Perfect Strangers (album)

Perfect Strangers
Studio album by Deep Purple
Released 29 October 1984
Recorded August 1984 at "Horizons" in Stowe, Vermont, US
Genre Hard rock, heavy metal
Length 39:28 (Original LP)
44:13 (Original CD)
54:15 (1999 CD re-issue)
Label Polydor (UK)
Mercury Records (US)
Producer Roger Glover & Deep Purple
Deep Purple chronology
Come Taste the Band
(1975)		 Perfect Strangers
(1984)		 The House of Blue Light
(1987)

Perfect Strangers is the eleventh studio album by Deep Purple, released in October 1984. It represents the first (as well as the most successful and popular) album recorded by the reformed 'Mark II' line-up.[1]

It was the first Deep Purple studio album in nine years, and the first with the Mk II line-up in eleven years, the last being Who Do We Think We Are in 1973. Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover arrived from Rainbow, Ian Gillan from Black Sabbath, Jon Lord from Whitesnake, and Ian Paice from Gary Moore's backing band.

The CD and cassette versions of the album contained the extra track "Not Responsible" (one of few Deep Purple songs with profane lyrics, as the word "fucking" can be heard in the song). The album was remastered and reissued on 22 June 1999 with the bonus instrumental track "Son of Alerik". The latter had previously been available as a B-side on "Perfect Strangers" in 1984.

The tour was so successful that the band had to add many additional dates to the US arena tour, as tickets sold out very quickly. Their US tour in 1985 out-grossed every artist that year except Bruce Springsteen.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Rolling Stone[4]
Sputnik Music[5]

Deborah Frost of Rolling Stone gave it a review of two out of five stars, remarking that "the material consists of hastily knocked-off jams". The review also stated that "Blackmore's Strat has such a great roar that you're willing to just let it reverberate in your eardrums for a bit. And it's nice to hear Jon Lord's synthesized organ squalls, Ian Paice's electrifying drumming, Ian Gillan's howls and whispers and Roger Glover's solid bass lines once again."[6]

Track listing

All songs by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan and Roger Glover except where noted. "Not Responsible" was originally cassette and CD only, not on vinyl LP. "Son of Alerik" was not on original cassette, vinyl or CD release; used as an edited 7" B-side, or full version on the 12" of the "Perfect Strangers" single.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Knocking at Your Back Door"  7:09
2."Under the Gun"  4:40
3."Nobody's Home" (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Jon Lord, Ian Paice)4:01
4."Mean Streak"  4:26
Side two
No.TitleLength
5."Perfect Strangers"  5:31
6."A Gypsy's Kiss"  5:14
7."Wasted Sunsets"  3:58
8."Hungry Daze"  5:01

Personnel

Production notes

Charts

Album
Year Nation Chart Position
1984 Switzerland 1
Germany Media Control Charts[7] 2
Norway Norwegian Record Charts[8] 2
Sweden 3
UK Official Charts Company[9] 5
Austria 5
New Zealand 12
Netherlands 16
Finland 39
1985 United States The Billboard 200[10] 17
Singles
Year Single Nation Chart Position
1984 "Perfect Strangers" United States Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks[11] 12
1985 UK Top 75 Singles 48
"Nobody's Home" United States Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 20
"Knocking at Your Back Door" United States Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 7
United States Billboard Hot 100 61
UK Top 75 Singles 65

Sales accomplishments

Region Certification Certified units/Sales
Argentina (CAPIF)[12] Gold 30,000*
Canada (Music Canada)[13] Platinum 100,000^
Germany (BVMI)[14] Gold 250,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[15] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[16] Platinum 1,000,000^

^shipments figures based on certification alone

Accolades

Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Kerrang! United Kingdom "End of Year Lists – Top Album of 1984"[17] 1984 7

References

  1. ↑ Review by Allmusic
  2. ↑ Jon Lord Interview at www.thehighwaystar.com
  3. ↑ Allmusic review
  4. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  5. ↑ http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/31989/Deep-Purple-Perfect-Strangers/
  6. ↑ Albumn Review. Rolling Stone. Originally written 28 February 1985.
  7. ↑ "Media Control Charts – Perfect Strangers".
  8. ↑ "VG-lista album info: Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers". Retrieved 12 September 2009.
  9. ↑ "Official Charts – Deep Purple chart positions".
  10. ↑ "Billboard album chart history-Deep Purple". Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  11. ↑ "Billboard singles chart history-Deep Purple". Retrieved 21 February 2009.
  12. ↑ "Argentinian album certifications – Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers.
  13. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers". Music Canada.
  14. ↑ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Deep Purple; 'Perfect Strangers')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
  15. ↑ "British album certifications – Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers". British Phonographic Industry. Enter Perfect Strangers in the field Keywords. Select Title in the field Search by. Select album in the field By Format. Select Gold in the field By Award. Click Search
  16. ↑ "American album certifications – Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
  17. ↑ "Kerrang – End of Year Lists – Top Album of 1984". Kerrang. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
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