SHADES 1968-1998 is a 4-disc deluxe box which includes a 54-page booklet featuring liner notes by David McLees, essays by Jim Ladd and Tim Joseph, a song-by-song annotation by Mick Wall as well as rare photos and a complete discography.

Deep Purple: Ian Gillan (vocals, harmonica, congas); Jon Lord (vocals, keyboards); Nick Simper, Tommy Bolin (vocals; guitar); Glenn Hughes (vocals, bass); Rod Evans, Joe Lynn Turner, David Coverdale (vocals); Steve Morse; Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Roger Glover (synthesizer, bass); Ian Paice (drums).

Producers include: David McLees, Simon Robinson, Deep Purple, Martin Birch, Roger Glover.

Compilation producers: David McLees, Simon Robinson.

Engineers include: Andy Knight, Martin Birch. Philip McDonald.

Digitally remastered by Bill Inglot and GAry Hersch (DigiPrep).

Although Deep Purple is rumored to have provided the most fodder for the heavy metal parody Spinal Tap, their influence on the world of hard rock is as important as either Black Sabbath or Led Zeppelin. SHADES covers 30 years of recording done by a myriad of line-ups. Deep Purple, named after Nino Tempo and April Stevens' version of the standard, started out as a psychedelic pop act before quickly evolving into a hard rock band characterized by keyboardist Jon Lord's classical tendencies and Ritchie Blackmore's over-the-top, pull-off arpeggio solos.

Purple's most successful and popular line-up (Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, Ian Gillan) spent the early '70s cultivating their hard rock credentials with landmark albums such as DEEP PURPLE IN ROCK, FIREBALL, and the granddaddy of 'em all, MACHINE HEAD. "Space Truckin'," "Speed King," "Highway Star," and of course "Smoke On The Water" are classic Purple triumphs populated by muscular riffs and potent decibels loathed by critics and adored by the public. Internal dissension led to future line-up changes that found Deep Purple becoming a base from which former and future members became part of groups ranging from Whitesnake and Rainbow to Black Sabbath and the Dixie Dregs.

Entertainment Weekly (4/2/99, p.95) - "...While the latter-period stuff is depressingly formulaic, discs 2 and 3 showcase this once-vibrant band at the top of its early-'70s game..." - Rating: B-

CMJ (4/12/99, p.26) - "...SHADES is awesome, if you're metal enough to take four hours of relentless heavy riffs and arena-filling, headbanging classics. And if you're not, then it's time to beef up!"