Tag Archives: Martin Birch

Deep Purple: In Rock

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In_Rock

On June 3, 1970, “Harvest” label released “Deep Purple in Rock”, the fourth Deep Purple studio album. It was recorded October 1969 – April 1970, at “IBC Studios”, “De Lane Lea Studios” and “Abbey Road Studios” in London, and was produced by Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Ian Paice, Roger Glover and Ian Gillan. In 2005, “Classic Rock” magazine  awarded “In Rock”, with the “Classic Rock and Roll of Honor Award” in the category “Classic Album”.

Personnel:

  • Ian Gillan– lead vocals
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
  • Jon Lord– keyboards, organ
  • Roger Glover– bass
  • Ian Paice– drums, percussion
  • Andy Knight – engineer
  • Martin Birch– engineer
  • Phil McDonald – engineer
  • Peter Mew– remastering
  • Tom Bender, Jason Butera – additional studio work
  • Nesbit, Phipps & Froome – artwork
  • Edwards Coletta Productions – design

Track listing:

All tracks by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

  1. Speed King
  2. Bloodsucker
  3. Child in Time
  4. Flight of the Rat
  5. Into the Fire
  6. Living Wreck
  7. Hard Lovin’ Man

Rainbow: Rising

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Rainbow Rising

On May 17, 1976, “Oyster/Polydor” label released “Rising”, the second Rainbow studio album. It was recorded in February 1976, at “Musicland Studios” in Munich, and was produced by Martin Birch. “Kerrang” magazine voted “Rising” the greatest heavy metal album of all time.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio– vocals
  • Ritchie Blackmore– guitar
  • Tony Carey– keyboards, orchestron
  • Jimmy Bain– bass
  • Cozy Powell– drums
  • Munich Philharmonic Orchestra– strings, horn
  • Fritz Sonnleitner – concert master
  • Rainer Pietsch – conductor
  • Martin Birch – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio.

  1. Tarot Woman
  2. Run With the Wolf
  3. Starstruck
  4. Do You Close Your Eyes
  5. Stargazer
  6. A Light in the Black

Iron Maiden: Fear of the Dark

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Iron_Maiden_-_Fear_Of_The_Dark

On May 11, 1992, “EMI” label released “Fear of the Dark”, the ninth Iron Maiden studio album. It was recorded 1991 – April 1992, at “Barnyard Studios” in Essex, and was produced by Martin Birch and Steve Harris.

Personnel:

  • Bruce Dickinson– vocals
  • Dave Murray– guitar
  • Janick Gers– guitar
  • Steve Harris– bass guitar, mixing
  • Nicko McBrain– drums
  • Michael Kenney – keyboards
  • Martin Birch– engineer, mixing
  • Mick McKenna – engineer assistant
  • Melvyn Grant– sleeve illustration
  • George Chin – photography
  • Phil Anstice – photography

Track listing:

  1. Be Quick or Be Dead – Bruce Dickinson, Janick Gers
  2. From Here to Eternity – Steve Harris
  3. Afraid to Shot Strangers – Steve Harris
  4. Fear is the Key – Steve Harris
  5. Childhood’s End – Steve Harris
  6. Wasting Love – Bruce Dickinson, Janick Gers
  7. The Fugitive – Steve Harris
  8. Chains of Misery – Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray
  9. The Apparition – Steve Harris, Janick Gers
  10. Judas be My Guide – Bruce Dickinson, Dave Murray
  11. Weekend Warrior – Steve Harris, Janick Gers
  12. Fear of the Dark – Steve Harris

Black Sabbath: Heaven And Hell

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Black_Sabbath_Heaven_and_Hell

On April 25, 1980, “Vertigo” label released “Heaven and Hell”, the ninth Black Sabath studio album.It was recorded October 1979 – January 1980, at “Criteria Recording Studios: in Miami, and “Studio Farber” in Paris, and was produced by Martin Birch.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio– lead vocals
  • Tony Iommi– guitar
  • Geezer Butler– bass guitar
  • Bill Ward– drums, percussion
  • Geoff Nicholls– keyboards
  • Martin Birch – engineer
  • Joe “C” Foglia – engineer assistant
  • Lynn Curlee – cover art (Smoking Angels)
  • Harry Carmean – back cover illustration
  • Richard Seireeni – art direction

Track listing:

All music by Geezer Butler, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward; all lyrics by Ronnie James Dio.

