Record Reviews

DON AIREY ~ ONE OF A KIND (EXTENDED EDITION) EAR MUSIC 4029759126393 (Barcode: 4029759126393) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2016 - 2017 Released: 2018 This is the 6th studio album by British Rock keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist, primarily known as a member of the iconic Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, where he replaced Jon LordFind albums by this artist in 2001. The album was recorded with vocalist Carl SentanceFind albums by this artist, guitarist Simon McBrideFind albums by this artist, bassist Laurence CottleFind albums by this artist and drummer Jon FinniganFind albums by this artist. The album presents eleven tracks, ten songs and one instrumental, all originals co-written by Airey, Sentance and McBride. This Extended Edition includes a second CD with live material recorded by the same band in Hamburg, not including any of the songs from the studio album. Not surprisingly, the album sounds quite similar to Deep Purple, a mixture of Classic Rock and melodic Hard Rock, brilliantly performed by all these seasoned instrumentalists and with superb vocals by Sentence. All the songs on the album are just perfect for this kind of music, and although they sound as if originating some fifty years earlier, this is exactly what some of us like to hear occasionally. Airey plays some brilliant keyboard parts as does McBride, again in perfect tradition of the 1970s, and these musicians know exactly what they are doing, note after note. If someone likes the music of Deep Purple, it is simply impossible not to like this stuff. And of course they are every bit as good live as they are in the studio! Overall, this is a perfect extension of the music of Deep Purple, and for the many fans the band still has around the world, this is exactly what the doctor prescribed. Excellent musicianship and vocals make this a true delight from start to finish. A taste of grandmother’s cake? Who cares, if you were born at the right period, you know what I mean…

Updated: 01/04/2024Posted: 01/04/2024

CD 2 Digipak Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

ARTWOODS ~ ART GALLERY (EXPANDED EDITION) REPERTOIRE 5134 (Barcode: 4009910513422) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1966 Released: 2009 ArtwoodsFind albums by this artist were one of the greatest British Blues / Rhythm And Blues bands from the mid-1960s, which unfortunately never achieved the success it truly deserved. Led by singer Arthur WoodFind albums by this artist (or "Art" and hence the band´s name) the band also included keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist (future founding member of Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist) and drummer Keef HartleyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Derek GriffithsFind albums by this artist and bassist Malcolm PoolFind albums by this artist. All these players, despite their tender age at the time, were excellent musicians already, which can be heard here. Due to quite strong Jazz influence, this music can be considered as early Jazz-Rock to some extent, similar to the material recorded by the Graham Bond OrganizationFind albums by this artist. The band managed to record only one album, one EP and several singles; all of their recordings are collected here for our pleasure. Definitely a classic, worth investigating!

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted:

CD 1 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

TONY ASHTON / JON LORD ~ FIRST OF THE BIG BANDS WOUNDED BIRD 2778 (Barcode: 664140277823) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2009 Only studio album recorded by this wonderful pair of British musicians keyboardist / vocalist Tony AshtonFind albums by this artist (Ashton, Gardner & DykeFind albums by this artist) and keyboardist / composer Jon LordFind albums by this artist (Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist), which was a predecessor of the Paice, Ashton & LordFind albums by this artist group, which recorded the legendary "Malice In WonderlandFind albums with this title" a couple of years later. The pair is joined by a large group of musicians, the list reading like a who´s who of the British Rock scene at the time, including Peter FramptonFind albums by this artist and Ron WoodFind albums by this artist. The music is quite interesting, presenting a "wall of sound" effect with jazzy brass arrangements behind the rocky foreground. Some great guitar and keyboards parts spice the album up, but overall it flows wonderfully and shows a lot of the typical British humor. Musically the project shifts between Prog and Rock, but the brass arrangements and the jazzy undercurrent make it quite unique. It is great to have this little gem back in circulation!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

BRIAN AUGER / OBLIVION EXPRESS ~ A BETTER LAND (EXPANDED EDITION) CASTLE 1056 (Barcode: 5050749410566) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2004 2nd album by Brian AugerFind albums by this artist and his Oblivion ExpressFind albums by this artist. Much in the same style as the debut album, mixing rock and jazz elements as in between Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist and Miles DavisFind albums by this artist. The music got better with the years passing (as good wine does) and sounds fresh and lovely today, full of energy, elegance, sophistication and good taste. Why don`t they make albums like that today?

