Stormbringer, Deep Purple

Records has lots of light surface wear on both sides.

Artist: Deep Purple Title: Stormbringer Album Type: Ninth Studio Album (Original Vinyl Release) Original Release Date: November 1974 Label: Purple Records (UK) / Warner Bros. (US) Genre: Hard Rock / Blues Rock / Funk Rock / Soul

Background & Production Stormbringer is the second and final studio album from the legendary Mark III lineup (Coverdale, Hughes, Blackmore, Lord, Paice). Recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, the album saw a significant shift in direction as David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes began infusing the band's hard rock foundation with heavy elements of funk and soul. This transition famously alienated guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who dubbed it "shoeshine music" and eventually left the band shortly after the album's release to form Rainbow. Despite the internal friction, the album was a major success, reaching the Top 10 in the UK and #20 in the US.

Musical Composition & Style The record is a unique hybrid of Blackmore’s neo-classical riffing and the "California Soul" vocal interplay of Coverdale and Hughes.

• The Epic Opener: The title track, "Stormbringer," remains a hard rock masterpiece, featuring a menacing riff and mythology-inspired lyrics.

• The "Soldier of Fortune" Ballad: One of the most famous ballads in rock history, showcasing Coverdale’s soulful baritone and Blackmore’s understated acoustic work.

• Funk Infusion: Tracks like "Love Don't Mean a Thing" and "You Can't Do It Right" highlight the rhythmic, funk-driven influence of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes.

• Sonic Texture: Produced by Deep Purple and Martin Birch, the album has a crisp, punchy 70s production that highlights Ian Paice's intricate drumming.

Original Pressing & Collector Notes Original 1974 pressings are highly valued, specifically for the mastering quality found in early UK and US runs.

• UK Purple Records (1st Press): Look for the Purple Records label (Catalog: TPS 3508). The first press features a textured gatefold sleeve and "A-1U / B-1U" matrix numbers in the dead wax.

• US Warner Bros. (1st Press): Released with the "Burbank/Trees" label (Catalog: PR 2832).

• The "KENDUN" Stamp: Many original US and UK pressings were mastered at Kendun Recorders. Look for the "KENDUN" stamp in the runout; these are widely considered the best-sounding versions due to their superior dynamic range and bass clarity.

• Packaging: The iconic cover art is based on a famous 1927 photograph of a tornado in Minnesota. Original copies feature a high-gloss or textured gatefold depending on the country of origin.

• 35th Anniversary Edition (2009): For audiophiles, the 2009 double-LP set is notable because it includes the original 1974 Quadraphonic Mix (folded down to stereo), which provides a much more experimental, surround-sound feel.

• Keywords: Deep Purple, Stormbringer, 1974 Vinyl, Purple Records, TPS 3508, Ritchie Blackmore, David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Hard Rock, Soldier of Fortune, Kendun Mastering.

• Collection Ideas: 70s Hard Rock Grails, The Mark III Era, Martin Birch Production, Deep Purple Discography.

• Related Artists: Rainbow, Whitesnake, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Trapeze.

MINT - sealed

NM - likely never played - almost perfect

VG+ - light scuffs, light scratches wont effect play

VG -  signs of wear, light scratches you can feel

GOOD -  surface noise, visible groove wear

POOR / FAIR- some damage, causing issues like skipping & distorted audio

OIS - original inner sleeve