Mandrake Root
Encyclopedia
"Mandrake Root" is a song by Deep Purple
that is featured on their debut album Shades of Deep Purple
. The title is in reference to the hallucinogenic mandrake plant
, but is also the name of a pre-Purple band that Blackmore was trying to form in Germany when he got the call from Deep Purple's original management.
Deep Purple recorded their first studio album in May 1968. Of the eight songs that were included, (an additional one, "Shadows", was cut as a demo but scrapped from the album), only four of them were written by the band itself. Additionally, one of these songs, "And the Address", is an instrumental. The studio version of "Mandrake Root" is just under six minutes long. Many full recordings of the live arrangement exceed the twenty minute mark.
"Mandrake Root" was performed and recorded at the same time as their first instrumental - "And the Address" - and was actually intended to be an instrumental at first. The song is primarily intended for solos, and the lyrics weren't added until after rehearsals took place before the album-recording of Shades of Deep Purple
in May, 1968. It was recorded on Sunday, May 12. The song features many sound effects, which were picked from the BBC Library.
The song has rather controversial writing history. Though it is officially credited to Rod Evans, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore, according to Jerry Bloom's authorized biography of Ritchie Blackmore it was written by a guy called Bill Parkinson and named "Lost Soul". The song was conceived as a drum solo for Carlo Little
(Rolling Stones' original drummer), who like Blackmore had played with The Savages
, the backing band for Screaming Lord Sutch
. Simper said Blackmore learned the melody "note for note" from Little. Bill Parkinson was lead guitarist with the Savages Jul-Sep 1966, while Blackmore had played with Sutch May-Oct 1962, Feb-May 1965 and Dec 1966-Apr 1967, so their paths had clearly crossed. As this song, along with "Hush," pushed the fledgeling band sky high, it wasn't surprising that word about it got back to Parkinson. Not happy with regard "to what he saw as the rip-off" of "Lost Soul," Parkinson turned up on Simper's doorstep to complain. He threatened court action to Simper, who at that time already left Deep Purple but agreed with some reluctance to testify for him. "But," Simper said, "...I never saw Bill again. Apparently they paid him off with about £600."
Next to "Hush" and "Wring That Neck," "Mandrake Root" is one of the more lasting songs by the band from the Mark I era.
The song has a slow, groovy rhythm, and is arguably the closest the band has come to funk until late 1973, and the introduction of Glenn Hughes who had affection for the genre. The main guitar riff in the vocal section of the song bears a resemblance to the Jimi Hendrix
track "Foxy Lady
."
The song would become an early concert staple for the band, with the keyboard and guitar solos extended at times for up to 15 minutes. One of the few Mk I era songs to continue being played by Mk II and sung by Ian Gillan
, a similar instrumental would be paired in later years with the extended live versions of "Space Truckin'
." In the version of "Space Truckin'" recorded for the 1972 live
Made In Japan
album, riffs from "Mandrake Root" can be plainly heard during the instrumental parts.
It is notably one of the few Mk I tracks that was a regular feature of Mk II's early setlist, as it provided a vehicle for lengthy organ and guitar solos from Jon Lord
and Ritchie Blackmore
, respectively. It is also one of two Deep Purple songs that were written by the Mk I lineup, and later re-worked by Ian Gillan
for Mk II. The other one is "Bird Has Flown," originally featured on the album Deep Purple III
from 1969.
Ian Gillan would also perform the Mark I covers of "Kentucky Woman
" and "Hush" on occasional live shows in 1969 and early 1970. Ian Gillan has later proved his tendency to deny performing songs that are written by Deep Purple during the periods the band had another vocalist than himself. "Wring That Neck" was also written before Ian Gillan's time in the band and had been played while he was the vocalist, but because the song is an instrumental, there is no input by Gillan.
For the guitar solo, Blackmore would frequently throw his guitar into the air, play it with his feet, or perform similar crowd pleasing tricks.
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
that is featured on their debut album Shades of Deep Purple
Shades of Deep Purple
Shades of Deep Purple is the debut album by English hard rock band Deep Purple, released in 1968 on Parlophone in the United Kingdom and Tetragrammaton in the United States....
. The title is in reference to the hallucinogenic mandrake plant
Mandrake (plant)
Mandrake is the common name for members of the plant genus Mandragora, particularly the species Mandragora officinarum, belonging to the nightshades family...
, but is also the name of a pre-Purple band that Blackmore was trying to form in Germany when he got the call from Deep Purple's original management.
Deep Purple recorded their first studio album in May 1968. Of the eight songs that were included, (an additional one, "Shadows", was cut as a demo but scrapped from the album), only four of them were written by the band itself. Additionally, one of these songs, "And the Address", is an instrumental. The studio version of "Mandrake Root" is just under six minutes long. Many full recordings of the live arrangement exceed the twenty minute mark.
