=1 Explained

=1
Type:	studio
Artist:	Deep Purple
Cover:	Deep Purple - =1.png
Recorded:	2023–2024
Studio:	Noble Street (Toronto) Headline (Harston) SMB Chameleon (Hamburg) Ocean Way (Nashville)
Length:	52:06
Label:	earMUSIC/Edel AG
Producer:	Bob Ezrin
Prev Title:	Turning to Crime
Prev Year:	2021

=1 is the twenty-third studio album by English rock band Deep Purple, released on 19 July 2024 by earMUSIC/Edel AG.^[1] It is their first album with guitarist Simon McBride, who replaced Steve Morse in 2022.^[2] 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".^[3]

Music writer John Aizlewood described singer Ian Gillan's voice as "richer than it's sounded in years".^[4]

Track listing

All Songs written by: Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Ian Paice, Don Airey, Simon McBride and Bob Ezrin.

Personnel

Deep Purple

• Ian Gillan – lead vocals (all tracks), backing vocals (tracks 1, 4–8, 9, 13)
• Simon McBride – guitar, additional guitar engineering
• Roger Glover – bass (all tracks), shaker (track 3)
• Ian Paice – drums
• Don Airey – keyboards (all tracks), orchestral arrangement (track 6)

Additional musicians

• Bob Ezrin – backing vocals (tracks 1, 6, 8, 11, 13), tambourine (1)
• Nashville Music Scoring – orchestra (track 6)
• Patricia Shirley-Okujene – backing vocals (tracks 11, 13)
• Camille Harrison – backing vocals (tracks 11, 13)

Technical

• Bob Ezrin – production, mixing (all tracks); orchestral arrangement (track 6)
• Robert Vosgien – mastering
• Anthony Yordanov – mixing, engineering
• Julian Shank – mixing
• Jill Zimmermann – engineering
• Justin Cortelyou – engineering
• Piers Mortimer – additional keyboard engineering
• Eike Freese – additional vocal engineering
• Denny Meißner – additional vocal engineering
• Michael Gnocato – engineering assistance
• Daniel Goldade – engineering assistance
• Jasper Terpstra – engineering assistance
• Nick Speria – orchestra engineering (track 6)
• James Paice – additional drum production and engineering (track 6)

Charts

Chart (2024)! scope="col"

Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[5]	58
Italian Albums (FIMI)^[6]	16
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)^[7]	31
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[8]	1

Notes and References

1. Web site: Deep Purple Announces New Album =1. Blabbermouth.net. 12 June 2024. 24 April 2024.
2. Web site: Deep Purple Officially Welcomes Guitarist Simon McBride As Permanent Member . Blabbermouth.net. 12 June 2024. 16 September 2022.
3. https://americansongwriter.com/exclusive-deep-purple-drummer-ian-paice-talks-the-concept-behind-new-album-1-reveals-his-favorite-songs-from-the-record/ Exclusive: Deep Purple Drummer Ian Paice Talks the Concept Behind New Album, '=1,' Reveals His Favorite Songs From the Record
4. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/other/deep-purple-rediscover-their-purpose-on-the-invigorating-1/ar-BB1qfh5T Deep Purple rediscover their purpose on the invigorating =1
5. The ARIA Report: Week Commencing 29 July 2024. The ARIA Report. Australian Recording Industry Association. 1795. 6. 29 July 2024.
6. Web site: Album – Classifica settimanale WK 30 (dal 19.07.2024 al 25.07.2024). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. it. 27 July 2024.
7. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums – Week of August 14, 2024. Billboard Japan. ja. 14 August 2024.
8. Web site: Veckolista Album, vecka 30. Sverigetopplistan. 26 July 2024.