Alternate Versions / Unreleased Tracks: 20/ You, Me And A Friend Of Mine 21/ Larry's Theme 22/ Pool Game 23/ The Last Rebel

Out-takes / Studio Chat : 24/ Hollis' Getaway 25/ Pianola Shot 26/ I'm Dying For You 27/ Hanging 28/ The Meal 29/ Up The Hill

In 1970 Deep Purple's manager was approached for some soundtrack music for a Western. Deep Purple's Jon Lord took on the project. He wrote the majority of the material, and collaborated on the remainder with Tony Ashton from Ashton, Gardner & Dyke. They recorded the tracks during September 1970 at De Lane Lea Sound Centre in Dean Street, London, during breaks from Deep Purple's heavy touring schedule. Lord and Ashton shared keyboard duties.

Ashton Gardner & Dyke (who had only finished their second album in July) were used for the rock tracks, and also provided the rock backing on the other numbers, which were augmented with orchestral string work by the 'Royal Liverpool Symphony Orchestra' (made up orchesta!). The album was then mixed and mastered during November. The resulting film, The Last Rebel, was an American Western about a renegade Confederate soldier and seems only to have had U.S. distribution at the time. The lead role was taken by Joe Namath, a famous American footballer. It's also unusual in that the film was edited to fit the music. The soundtrack album was issued in America in 1971 and is now a hard to find item, valued by both soundtrack collectors, as well as Deep Purple and Tony Ashton fans.

The discovery that Jon Lord played on much of the album, wrote (or co-wrote) all the tracks and oversaw the studio recordings makes this an important release. The tracks are a fascinating combination of rock and often memorable and catchy classical ideas, many of which were influenced by Lord's work on the Deep Purple "Concerto" album in 1969. Two tracks were later edited for a single and a couple also appeared on an Ashton Gardner & Dyke collection, but this is the first time the album has been reissued in its entirety. The CD has been digitally mastered from the album master tapes. Approx. thirty minutes of extra material has also been added. This includes previously unreleased tracks; longer versions of some of the album numbers; separate orchestral and group versions of other tracks (which were later edited and combined); alternate takes and studio chat. The 12 page colour booklet contains notes, pictures and the original album artwork.

The CD can be ordered from the dpas online store.

the last rebel, more details + review

purple records catalogue