''Cherkazoo and Other Stories'' is a compilation album comprising previously unreleased studio recordings by

Ian Gillan Ian Gillan (born 19 August 1945) is a British singer who is best known as the lead singer and lyricist for the rock band Deep Purple. He is known for his powerful and wide-ranging singing voice. Initially influenced by Elvis Presley, Gillan ...

from the early 1970s. The album is divided into two parts. The first eight tracks are taken from the soundtrack to ''Cherkazoo'', a children's story Gillan labored over circa 1972. These songs are reminiscent of psychedelic pop and whimsical British music hall numbers, sounding like ''Sgt. Pepper's''-era Beatles or early pre-''Space Oddity'' Bowie. Second part of the album features songs that were cut after Gillan's departure from

Deep Purple Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in London in 1968. They are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal music, heavy metal and modern hard rock music, but their musical style has changed over the course of its existence. Ori ...

, most likely circa 1974, and find the singer in more familiar territory, namely rock, including a cover of

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

's "Trying to Get to You". Line-ups for both sessions have never been fully confirmed but are said to include

Jon Lord John Douglas Lord (9 June 194116 July 2012) was an English orchestral and rock composer, pianist, and Hammond organ player known for his pioneering work in fusing rock with classical or baroque forms, especially with the British rock band Deep ...

(keyboards),

Roger Glover Roger David Glover (born 30 November 1945) is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known as the member of the hard rock bands Deep Purple and Rainbow. As a member of Deep Purple, Glover was inducted into the Rock and Ro ...

(bass) and

Pete York Peter York (born 15 August 1942 in Redcar, Yorkshire, England) is a British rock drummer who has been performing since the 1960s. Biography Born in Redcar, he attended the Nottingham High School and learnt to play the trumpet and snare drum ...

(drums) on ''Cherkazoo'' sessions and Mike Moran (keyboards) and

Dave Wintour David M. Wintour (1 September 1944 – 12 July 2022) was a British bass guitarist and session musician. Wintour was born on 1 September 1944 in Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire and died on 12 July 2022 in Drumnacross, Kilraine. Dave Wintour is be ...

(bass) on later recordings.Liner notes by Simon Robinson, 1992.

Releases

The album was originally released in 1992 on RPM in the UK. Further releases came from Spitfire/Eagle (1998, 2005) and Metal Mind (2009). Compiled by Simon Robinson.

References

External links

The Deep Purple Podcast - Episode #24 - Cherkazoo and Other Stories (Part 1)

The Deep Purple Podcast - Episode #25 - Cherkazoo and Other Stories (Part 2)
Warhorse (British band) albums 1970 debut albums Vertigo Records albums Ian Gillan albums {{1990s-rock-album-stub