Is Shades 1968–1998 a good place to start with Deep Purple?

Yes, Shades 1968–1998 is recommended as a starting point for new Deep Purple listeners. A sprawling retrospective that blends hard rock grit with melodic sophistication across three decades of musical evolution. When 'Shades 1968–1998' was released in January 1999, Deep Purple was celebrating over three decades since their formation in 1968. This compilation showcased the band's various phases, from their early psychedelic influences to their later hard rock anthems, serving as a bridge between their legacy and ongoing relevance in rock music.

Who is Shades 1968–1998 for?

Shades 1968–1998 works well if you're into dynamic journey with peaks, wave-like pacing throughout and nostalgic reflections on evolution.

How many songs are on Shades 1968–1998?

Shades 1968–1998 has 62 tracks, running approximately 313 minutes.

Shades 1968–1998

Deep Purple · 1999

313 min · 62 tracks · hard rock

A sprawling retrospective that blends hard rock grit with melodic sophistication across three decades of musical evolution.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Smoke on the Water (live, 1972) — This live version captures the raw energy of Deep Purple at their peak performance, showcasing their legendary riff and improvisational prowess.
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Child in Time — With its haunting melodies and powerful vocal delivery, this track exemplifies the band's ability to blend hard rock with deep emotional resonance.
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Highway Star — A quintessential rock anthem, its intricate guitar solos and dynamic structure showcase Deep Purple's virtuosic musicianship and songwriting skill.
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Hush Start here — This early hit demonstrates the band’s initial foray into mainstream success, combining a catchy melody with a strong rhythm section.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

57 /100

Foothills

Higher than 6% of albums we've rated

A broad anthology that captures Deep Purple's stylistic shifts but suffers from redundancy and lacks cohesive flow.

What we noticed

It includes both studio recordings and live performances, highlighting different facets of Deep Purple's sound across decades.
Several tracks are presented in their single versions or remixes, which alters their original arrangements and lengths.
The collection spans 62 tracks, with many songs appearing multiple times in different versions, creating a sense of redundancy.

Composition 25% of the score: 6/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 5/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 6/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 4/10

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

dynamic journey with peaks
wave-like pacing throughout
nostalgic reflections on evolution
engaging live performance captures
deep exploration of themes

Maybe skip if you

prefer short standalone tracks
seek instant gratification energy

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Starting Point — A comprehensive anthology showcasing the band's evolution and key tracks for new listeners.
Themes: psychedelic beginnings· war's impact· heavy metal evolution
Moods: Nostalgic· Dreamy
Career context: When 'Shades 1968–1998' was released in January 1999, Deep Purple was celebrating over three decades since their formation in 1968. This compilation showcased the band's various phases, from their early psychedelic influences to their later hard rock anthems, serving as a bridge between their legacy and ongoing relevance in rock music.
Stylistic neighbors: Led Zeppelin· Black Sabbath· Rainbow