Pick of the Week: Deep Purple

By Keith HannaleckiBerkshires Columnist
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In Rock (24kt Gold Reissue)

Deep Purple was a rock heavyweight back in the 1970s. They went toe to toe with the progenitors-of-metal Black Sabbath for supremacy of that genre. Eventually Ozzy and the boys would win that battle and Deep Purple would go through many incarnations over time and would evolve into something else. I fondly recall reading all of those Circus Magazines asking the question who was best.

"In Rock" would beat the Black Sabbath classic "Paranoid" (their first album did not qualify as it was more blues influenced) to the punch, coming out one year earlier. So it was Deep Purple that ushered in the metal genre with plenty of fireworks with this now legendary recording in 1970.

The Mark 2 lineup of Deep Purple (fans chronicle the band's history as MK 1-7 based on lineup) is no doubt the most popular amongst devoted longtime fans and "In Rock" was a good choice on which Audio Fidelity dedicated its special remastering process. For those unfamiliar with the label's process, it takes the analog masters and puts them through a sonically constructed vintage tube playback deck and then its new Kensei Audio Transformer for the ultimate reproduction.


In Rock
Genre: Rock-Metal

Label: Audio Fidelity
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Tracks
01. Speed king
02. Bloodsucker
03. Child in Time
04. Flight of the Rat
05. Into the Fire
06. Living Wreck
07. Hard Lovin' Man
This album is especially powerful in every way and the remaster highlights every nuance with precision. All the members are in vintage form. Ian Gillan was perhaps at his very best on this session. Ian Paice (drums) and Roger Glover (bass) was the outrageous one-two bottom end of the day while Ritchie Blackmore played the most magnificent and recognizable blues-influenced rock guitar on the planet at the time. Then of course there was the steadfast Jon Lord providing the necessary mood whenever they needed it. His moody keyboards gave their classic "Child In Time" (check out the live version on "Made In Japan") an eerie characteristic that anyone would be hard pressed to duplicate to this day. 

The lead-off track "Speed King" kicks off the proceedings quite appropriately, with Blackmore making his guitar spew out all kinds of distortion. From that point onward, Deep Purple would establish themselves as the reigning kings of fire-and-brimstone rock and metal. But just around the corner was Black Sabbath, ready to put their stake in the ground — and they would never turn back. Regardless, Deep Purple set the table with "In Rock" and everyone would follow them down the path to rock 'n' roll glory. 

My hat is off again to Audio Fidelity for turning a classic album into pure audio gold. It is a true pleasure to hear again and not only for discriminating audiophiles but just good old rock-music fans that enjoy the catalog of early Deep Purple.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck offers up weekly music picks for iBerkshires. Find more reviews at muzikreviews.com and contact Keith at info@muzikreviews.com.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Lanesborough Town Meeting to Vote Budget, Bylaws & Vehicle Purchases

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — Tuesday's annual town meeting includes a $14 million operating budget, new short-term rentals, accessory dwelling units and sign bylaws, and free cash article appropriations.

Voters will gather at Lanesborough Elementary School on June 9 at 6 p.m. to decide on 20 warrant articles.

The fiscal 2027 budget is up a little over 10 percent. Some of the main increases are the Mount Greylock Regional School District and McCann Technical School: the McCann assessment is up more than 30 percent based on factors including enrollment and the school renovation project, and Mount Greylock's is up 11 percent.

Article 11 is for the town to vote to approve from free cash the sum of $16,298.48 for the McCann Technical School roof and window replacement project so as not to impact the budget. Article 3 is  appropriate $7,586,284 for Mount Greylock Regional School assessment.

Another notable increase was in life and health insurance, showing an increase of about 26 percent.

Ambulance Director Jen Weber is planning 24-hour coverage, which means more staff and a hike in her budget. One of the articles asks the town to appropriate $234,100 to operate the Ambulance Enterprise Fund for salaries and expenses.

Many town departments are looking for new vehicles. The Fire Department is looking to replace its outdated 1996 fire engine. There are two articles related to the truck at a total of $813,366. Article 12 would transfer $225,000 from free cash into the Fire Truck Stabilization Fund; Article 13 would transfer $605,000 from the fund and authorize the borrowing of $208,366.08.

The total includes a $100,000 contingency cost to cover any additional costs if a 2026 model-year chassis cannot be secured before new emissions standards go into effect in 2027.

The board at its last meeting moved the $225,000 transfer to come before the borrowing article, changing the stabilization number. If the $225,000 is not voted on, then they will amend the next article's number on the floor, subtracting the $225,000. This shows the borrowing number significantly lower.

Article 17 asks for the transfer of $80,000 from free cash to replace a police cruiser.

Police Chief Rob Derksen's aim is to replace one vehicle every other year, meaning the oldest vehicle gets replaced about every 10 years. 

He stressed that if delayed this year, the town may have to double up in a future year to get back on schedule, and that paying later usually costs more. The article will ask for $80,000 from free cash, the vehicles used to be funded by the BHRD.

Lastly, the Highway Department is looking to replace a 2014 International dump truck that will be a total of $330,000 and will take two to three years to receive.

Money will be used from last year's approval of $250,000 from free cash for the replacement of a 2012 highway front-end loader that was underspent $49,261. Town meeting is being asked to approve  a transfer of $53,274.85 from free cash and the use of $227,464 from funds from the Sale of Town Real Estate to fund the balance.

Other free cash proposals include $1,200 to purchase software to support tracking and ongoing maintenance schedules of town-owned vehicles; $42,000 for the replacement of the Highway Department's storage shed roof, $200,000 to reduce the tax levy.

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