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

BLACK BONZO ~ SOUND OF THE APOCALYPSE LASER`S EDGE 1048 (Barcode: 763232104822) ~ SWEDEN ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 2nd album by the excellent Swedish Prog group Black BonzoFind albums by this artist, which is a direct continuation of their superb debut album and brings some of the nicest and most clever Symphonic Prog recorded recently. The band sticks strictly to the 1970s Prog formula, even using a distinct "retro" sound in the studio, which makes this album sound as if it was recorded in the 1970s – I´m pretty sure nobody would be able to guess this album was recorded in the 2000s if they didn´t know so. The music, although not innovative and closely related to almost all the 1970s Prog giants (Jethro TullFind albums by this artist, early Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist and Uriah HeepFind albums by this artist in particular), is still original and really beautifully melodic. Lost of Hammond organ and mellotron, great instrumental work all through and superb songwriting – what else can one expect from an album? A great follow up to their debut and no doubt now – these guys know what they are doing and I like it! Symphonic Prog-heads should have a field day with this!

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

BLACKMORE`S NIGHT ~ FIRES AT MIDNIGHT SPV 72432 (Barcode: 4001617724323) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2001 Released: 2001 3rd album by Blackmore`s NightFind albums by this artist led by the legendary ex-Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist. Continuing the Medieval atmosphere of the two previous albums, but adding a harder edge and electric guitar, which made Blackmore famous anyway, this is the strongest album by the group so far. Ritchie´s wife Candice NightFind albums by this artist handles the vocals with the usual charm. People who loved the two earlier albums will enjoy this for sure.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

GRAHAM BOND ~ LIVE AT THE BBC AND OTHER STORIES REPERTOIRE 1279 (Barcode: 4009910127926) ~ UK ~ Jazz-Rock Fusion Recorded: 1962 - 1972 Released: 2015 This is a Box Set of archival material by British saxophonist / organist / composer / bandleader Graham BondFind albums by this artist, one of the most idiosyncratic and pioneering figures of the British Jazz, Jazz-Rock and Prog scenes. The material collected here consists mostly of recordings made by the BBC, but includes also some ultra-rare home recordings, demos and other ditties, covering the period between 1962 and 1972, which more or less presents Bond´s entire career before his tragic death in 1974, aged just 36 at the time. Regardless of what various music history sources have to say, Bond is singlehandedly responsible for the creation of the Jazz-Rock idiom around 1963, when he formed the Graham Bond QuartetFind albums by this artist, which featured guitarist John McLaughlinFind albums by this artist, bassist Jack BruceFind albums by this artist and drummer Ginger BakerFind albums by this artist (which were all destined to become superstars in the years to follow). The quartet amalgamated Bond´s experience with the Jazz world, gained while he was a member of the Don RendellFind albums by this artist Quintet, with the exploding Rhythm And Blues phenomenon, creating the earliest manifestation of Jazz-Rock known to man. One session of the Don Rendell Quintet with Bond as its member is included here and it also features as a guest musician saxophonist Dick Heckstall-SmithFind albums by this artist, who would become another of Bond´s close associates when he formed the seminal Graham Bond OrganizationFind albums by this artist in 1965, which was later joined by the celebrated drummer Jon HisemanFind albums by this artist. Following the Organization´s breakup Bond formed the Graham Bond InitiationFind albums by this artist and later on collaborated with the poet / lyricist Pete BrownFind albums by this artist, who wrote also the booklet that accompanies this Box Set. Their recordings together are the last (chronologically) tracks in this collection. The music included in this collection is of varied quality and sometimes of pretty Lo-Fi sound quality, even after it was carefully restored and remastered, but it is of enormous historic importance, as it documents not only Bond´s career but in fact the entire British Jazz scene, which was experiencing at that time a tremendous upheaval and explosion of new talents and ideological modifications of the very fabric of Jazz, which was parting from the American dominance and creating a new variety of the idiom, which would crystallize as European Jazz, spawning Jazz-Rock in the process. Bond´s performances on the Hammond Organ are all superbly executed and it makes perfect sense that they influenced an entire generation of British musicians, who invented Progressive Rock next, such a Jon LordFind albums by this artist of Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, Dave GreensladeFind albums by this artist of ColosseumFind albums by this artist, Brian AugerFind albums by this artist and of course many others. In general the music portrays the atmosphere of the British scene at the time, where genres and classifications were pretty arbitrary and where the Jazz / Rock / Prog idioms were influencing and embracing each other with ease and natural affinity. Kudos to the German RepertoireFind albums on this label label, which is one of the most important sources of reissues, for the meticulous work done on this set and for bringing this material back to life. This set continues the work done by Repertoire on the previous Graham Bond Box Set called "Wade In The Water – Classics, Origins and OdditiesFind albums with this title", which covers the recordings by Graham Bond Organization. Together these two Box Sets pay tribute to one of the greatest heroes of the British Jazz / Jazz-Rock pioneering figures, who is sadly often forgotten and is rarely given the credit he deserves for his revolutionary creativity.

