Machine Head
by Deep Purple

Machine Head by Deep Purple
Year: 1972
Release date: 1972-03-30
Overall rank: 253rd   Overall chart history
Average Rating: 
83/100 (from 1,041 votes)
  Ratings distribution   Average rating history
Accolades:
Award Top 10 albums of 1972 (7th)
Award Top 100 albums of the 1970s (59th)
Award Top 500 albums of all time (253rd)

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Deep Purple - Machine Head (50th Anniversary Deluxe) [New CD] Anniversary Ed, Bo
Condition: Brand New


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Deep Purple Machine Head Lp Vinyl OG 1972 German 'Quadraphonic' Press VG/VG+
Condition: Used


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Deep Purple - Machine Head [New Vinyl LP]
Condition: New


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Deep Purple bestography

Machine Head is ranked as the best album by Deep Purple.

Deep Purple album bestography « Higher ranked
-
This album (253rd)
Machine Head
Lower ranked (482nd) »
Deep Purple In Rock

(N.B. Bestographies include all albums by an artist (and their variations), but do not include albums ranked outside the top 100,000).

Upcoming concerts

Jun
19
Fri
Perfect Strangers - Deep Purple Tribute
Suquamish Clearwater Beach Rock Mus, Suquamish, United States. United States
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Machine Head track list

  Track ratings The tracks on this album have an average rating of 85 out of 100 (all tracks have been rated).

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Track pick (1000 - 100 votes) Top-rated track as rated by BestEverAlbums.com members.

Machine Head rankings

Rankings summary
Overall rank: 253rd | 1970s rank: 59th | 1972 rank: 7th

Machine Head collection

Machine Head ratings

Average Rating: 
83/100 (from 1,041 votes)
  Ratings distribution Help Average Rating = (n ÷ (n + m)) × av + (m ÷ (n + m)) × AV
where:
av = trimmed mean average rating an item has currently received.
n = number of ratings an item has currently received.
m = minimum number of ratings required for an item to appear in a 'top-rated' chart (currently 10).
AV = the site mean average rating.

Showing latest 5 ratings for this album. | Show all 1,041 ratings for this album.

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RatingDate updatedMemberAlbum ratingsAvg. album rating
 
100/100
 
03/07/2026 23:39 bulutsuzluk  Ratings distribution  2789/100
 
100/100
 
03/04/2026 20:41 Devilwoac  Ratings distribution  95097/100
 
100/100
 
03/04/2026 08:24 Juneof44  Ratings distribution  2,58669/100
 
85/100
 
02/25/2026 18:42 classicjoe  Ratings distribution  23279/100
 
80/100
 
02/12/2026 18:44 Musicbuff123  Ratings distribution  32469/100

Rating metrics: Help Outliers can be removed when calculating a mean average to dampen the effects of ratings outside the normal distribution. This figure is provided as the trimmed mean. A high standard deviation can be legitimate, but can sometimes indicate 'gaming' is occurring. Consider a simplified example* of an item receiving ratings of 100, 50, & 0. The mean average rating would be 50. However, ratings of 55, 50 & 45 could also result in the same average. The second average might be more trusted because there is more consensus around a particular rating (a lower deviation).
(*In practice, some albums can have several thousand ratings)

This album is rated in the top 1% of all albums on BestEverAlbums.com. This album has a Bayesian average rating of 82.5/100, a mean average of 81.8/100, and a trimmed mean (excluding outliers) of 82.6/100. The standard deviation for this album is 14.1.

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Machine Head comments

Showing latest 10 comments | Show all 59 comments |
Most Helpful First | Newest First | Positive Sentiment First | Longest Comments First
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Rating:  
75/100
From 02/27/2026 17:15 | #313357
One of those early collection additions that I do consider a classic. It may have been one of my favorites at one time but I guess I don't get inspired like I used to in my teens. I never been a fan of Deep Purple, but I know this is still a monster album for fans of artist. For the most part every song is definitely iconic, as classic as it gets.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 02/12/2026 18:59 | #313114
This Album is fantastic, MkII line were the best, the best tunes are Highway Star & the eponymous Smoke on the Water, but I think the overall album is strong all the way through, no wonder they're considered so highly by their peers and generations to come.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
90/100
From 09/20/2025 20:18 | #310991
One of the best and most consistent albums ever. Definitely one of my favorites!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
35/100
From 05/08/2025 20:14 | #308897
This comment is beneath your viewing threshold.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | -3 votes (0 helpful | 3 unhelpful)
Rating:  
80/100
From 02/27/2023 18:01 | #294514
A hugely influential album in the history of music and with all the quality that is on here you can see why this is the case. They start the album with an absolute classic that is Highway Star which gets you so pumped to listen to this release. Unfortunately this is then followed up by a 3 track run which isn't bad but they aren't great either. They are on the edge of being filler but the instrumentation, mainly the guitar work, saves them in my opinion. After this it is an energetic and full on ride to the finish with 4 massive songs that are just brilliant. Everything just comes together on these closing 4 songs and all you can do is sit back and admire the musical genius on display. This finale elevates the record so much and is probably my favourite run of songs in any Deep Purple record. Overall, a great experience that is full of power and quality which makes it so easy to fall in love with this release.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 08/05/2022 21:56 | #288150
Don' t forget "when a blind man cries"
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | 0 votes (0 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 07/03/2022 17:59 | #287064
One of the albums that inspired heavy metal and all hard rock genres to come, my favorite album with Ian Gillan, Jon Lord here is top tier keyboardist ever
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +2 votes (2 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
95/100
From 02/06/2022 11:52 | #280862
Top notch hard rock, Highway Star is an all time great. Smoke On The Water and Lazy are classics too. Amazing instrumentals on this one and the vigals are pretty consistent as well.
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +4 votes (4 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
Rating:  
100/100
From 10/06/2021 18:10 | #274742
Machine Head was a monster album for Deep Purple and fans. The musicianship and vocals are excellent throughout. There are no filler songs at all. It's a wild excursion from beginning to end. Ritchie Blackmore is a killer guitarist. Jon Lord's keyboard playing is utterly innovative; he's like a second guitarist at times. Great album all around!
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +3 votes (3 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
From 09/27/2021 13:22 | #274284
Obra maestra.
El mejor disco de los Purple y un imprescindible del hard Rock.
Canciones como Lazy o Highway Star son de lo mejorcito que se puede escuchar con Blackmore y Lord en su punto más álgido.
No sobra ni una sola canción y Smoke on the water sigue siendo un gran tema a pesar de su sobreexposición
Helpful?  (Log in to vote) | +1 votes (1 helpful | 0 unhelpful)
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Best Albums of 1972
1. The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars by David Bowie
2. Exile On Main St. by The Rolling Stones
3. Pink Moon by Nick Drake
4. Close To The Edge by Yes
5. Harvest by Neil Young
6. Transformer by Lou Reed
7. Machine Head by Deep Purple
8. Thick As A Brick by Jethro Tull
9. Ege Bamyası by Can
10. Foxtrot by Genesis
11. Clube Da Esquina by Milton Nascimento / Lô Borges
12. #1 Record by Big Star
13. Can't Buy A Thrill by Steely Dan
14. Super Fly by Curtis Mayfield
15. Acabou Chorare by Novos Baianos
16. Talking Book by Stevie Wonder
17. Eat A Peach by The Allman Brothers Band
18. Vol 4 by Black Sabbath
19. Neu! by Neu!
20. Argus by Wishbone Ash
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