Gettin’ Tighter

```html

The Zoo Crew is spinning "Gettin’ Tighter" by Deep Purple from their 1975 album Come Taste the Band, and the Zoo Freaks are loving this funky, hard-rocking gem. This track, credited to Tommy Bolin and Glenn Hughes, stands out for its infectious guitar riff and strong funk influences, a departure from Deep Purple’s traditional sound. In a 1975 interview with Radio Luxembourg, drummer Ian Paice noted that the band was deliberately aiming for a younger audience with songs like "Gettin’ Tighter," aware that their classic fans might not embrace the new direction. Bolin himself shared in a 1975 interview that the song’s riff came to him during a single practice session, saying, “I just rolled... ‘Damn, they would enjoy this’ [...] it was like giving and taking, musically.” The song’s upbeat, groove-heavy vibe, sung by Hughes, was praised by Record World for showing the band “rockin’ up a storm.”

Another layer of trivia comes from the recording process at Musicland Studios in Munich between August and September 1975. Glenn Hughes, struggling with cocaine addiction at the time, was absent for parts of the sessions, leading Bolin to step in on bass and backing vocals for the album’s opener, “Comin’ Home.” This collaborative spirit defined "Gettin’ Tighter," which fan reviews on Reddit often highlight as a standout for its fusion of funk and rock, with one user calling it “a perfect funk-rock blend” that was “quite the workout in concert.” The song’s live performances, however, were marred by Bolin’s heroin addiction, which affected his ability to play, especially during the infamous 1976 Japan tour documented in the controversial Last Concert in Japan album.

Deep Purple began in London in 1968, originally named Roundabout, before guitarist Ritchie Blackmore suggested the name Deep Purple, inspired by his grandmother’s favorite song by Peter DeRose. The band started as a psychedelic and progressive rock outfit, but by 1970’s Deep Purple in Rock, they had shifted to a heavier sound, becoming pioneers of hard rock and heavy metal alongside Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Their early years were marked by lineup changes, with the classic Mark II lineup—featuring Ian Gillan on vocals and Blackmore on guitar—producing iconic albums like Machine Head. By the time of Come Taste the Band, the band was in its Mark IV phase, with Bolin replacing Blackmore and David Coverdale and Hughes leading vocals, bringing blues and funk elements to the mix. Despite critical and commercial challenges, the band’s resilience and evolving sound kept them influential, selling over 100 million records worldwide.

Fans can connect with Deep Purple through their official Facebook, Instagram, and X accounts, where they share tour updates, archival photos, and new music teasers. For Zoo Freaks wanting to dive deeper, the fan-run Deep Purple Appreciation Society (DPAS) offers detailed discographies, reviews, and news. The Deep Purple Wiki on Fandom is another great resource for trivia and history, while the Deep Purple Fans Facebook group buzzes with discussions, memorabilia shares, and concert stories, perfect for any Zoo Freak looking to join the Purple community.

```