DEEP PURPLE IN CONCERT

Contains two BBC shows. The first was recorded in 1970 at the BBC Studios for the John Peel sessions and concentrates on "In Rock" and Mark I period. The second CD is from the show recorded on 9th March 1972 at the Paris Theatre in London. It covers almost the entirety of "Machine Head". The CD release will come with two bonus tracks : "Maybe I'm a Leo" and "Never Before". "Speed King" 's fabulous intro is cut here, which is a pain (this will be the case most of the time during their concerts). This live rendition is weaker than the studio album : less hard (although most of the time the Purple was very loud and hard on stage - I've seen them four times so far). Second track is "Child In Time" : Jon is a bit hesitant in the intro; but boy, this must be the best live version ever recorded (far more superior that on MIJ). Ritchie is as gorgious as usual in his anthology solo. Gillan is at his best in this difficult vocal effort. Fantastic. Next two tracks are from the Mark I era and shorter than they will use to be (although each is over seventeen minutes) and therefore sound more interesting than their usual versions clocking at more than thirty minutes versions. Both are rageous psychedelic numbers (à la Vanilla Fudge).

During the intro of the concert, the speaker will introduce the band as "old friends". It opens with "Highway Star" and is almost exclusively "Machine Head" oriented, which is normal at the time of recording (March 72) since Machine Head was about to be released. "Highway Star" will be an opener for lots of years. By now, it is more a closing number. This version is excellent (also superior to MIJ). Quite heavy, with very strong bass playing from Roger. Keyboard and guitar soli are a bit more extended than usual, which is quite interesting. It shows that, at this time (we are a few weeks ahead of the official release) the Purple haven't yet finalized the live version for it. "Strange Kind of Woman" has the MIJ lenght and brio between Gillan and Blackmore (what a complicity !). The recording quality is superb. The next two tracks are rare live performances : "Maybe I'm a Leo" and "Never Before" had not been released live elsewhere (at least to my knowledge). If the first one is not a memorable song, the latter is very good (Ian Paice will break a piece of his drum kit during the speaker's announcement - he will point this out in his introduction saying that this band was making so much money that they will afford to replace this piece : I guess he was right !). "Never Before" will be the first single issued from "Machine Head" and the only one to chart (Nr. 35 in the UK). Then "Lazy". A remarkable song, which was the perfect occasion to highlight Jon's fantastic talent : great organ impro (but was it really an impro ? - I guess it was more a well prepared and rehearsed section). This bluesy song will be a highlight of their concerts (MIJ era) and will return to their setlist ages after that period.

Can you imagine the luck of the audience attending this show ? Discovering almost the entire "Machine Head" tracklist BEFORE its release. I can not figure out the shock it must have been ! I have never understood why "Space Truckin' " needed to be extended to this lenght (it averaged between seventeen and over thirty minutes). It is one of the very few (with "Maybe I'm a Leo") average track from "Machine Head"; so what's the point of expanding five times longer than the original ? They had such a great repertoire than they could have spared this to the audience / fans. Anyway, it's there. Interesting to see how they integrated an extract of "The Mule" in here (around minute twelve or so). Then one thinks the track is finished after the band stops completely (around minute sixteen), but no : they start again for another five frenetic minutes of the hardest and loudiest rock. The public announcer tells us the story around the emblematic "Smoke On The Water" (at that time unknown). But we all know the story by now. This version is less heavy than on MIJ but rocks harder than the studio version. Last number is a cover for "Lucille" from Little Richard. This track will be a favourite encore during the MIJ tour. For me it is very simple. Each track of this two CD set is better than any other live rendition of the Purple (and I do have all of them - at least the official ones). So, five stars are for me legitimate.