Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Highway Star
2. Child in Time
3. Smoke on the Water
4. Mule (Drum Solo)
5. Strange Kind of Woman
6. Lazy
7. Space Truckin'

Disc 2:

1. Black Night
2. Speed King
3. Lucille

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #17888 in Music
• Released on: 1998-06-30
• Number of discs: 2
• Formats: Extra tracks, Import, Original recording remastered, Live

Album Details
25th Anniversary Edition Includes a Remastered Double CD Set which Feature Three Bonus Tracks which Were Not on the Original.

Amazon.com
Judging by the thick chugging that Deep Purple pull off as they enter "Highway Star" on this classic 1972 set, this band was of an era that appreciated size in sound. Ritchie Blackmore's guitar and Jon Lord's keyboards owned the evenings on the quintet's Japanese tour, giving the band a front-end density that kept drummer Ian Paice's snap heavy and loud. On tour in support of the album Machine Head, Deep Purple indulged in some great long-form jams, reaching into the 10-minute range for most of the main set and closing with the now-famed live read of "Space Truckin'." There's a reason this is regarded by many as one of hard rock's cornerstone live recordings. It's a boiler. This gold version of the title offers superior sound quality for a higher price than the standard-issue CD. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews

Ian Paice On The Drums...Yes!!!
Arguably one of the best live documents from one of the best hard rock bands ever. It has never sounded better having finally been remastered. Sure some of the songs stretch out a little (well some more than a little ie "Space Truckin"), but that's what makes this album so great. The band uses the studio versions to springboard into some of the finest rock jams ever put on tape. If you have the 2 lp vinyl set (and I know you're out there), definitely upgrade to this cd version. Every rock collection needs & deserves this album, I hope my review can give you the nudge toward the "add to cart" button.

Ultimate Live Rock Album
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.

POWER AND GLORY!
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!!!

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