Updated: 08/05/2023Posted: 01/04/2016

CD 4 Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

CZAR ~ CZAR SUNBEAM 5040 (Barcode: 5051125504015) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 2007 Only album by British group CzarFind albums by this artist, which consisted of Bob HodgesFind albums by this artist (keyboards & vocals), Mick WareFind albums by this artist (guitar & vocals), Paul KendrickFind albums by this artist (bass & vocals and the band’s main composer) and Derrick GoughFind albums by this artist (drums). They played great proto-Prog material, based on the extensive use of Hammond organ and mellotron and heavy lead guitar, as did many of their contemporaries. The lengthy tracks leave plenty of space for solos by the lead instruments and their 3-way vocal harmonies are pretty unique. Stylistically the group’ material is similar to early Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, Atomic RoosterFind albums by this artist and especially NiceFind albums by this artist, due to their use of adaptations of Classical Music themes, which served as a basis for long instrumental tours de force. Unfortunately their rearrangement of Manuel de FallaFind albums by this artist’s “Ritual Fire Dance”, which was their most ambitious piece, was omitted form the original LP release, only to be corrected with it being included as one of the bonus tracks on this reissue. The original LP earned a legendary status over the years and became a rare collector’s item, now back in circulation. Lovers of the late 1960s early British Prog will have a field day with this album, which lost none of its charm over the years.

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ =1 (LIMITED EDITION) EAR MUSIC 4029759191346 (Barcode: 4029759191346) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the 23rd studio album by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist and the first album recorded by the Mk IX lineup, which includes vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, new guitarist Simon McBrideFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen tracks, all co-composed by all members of the group and their regular producer Bob EzrinFind albums by this artist, for whom this is the 5th DP album he produced. The bonus CD presents a video offers a new “behind the scenes” documentary. Deep Purple seem to be completely and utterly time resistant, and sound every bit as vital and creative as ever. The new guitar player fits the bill perfectly and his riffs are as recognizable as those of his predecessors. The songwriting is also completely consistent with their past ways, and the album might have been recorded fifty years ago and nobody would be able to tell the difference. Of course some listeners might say that this album completely lacks innovation and is nothing more than a repetition, more or less, of music the group has been making for the last almost sixty years. Well, this is very true, but what of it? They do what they do perfectly and the music still kicks ass and puts any contemporary Rock group (if there are any) to shame. For people who grew up in the 1960s and followed Deep Purple faithfully for all these years, there is absolutely nothing wrong with hearing a bit more of the same, as long as it is as good as the music herein. The instrumental abilities that come together on this album are absolutely convincing, which of course is no surprise to any music lover familiar with Deep Purple’s legacy, Gillan is still a mighty vocalist, losing just a bit of his upper range, which is all for the better. Sparkled with some British sense of humor and obvious love of the subject matter, they are simply unbeatable. Veterans, grandpas, dinosaurs and whatever they are called, they still easily kick the ass of any band half (or one third) their age. Overall, this is a superb Rock album, which combines tradition, great selection of material and sublime musicianship, which is way more than one dares to expect from any contemporary Rock music. The fans of the group need no convincing and the youngsters might just learn something from what it has to offer. Hats off are in order and hopefully see you all on stage one day soon, lads.

