STORMBRINGER

Regular readers will know that I'm a huge rock fan. I admit that I'm stuck in the Seventies but hey, that's when music meant the most to me. After the Project SWORD and my other toys were put away, being a teenager involved mostly chasing girls and listening to heavy, heavy rock, man! That's what it was all about age 13 and I'm pretty sure it still is. The only difference now is today's teenage music is utter crap! [one of my very few strong opinions, sorry!]

Anyway, there is a Christmas link to this post I'm pleased to say. My biggest music patron when I was a young teenager was without doubt my old Mum [ well not so old really, she was in her fifties]. Mum would ask me in November/ early December, which albums I'd like on the Big Day and off she'd traipse to Brady's record Shop in Preston. Virtually all my favourite LP's were bought by my Mum at Christmas during the early to mid Seventies, by bands like Budgie, Rush, Lou Reed, Pink Faeries, UK, Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and Judas Priest. I have a December birthday too so it always meant double the heavy vinyl!

A few albums, however, never made it onto the lists I gave my Mum. I can't remember why but I know I had them in mind at the time. One was Stormbringer by Deep Purple from 1974. I was 14 that Christmas and Purple were massive, Ritchie Blackmore second only to Father Christmas for being the coolest guy on the planet! This was their 9th album and the brooding cover art was simply superb.

As a result of not getting Stormbringer that Xmas or any other that followed, its an LP I don't really know that well. So, by way of dedication to my rockin' Mum, who sadly died far too young in '77, I am listening to it this Christmas courtesy of You Tube and remembering those ace Seventies Christmas days. Maybe put it on whilst you're trimming the tree and think of your old Mum too!