Bananas (album)


Bananas is the 17th studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on 9 September 2003 via EMI Records and on 7 October 2003 via Sanctuary Records in the US. It is the first album to feature Don Airey on organ and keyboards, replacing founding member Jon Lord.

Overview

This is the first Deep Purple album to feature Don Airey on the keyboards, replacing founding member Jon Lord. The album was recorded in Los Angeles during January and February 2003. It is also notable as being the first Ian Gillan-fronted Deep Purple album to make use of backing vocals other than Gillan's own with the song "Haunted" featuring Beth Hart. The album includes "Contact Lost", a short slow instrumental requiem for the Space Shuttle Columbia astronauts, written by guitarist Steve Morse when he heard the news of the crash.
Bananas charted well, despite lack of media exposure, especially in Europe and South America.

Unreleased tracks

Since the Abandon album, Deep Purple performed three new songs onstage. "Long Time Gone" was debuted in the summer of 2000 but not included on Bananas. Another new song, "Up The Wall" was played on the 2002 UK tour, and reworked into "I Got Your Number". The instrumental "Well Dressed Guitar" remained unreleased until the next album, 2005's Rapture of the Deep.

Track listing

Personnel

;Deep Purple
;Additional musicians
;Production

Certifications