Track Listing

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'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #18682 in Music
• Brand: Warner Brothers
• Released on: 1990-10-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Live
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

Before Peter Frampton, Kiss, and UFO's live albums... there was "Made In Japan"
THE BAND: Ritchie Blackmore (guitars), Ian Gillan (vocals), Jon Lord (keyboards), Roger Glover (bass), Ian Paice (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1973) 2 vinyl albums now on 1 disc. 7 songs clocking in at approximately 77 minutes. Included with the disc is a 6-page booklet with original artwork and black & white photos, song titles, song times, and a brief 1-page intro. Songs recorded live in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan. A new '25th Anniversary Edition' 2-disc version is available as of 1998 - with digitally remastered sound and bonus tracks (and very much worth looking for)... an added 21 minutes featuring the songs "Black Night", "Speed King" and "Lucille". There is also a more complete (rare) 3-disc version availabe as well. Label - Warner Bros.

COMMENTS: "Made In Japan" is perhaps one of the best live recordings of a hard rock / heavy metal act ever. Think of the other classic acts that had great live albums from the past... Peter Frampton, Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Foghat, UFO, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Iron Maiden, etc. Outside of Kiss, I don't think any of these recordings offer the full package of excellent sound quality/production, emotion, excitement, audience participation, and a great selection of songs. The audience was respectfully quiet during the songs and really let it out in between them. The slower parts of "Child In Time" - you can hear a pin drop. It's interesting to listen, when "Smoke On The Water" is introduced by Gillan the crowd is silent... almost like they're not sure what they're about to hear. The 6 minute drum solo on "The Mule" was enthralling from Ian Paice - one of the best rock drummers EVER. Jon Lord's keyboard work is 2nd to none. His best work on this album is on the songs "Lazy" and "Child In Time". Seems that Lord and Blackmore had some great fun dueling back and forth. Some of the tunes, like "Strange Kind of Woman" and "Child In Time" sound better here than on the studio album. Gillan's interaction with the audience at the end of "Strange Kind Of Woman" is priceless. Ritchie Blackmore's trademark guitar sound and blistering solo's are amazing. 7 total songs - short track list but 6 of the 7 songs are 9+ minutes or longer. Two songs ("The Mule", Strange Kind Of Woman") from "Fireball"; one song ("Child In Time") from "In Rock"; and four from "Machne Head". The album closer is the marathon "Space Truckin'" clocking in at just under 20 minutes. "Made In Japan" is a highlight reel of two great shows on the "Machine Head Tour" in '73. The only thing wrong with this original issue is that it's just not long enough. Now, with the remastered "25th Anniversary" edition you can buy more of the show. Classic disc (5 stars).

The Pinnacle of the Power Rock Era: DP Live, 1972
I'm sorry to say that all that has come (and gone) our way on the hard rock scene since the 1968 - 1975 era has mostly been a combination of rubbish and recyclables. Which makes me very happy to travel back into time to the simpler but not happier era of 1972. It was a time when giants like Yes, Led Zeppelin, The Stones, The Who and Deep Purple ruled the arenas and the airwaves. A time when musicianship and innovation were reaching ever higher in pursuit of the lost power chords and mega-drum solos that legends are born from ..... . This album captures all that rock music can offer; the dazzling speed of Ritchie Blackmore's guitar, the raw thunder of Roger Glover's bass, the precision of Jon Lord's organ, the sonic screams of Ian Gillian and the percussive genius of Ian Paice, hard rock's finest drummer. When you listen to these songs, you are witnessing the birth of modern heavy metal and hard rock; you will never forget these explosive versions of 'Smoke on the Water', 'Highway Star', 'Lazy' and 'Child in Time'. Never. The songs are as relevant today as they were when I first heard them as a teenager in New Mexico. The only other comparable live rock album would be Led Zeppelin's 'The Song Remains The Same.'

The Most Underrated Rock Act Produced the Best Live Album
Deep Purple is the most underrated rock group. With that said, "Made in Japan" is the best rock live recording ever. I usually shy away from statements like that, but if one analyzes each song and the players, one might understand why I made this statement.
Firstly, "Highway Star" is a grab-your-attention explosion that grips you from beginning to end. "Child in Time," on the other hand, is like the slow build-up of magma before the volcanic explosive ending. "Smoke on the Water" is what it is - one of the best and most imitated songs of all time. "The Mule" showcases Paice's unbelievable drumming capabilities. "Strange Kind of Woman" begins great, but I could do without Gillan's whooping at the end of the song; it goes on for about 3 minutes too long. "Lazy" is an example of Blackmore's spontaneity. "Space Truckin'" is, however, the premier song on the album. Twenty minutes of interaction between Lord and Blackmore is mind-blowing.
Finding this album was like discovering a rare gem for me. The musicians are all on top of their game. Ian Gillan is the top vocalist from that era. Blackmore is intense and intensly creative. All of them give their best. If you have never listened to Deep Purple before, this is the album to introduce yourself to them. That's how I did it.