Deep Purple

Machine Head
$7.98
There I was in Minot, stationed as a Airman Security Policeman. My friends and I sneaked (snuck?)into the Windmill at the tender age of 18. Fake ID's, of course and for the sake of security, I shall not divulge our Tactic for nasty fakes. (I know, a lot of you are laughing right now...)

The first song I heard was from Deep Purple and a great evening ensued.

Oh, the stories...

This is simply a CLASSIC!

Deep Purple Live in Concert 72/73
$14.98
I find it irritating how some reviewers complain about things like the facts that the video is black & white or has some lines at times, or that Blackmore is not on camera during some solos, or that the second video was edited. These reviewers show a lack of perspective. These videos were made in an age before MTV and were neither filmed by music video specialists nor meant for posterity. Instead of grumbling about all the imperfections, Deep Purple fans who buy this DVD should be glad to be able to see any video footage of the Mk 2 Deep Purple band at their peak. I know I am. The videos on this DVD certainly gave me a much better sense of what it would have been like to attend a Deep Purple concert during this period. Think of it as a very cheap time machine. At $13.50, it costs the same as a movie ticket and a soda do today, so it's a real bargain.

Rather than make the same observations that other reviewers have already made, I'd like to comment on some of the things I found interesting in the videos:

1) Ian Gillan looks completely different in the 1973 color video than he does in the 1972 B&W video or in B&W photos I've seen. In fact, I never realized that he has brown hair and fairly light (maybe even blue) eyes until I saw this DVD.
2) There are some young kids on the side near Blackmore at the Copenhagen concert. I wish my parents had taken me to hard rock concerts at that age. You can see them almost up on the stage near the beginnings of Fireball and Lucille. I guess Blackmore's not so scary after all.
3) It's interesting to compare the call-and-response interactions between Gillan and Blackmore in the two versions of "Strange Kind of Woman". About 5 minutes, 40 seconds into the Denmark version, Blackmore actually smiles at Gillan who seems to be imitating Blackmore's guitar riffs as a form of flattery. In contrast, in the New York video, I got the sense that he's mocking Blackmore, maybe even suggesting that his voice could replace Blackmore's guitar. He even sticks his tongue out at him. But Blackmore doesn't seem angry about it. The tension between them actually enhances the performance.
4) It was a revelation that Gillan plays harmonica on "Lazy"; I had always heard his harmonica as coming from Lord's organ. I just checked that you can hear his harmonica on the studio recording of "Lazy"; in retrospect, it does sound much more like a harmonica than an organ.
5) Gillan addresses the audience as "you mothers" several times. I think he means "mother" in the sense of "mother of all battles" -- a way of saying "you guys are the best fans".
6) I read somewhere that the large painted rainbow on the stage of the 1974 California Jam concert was where Blackmore got the idea for the huge electronic rainbow that was featured onstage during the first few years of Rainbow's concerts.

Regarding the sound, I agree that it is very good in the primary videos; you can clearly hear all the instruments (most of the time). However, I would have liked more separation between the left and right sides of the sound image. I imagine that the original tapes were mono and that it was impossible to separate out the different instruments. The 5.0 Dolby soundtrack does give the concert more presence and makes me feel like I'm onstage with the band especially after increasing the volume of my surround/side speakers.

Anyway, if you love or even just like Deep Purple and approach this DVD with reasonable expectations, keeping in mind when the videos were filmed, then I think you'll enjoy this DVD a lot.

Perfect Strangers
$9.98
In my opinion,this is the epitomy of all the Deep Purple (Gillian & Glover incl.) albums. The band brings a maturity here that makes the CD strong from beginning to end. Many of their 70's releases were plagued by filler material. Not so here. It's a must have for any Purple fan.

History, Hits and Highlights 1968-1976
$24.98
As a Deep Purple fanatic, I just had to write and say thank you to Eagle Rock for putting this out. I have craved some of this type of concert material from them for ever, it seems. I have seen them 10 times since 1985, and though they have been and still are an awesome live act, some of this material shows them at the very peak of their improvisational period. The instrumental parts from the Amsterdam and Paris shows just had Me mezmorized! Jon Lord and Ritchie Blackmore, are two giants of Rock. Some of the passages and sounds that they come up with are just so cool and unique. It seems as though they could read each others minds. Lord's organ work in the Blitzen concert is the best ever from him I think, and that is really saying something. He is easily the best Hammond player of all time in my opinion. If in doubt, check out his 2003 live at the basement concert with the Hoochie Coochie men down in Australia, especially the song, "Back at the Chicken Shack" the Jimmy Smith classic Organ orgy of sound. Anyways, I recommend this DVD and to those who were disappointed with it, You are too critical. We all should be glad that this was put out. Count your blessings folks! Thanks for listening. Richard, from Bradford PA