The House Of Blue Light: Deep Purple's 1987 Album and UK Chart Success
Deep Purple fans eagerly awaited the return of the classic Mk II line-up after an 11-year hiatus, which culminated in the 1984 comeback album Perfect Strangers. Just over two years later, the band released The House Of Blue Light on January 24, 1987, marking their re-entry into the UK chart. Produced by Roger Glover and the band, the album was recorded at the Playhouse Studio in Stowe, Vermont. Despite internal tensions resurfacing within the group, The House Of Blue Light continued their streak of UK Top 10 albums, earning them a silver disc.
Debuting at No. 10 on the British chart, The House Of Blue Light faced stiff competition from Kate Bush's The Whole Story and Paul Simon's Graceland. While the album did not produce any pop chart singles, tracks like "Call Of The Wild" and "Bad Attitude" gained traction on American rock radio, reaching No. 14 on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks. However, the album's chart performance fell short of its predecessor, Perfect Strangers, which had peaked at No. 17 on the Top 200, with The House Of Blue Light reaching only No. 34.
The strain within Deep Purple became evident during their subsequent tours of Europe and North America, as guitarist Ritchie Blackmore refused to participate in encores featuring their iconic hit "Smoke On The Water." Following the release of the Gillan Glover side project Accidentally On Purpose in 1988, lead singer Ian Gillan announced his departure from the band. Despite this setback, Deep Purple Mk II would reunite in the early 1990s, continuing their legendary rock legacy.