"Mandrake Root" was performed and recorded at the same time as their first instrumental - "And the Address" - and was actually intended to be an instrumental at first. The song is primarily intended for solos, and the lyrics weren't added until after rehearsals took place before the album-recording of Shades of Deep Purple
Shades of Deep Purple
Shades of Deep Purple is the debut album by English hard rock band Deep Purple, released in 1968 on Parlophone in the United Kingdom and Tetragrammaton in the United States....
in May, 1968. It was recorded on Sunday, May 12. The song features many sound effects, which were picked from the BBC Library.
The song has rather controversial writing history. Though it is officially credited to Rod Evans, Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore, according to Jerry Bloom's authorized biography of Ritchie Blackmore it was written by a guy called Bill Parkinson and named "Lost Soul". The song was conceived as a drum solo for Carlo Little
Carlo Little
Carlo Little was a rock and roll drummer, based in the London nightclub scene in the 1960s. He played in an early version of The Rolling Stones...
(Rolling Stones' original drummer), who like Blackmore had played with The Savages
The Savages (band)
The Savages were perhaps best known for being the backing band for the late Screaming Lord Sutch. The band was formed in 1960 and continues to this day.-Career:...
, the backing band for Screaming Lord Sutch
Screaming Lord Sutch
David Edward Sutch , also known as "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", or simply "Screaming Lord Sutch", was a musician from the United Kingdom...
. Simper said Blackmore learned the melody "note for note" from Little. Bill Parkinson was lead guitarist with the Savages Jul-Sep 1966, while Blackmore had played with Sutch May-Oct 1962, Feb-May 1965 and Dec 1966-Apr 1967, so their paths had clearly crossed. As this song, along with "Hush," pushed the fledgeling band sky high, it wasn't surprising that word about it got back to Parkinson. Not happy with regard "to what he saw as the rip-off" of "Lost Soul," Parkinson turned up on Simper's doorstep to complain. He threatened court action to Simper, who at that time already left Deep Purple but agreed with some reluctance to testify for him. "But," Simper said, "...I never saw Bill again. Apparently they paid him off with about £600."
Next to "Hush" and "Wring That Neck," "Mandrake Root" is one of the more lasting songs by the band from the Mark I era.
The song has a slow, groovy rhythm, and is arguably the closest the band has come to funk until late 1973, and the introduction of Glenn Hughes who had affection for the genre. The main guitar riff in the vocal section of the song bears a resemblance to the Jimi Hendrix
Jimi Hendrix
James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter...
track "Foxy Lady
Foxy Lady
"Foxy Lady" is a song by The Jimi Hendrix Experience from their 1967 album Are You Experienced. It can also be found on a number of Hendrix's greatest hits compilations, including Smash Hits and Experience Hendrix: The Best of Jimi Hendrix...
."
The song would become an early concert staple for the band, with the keyboard and guitar solos extended at times for up to 15 minutes. One of the few Mk I era songs to continue being played by Mk II and sung by Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
, a similar instrumental would be paired in later years with the extended live versions of "Space Truckin'
Space Truckin'
"Space Truckin" is a song by British hard rock band Deep Purple. It is the seventh and final track on the Machine Head album. Its lyrics talk of space travel and it showcases the vocal abilities of singer Ian Gillan and powerful drumming of Ian Paice...
." In the version of "Space Truckin'" recorded for the 1972 live
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
Made In Japan
Made in Japan (album)
Made in Japan is a double live album by English rock band Deep Purple, recorded during their first tour of Japan in August 1972. It was originally released in December 1972, with a U.S...
album, riffs from "Mandrake Root" can be plainly heard during the instrumental parts.
It is notably one of the few Mk I tracks that was a regular feature of Mk II's early setlist, as it provided a vehicle for lengthy organ and guitar solos from Jon Lord
Jon Lord
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
and Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
, respectively. It is also one of two Deep Purple songs that were written by the Mk I lineup, and later re-worked by Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
for Mk II. The other one is "Bird Has Flown," originally featured on the album Deep Purple III
Deep Purple (album)
Deep Purple, also referred to as Deep Purple III, is the third studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released in 1969 on Harvest Records in the UK and on Tetragrammaton in the US...
from 1969.
Ian Gillan would also perform the Mark I covers of "Kentucky Woman
Kentucky Woman
"Kentucky Woman" is a 1967 song written and originally recorded by Neil Diamond. Another well-known version is the 1968 recording by Deep Purple....
" and "Hush" on occasional live shows in 1969 and early 1970. Ian Gillan has later proved his tendency to deny performing songs that are written by Deep Purple during the periods the band had another vocalist than himself. "Wring That Neck" was also written before Ian Gillan's time in the band and had been played while he was the vocalist, but because the song is an instrumental, there is no input by Gillan.
For the guitar solo, Blackmore would frequently throw his guitar into the air, play it with his feet, or perform similar crowd pleasing tricks.