=1 is the twenty-third studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on 20 July 2024 by earMUSIC/Edel AG.[5] It is their first album with guitarist Simon McBride, who replaced Steve Morse in 2022.[6] It is also the band's fifth collaboration with producer Bob Ezrin, who has produced every Deep Purple album since 2013's Now What?!.
Themes and reception
The album has been described as having a loose concept around "[symbolising] the idea that in a world growing ever more complex, everything eventually simplifies down to a single, unified essence. Everything equals one".[7]
Music writer John Aizlewood described singer Ian Gillan's voice as "richer than it's sounded in years".[8]
Track listing
All Songs written by: Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey, Simon McBride and Bob Ezrin.
=1 track listing
No.
Title
Length
1.
"Show Me"
3:59
2.
"A Bit on the Side"
4:10
3.
"Sharp Shooter"
3:44
4.
"Portable Door"
3:48
5.
"Old-Fangled Thing"
4:08
6.
"If I Were You"
4:42
7.
"Pictures of You"
3:51
8.
"I'm Saying Nothin'"
3:28
9.
"Lazy Sod"
3:40
10.
"Now You're Talkin'"
4:05
11.
"No Money to Burn"
3:21
12.
"I'll Catch You"
3:20
13.
"Bleeding Obvious"
5:50
Total length:
52:06
Personnel
Deep Purple
Ian Gillan – lead vocals, backing vocals (tracks 1, 4–9, 13)
^"Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 29.Týden 2024 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 3 August 2024.