SCANDINAVIAN NIGHTS [AKA: LIVE AND RARE]

This concert was broadcasted by the Swedish radio in 1970 and eventually released on a 2- CD in different versions (another version is entitled "Skandinavian nights"). If you compare this material to their later live work like "Made in Japan" the music on this 2- CD set sound more in the vein of bands like Vanilla Fudge, Rare Earth and Iron Butterfly: studio versions are very stretched to tracks with a running time from more than 10 minutes and even at about half an hour and contain many extended soli on guitar, organ and even drums.

The first track from each CD ("Wring that neck" and "Mandrake root") contain around 30 minutes of dynamic and powerful heavy progressive rock featuring mindblowing soli from Jon Lord on the Hammond organ and Ritchie Blackmore on his Fender Stratocaster with spectacular use of the tremolo-arm. The Rolling Stones cover "Paint it black" starts very promising with fiery electric guitar but unfortunately Ian Paice decides to do a long drum solo. Of course he is a great drummer who did very well on "The mule" from "Made in Japan" but on "Paint it black" it was not the right place for his drum solo, this song sounds better with organ and guitar duets. The renditions of "Child in time" and "Black night" are good but the recording quality is not perfect. This 2-CD set features a powerful and convincing performance from Deep Purple, later they even matured live with "Made in Japan" as their pinnacle.

LEGENDARY HEAVY PROGRESSIVE ROCK!