Deep Purple have announced a 20th anniversary expanded reissue and remix of Rapture of the Deep, arriving August 29th on vinyl, CD, and digitally.
The release features an expanded 12-song tracklist as well as a bonus disc of five previously unreleased studio jams and rehearsals, including an instrumental track titled “Closing Note” that was recorded by guitarist Steve Morse during the album sessions. The reissue also touts a new mix overseen by bassist Roger Glover, analog mastering at Chameleon Studios in Hamburg, and updated sleeve artwork.
“It’s a new album now to me,” said Glover in a press release, in which Rapture of the Deep is described as an “overlooked” LP in Deep Purple’s discography.
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The band’s lineup on the 2005 album saw Glover and Morse alongside frontman Ian Gillan, founding drummer Ian Paice, and keyboardist Don Airey. As Glover reflected, the LP came during a peculiar time for Deep Purple and classic rock in general, with the bassist admitting that the British legends were “going through a bit of a hard time when we started the songwriting and production of Rapture of the Deep.”
“Strangely enough, we didn’t have a record company at that point,” he continued. “Let’s face it, we were a bit lost (…).”
The LP sleeve features additional liner notes and insights from rock scribe Geoff Barton that further color-in this era of the band, which would go on to release four consecutive No. 1 albums in its wake (2013, 2017, 2020, 2024).
Pre-order the reissue of Rapture of the Deep via earMUSIC. Below you can stream the remix of album track “Junkyard Blues” and see the artwork and expanded tracklist.
Rapture in the Deep Remix Artwork:
Rapture in the Deep Remix Tracklist:
01. Money Talks
02. Things I Never Said *
03. Rapture of the Deep
04. Clearly Quite Absurd
05. MTV *
06. Back to Back
07. Wrong Man
08. Girls Like That
09. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye
10. Don’t Let Go
11. Junkyard Blues
12. Before Time Again
Bonus LP/CD Tracklist (2005 Studio Jams and Rehearsals):
01. MTV
02. Money Talks
03. Back to Back
04. Before Time Began
05. Closing Note**
*= Not on original studio album
** = Unreleased instrumental track by Steve Morse
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