(*) = first time on CD in the UK for these tracks / versions

After the release of 'Purple People' in December 1973 (the cut off date for the CD bonus tracks), the label began to concentrate more on Deep Purple themselves. There were far fewer albums, and only one new signing, an American band called Elf. Silverhead ground to a halt, with a live album in the can which was only issued in Japan (it's due for a thorough remix and reissue shortly), but Micheal Des Barres was good for one final solo single before he left for America and eventually a long-running career as a television and film actor. These were the last non-Deep Purple connected releases issued by Purple Records, and from then on all releases were either by Deep Purple or members of the band.

In 1999, permission to start a new Purple Records was sought. Though an independent label, licensing material from a variety of sources, one of the ideas was to rummage through the old catalogue. For the remastering of 'Purple People', the original quarter inch production tape was used to replicate the 1973 listening experience much more closely, cleaning up and restoring where necessary. The label's early motto (suggested by MacIver and Hine) was The Open Ear, and even today, barring one or two tracks, they clearly had a fascinating mix of artists and music, and many of them still sound great thirty years later.