  1. Neon Knights
  2. Children of the Sea
  3. Lady Evil
  4. Heaven and Hell
  5. Wishing Well
  6. Die Young
  7. Walk Away
  8. Lonely is the Word

Whitesnake: Come And Get It

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Come An Get It

On April 11, 1981, “Liberty” label released “Come an’ Get It”, the fourth Whitesnake studio album. It was recorded July and September 1980, January 1981, at “Startling Studios” in Ascot, England, and was produced by Martin Birch.

Personnel:

  • David Coverdale– vocals
  • Micky Moody– guitar, backing vocals
  • Bernie Marsden– guitar, backing vocals
  • Jon Lord– keyboards
  • Neil Murray– bass guitar
  • Ian Paice– drums
  • Martin Birch-engineer, mixing

Track listing:

  1. Come an’ Het It – David Coverdale
  2. Hot Stuff – David Coverdale, Micky Moody
  3. Don’t Break My Heart Again – David Coverdale
  4. Lonely Days, Lonely Nights – David Coverdale
  5. Wine, Women an’ Song – David Coverdale, Micky Moody,Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray, Jon Lord, Ian Paice
  6. Child of Babylon – David Coverdale, Bernie Marsden
  7. Would I Lie To You – David Coverdale, Micky Moody,Bernie Marsden
  8. Girl – David Coverdale, Bernie Marsden, Neil Murray
  9. Hit an’ Run – David Coverdale, Micky Moody, Bernie Marsden
  10. Till the Day I Die – David Coverdale

Rainbow: Long Live Rock’n’Roll

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Rainbow- long live rocknroll

On April 9, 1978, “Polydor” label released “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll”, the third Rainbow studio album. It was recorded at “The Strawberry Studio” in Château d’Hérouville, France, May–July & December 1977, and was produced by Martin Birch. This was band’s last album to feature original lead vocalist Ronnie James Dio.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio– lead vocals
  • Ritchie Blackmore– guitars, bass
  • Bob Daisley– bass
  • David Stone– keyboards, piano outro
  • Cozy Powell– drums, percussion
  • Tony Carey– keyboards
  • Rudi Risavy –flute
  • Bavarian String Ensemble conducted by Rainer Pietsch
  • Ferenc Kiss, Nico Nicolic –violin
  • Ottmar Machan -viola
  • Karl Heinz Feit –cello
  • Martin Birch– engineer
  • Max Hecker – classical instruments recording engineer
  • Bruce Payne – direction

Track listing:

All lyrics by Ronnie James Dio, all music by Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio, except where noted.

  1. “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll
  2. Lady of the lake
  3. A, Connection
  4. Gates of Babylon
  5. Kill the King – Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Cozy Powell
  6. The Shed – Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Cozy Powell
  7. Sensitive to Light
  8. Rainbow Eyes

Deep Purple: Machine Head

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Machine_Head

On March 25, 1972, “Purple Records” label released “Machine Head”, the sixth Deep Purple album .It was recorded in December 1971 in Montreux, and was produced by Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, ian Paice, Ian Gillan and Roger Glover.  In 1989, “Kerrang!” magazine ranked the album at number 35 on its list of “100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time”.

Personnel:

  • Ritchie Blackmore– guitar
  • Jon Lord– keyboards
  • Ian Gillan– vocals, harmonica
  • Roger Glover– bass, design
  • Ian Paice– drums, percussion
  • Martin Birch– engineer, mixing
  • Jeremy (Bear) Gee – engineer assistant
  • Nick Watterton – technician
  • John Coletta – design
  • Shephard Sherbell – photography

Track listing:

All tracks by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord and Ian Paice.

  1. Highway Star
  2. Maybe I’m a Leo
  3. Pictures of Home
  4. Never Before
  5. Smoke on the Water
  6. Lazy
  7. Space Truckin’