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Deep Purple - Live in London CD (album) cover

LIVE IN LONDON

Deep Purple

 

Proto-Prog

3.38 | 74 ratings

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ZowieZiggy
Prog Reviewer
3 stars "This band has been called the loudest band in the world" : this is the intro anouncement of this live album. Needless to say that we won't enjoy a lot of prog here. But what a great hard rock concert ! Recorded live on 22nd May 1974 at Kilburn State Gaumont in London for the BBC "In Concert" series. I saw the "Burn" tour in Forest National, Belgium in December 1973 and it was quite a good concert (read my review for "Burn" for details about this concert). Only two Purple anthems from the previous tour (MIJ). This record has been considered as a boot for quite a long time. The sound quality is great because it has been broadcasted on the radio.

The best tracks from the album "Burn" are here : "Burn" of course as the opener (what a pity than Gillan never wanted to sing that one !), "Lay Down, Stay Down" and "Mistreated" of course. The latter one is quite expanded on this live version (over eleven minutes) and is the very highlight of this live set (together with "Burn"); no wonder since they were also the best two songs from the studio album. Ritchie is fabulous here. This fantastic blues/rock can only be compared to "Since I've Been Loving You" : great vocals, superb guitar solo (this comparison applies for both studio and live performances). A piece of anthology. There is also a version of "Might Just Take Your Life" which was one of their weakest track on the album but that is working pretty fine here : faster and harder.

From Mark II, we get "Smoke On The Water" which is introduced by Jon Lord. He presents each member of the band and then as the last one himself as "Rick Emerson" considering himself being half a Rick Wakeman and half a Keith Emerson ! This version is faster than any other one from Mark II. Not bad at all (although the end has nothing to do with the original track and is a bluesy vocal highlight). This end will be a classical for Mark III, showing the great bluesy voice from Glenn. "You Fool No One" 's intro from Jon is similar to the "Lazy" one on MIJ before the track really starts (after four minutes). It is pure violence : drumming, organ and guitar are HUGE. It ends up with a short part of "The Mule" from "Fireball". If you have a headache when getting up after a long night, I would not recommend you to listen to this one. You've been warned ! On the vinyl edition, the last track "Space Trackin" was cut off due to the lack of ... space ! It is only available on a CD version (which was available through Japan import). If you think that the maximum was reached in terms of lenght on Made In Japan, well you have to revise your opinion : Mark III willl expand it to 25-30 minutes ! (which is quite dispensable). On this double CD version, it clock at 29'54" (yes, man : half an hour). It starts almost like in the Paris concert (recorded in 1975 but released in ... 2004) : with "A Space Odissey" introduction before the track really starts after four minutes. A bit of "Child In Time" as well around minute nine. And a long, very long (too long really) boring impro. Then a bit of "The Mule" - only a few seconds - around minute twenty-four. All in all a good live moment from the Purple (except "Space"). Three stars.

ZowieZiggy | 3/5 |

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