Updated: 05/08/2024Posted: 05/08/2024

CD+DVD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ …TO THE RISING SUN (IN TOKYO) EAR MUSIC 4029759095477 (Barcode: 4029759095477) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the second of the two live double albums by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, recorded during the world tour following the release of the “Now What?!Find albums with this title” album. It features the Mk VIII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded at the legendary Budokan hall in Tokyo, which saw the group recording their epic “Made In JapanFind albums with this title” album in 1972, i.e. forty-two years earlier. The 2CD album presents eighteen tracks, spanning the entire repertoire of the group and several tracks from the last album. The DVD presents the full footage of the concert. The music is of course familiar to all the fans of the group, but the amazing performances included herein are simply beyond expectation, proving that Deep Purple are still the best live Rock group out there, which has its roots decades ago and an uninterrupted span of making excellent music without compromise, ignoring the world changing around and the true values of music in general and Rock in particular disintegrating. Depp Purple impersonate the Classic Rock definition better that any other existing Rock act today, not only due to their persistence and stamina, but for their ability to keep the music timeless and able to preserve the aesthetic values of creativity, ignoring fads and fashions. Despite the fact that their lineup changed over time and they lost the spiritual leadership of Jon LordFind albums by this artist, the managed to overcome the hardships and kept their faith in what they do. Overall, this album is an amazing display of Classic Rock at its best, superbly recorded and performed by incredibly talented musicians, who know exactly what they are doing. There is no one false note, one disturbance in the continuity and flow of the music, simply perfection itself. Regardless of what some people may think, these dinosaurs still rule the earth!

Updated: 01/04/2022Posted: 10/03/2022

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ BOMBAY CALLING EAR MUSIC 4029759139959 (Barcode: 4029759139959) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1995 Released: 2022 This is a live album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, recorded on April 18, 1995 in Mumbai, India during the first tour by the Mk VII lineup, captured before the first studio album by that lineup, “PurpendicularFind albums with this title” from 1996, was released. It is considered to this very day as the greatest Rock concert ever played in India. The Mk VII lineup of the group included vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist, and this is the earliest recording of them playing live. The 2 CDs present sixteen tracks and the DVD adds one more track not included on the CDs. The group is in top form on these recordings, as expected, with the new energies brought by Morse, who astonishingly was able to take the role of the veteran leading guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist without creating a major crisis within the band. The material includes some new songs, which will appear on the a.m. studio album and, as usual, a selection of their crowd pleasing favorites, which are completely timeless Classic Rock pieces. Overall, this is a brilliant document of the last reunion of the MK lineup and the history of one of the greatest Classic Rock groups of all time and British Rock unparalleled Masters. Although Deep Purple released a plethora of live albums, they are one of the very few acts, which produced such variety and diversity in their performances, that each and every one of their live albums is completely unique and worth listening to. As such this is another classic! The album is a numbered limited edition and my copy is 2,687/10,000 ;)

Updated: 06/10/2022Posted: 06/10/2022

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ BURN (30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) RHINO 081227464127 (Barcode: 081227464127) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1973 Released: 2005 This is a reissue / remaster of the eighth studio album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. It was the first album by the Mk III lineup of the group that included vocalist David CoverdaleFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Glenn HughesFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The album presented eight original songs co-written by the group members. This remastered edition was expanded with five bonus tracks, which are remixes of four album tracks and a B-side of a single. The lineup change had some minor influence on the musical direction, with included elements of soul and funk, but the prevailing riff dominated and Blues influenced style remained mostly intact. Coverdale turned out to be a fierce lead vocalist, to some degree more rounded and stable that his predecessor. Sadly, this lineup would exist for just over a couple of years, producing just one more studio album, called “StormbringerFind albums with this title”. Overall, this is an everlasting Classic Rock gem, which lost nothing of its glory over time and stands as an icon of what Rock music is all about, making contemporary “Rock” look utterly ridiculous. An absolute must in any decent record collection.

Updated: 22/07/2022Posted: 22/07/2022

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ COME TASTE THE BAND (35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) EMI 5099964786629 (Barcode: 5099964786629) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1975 Released: 2010 This is a reissue / remaster of the tenth studio album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. It was the only album by the Mk IV lineup of the group that included vocalist David CoverdaleFind albums by this artist, American guitarist Tommy BolinFind albums by this artist, who replaced the “irreplaceable” Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Glenn HughesFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The album presented nine original songs, mostly co-written by Bolin and Coverdale with some contributions by Hughes. This remastered edition was expanded with one bonus track, which is a single version, and also adds a whole second CD with new remixes of the original album and two additional bonus tracks, which are outtakes from the original recording sessions. The lineup change had significant influence on the musical direction, which took the band closer to American Rock and featured heavy Funk influences, mainly due to Bolin’s guitar style and songwriting, but the prevailing riff dominated and Blues influenced style remained mostly intact. Coverdale turned out to be a fierce lead vocalist, to some degree more rounded and stable that his predecessor. Sadly, this lineup would exist for just a few months, and Deep Purple disbanded by mid-1976 and it will be only eight years later, when they would reform again. Bolin died of drug overdose just a few months after the band split. Overall, this is an everlasting Classic Rock gem, which lost nothing of its glory over time and stands as an icon of what Rock music is all about, making contemporary “Rock” look utterly ridiculous. It is an absolute must to all Deep Purple fans and in deserves an honorable place in every decent record collection.

