Deep Purple - Made In Japan: The Remastered Edition
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Free Music Notes for Made In Japan: The Remastered Edition
Free Music Review: Ultimate Live Rock Album
Hit: 5 Stars
It really irritates me when people say that heavy metal is the only style of music that Deep Purple were good at. Sure, they may have mastered that style more than any other, but most people seem to be ignorant of the fact that Purple could play blues and jazz EXCELLENTLY. C'mon people, these lads were way too talented to be reduced to 'just heavy metal'. Anyway, this album may very well be the greatest live rock album ever. Each member of the band are at their best on this one, especially Ritchie. The intensity level is off the page.
"HIGHWAY STAR": Twice as monstrous as the studio original. Gillan spits out the lyrics like a madman, while the rest of the band chugs along at a breakneck pace. Contains some of Ritchie's awesome finger-flashing at the end, which totally obliterates the studio version.
"CHILD IN TIME": This is Deep Purple's unparalleled masterpiece. But Gillan's vocals on this version aren't nearly as good as they usually were. But Ritchie makes up for it with a jazzy solo that must be heard to be believed. I personally love the part where he keeps playing the same chord sequence over and over until you think you're gonna burst if he doesn't stop! And he does it so fast, and without making a single mistake. Ritchie is unreal.
"SMOKE ON THE WATER": Their most famous song, mainly because of the legendary guitar riff, which sounds even more powerful on this version. This is the riff that inspired a generation. Features a cool guitar/organ competition at the end, in which Ritchie and Jon try to outdo each other. Ritchie's solo is also awesome.
"THE MULE": Ian Paice is the greatest drummer that ever lived, just a shade above Ginger Baker. His drum solo on this song will convince you.
"STRANGE KIND OF WOMAN": This is unquestionably the best song on the album. Ritchie's blues licks have never been better. In particular, listen to the second solo, where he builds up the tension and then releases it in a stunning climax. It's like an orgasm. It may be the best solo he's ever played. And this is also the song that features the famous guitar/vocal competition. Gillan mimics Blackmore's notes so perfectly that it's downright scary.
"LAZY": Features an organ intro that just boggles the mind. Cool harmonica from Gillan and excellent licks from Blackmore.
"SPACE TRUCKIN'": Overrated. The long, instrumental section is definitely not Purple at their best. But it's still interesting.
All in all, this is a must-have for any hard rock lover. A journalist for Kerrang! Magazine once wrote, and I quote, "There are moments on this album that have never been beaten in the history of rock music". That pretty much says it all.
Oh, and the bonus tracks aren't really that great. But this re-mastered version is still worth buying, mainly for the superb sound quality.
Free Music Review: Another master piece
Hit: 5 Stars
Over the past couple of months I've been on a nostaligic binge, purchasing music that I listened to in the late 60's and early seventies. I guess I was growing in need of a change from listening to the jazz and blues that has occupied my listening landscape over the last several years, which is amazing music in and off itslef, but even more so given the vacuousness of the musical repetoir in rock that has existed since the mid to late 1970's.
Earlier today, I was sitting at the computer doing a search on Amazon and band specific sites to see what was out there and what would jar my memory back to a period in music history that, in my opinion, remains as perhaps the most fertile and creative for that enourmouns genre of music that is loosely refered to as, "rock". I came across Deep Purple's "Made in Japan". When I was 12 or 13, I asked for this record for Christmas, and (most likely to my mother's regret), I got it. Now at 45, I listen to it again with all of the youthful enthusiasm that I first listened to it over 30 years ago. As one responder on this site mentioned, there are classic rock live albums that simply must be in any serious collectors' and/or fan's library - and this is definately one of them. It has the best of their material, the best of the musicians, and the most incredible performances that were to ever grace the group. It is evident from the first note that they were totally into what they were doing and they had the creative and youthful energy to let it fly. The remastering also breathes new life into the music, particularly that it is on CD.
I have to add though, as a caution against blurring the lines of distiction between one style of music from another, that listening to Made in Japan, or other music from that era does not remind me of what some have referred to as "heavy metal". On the contrary, It is not heavy metal, it is classic "hard rock" from the early 1970's. Heavy metal was not just a decade away, it was a culture, a lifestyle, an aesthetic away from all of the glorious music that now only exists as memories, allbeit on "vinyl": Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Grand Funk Railroad, Jimi Hendrix, Procul Harem, Robin Trower, Ten Years After, The Faces, The Who, Uriah Heep, The Band, Stephen Stills, CSNY, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Little Feat, Cream, Derek and the Dominos, The Allamn Brothers, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Jefferson Airplane, The Byrds, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Grateful Dead, Steppenwolf, Janis Joplin, Traffic, The Doors, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Neil Young, Mountain, and the coutless others. Thanks for the memories - relived.
