:54hey Priest, those bands arent irrelevant, and neither is Blackmore.
I just disagree with your ‘foolish’ comment that morse era albums dont deserve the DP name. DP is the sum of many musicans. Narrow minded, blinkered idiots believed Blackmore was the ‘be all and end all’.
If think its simply a case that ‘die hard’ Blackmore fans cant come to terms with the musical path RB has taken in the last 10 years. You all feel ‘let down’, maybe even betrayed.
So ‘harp on’ all you like about wonderful Blackmore. In terms of todays rock music he doesnt exist, he is from yester-year, from another era.
I know, I know, without Blackmore their probably wouldnt be rock music as we know it today. But then again their probably wouldnt be a Blackmore without Hendrix etc
September 6th, 2007 at 08:00Do not speak for me.
September 6th, 2007 at 22:04If I would feel betrayed that is by Gillan, Glover, Paice and Lord because they chose they go on with an UNSUITABLE banjoplayer……..
Yeah, RB took a hike and I m bored with BN but I do not feel betrayed by HIM, but I feel sad indeed………..
What a loss………
Get over it!!
NO matter who they chose as a guitarist the ‘die hard’ RB fans would take it as sacrilege.
‘Speaking for you’…………….i dont think so, im just sick of the Blackmore hero worship crap.
September 7th, 2007 at 07:43Examples of Ian Gillan’s highest screams:
September 7th, 2007 at 17:18fighting man
demon’eye(at the end)
over the hill
black night (live 70 stockohlm)
strange kind of woman(made in japan)
Smoke on the water/Mr.Universe(bbc 79/89)
Rat Bat Blue
Message in a Bottle (Japanese version)
bloodsucker (bbc version ’70).
But what is really the highest?
How about “Hard Lovin Man”? That song shows his abilities.
September 8th, 2007 at 05:13In reference to Purplepriest 1965’s comments, I believe we can agree with it, and personally I believe Mr. Gillan screamed his “Screams” away for good during the tour with Black Sabbath prior to Purple’s ’84 reunion. So much for impression?
September 8th, 2007 at 06:14My comments about agreeing with Purplepriest’s comments is centred on the drinking and smoking part only, that which has supposedly affected his voice, rather screams.
September 8th, 2007 at 06:20Wait, there’s a bbc version of bloodsucker ? Gottagetit !
September 8th, 2007 at 07:40The solution must be for Glenn Hughes to rejoin Purple and sing together with Gillan. Did n’t they do this once before at the Butterfly Ball?
September 8th, 2007 at 19:42I have a bootleg and there are some rarities,including for example bloodsucker and hard lovin’ man,and others even from mkI.I think these are recorded live in studio for radio shows.
ohters excellent screams:you make me feel so good(cherkazoo),and ghetsemani(j.Christ superstar),poor boy hero(scarabus),halleluiah.
September 9th, 2007 at 09:39I agree,i think whit Black Sabbath,particulary on live shows, he was wonderful,he blew away ozzy and Dio in one second.He sung screaming(just listen to war pigs from gillan tapes,the Black Sabbath 83′ bootleg)
Ray Rascal…..if you don’t speak for me…Why do you call me names? It’s so small…………
September 9th, 2007 at 23:19If the ‘hat fits’
Small……….but perfectly formed
September 10th, 2007 at 08:00What, so calling people ‘fools’ is acceptable ‘Priest’?? If you cant take it dont dish it out!! ‘Sticks and Stones’!!
September 10th, 2007 at 14:46Rating the first 3 DP albums as unworthy is without any doubt foolish.
September 11th, 2007 at 13:00But I can follow your reasoning and knew you were going to react like that………
That’s why………..”the Lunatic Asylum”.
Maybe a nice title for a song, a forum, an album?
Dont be presumptuous Priest………………………………..I may have reacted totally differently…………….Hee Hee
Its all opinions at the end of the day, and who really cares, I dont!!
September 11th, 2007 at 14:58You slipped man……. I guess THAT is your problem.
hehehe
I was supposed to say that……….
Yep, we don’t have a life…….
Well, not at the moment…….
It might surface any day now.
Goodnight.
September 11th, 2007 at 22:11The screamest gillan’s albums:toolbox and kneborth.
September 13th, 2007 at 20:26I love both,the give me pure energy!
very interesting, but I don’t agree with you
December 15th, 2007 at 16:25Idetrorce
Ian Gillan’s vocal range covers 4 octaves – IT IS OFFICIALLY CONFIRMED NOW!
here’s the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyEbe9deHvM
March 23rd, 2009 at 10:20There is an excerpt from the 1974 California Jam features Coverdale and Hughes on vocals. In the song mistreated Glenn Hughes reaches an Eb6 which i think is outstanding he reaches it with ease. I have never heard him hit another note anywhere in that reach.
February 2nd, 2011 at 01:54ian gillan was absolutely one of the greatest singers of all time when he was younger. he can not reach those highest notes anymore because of his age. he is still very good singer though.
January 2nd, 2012 at 13:32listen to ‘Drive me wild” -3rd take – from ‘Cherkazoo and other stories”
October 28th, 2013 at 18:17There’s no contest between IG and GH. two different styles. Range? its what you do to people with it that counts. I have almost four octaves myself and a wild falsetto but what can i do on stage with it? Gillans stage presence and sex appeal were phenomenal. Sexiest man I’ve ever layed eyes on. No one else can scream and swing their hair quite like he could. Gillan sang in pretty harsh conditions in early times, trying to be heard above that voluminous wall of sound that DP was, without the tech they used years later. All that screaming takes it’s toll. He ended up with nodules at one point. He does fairly well for his age and has developed into further reaches of his voice outside what he does in DP. GH is a bit younger and has a different style/technique, but nothing in his voice ‘grabs’ me, personally. Regardless of the current condition or range of IG’s voice, people who are fans just want to be in his presence. There’s just something about him. He blew us away and we’re still recovering. I hope he’s singing like a fallen angel at my passing 😀
June 21st, 2015 at 14:46Gillan was good in the day but, as demonstrated in this latest video, alas no more. It’s grandad on the karaoke!
October 27th, 2015 at 19:53Ian Gillan in his prime 6 octaves easily the greatest rock singer ever (undisputed) for those who wish to talk about GH what can I say, an OK singer but just ok, he really only does that high pitched squealling thing over and over and over and over again, not a great range and never in Gillans league (even Gillan on a bad day would be a million times better than GH on his best day) Gillan has an essence to his voice and has substance in spades. When he sings a story it’s believerble, that’s his greatest asset.
September 21st, 2018 at 12:30Unfortunately Gillan has more bad days the last couple of decades. Once the best singer, now a pale shadow of the past. He should sing more songs of the Morse era and drop most of the mII songs. But he prefers songs co-written by Blackmore. Songs that matter.
September 21st, 2018 at 22:23Gillan wishes his voices was in Glenn’s shape.
In his prime he was untouchable.. Crazy amazing range.. Still gives me goose bumbs…
April 28th, 2019 at 22:40If it hasn’t been mentioned……the end section of a Purple song called “Freedom”……….
April 28th, 2019 at 23:29