Episode #3: The Godfathers of Rock (Part 1)

Right, it’s episode three, rock fans, and the juggernaut is now thundering so far back in time down the highway to heavy metal heaven that we’re gonna need a Tardis to get back.

Yes, we’re off to hard rock’s Jurassic age, or the early 1970s as they are also affectionately known, to discuss, disseminate and disembowel three of the finest hours of three of the finest bands who ever ruled the airwaves.

Having filled the first two Enter Sadmen episodes with pretty much records of our choosing, we have decided to ask the question – which three songs from pre-decimal days shout loudest to metal fans? It wasn’t a rhetorical question because we knew the answer – Paranoid, Stairway to Heaven and Smoke on the Water.

Oh, and spookily, that’s the third episode in a row featuring albums from consecutive years. When will this madness end?!

Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1970)

God had barely put the finishing touches to his creation malarkey when Ozzy and pals came along to shatter the silence. Hell, we’d only just handed the World Cup back (bloody Peter Bonetti, grumble, grumble …).

Yep, we’re going way back, chums, and while we would presume neither the Lord God Almighty nor Sir Alf would have taken a shine to Black Sabbath in general or Paranoid in particular, did we consign it to the pit of damnation or hand it the Jules Rimet?

Expect a few chuckles, probably more than Ozzy would have anticipated when this first hit the shelves in the autumn of 1970, though surely even the Prince of Darkness would accept that calling songs Rat Salad and Fairies Wear Boots is a risky call in the pursuit of seriousness.

Led Zeppelin – IV (1971)

So what to say about Zep? With half an hour or so to fill, thankfully quite a lot, and (spoiler alert) pretty much all of it complimentary. Aaw, come on, what did you expect?

There hasn’t been a back catalogue this impressive since the 2012 World Osteopaths Convention, but our balloon ride over Zeppelin’s grand canon comes to ground in 1971, if only to gorge ourselves on Stairway for the zillionth time.

Our work done, we then listened to all the other tracks if only to remind ourselves quite what an epic beast this album is, was, always will be.

Anyway, guess you’re getting the drift – high praise (check), higher scores (check), permit to the Hall of Fame (check). Move on.

Deep Purple – Machine Head (1972)

DA DA DA, DA DA DA-DA, DA DA DA, DA DAAA, breathe and, DA DA DA…; oh, you get the picture …

Yes, it’s the mother, father, bastard son, long lost cousin and slightly errant little sister who’s now in rehab of all riffs – and still we don’t tire of it.

Standing erect and proud in the ample cleavage that is Deep Purple’s Machine Head is, of course, Smoke on the Water, the bane of guitar shop owners the world over but a timeless classic nonetheless.

But is it the show-stopper on Purple’s sixth long-playing offering, or did Messrs Gillan, Blackmore, Glover, Lord and Paice have something better up their taffeta sleeves? Don’t be Lazy; come and have a listen.