MADE IN JAPAN

There is a extended version of this record - a CD reissue with additional tracks. I don't know anything about that version, so I will stick in my review with the old, "common" edition.

This is a lengthy record; it contains two vinyls - a welcome feature compared to, let's say, Genesis "Live" or Jean-Luc Pony "Live" - they are excellent live records, but way too short, abruptly ended. This one is more than 75 minutes in it's full glory. And there is no weak track or filler.

The weakest track, in my opinion, is "Smoke On The Water": a hard rock riff milestone. The song is so overplayed that I can't stand it anymore, but to do justice I must say this version is excellent, sincere and performed beautifully."Strange Kind Of Woman" sounds fresh, and Ian screams above 15000 Hz again, cleverly accompanied with Ritchie's guitar solos.

"The Mule" is another drum solo nine minutes long. I am not big fan of drum solos, and most of them are just plain boring, unless you're the drummer's girlfriend-wannabe. However, Paice is doing his job like a possessed maniac, and this solo is really able to keep your attention during all of its length. The intro and the ending are proggier than the majority of the band's catalogue.

Everything else - are the highlights: "Lazy" being perfect bluesy blend of Hammond organ and guitar (with most astonishing Hammond intro that Lord ever did - how?!?), "Child In Time" immortal song, this time in equally magnificent version, again with Gillan singing on top of his voice.

And last but not the least, the side-long "Space Truckin'". The prolonged part (the one that's not present on a studio version) is actually an excerpt from "Mandrake Root" tune, and it is the best combination of organ-psychedelia and hard rock ever, hands down. It's bass-driven, with furious protracted Hammond soloing, Blackmore's guitar mannerism and most notably Lord's experimentation with ring modulator effect. It sounds spacey, indeed.

Having that said, I can only conclude that this live document deserves no less than five stars.

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