In 1973, Deep Purple released an album. Ritchie Blackmore later wished they’d never made it
Deep Purple released *Who Do We Think We Are* in 1973, their seventh album in five years, during a period of relentless touring and illness. Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore later described it as one of the band’s worst records, saying exhaustion left him short of ideas; his comments point to the strain that contributed to the album’s disappointing reception.
The article says Deep Purple’s songs were generally credited to the members who played on them, but Blackmore often sought greater creative control and saw himself as the band’s leader. In a 2017 interview, he recalled being expected to record three times a year to meet the record company’s contract, even when the band were not touring. He felt responsible for the album’s lack of ideas, although the article also notes that songwriting was not solely his responsibility.
In short
- Deep Purple released the album in 1973 after an exhausting run.
- Blackmore said he had few ideas and called it one of their worst records.
- The band were touring, getting ill and recording to meet a contract.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The album can be seen as a worthwhile record of Deep Purple at a pressured but creatively significant moment, and its shortcomings need not erase the value of the songs or the contribution of the other members. With songwriting shared across the band, judging it chiefly by Blackmore’s later regret risks giving one member’s view too much weight.
The case against
Blackmore’s criticism has force because the band were releasing albums at an intense pace while touring and dealing with illness, conditions that could leave little room for ideas to develop. If the musicians themselves felt exhausted and the record fell short of their standards, it is reasonable to regard it as a disappointing result of contractual pressure rather than a fully realised album.