Deep Purple – Purple Passage

"Purple Passages" is a double-LP compilation album by Deep Purple, released in 1972 on Warner Bros. Records for the US and Canadian markets. This collection showcases the band’s early Mark I lineup — Rod Evans (vocals), Ritchie Blackmore (guitar), Nick Simper (bass), Jon Lord (keyboards), and Ian Paice (drums).

The set compiles highlights from Deep Purple’s first three albums — Shades of Deep Purple (1968), The Book of Taliesyn (1968), and Deep Purple (1969) — along with the non-album single "Emmaretta." Tracks such as “Hush,” “Kentucky Woman,” “The Bird Has Flown,” and “Mandrake Root” illustrate the group’s formative blend of hard rock, psychedelia, and progressive rock.

Packaged in a striking blue gatefold cover with red text, the album also includes liner notes, band photos, and full track credits. Purple Passages serves as both a time capsule of Deep Purple’s early sound and an accessible introduction for fans discovering the band's pre-In Rock era