This was a protest song against the United States' war in Vietnam, with lyrics written by lead singer Ian Gillan, and features a keyboard/guitar solo by Jon Lord/Ritchie Blackmore respectively. It appeared on the "Smoke On The Water" EP in 1977, along with "Woman from Tokyo", and got to No. 21 in the UK singles chart on May 7th of that year.
The 1970 album on which this appears, "Deep Purple in Rock", was released by the 'Mark II' version of the group, which was Ian Gillan (vocals), Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Roger Glover (Bass), Jon Lord (keyboards), and Ian Paice (drums). The song was played in its entirety during the 'Deep Purple Mark II' reunion tour "Come Hell or Highwater" in 1993. Ritchie Blackmore quit that tour after the European portion.
Ian Gillan himself said, in an interview in 2002: "There are two sides to that song - the musical side, and the lyrical side. On the musical side, there used to be this song 'Bombay Calling' by a band called 'It's A Beautiful Day'. It was fresh and original, and Jon was playing it one day on his keyboard. It sounded good, and we thought we'd play around with it, change it a bit and do something new keeping that as a base. But then, I had never heard the original 'Bombay Calling'.
"So, we created this song using the Cold War as the theme, and wrote the lines 'Sweet child in time, you'll see the line'. That's how the lyrical side came in. Then, Jon had the keyboard parts ready, and Ritchie had the guitar parts ready. The song basically reflected the mood of the moment, and that's why it became so popular." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_in_Time
For reasons I've never fathomed Lee, I didn't quite get around to lovin' the Purps in my skooldays. Floyd, Wishbone Ash, Tull, Crimson, took up all my time. Fortunately due to an outbreak of extreme common sense (and old age) I've rectified that sin. Great track and vid... :-)
@21schizoid I didn't either; they seemed to take themselves too seriously or something. They were never proper "cool". I always pegged them as a poor-man's Zep. I wish I could figure out what it is about DP that turns me off. Having said that, I know this track intimately, having heard it a zillion times, usually on a C90 compact cassette in a compilation recorded by an be-acned, bum-fluff-chinned compadre at an empty to set the ambiance for discussing the merits of 2nd hand 250CC bikes... ;)
...better add that "an empty" is the terms of an unofficial, not-permitted teen party at a house that has been handily vacated by the owners/ grown-ups/ adults/ billpayers/ parents...
@daved Blimey Dave, I thought it was just me...I mean that had a C90 cassette! My skool peers that like Sabbath (who I also didn't do) did the Purps. Adidas bags were awash with vinyl from both, so it's not as if the 'hints' weren't there. Anyway I can now listen to both selectively...some of it's a bit severe for older ears. Oh and at least I knew what an empty meant... :-D
14 Comments (since 8 Apr 2014)
leejohnson
This was a protest song against the United States' war in Vietnam, with lyrics written by lead singer Ian Gillan, and features a keyboard/guitar solo by Jon Lord/Ritchie Blackmore respectively. It appeared on the "Smoke On The Water" EP in 1977, along with "Woman from Tokyo", and got to No. 21 in the UK singles chart on May 7th of that year.
leejohnson
The 1970 album on which this appears, "Deep Purple in Rock", was released by the 'Mark II' version of the group, which was Ian Gillan (vocals), Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Roger Glover (Bass), Jon Lord (keyboards), and Ian Paice (drums). The song was played in its entirety during the 'Deep Purple Mark II' reunion tour "Come Hell or Highwater" in 1993. Ritchie Blackmore quit that tour after the European portion.
leejohnson
Ian Gillan himself said, in an interview in 2002: "There are two sides to that song - the musical side, and the lyrical side. On the musical side, there used to be this song 'Bombay Calling' by a band called 'It's A Beautiful Day'. It was fresh and original, and Jon was playing it one day on his keyboard. It sounded good, and we thought we'd play around with it, change it a bit and do something new keeping that as a base. But then, I had never heard the original 'Bombay Calling'.
leejohnson
"So, we created this song using the Cold War as the theme, and wrote the lines 'Sweet child in time, you'll see the line'. That's how the lyrical side came in. Then, Jon had the keyboard parts ready, and Ritchie had the guitar parts ready. The song basically reflected the mood of the moment, and that's why it became so popular." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_in_Time
florencevibert
That drums!
farood
this is brilliant!
nangeanarendra
thanks for liking my jam
ada23
my favorite deep purple song!
lynn200
had a few DP albums around that time...great video. seems everyone was against that war except the people who had all to gain/again/again.
21schizoid
For reasons I've never fathomed Lee, I didn't quite get around to lovin' the Purps in my skooldays. Floyd, Wishbone Ash, Tull, Crimson, took up all my time. Fortunately due to an outbreak of extreme common sense (and old age) I've rectified that sin. Great track and vid... :-)
daved
@21schizoid I didn't either; they seemed to take themselves too seriously or something. They were never proper "cool". I always pegged them as a poor-man's Zep. I wish I could figure out what it is about DP that turns me off. Having said that, I know this track intimately, having heard it a zillion times, usually on a C90 compact cassette in a compilation recorded by an be-acned, bum-fluff-chinned compadre at an empty to set the ambiance for discussing the merits of 2nd hand 250CC bikes... ;)
daved
...better add that "an empty" is the terms of an unofficial, not-permitted teen party at a house that has been handily vacated by the owners/ grown-ups/ adults/ billpayers/ parents...
21schizoid
@daved Blimey Dave, I thought it was just me...I mean that had a C90 cassette! My skool peers that like Sabbath (who I also didn't do) did the Purps. Adidas bags were awash with vinyl from both, so it's not as if the 'hints' weren't there. Anyway I can now listen to both selectively...some of it's a bit severe for older ears. Oh and at least I knew what an empty meant... :-D
earendil02
@ada23 Mine too!! I jammed it twice at least! ;)