The opening rift to the 1972 release by Deep Purple is one of the most recognizable guitar licks in the world. Every new guitar player has to add the opening measures of “Smoke on the Water” to their repertoire.
The album that includes “Smoke on the Water” is “Machine Head” and in celebration of the album’s release, Warner Records and Rhine Entertainment are releasing a Super Deluxe edition of the album that will include new mixes and previously unreleased tracks.
Set for a March 29 release, the package will include three CD’s, an LP, and a Blu-ray disc.
Features include a remastered edition of the original album, the 1974 quadraphonic mix, mixes by Dweezil Zappa, and previously unreleased live performances.
One of the live performances is from April 1971 at the Montreux Casino in Switzerland. Deep Purple had originally planned to record “Machine Head” at the Casino but the venue caught fire and burned – the inspiration for “Smoke on the Water”. The album was recorded at the Grand Hotel; including the now iconic rift and song.
Dweezil Zappa wrote in the liner notes about the mixes he recorded using the original tapes saying, “it’s one of those records where I think, ‘How did they come up with this?’ It’s got classical influences in the guitar and the keyboard, but then it’s got the blues and there’s little bits of funkiness. And you have this singer who has the most killer voice. All these things come together in a way where it doesn’t sound like commercial music, yet people got really excited about it. It’s a fascinating recipe.”
“Machine Head: Super Deluxe Edition” track listing:
Dweezil Zappa 2024 Remix:
“Highway Star”
“Maybe I’m a Leo”
“Pictures of Home”
“Never Before”
“Smoke on the Water”
“Lazy”
“Space Truckin’”
“When A Blind Man Cries”
“In Concert ‘72”
“Montreux ‘71”
Blu-ray Audio – Dweezil Zappa mixes
“1974 U.S. Quad Mix”