|
The
complete show from this historic concert is now available a double
CD on Purple Records. Deep Purple Mk 3's last performance,
it was also Ritchie Blackmore's final concert. Although some tracks
surfaced on the Mk3 Final Concerts release in 1996, this is the
first time the show has been issued in full. The new edition has
been properly remixed from the multi-tracks.
 This
aural document of Blackmore's last pre-reunion Deep Purple show
is an amazing record of an historic event. I freely admit to having
a 'soft spot' for this era of Purple as the scrapbook 1975 tour
album 'Made In Europe' was an early purchase for me (when I was
a mere pimply youth). So what does this 'new' release have to
offer?Well,
apart from a good half hour of previously unreleased material,
the major point of interest on Live In Paris 1975 is the SOUND.
Full marks to the restoring engineers as the sound on this one
is absolutely awesome: everything is exactly where it should be,
with each voice and instrument distinct and yet somehow blending
together to make a great Purple whole. With headphones on it's
easy to get a minds-eye-view of the stage in Paris. Blackmore
prowling in the shadows on the right, Lord making all the right
noises on the left, Paicey powering everything wonderfully from
the back, Coverdale centre stage and Hughes whooping away to the
left of him.
 It's
great to hear the full set, with in-between song chat (and all,
ahem, interpolated bits) restored to their rightful place.
Much has been made of Blackmore's mind being elsewhere (over the
Rainbow?) at the time of this show, but his playing, whilst perhaps
not as fiery as the '74 tour, is still inspired. This is clear
from the outset with a very powerful 'Burn' kicking things
off. Blackmore is simply on fire for this one, with some great
playing, even when he's only playing rhythm behind Lord's solo.
Some manic keyboard work leads into 'Stormbringer' with
killer solos from both Blackmore and Lord. 'The Gypsy'
is next up with good vocals and nice soloing from Blackmore again
at the coda. We're then treated to a full-tilt 'Lady Double
Dealer' before arguably Mk 3's finest hour 'Mistreated'.
If Ritchie Blackmore loses his way a little on the intro to this,
he more than makes up for it with the seemingly nonchalant virtuosity
of his solo work in the middle, which is simply masterful.
'Smoke On The Water' follows - a nice version, as Mk 3
ones go, prefaced by some casual noodling from Blackmore, which
includes the riff of 'Lazy'. 'You Fool No One' begins as
it always did in a live setting - with a keyboard solo, and is
very much a vehicle to show off the individual talents of the
band with Blackmore doing his blitz-&-blues thang, and the whole
shebang rounded off with a dose of Paicey magic and a snatch of
'The Mule'. Oh, and there's some pretty good harmonised singing
from Coverdale and Hughes in there somewhere too.
'Space Truckin' begins with Glenn getting a bit carried
away, before Jon gets things back on track with his '2001' intro.
This 20 minute work-out finds Blackmore seemingly a bit subdued,
but has some good 'lead' bass work from Glenn Hughes, using the
'twangy' effects pedal that people who saw him on his recent UK
tour will recognise. The 'Going Down / Highway Star' encore
brings proceedings to a close in fine style with the excellent
sound again meaning that everything is clearly audible and showing
that the whole band is working hard.
All
in all then a fitting, and indeed a fighting finish to the Mk
3 era, with Blackmore giving his Strat some serious abuse into
the bargain. The release also has an informative booklet which
tells you all you could wish to know about the background to the
concert.
review:
Tim Summers, www.deep-purple.net (photos: Rock & Folk)
.
Live
In Paris 1975 can be ordered from the dpas
online store.
purple
records catalogue
|
