One of (if not) the best live rock albums ever recorded over three nights back in 1972. Everything is not only louder than everything else, but it is extended and expanded more than everything else. Arguably the best line up of Purple, although I do like the Burn line up, these guys invented the hard rock format that still holds true today.
What an opening track! Highway Star is everyone at the top of their game and they all get their moment in the spotlight – we are only at the beginning! Jon Lord is immense on the ivory’s, Blackmore is playing like a demon, Gillan’s vocals are epic, and the rhythm section of Glover and Paice is on fire. Child In Time is all Gillan with those unreal screams at the beginning and towards the end, then it’s Blackmore – for who the term “guitar god” was invented. Every one forgets just how influential he was, and you should all be made to listen this record to listen to how he became so revered. Super long solos were invented by this man! Smoke On The Water is about as well known a song in rock circles as it gets. Everyone has heard this. I don’t think I need to expand on that too much, other than this version is about the best you will hear. The live sound gives it way more balls than the studio version.
The Mule is up next and was the big number for Ian Paice. Everyone seems to forget Paice when it comes to legendary drummers, but for me, he is up there with Bonham as a legend – in fact, he has more chops as he learned to play in jazz and dance bands. This has to be one of the longest drum solos on record. Strange Kind Of Woman, other than Hush, was the first big single for the beefed up Purple and is quite a commercial sounding tune. A simple riff and a catchy chorus is all you need folks, and this version sounds huge. Lazy is next, and even though the song starts with Lord ringing out some other worldly sounds from the Hammond and riffing out the jazzy intro, this song for me is all about The Man In Black who shows how versatile he is. It’s big finish time and it doesn’t get much bigger than Space Truckin’. It’s everything you have already heard and then multiplied by 10.
This album is fifty years old next year – just let that sink in for a second! If you don’t already own this, then I suggest you change that mistake at your earliest convenience.
10/10 from The Grooveman.
