}
This is the fourth post discussing my book Postcards From Hell - Notes from a Purple mind.
Mistreated is a classic track originally appearing on the Deep Purple Mk III album, Burn, but it's more iconic performances occur on the DP live recordings on Made in Europe, Califonia Jam and of course Ronnie Dio's amazing vocal performance with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow from the On Stage album.
The sentiments of the song are the time honored blues mantra of being done wrong by a lover. The content may be cliched but it doesn't feel the slightest bit cliched when blues is performed with the heart and soul that the whole band(s) is/are able to put in to these performances. Nor does it feel cliched when you experience the betrayal and hurt that I did many years ago.
Mistreated was probably the first song that showcased the blues potential of a then very young David Coverdale (Whitesnake). His emotive live performance comes straight from the heart and is worth a listen. Dio's vocal performance is outrageous.
The riff is a typical simplistic blues riff that Blackmore's vibrato technique adds that extra touch of blues magic.
Obviously the song means a hell of a lot to me and helped me get through a pretty dark period.
You can check out the live performances below
The first is Deep Purple's California Jam Performance
The second is Rainbow in Germany 1976 with Ronnie Dio up front. This vocal performance has been described by vocal coach Ken Tamplin as "perhaps the best ever vocal performance by a hard rock singer
