Now What?! is the 19th studio album by English rock band Deep Purple. It was released on 26 April 2013[2] and produced by Bob Ezrin. A dedicated official web site was also created by the band to post updates about the album. It was the band's first studio album in over seven years as Deep Purple's previous studio album, Rapture of the Deep, was released in late 2005.

Now What?!
Studio album by
Released26 April 2013
Recorded2012
StudioThe Tracking Room, Anarchy Studios and Rainbow Recorders, Nashville, Tennessee, US
Genre
Length57:06
LabelearMUSIC
ProducerBob Ezrin
Deep Purple chronology
Rapture of the Deep
(2005)
Now What?!
(2013)
Infinite
(2017)
Singles from Now What?!
  1. "All the Time in the World"
    Released: 29 March 2013
  2. "Hell to Pay"
    Released: 1 April 2013[1]
  3. "Vincent Price"
    Released: 7 June 2013
  4. "Above and Beyond"
    Released: 24 October 2013
  5. "Out of Hand"
    Released: 18 April 2015

On 26 February 2013, the album's title was announced.[3] Additionally a new single featuring "Hell to Pay" and "All the Time in the World" was released in both CD and vinyl formats on 29 March 2013.[4] On 6 May 2013 the band confirmed that a new single "Vincent Price" would be released on 7 June as download, CD single and 7" transparent vinyl. The single would also include the previously unreleased song "First Sign of Madness", two tracks from the now unavailable Rapture of the Deep limited edition and the track's video-clip.[5]

The songs "Uncommon Man" and "Above and Beyond", which includes the lyrics "Souls having touched are forever entwined", are dedicated to founding member Jon Lord who died in July 2012. "Uncommon Man" is partly inspired by the classical composition "Fanfare for the Common Man", and features a synthesizer-generated fanfare theme composed by Don Airey.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [6]
BW&BK8/10[7]
Daily Express4/5[8]
Metal Hammer (GER)6/7[9]
Record Collector     [10]
Sputnikmusic     [11]
The Quietus(favourable)[12]
Ultimate Guitar Archive8.3/10[13]

Following its release, Now What?! was met with mostly positive reception from critics. AllMusic's Steve Leggett commented that the album sounded like a product of progressive metal's golden age, saying "Some things really shouldn't change, and Deep Purple recognize that. They haven't changed a bit and the group's many fans are going to find this release comforting in that regard".[6] Sputnikmusic reviewer wrote that "fans of Purpendicular and the group’s last two albums will find several pleasing moments and the band should feel proud of the outcome too."[11]

The album appeared at No. 104 on Sputnikmusic's list of the "Best Progressive Rock Albums of 2013."[14]

Now What?! sold 4,000 copies in its first week in the US.[15] Six months after its release, Now What?! was certified gold in Germany (100 000 copies sold).[16] It was the first Deep Purple studio album to enter both the Billboard 200 and the top 40 of the UK Albums Chart since The Battle Rages On... in 1993.

Track listing

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All tracks are written by Don Airey, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Steve Morse, Ian Paice and Bob Ezrin, except "It'll Be Me" by Jack Clement

Standard edition
No.TitleLength
1."A Simple Song"4:39
2."Weirdistan"4:14
3."Out of Hand"6:09
4."Hell to Pay"5:10
5."Body Line"4:26
6."Above and Beyond"5:30
7."Blood from a Stone"5:18
8."Uncommon Man"7:02
9."Après vous"5:24
10."All the Time in the World"4:21
11."Vincent Price"4:46
Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."It'll Be Me"3:02
Deluxe Edition bonus DVD/Bonus Audio Content
No.TitleLength
1."In Conversation (20 minutes)"22:35
2."All the Time in the World (alternative radio mix)"3:48
3."Perfect Strangers (live)"6:42
4."Rapture of the Deep (live)"5:17
Gold Edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."It'll Be Me"3:02
13."First Sign of Madness"4:26
Gold Edition Deluxe - Disc 1 bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."It'll Be Me"3:02
13."First Sign of Madness"4:26
14."Hell to Pay" (instrumental)5:11
15."Après Vous" (instrumental)5:23
Japanese Standard Edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."Highway Star" (live from the Hard Rock Cafe, London, UK, October 2005)8:09
13."Perfect Strangers" (live from the Hard Rock Cafe, London, UK, October 2005)6:41
14."All the Time in the World" (Alternative Radio Mix)3:48
Japanese Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
12."It'll Be Me"3:02
13."Smoke on the Water" (live from the Hard Rock Cafe, London, UK, October 2005)6:50
14."Wrong Man" (live from the Hard Rock Cafe, London, UK, October 2005)4:29
15."Hell to Pay" (Radio Edit)3:42

The Now What?! Live Tapes

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This is Disc 2 of the November 2013 "Gold Edition Deluxe" double CD.

No.TitleRecorded atLength
1."Strange Kind of Woman"Rock in Roma, Ippodromo delle Capannelle, Rome, Italy, 22 July 20136:06
2."Hard Lovin' Man"Skovdalen, Aalborg, Denmark, 8 August 20136:24
3."Vincent Price"Skovdalen, Aalborg, Denmark, 8 August 20134:29
4."Contact Lost"Skovdalen, Aalborg, Denmark, 8 August 20133:38
5."All the Time in the World"Dieci Giorni Suonati, Ippodromo del Galoppo, Milan, Italy, 21 July 20134:56
6."No One Came"Getaway Rock Festival, Gasklockorna, Gaevle, Sweden, 10 August 20135:21
7."Bodyline"Rock in Roma, Ippodromo delle Capannelle, Rome, Italy, 22 July 20134:22
8."Perfect Strangers"Getaway Rock Festival, Gasklockorna, Gaevle, Sweden, 10 August 20136:53
9."Above and Beyond"Dieci Giorni Suonati, Ippodromo del Galoppo, Milan, Italy, 21 July 20135:29
10."Lazy"Getaway Rock Festival, Gasklockorna, Gaevle, Sweden, 10 August 20138:22
11."Black Night"Rock in Roma, Ippodromo delle Capannelle, Rome, Italy, 22 July 20139:03
12."Smoke on the Water"Rock in Roma, Ippodromo delle Capannelle, Rome, Italy, 22 July 20137:18

Personnel

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Deep Purple
Additional musicians
  • Jason Roller – acoustic guitar ("All the Time in the World")
  • Eric Darken – percussion ("Bodyline", "All The Time in the World")
  • Mike Johnson – steel guitar ("All The Time in the World", "Vincent Price")
  • David Hamilton – additional keyboards ("Uncommon Man", "Weirdistan", "Above And Beyond")
  • Students of Nimbus School of Recording Arts – gang vocals ("Hell to Pay")
  • Bob Ezrin – additional backing vocals & percussion
Production
  • Bob Ezrin – producer, mixing
  • Justin Cortelyou – engineer, mixing
  • Li Xiao Le – assistant engineer
  • Zach Allan, Jarad Clement – additional engineers (The Tracking Room),
  • Rob Harris, Mike Airey & Nathan Sage – additional engineers (Rainbow Recorders)
  • Greg Calbi – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Germany (BVMI)[44] Gold 100,000^
Russia (NFPF)[45] Gold 25,000[45]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Accolades

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Publication Country Accolade Year Rank
Revolver United States "Golden Gods Awards 2014" 2014 Comeback of the Year: Deep Purple[46]

References

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  1. ^ "DEEP PURPLE - HELL TO PAY". Dutchcharts.nl.
  2. ^ "DEEP PURPLE: New Album Release Date Confirmed, Dedicated Web Site Launched". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 12 December 2012.
  3. ^ "Deep Purple: New Album Title Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  4. ^ "Deep Purple to Release NOW What?! Album in April; Double A-Side Single Due March 29th". Bravewords.com. Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles. 26 February 2013. Retrieved 26 February 2013.
  5. ^ "Deep Purple Now What?! - News: Deep Purple Reveal The New Single "Vincent Price" While The Album Now What ?! Enters The German Charts At #1". Deeppurple-nowwhat.com. 6 May 2013. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
  6. ^ a b Leggett, Steve. "Now What?! – Deep Purple". AllMusic. Retrieved 30 April 2013.
  7. ^ Popoff, Martin (8 May 2013). "Deep Purple – Now What?!". BW&BK. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  8. ^ Unwin, Stephen (26 April 2013). "CD Review: Deep Purple - Now What?!". Express.co.uk. Daily Express. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  9. ^ Thießies, Frank (7 May 2013). "Deep Purple - Now What?!". Metal Hammer (in German). Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  10. ^ McIver, Joel (January 2014). "Deep Purple - Now What?!: Golden Deluxe Edition". Record Collector. No. 423. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  11. ^ a b "Deep Purple - Now What?!". Sputnikmusic. 30 April 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  12. ^ Middles, Mick (4 June 2013). "reviews: Deep Purple - Now What?!". The Quietus. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Now What?! review by Deep Purple". Ultimate Guitar Archive. 26 April 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  14. ^ "Best Progressive Rock Albums of 2013". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  15. ^ "Deep Purple: 'Now What?!' First-Week Sales Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 8 May 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  16. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Deep Purple; 'NOW What?!')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  17. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Deep Purple – Now What?!" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  18. ^ "Ultratop.be – Deep Purple – Now What?!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  19. ^ "Ultratop.be – Deep Purple – Now What?!" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  20. ^ "Danishcharts.dk – Deep Purple – Now What?!". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  21. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Deep Purple – Now What?!" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  22. ^ "Deep Purple: Now What?!" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  23. ^ "Lescharts.com – Deep Purple – Now What?!". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  24. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Deep Purple – Now What?!" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  25. ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2013. 18. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  26. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Deep Purple". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  27. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Deep Purple – Now What?!". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  28. ^ ディープ・パープルのアルバム売り上げランキング (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 16 July 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Deep Purple – Now What?!". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  30. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  31. ^ "Deep Purple: More 'Now What?!' First-Week Chart Positions Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 7 May 2013. Retrieved 24 February 2017.
  32. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  33. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Deep Purple – Now What?!". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  34. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Deep Purple – Now What?!". Hung Medien. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  35. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Deep Purple – Now What?!". Hung Medien. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  36. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  37. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  38. ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  39. ^ "Deep Purple Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  40. ^ "Deep Purple Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
  41. ^ "Rapports Annuels 2013". Ultratop. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  42. ^ "Top 100 Album-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  43. ^ "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2013". hitparade.ch. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  44. ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (Deep Purple; 'Now What?!')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  45. ^ a b "Deep Purple's Now What?! goes gold status in Russia". 26 September 2021.
  46. ^ Kaufman, Spencer (24 April 2014). "2014 Revolver Golden Gods Winners". Loudwire. Retrieved 23 February 2017.