Product Description

Few bands are more closely associated with Montreux than Deep Purple and there was simply no other contender when it came to choosing the act to headline the closing night of the 40th Montreux Festival in 2006. The band duly delivered one of their finest live performances, sprinkling songs from their latest album "Rapture Of The Deep" through a set chock full of their classic tracks. There was even a brand new song "Too Much Fun" written especially for the occasion and, of course, a show-stopping performance of "Smoke On The Water".

Tracklisting: Live At Montreux 2006: 1) Pictures Of Home 2) Things I Never Said 3) Strange Kind Of Woman 4) Rapture Of The Deep 5) Wrong Man 6) The Well-Dressed Guitar 7) Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye 8) When A Blind Man Cries 9) Lazy 10) Keyboard Solo 11) Space Truckin' 12) Highway Star 13) Smoke On The Water 14) Hush 15) Too Much Fun 16) Black Night

Bonus Features: London Hard Rock: 1) Fireball 2) I Got Your Number 3) Strange Kind Of Woman 4) Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye 5) Rapture Of The Deep 6) Wrong Man 7) Lazy 8) Perfect Strangers 9) Highway Star 10) Smoke On The Water Interviews with the band.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #43792 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-07-24
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
• Formats: Color, Live, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 186 minutes

Amazon.com
Almost 40 years after the band's original formation, Deep Purple is in fine form in They All Came Down to Montreux. The band's history is intimately connected with the legendary Montreux Jazz Festival (which also includes rock music), so it was only fitting that DP was invited to headline the closing night of the festival's 40th anniversary on July 15, 2006. On disc 1 of this two-disc set, DP's 100-minute Montreux gig is included in its entirety, and even those who prefer the band's earlier "Mark II" lineup (which included previous keyboardist John Lord and guitarist Ritchie Blackmore) will agree that this band can still rock your socks off. By the time keyboardist Don Airey launches a playfully jazzy prologue to the band's biggest hit "Smoke on the Water" (a song inspired by a spectacular fire that occurred while the band was preparing to record Machine Head in Montreux in 1971), DP has the packed Montreux in an arm-waving state of hard-rock bliss.

While it's obvious that lead singer Ian Gillan's voice is not what it used to be (he's obviously struggling with the high notes in "Highway Star"), he still makes it through the set with his vocal cords intact, and he's got stellar support from Airey, bassist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice, and guitarist Steve Morse (the latter joined DP in 1994), all delivering the kind of ace musicianship that can only come from years of diligent touring. Morse is especially strong in this concert, while Glover and Paice achieve a flawless symmetry of rhythm. And while this is essentially a "greatest hits" gig, the performance of tracks from DP's 2005 release Rapture of the Deep suggests that this band could be going strong for years to come, if fans don't mind the occasional misstep and a stage full of aging rockers with expanding waistlines. As a bonus feature, 25 minutes of band interviews are also included. Disc 2 features an hour-long gig from London's Hard Rock Café, recorded earlier in 2006. With the exception of two tracks ("I Got Your Number" and "Fireball"), it's a shorter version of the Montreux set-list, more intimate in its club setting, but equally indicative of Deep Purple's impressive longevity. --Jeff Shannon

Customer Reviews

The best $16 I've ever spent
They sound amazing. I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the performance. Video quality is super as well. All in all - one of the best concert videos I've seen

the best Steve Morse era DVD, great quality HD DVD
I don't watch a lot of concert videos, but as a fan of classic rock, I figured Deep Purple was a safe bet. This concert took place in Montreux in 2006, so Deep Purple wasn't in their prime, but this is still a solid show. The band sounds excellent, but the lead vocals don't always keep up the pace. This is never too much of a concern however and as the show moves on, Ian Gillan is able to get into the groove with his vocals. The technical aspects of the concert are top notch, with a lot of cameras used and that provides numerous perspectives, giving it a kinetic texture. The lighting is great and the camerawork is terrific, a professionally photographed and enjoyable to watch concert from start to finish. Below is a list of the songs performed.

1. Pictures of Home

2. Things I Never Said

3. Strange Kind of Woman

4. Rapture of the Deep

5. Wrong Man

6. The Well-Dressed Guitar

7. Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye

8. When a Blind Man Cries

9. Lazy

10. Keyboard Solo

11. Space Truckin'

12. Highway Star

13. Smoke on the Water

14. Hush

15. Too Much Fun

16. Black Night

VIDEO:
The concert is presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. This is a recent concert and as such, it looks quite good. The image captures all the bright lights that flash across the stage, which means at times detail is lost, but even during strobes, the visuals hold up well. The colors weren't as vivid as I expected, but hues still come off as bright. No trouble with contrast, black levels are spot on and don't waver in the least. This is as close as you can get to being in the front row unless you were there, so I think fans will be most pleased.

AUDIO:
I went with the DTS HD 5.1 option here and without question, this soundtrack rocks. The sound design here is impressive, I couldn't believe how well crafted the audio was at times. While the video was close to the live experience, I have to think this sounds even better than being at the show in person. The surround use is beyond great, thanks to directional presence and just superb movement. The instruments really shine in this mix, but the vocals also sound terrific. This disc also includes a Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 option, as well as an LPCM stereo soundtrack.

EXTRAS:
This disc includes interviews with the band, as well as the London Hard Rock Cafe performance in 2006. This concert runs about an hour and should please fans. The interviews cover a wide range of topics, from the story behind Smoke on the Water to their fans and beyond.

Amazing
I can't get over how much I enjoyed this disc. The video is great and it sounds incredible. This HD-DVD is worth it if only for Well Dressed Guitar. One of the most amazing guitar solos I have ever heard. There isn't a bad song on this disc.

This is well worth $17. It is perfect for showing off a HD / audio setup.