Perfect Strangers (album)


Perfect Strangers is the eleventh studio album by the British rock band Deep Purple, released in October 1984. It was the most successful album recorded by the reformed 'Mark II' line-up.
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. Just one song in the reformed Deep Purple’s new repertoire, "Nobody’s Home", would be credited to all five band members. Gillan and Glover, attempted to return matters to the all-for-one credits of the band’s earliest recordings, but Blackmore held firm. It was not until Blackmore left the group in 1993 that the issue was finally resolved.
The CD and cassette versions of the album contained the extra track "Not Responsible". 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 the single "Perfect Strangers" in 1984.
The album was a commercial success, reaching #5 in the UK charts and #12 on the Billboard 200 in the US. Perfect Strangers was only the second Deep Purple studio album to be certified platinum in the United States, following 1972's Machine Head. The tour was so successful that the band had to book many additional dates to the U.S. arena tour, as tickets sold out very quickly. Their U.S. tour in 1985 out-grossed every artist that year except Bruce Springsteen.

Reception

The album received mixed reviews. Deborah Frost of Rolling Stone in a contemporary review remarked that, with the exception of the two singles, "The material consists of hastily knocked-off jams" and wondered if the release was just made "to cash in on the current heavy-metal craze." But she also stated, "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 unsynthesized organ squalls, Ian Paice's electrifying drumming, Ian Gillan's howls and whispers and Roger Glover's solid bass lines once again," although, "Instead of Glover, an outside producer might have forced the band to tighten up its licks and arrangements."
Canadian journalist Martin Popoff praised this comeback album which "only nods to the '70s" and concentrates "on songcraft rather than technical display," placing Deep Purple as "a reference point of a genre in metal without categorization."
"A great moment in time," suggested Glover, "but, as an album, it doesn't quite hang together."

Track listing

All songs by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan and Roger Glover except where noted.
"Son of Alerik" had appeared in an edited form on the 7" B-side of the "Perfect Strangers" single, or in full on the 12" "Perfect Strangers" single and the European version of the compilation .

Personnel

;Deep Purple
;Production
;Album
YearChartPosition
1984Swiss Albums Top 1001
1984German Albums Chart2
1984Norwegian Albums Chart1
1984Swedish Albums Chart1
1984Japanese Albums Chart4
1984UK Albums Chart5
1984French Albums Chart5
1984Austrian Top 40 Albums5
1984Italian Albums Chart9
1984New Zealand Albums Chart12
1984Dutch MegaCharts16
1984Finnish Albums Chart39
1985The Billboard 200 12
1985RPM100 22

;Singles
YearSingleChartPosition
1984"Perfect Strangers"Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 12
1984"Perfect Strangers"French Singles Chart45
1985"Perfect Strangers"UK Singles Chart48
1985"Nobody's Home"Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 20
1985"Knocking at Your Back Door"Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks 7
1985"Knocking at Your Back Door"Billboard Hot 100 61
1985"Knocking at Your Back Door"UK Singles Chart65

Certifications

Accolades