Free Music Review: Driving a semi into space and never comin back!
Hit: 5 Stars
This is fun and heavy music. Ian Gillian screams his head off, Ritchie Blackmore goes nuts with vibrato and tremolo on his Stratocaster, Jon Lord goes into intergalactic space and back with incredible Hammond electronic organ effects, and Roger Glover and Ian Paice somehow hold it all together in Japan. This is Deep Purple.
The music could easily fly over the edge with a lesser group, with such silly material as "Strange Kind of Woman" (a trite "girl I gotta have ya" rock song) or "The Mule" (with some totally bizarre lyrics flying into a drum solo), but Deep Purple somehow transform the fluff into amazing and deep music. I'd dare any other band out there to try this.
The high points are "Highway Star", which kicks things off with a bang, and "Lazy" and "Space Truckin'", which feature Jon Lord's bizarre virtuosity and cutting-edge analog modulation of the classic Hammond organ. The sound, although strange and definitely "70's", somehow holds up remarkably well 35 years later.
Everyone is in excellent form on the album. They hold their own and play well together.
Very good liner notes provide a glimpse into the concert, the band, and even how this was marketed at the time as the greatest concert ever recorded. That bold claim is not too far from the truth, even today. Speaking of recording, the sound is excellent, as it always has been, with excellent balance and clarity.
The three encores are an interesting, but not essential, addition. They're enjoyable, but unfortunately, they turn what could have been 1 CD into 2 CDs, making this more a little more expensive.
Overall, this is music that goes way over the top and rarely seems to come back, and it might not be for everyone. But if you enjoy hard rock and virtuosity, this is an essential purchase.
Free Music Review: POWER AND GLORY!
Hit: 5 Stars
oh yeah....THIS is why I always liked Purple more than Led Zep, nothing against Zep mind you. This has got to be one of the all time great live recordings by a rock band. For me, 'Highway Star' says it all. This version makes the one on MACHINE HEAD pale by comparison, and that WAS a good version! They are simply firing on all cylinders on this track, the big Purple sound in all its glory.
Jon Lord is one of my all time favorite Hammond players, he just makes the damn thing breath fire. His playing on this track and CD just goes to confirm why the Hammond organ, in the right hands, is one of the greatest instruments ever created. It is such a powerful instrument and Lord takes full advantage. He was the X factor in this band, the perfect compliment to Blackmore's fiery guitar work, what a duo! Gillan's voice is in great form and what can I say about Ian Paice on drums, one of my favorite drummers ever since I was turned on to the IN ROCK recording way back when. And of course, Roger Glover is the glue that holds it all together. For me, they just don't make bands like this anymore. The MKII version remains one of my favorite bands beacuse I loved the songs and they had the musical chops to back it up. THIS is what good, solid hard rock music is all about. Oh yeah, one of the highlights of my life was to actually meet and talk with Ritchie Blackmore back in the 80's. Crank this bad boy up and stand back, no turkey is served here, LONG LIVE PURPLE!!!
www.electriceyes.us
Free Music Review: One of the greatest live albums ever..
Hit: 5 Stars
Having gotten tired of getting up and flipping the album over, I finally broke down and bought this CD a few years back. Since it was pretty much just an 'upgrade' to a CD I really didn't pay much attention to it.
So you can imagine my surprise when I got home and found that they had included 3 extra songs, inlcuding Black Knight which has always been one of my favorites.
This album is what live concerts are all about. No head sets, no lip synched tracks so the performer can concentrate on their dance moves, just pure Rock and Roll. One fault I have with live albums are that so many of them are just a recording of the band ripping through their songs. No improvisations, no changes.. just the album version played live. This is definately not the case with this album. Almost every song has some sort of jam on it whether it be Blackmore on guitar, Paice on drums, or Lord on keyboards..
"Child in Time" is absolutely incredible. I have seen DP in concert a couple of times and unfortunately Gillian never sounded as good singing that song as he did on this album. Another great song is Strange Kind of Woman, and then you have the classics: Highway Star, Smoke on The Water, Lazy and Space Truckin'
Martin Birch, who went on to produce a few of Iron Maiden's earlier classics, helped record and produce this album as well.
This is a classic, capturing Deep Purple at their best.