I have absolutely know idea why heavy metal heroes Ian Gillan and Tony Iommi are putting out cds of obscure hard rocking tracks to raise money for a music school in Armenia, but it’s a great cause. Are these guys from Glendale or something?
Anyway, what you’ve got on these two cds is a collection of (as they say in the liner notes) “classics, rarities, unreleased recordings, collaborations, new mixes and forgotten songs” that have the touch of long haired hippies Gillan and Iommi. The song dedicated to the school, “Who Cares” includes Jon Lord on what may have been his last recording. A couple Black Sabbath tunes show up, while Gillan, Iommi, Paice and Roger Glover come together for a heavy “Trashed.” Dr John even saunters in for “Can’t Believe You Wanna Leave Me,” and Deep Purple completists will want to have the previously released studio jam that closes the album. My favorite is the take of “Smoke on the Water” with Ronnie James Dio and the London Symphony Orchestra. How’s THAT for “classic hard rock”?
Armoury Records