When a Blind Man Cries
Encyclopedia
"When a Blind Man Cries" is a song by British rock band Deep Purple
, originally only available as the B-side of the single "Never Before
", released in 1972. It was recorded during the Machine Head
sessions in December 1971.
Ritchie Blackmore
disliked "When a Blind Man Cries", the band never played the song live during his stay with the band, with the exception of one occasion, on April 6, 1972 in Quebec
, Canada
, when Blackmore was ill, and the late Randy California
from Spirit
stood in for him. Ian Gillan
performed the song live with Ian Gillan Band
during the 70's and 80's.
When Joe Satriani
replaced Blackmore during The Battle Rages On
tour in November 1993, "When a Blind Man Cries" joined the setlist as early as December 5, 1993. The song has become a staple live performance ever since, and has appeared on most of the live album
s the band has released with Steve Morse
.
After Steve Morse joined the band, much of the song was re-written, and the song is usually extended to around 7 minutes when performed in concert with him, often including a highly complex emotional guitar solo
, while the original song was only 3 minutes. The guitar parts for the song also mainly consist of some improvised licks by Morse between the song's lines, while Roger Glover
and Don Airey
play the main rhythm section. The live versions performed with Morse differ so greatly from the studio version that when the song appears on live albums, it is credited to Gillan, Morse, Glover, Lord, and Ian Paice
, while it was credited to Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, and Paice on the original version.
In addition the song has also been released on the Gillan's Inn CD/DVD by Ian Gillan
, featuring the famous blind guitarist Jeff Healey
.
of Bon Jovi
appeared as a guest musician on a Stuart Smith album “Stuart Smith’s Heaven and Earth” performing a cover of this song.
Gary Barden
covered the song for his 2011 cover album Rock 'n' Roll My Soul.
The song was also covered by Axel Rudi Pell
for the 1991 album Nasty Reputation
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, originally only available as the B-side of the single "Never Before
Never Before
"Never Before" is a song by British rock band Deep Purple, which appears on their 1972 album Machine Head.This was originally the only single from the album besides "Smoke on the Water", with "When a Blind Man Cries" as a B-side, which surprised fans as the album contained hits such as "Lazy",...
", released in 1972. It was recorded during the Machine Head
Machine Head (album)
Machine Head is the sixth studio album released by the English rock band Deep Purple. It was recorded through December 1971 in Montreux, Switzerland, and released in March 1972....
sessions in December 1971.
Live performances
Because guitaristGuitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
disliked "When a Blind Man Cries", the band never played the song live during his stay with the band, with the exception of one occasion, on April 6, 1972 in Quebec
Quebec
Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, when Blackmore was ill, and the late Randy California
Randy California
Randy California was a guitarist, singer and songwriter and one of the original members of the rock group Spirit, formed in 1967.-Biography:...
from Spirit
Spirit (band)
Spirit was an American jazz/hard rock/progressive rock/psychedelic band founded in 1967, based in Los Angeles, California.- The original lineup :...
stood in for him. Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
performed the song live with Ian Gillan Band
Ian Gillan Band
The Ian Gillan Band was a jazz-rock fusion band formed by Deep Purple singer Ian Gillan in 1975.-History:After leaving Deep Purple in 1973, Ian Gillan had retired from the music business to pursue other business ventures, including a motorbike manufacturing company and a hotel. These ventures all...
during the 70's and 80's.
When Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
replaced Blackmore during The Battle Rages On
The Battle Rages On
The Battle Rages On... is the 14th studio album by Deep Purple, released in 1993. It is the last album recorded with the band's classic Mk II line-up reunited for a second time . Since Ian Gillan returned to the band in late 1992, he reworked much of material already existing for the album...
tour in November 1993, "When a Blind Man Cries" joined the setlist as early as December 5, 1993. The song has become a staple live performance ever since, and has appeared on most of the live album
Live album
A live album is a recording consisting of material recorded during stage performances using remote recording techniques, commonly contrasted with a studio album...
s the band has released with Steve Morse
Steve Morse
Steven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country, funk, jazz fusion, and...
.
After Steve Morse joined the band, much of the song was re-written, and the song is usually extended to around 7 minutes when performed in concert with him, often including a highly complex emotional guitar solo
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
, while the original song was only 3 minutes. The guitar parts for the song also mainly consist of some improvised licks by Morse between the song's lines, while Roger Glover
Roger Glover
Roger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
and Don Airey
Don Airey
Donald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
play the main rhythm section. The live versions performed with Morse differ so greatly from the studio version that when the song appears on live albums, it is credited to Gillan, Morse, Glover, Lord, and Ian Paice
Ian Paice
Ian Anderson Paice is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the English rock band Deep Purple. As of Jon Lord's departure in 2002, he is the only founding member of the band who never stopped performing with the group, and the only member to appear on every album the band has...
, while it was credited to Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, and Paice on the original version.
In addition the song has also been released on the Gillan's Inn CD/DVD by Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan
Ian Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
, featuring the famous blind guitarist Jeff Healey
Jeff Healey
Norman Jeffrey "Jeff" Healey was a blind Canadian jazz and blues-rock vocalist and guitarist who attained musical and personal popularity, particularly in the 1980s and 1990s.-Early life:...
.
Personnel
- Ritchie BlackmoreRitchie BlackmoreRichard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
- guitar - Ian GillanIan GillanIan Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
– vocals - Roger GloverRoger GloverRoger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
– bass guitar - Jon LordJon LordJonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
– keyboards - Ian PaiceIan PaiceIan Anderson Paice is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the English rock band Deep Purple. As of Jon Lord's departure in 2002, he is the only founding member of the band who never stopped performing with the group, and the only member to appear on every album the band has...
– drums
Covers
In 1999, Richie SamboraRichie Sambora
Richard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, musician, singer, and songwriter who is the longtime lead guitarist of the rock band, Bon Jovi. He and frontman Jon Bon Jovi form the primary songwriting unit of the band...
of Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi is an American rock band from Sayreville, New Jersey. Formed in 1983, Bon Jovi consists of lead singer and namesake Jon Bon Jovi , guitarist Richie Sambora, keyboardist David Bryan, drummer Tico Torres, as well as current bassist Hugh McDonald...
appeared as a guest musician on a Stuart Smith album “Stuart Smith’s Heaven and Earth” performing a cover of this song.
Gary Barden
Gary Barden
Gary John Barden is an English singer-songwriter, best known for his work with the Michael Schenker Group....
covered the song for his 2011 cover album Rock 'n' Roll My Soul.
The song was also covered by Axel Rudi Pell
Axel Rudi Pell
Axel Rudi Pell is a German guitar player, playing melodic heavy metal. He started off with the band Steeler before leaving to start his solo career in 1989 with the eponymous band Axel Rudi Pell...
for the 1991 album Nasty Reputation
Nasty Reputation
Nasty Reputation is the second solo album from German guitar player Axel Rudi Pell. It was released 30 November 1991 on Steamhammer Records...