EARMUSIC Rapture of the Deep Double CD, Remastered Deep Purple Album

For a Deep Purple listening session focused on one album rather than a career-spanning collection, Rapture of the Deep brings the band’s 18th studio album to a double-CD edition. First released in 2005, it is presented here as a remastered recording, with new liner notes and artwork described as part of this release.

The album’s story also gives this edition context: it came from a period when the band was without a label, and the notes by Classic Rock’s Geoff Barton explore the circumstances and chemistry behind its creation.

At a glance

This is a double-CD release of Deep Purple’s Rapture of the Deep, with the recording newly mixed under Roger Glover’s supervision and analogue mastered at Chameleon Studios in Hamburg, according to the product description. The format makes it a straightforward choice for listeners who want the album itself in a physical edition, rather than a selection of tracks drawn from across the band’s catalogue.

Some buyers speak positively about the remastering and sound, mentioning the bass and lower-mid range in particular. Others value the release as a reason to revisit this era of the band, and the vocals also receive favourable comments. These are listening impressions, not a guide to how the album will sound on every system. The listing does not provide a track-by-track breakdown or explain what is on each disc, so it may not answer questions about specific songs or bonus material.

Who it’s for

You’ll like it if you already follow Deep Purple and want a dedicated edition of an album that is described as an important chapter in the group’s history, even if it is not usually the first title people reach for when naming their classics. The new liner notes add background for listeners interested in the circumstances around the record, as well as the music itself.

Compared with a greatest-hits set or a release built around live performances, this is a more focused way to spend time with one studio album. It may suit a collector completing a Deep Purple shelf, but the available details do not establish whether the packaging includes anything beyond the double CD, liner notes and new artwork.

Practical tips

If you are choosing it for particular tracks, look up the track listing before buying, it is not included in the supplied product information. The description identifies this as a remastered double CD and discusses the mixing and mastering, but does not set out a full list of audio or packaging differences from earlier editions.

The album dates from 2005, while this edition is presented with new artwork and notes. That makes it worth distinguishing from simply picking up an earlier copy: the appeal here is the updated presentation and the added account of the album’s background, rather than a stated change to the original recording’s songs.

Buying verdict

Rapture of the Deep is worth considering if you want this specific Deep Purple studio album on double CD and value the remastering and historical notes described for the release. The buyer comments on sound and vocals add some encouragement, though they cannot replace a track list or confirm the contents of each disc. It might not be a great match if you are looking for a live set, a hits collection or clearly itemised bonus tracks, those details are not established here.