After the 1969 classical / rock fusion '' Concerto for Group and Orchestra'', Jon Lord was commissioned to write a follow-up. This was ''Gemini Suite'', five long movements inspired by the members of Deep Purple, and performed live in September 1970 at the Royal Festival Hall with The Light Music Society Orchestra (the album of the concert was issued in 1993 as '' Gemini Suite Live''). Jon Lord then recorded it in the studio as his first solo project in 1971, with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by

Malcolm Arnold Sir Malcolm Henry Arnold (21 October 1921 – 23 September 2006) was an English composer. His works feature music in many genres, including a cycle of nine symphonies, numerous concertos, concert works, chamber music, choral music and music f ...

and soloists drawn from the rock world. ''Gemini Suite'' was an important step for Lord and led to albums such as ''Windows'' (1974) and ''Sarabande'' (1976). The album was originally released in Europe and America in 1971 with different cover artwork. The 1973 US reissue featured a third version of the cover artwork. In 1983 the album was re-released on LP in Germany and four years later also for the first time on CD. The digital remastered version of the album premiered on CD in 2008.

Studio album track listing

# "Guitar" - Soloist:

Albert Lee Albert William Lee (born 21 December 1943) is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked, both in the studio and on tour, with many famous musicians from a wide range of genres. He has also m ...

# "Piano" - Soloist: Jon Lord # "Drums" - Soloist:

Ian Paice Ian Anderson Paice (born 29 June 1948) is an English musician who is the drummer and last remaining original member of the rock band Deep Purple. He remains the only member of Deep Purple who has served in every line-up since the band's incep ...

# "Vocals" - Soloist:

Yvonne Elliman Yvonne Marianne Elliman (born December 29, 1951) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress who performed for four years in the first cast of the stage musical ''Jesus Christ Superstar''. She scored a number of hits in the 1970s and achieved ...

and

Tony Ashton Edward Anthony Ashton (1 March 1946 – 28 May 2001) was an English rock pianist, keyboardist, singer, record composer, producer and artist. Early life Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, Ashton spent his formative years in the seaside town of Blac ...

# "Bass guitar" - Soloist:

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

# "Organ" - Soloist: Jon Lord

Musicians

* Jon Lord : piano, organ *

: vocals *

: guitar *

: bass *

: drums *

London Symphony Orchestra The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London. Founded in 1904, the LSO is the oldest of London's orchestras, symphony orchestras. The LSO was created by a group of players who left Henry Wood's Queen's ...

conducted by sir

Charts

Production notes

*Composed and scored by Jon Lord *Lyrics by Jon Lord *Recorded at Abbey Road and De Lane Lea studios, London, March 1971 *Studio engineers: Mike Gray, Philip McDonald, Dave Stock *Mixed by Martin Birch *(2008 release) Tape archiving, sound restoration and digital remastering: Nick Watson, Fluid Studio

References

{{Authority control Deep Purple Compositions by Jon Lord Orchestral suites Purple Records albums Capitol Records albums 1971 debut albums Albums conducted by Malcolm Arnold London Symphony Orchestra albums