Smoking Top Ten: Smoke on the Water (#4)

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Well, duh. I know everyone’s been waiting for this song on the list of favorites with “smoke” in the title. Sometimes I can disappoint (such as the fact that there are two more country songs on this list forthcoming ) and sometimes you can read me like a matchbook cover. So, to no one’s surprise, here’s today’s “smoke” song. #4: Smoke on the Water - Deep Purple Did you know this not-all-that-mellow band (ha) took its name from the pop standard “Deep Purple”? Ritchie Blackmore’s grandmother’s favorite song was “Deep Purple” (which goes back to the 30s, not to Nino and April or Donny and Marie). And you probably know this is about a fire at a casino in Switzerland, started by some goofball shooting a flare gun off during a performance by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention. Of course, if you don’t know that, just listen to the lyrics. And everybody knows that opening guitar riff. One of the most iconic openings in rock and roll history. Smoke on the Water Written by Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice Recorded by Deep Purple From Machine Head, 1972 Funky Claude was running in and out: