Deep Purple » Tracks » Speed King

Deep Purple – Speed King (7:34)

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About This Track

Speed King is a song by British hard rock band Deep Purple from their 1970 album In Rock. The song is one of the loudest from the album, and featured some of the band’s greatest amount of improvisation in a song, on both the original version and later live versions across the years. It was released as the B-side of the single “Black Night”

The song was the first song to be written by vocalist Ian Gillan, who wrote the lyrics by writing down a mix of lines from Elvis Presley, Little Richard, and Chuck Berry songs in the order that they came to mind. Possibly because of this, the song was never played without him. However, during the years that he has been in the band, it has been one of the band’s staple live performances.

The song opens with a guitar solo by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore featuring large usage of the whammy bar. He is soon joined by bassist Roger Glover, organist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice. The four of them jam together for a minute, before the guitar, bass and drums leave the song, and Lord plays an organ solo. On the original U.S. edition of In Rock, the intro was cut out. The version on the compilation Deepest Purple starts with the organ intro. The organ solo lasts a few seconds, before the more recognizable section of the song begins, with Gillan’s vocals coming into the song. After the second verse, a keyboard-guitar battle is played between Blackmore and Lord. This is followed by a guitar solo by Blackmore, mainly consisting of one lick played several times in different keys.
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  • Melodicrocker62

    fantastic....................................

    last month

  • scott0329

    Great live version. Does anyone know from when/where?

    last month

  • Archers67

    Ritchie Blackmore..without doubt the greatest guitarist of all time.

    March 2012

  • barispol

    its quite funny version of the this song i realy liked it...

    March 2012

  • Marjo47

    do I hear { alle menschen werden brüther?intro}, its a good one!

    March 2012

  • michaelj57

    Great live version

    February 2012

  • Rockinfreddy

    Diese Zweikämpfe!Genial...

    January 2012

  • NeilW3

    This goes well with my picture. DUCATI 916 SPS. It's a speed machine!

    December 2011

  • lacalisto

    tolle Version...

    December 2011

  • ElectricEra

    The song remains me the Highway... Need to go even faster!

    December 2011

  • speedking1956

    super geile Aufnahme!!!!!!!!!!

    November 2011

  • sovamilitari

    вечная музыка!!!!!

    October 2011

  • michouz

    is this rock?

    September 2011

  • Tecumseh666

    masterpiece:))

    September 2011

  • rigelthe16th

    lol right! :D

    September 2011

  • ferraristipit

    SuperTittenAffenGeile VERSION :-)

    September 2011

  • slotto

    A classic

    August 2011

  • PinkFloydrulez

    when i listen to this album I feel like my room should have wood paneling walls and reek of cigarettes and pot. playing from a turntable, of course. i want to get high and listen to this and just not give a fuck about anything

    August 2011

  • guitarmeeuw

    Oi Oi Oi!! ~~

    August 2011

  • aerdnaben

    lange nicht mehr gehört. super!!!!!

    August 2011
See all 267 shouts

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