Deep Purple (song)

This article is about the song. For the rock band with the same name, see Deep Purple. For the album of the same name, see Deep Purple (album).

"Deep Purple" was the biggest hit written by pianist Peter DeRose, who broadcast, 1923 to 1939, with May Singhi as "The Sweethearts of the Air" on the NBC radio network. "Deep Purple" was published in 1933 as a piano composition. The following year, Paul Whiteman had it scored for his suave "big band" orchestra that was "making a lady out of jazz" in Whiteman's phrase. "Deep Purple" became so popular in sheet music sales that Mitchell Parish added lyrics in 1938:

When the deep purple falls over sleepy garden walls

And the stars begin to twinkle in the sky—

In the mist of a memory you wander back to me

Breathing my name with a sigh...

Larry Clinton and His Orchestra recorded one of the most popular versions of the song on 23 December 1938. Featuring vocalist Bea Wain, the Clinton version was a huge hit. Released in January 1939 on Victor Records, the Clinton recording was number one on the U.S. popular music charts for nine consecutive weeks in 1939. The next most popular version was made by Artie Shaw with vocalist Helen Forrest. The song is a sentimental ballad. The tune was a favorite of Babe Ruth, and Peter DeRose performed the song at Ruth's birthday parties for about a decade. The song remained a traditional pop favourite, recast in 1957 as a doo wop classic by The Dominoes with vocals by Eugene Mumford. Screamin' Jay Hawkins (best remembered for his song "I Put A Spell On You") also released his version of "Deep Purple" on his 1958 album, At Home with Screamin' Jay.

Joe Loss and His Orchestra recorded it on October 15, 1956. It was released on the 78 rpm record HMV POP 107. Pop / jazz recordng artist Joni James also covered "Deep Purple" for her 1956 album "In the Still of the Night".

Nino Tempo & April Stevens and later versions

The second most popular version, which hit number one on the U.S. pop charts (the 100th song to do so) in November 1963 and also won that year's Grammy Award for Best Rock and Roll Record, was recorded by Nino Tempo & April Stevens (who were brother and sister). This version of the song is notable for April Stevens' speaking the lyrics in a low and sweet voice during the second half of the song while her brother sings. According to the Billboard Book of Number One Hits by Fred Bronson, when the duo first recorded the song as a demo, Tempo forgot the words, and Stevens spoke the lyrics to the song to remind him. The record's producers thought Stevens' spoken interludes were "cute" and should be included on the finished product, but according to Stevens, her brother was not as easily convinced: "He didn't want anyone talking while he was singing!"

The Nino Tempo/April Stevens version was intended to be the flipside of a song called "I've Been Carrying A Torch For You So Long That It Burned A Great Big Hole In My Heart". However, radio stations preferred "Deep Purple," and according to Bronson, "I've Been Carrying A Torch..." holds the distinction of being the longest title of a flipside of a Billboard number one record. Despite being considered "rock and roll," the song also reached number one on Billboard's Adult Contemporary singles chart.

Another brother-and-sister team, Donny and Marie Osmond, revived "Deep Purple" in March 1976 and took it into the Top 20, peaking at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 with Marie intoning the balmy lyrics during the break, as April Stevens had done in the Nino Tempo/April Stevens version. As an interesting aside, the song that succeeded the Tempo/Stevens version of "Deep Purple" at number one on the Billboard chart, "I'm Leaving It Up To You" by Dale & Grace, was also a hit over a decade later in a cover version by Donny & Marie (in 1974).

In 1978 The Beach Boys recorded a version for their (still unreleased) album Adult Child. This recording, along with the rest of the album, has been circulating amongst collectors for many years.

Trivia

• The British rock band Deep Purple got their name from Pete De Rose's hit after guitarist Ritchie Blackmore's grandmother repeatedly asked if they would be performing the song, her personal favourite.
• Nino Tempo and April Stevens' version of "Deep Purple" was #1 on the Hot 100 the week before John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
• The 45 rpm recording of the song by Tempo and Stevens is notorious for sounding unclear, perhaps due to improper processing or duplicating during manufacture.
• Earl Bostic the saxophone player had an instrumental hit with "Deep Purple" circa 1951 along with his biggest hit "Flamingo" refer to Lp of 1963 The Best Of Earl Bostic.

In popular culture

• Eileen Brennan and Peter Falk sing it in duet in the film "The Cheap Detective" (1978).
• A recording by Vic Damone featured in the film "Donnie Brasco" (1997).

Preceded by "Sugar Shack" by Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs

Billboard Hot 100 number one single (Tempo/Stevens version) November 16, 1963 (one week)

Succeeded by "I'm Leaving It Up to You" by Dale & Grace