Updated: 13/05/2023Posted: 13/05/2023

CD 2 Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ CONCERTO FOR GROUP AND ORCHESTRA HARVEST 92941 (Barcode: 724349294196) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock This 1969 live recording of Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist with the Royal Phiharmonic Orchestra marks one of the first serious attempts to combine rock and classical music. Although received badly at the time, the ambitious attempt by Jon LordFind albums by this artist (who wrote the score) in a landmark to be later immitated and tried again by many other groups with various degrees of success. In retrospect this is still quite moving and a great piece of rock history. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, 53 minutes.

DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ FROM THE SETTING SUN (IN WACKEN)... EAR MUSIC 4029759105367 (Barcode: 4029759105367) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2013 Released: 2015 This is the first of the two live double albums by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, recorded during the world tour following the release of the “Now What?!Find albums with this title” album. It features the Mk VIII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded at the legendary Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany. The 2CD album presents seventeen tracks, spanning the entire repertoire of the group and several tracks from the last album. The DVD presents the full footage of the concert. The music is of course familiar to all the fans of the group, but the amazing performances included herein are simply beyond expectation, proving that Deep Purple are still the best live Rock group out there, which has its roots decades ago and an uninterrupted span of making excellent music without compromise, ignoring the world changing around and the true values of music in general and Rock in particular disintegrating. Depp Purple impersonate the Classic Rock definition better that any other existing Rock act today, not only due to their persistence and stamina, but for their ability to keep the music timeless and able to preserve the aesthetic values of creativity, ignoring fads and fashions. Despite the fact that their lineup changed over time and they lost the spiritual leadership of Jon LordFind albums by this artist, the managed to overcome the hardships and kept their faith in what they do. Overall, this album is an amazing display of Classic Rock at its best, superbly recorded and performed by incredibly talented musicians, who know exactly what they are doing. There is no one false note, one disturbance in the continuity and flow of the music, simply perfection itself. Regardless of what some people may think, these dinosaurs still rule the earth!

Updated: 01/04/2022Posted: 01/04/2022

2CD+DVD 3 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ HARD ROAD: THE MARK 1 STUDIO RECORDINGS 1968-69 PARLOPHONE 825646337415 (Barcode: 825646337415) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1969 Released: 2014 This wonderful Box Set includes the expanded and remastered versions of the first three albums by the seminal British band Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist: "Shades Of Deep PurpleFind albums with this title", "The Book Of TaliesynFind albums with this title" and the eponymous "Deep PurpleFind albums with this title". Recorded between May 1968 and March 1969, i.e. in just ten months (!), these are some of Rock and Prog cornerstones of epic proportions, seldom given their due as far as influencing future generations of Rock and especially Prog musicians in the decades to come. The Mark 1 lineup consisted of vocalist Rod EvansFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Nick SimperFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist, who all contributed as songwriters, although obviously most of the group´s material was created by Lord and Blackmore. On those three albums the band played mostly their own music, but also arranged, quite dramatically one must admit, songs by other songwriters, like John LennonFind albums by this artist / Paul McCartneyFind albums by this artist (twice), DonovanFind albums by this artist, Joe SouthFind albums by this artist, Billy RobertsFind albums by this artist, Neil DiamondFind albums by this artist and others. All three albums were produced by the legendary British produced Derek LawrenceFind albums by this artist. This Box Set includes both the original mono and stereo mixes (on separate CDs) of the first two albums and the stereo version of the third album. All five CDs are expanded by a plethora of bonus tracks, which include album outtakes, alternate takes, single edits, etc. all of which are studio recordings. For radio (i.e. live in the studio) recordings of the Deep Purple Mark 1 the fans should look up the excellent double CD album entitled "The BBC Sessions 1968–1970Find albums with this title", which collects all Mark 1 BBC recordings on the first CD. It is also worth remembering that although the next Deep Purple album would be recorded by the Mark 2 lineup with vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist and bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist, musically it belongs very much to what the Mark 1 lineup was doing on the third album, which included elaborate orchestral arrangements. The appropriately titled "Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title" album, a pioneering and unprecedented merger of a Rock group with a Symphonic Orchestra, was a direct result of the work initiated on the third album and is a true closure of the Mark 1 chapter. The fifth album however, "In RockFind albums with this title", was a completely new story and came as a reaction to the release of the Led ZeppelinFind albums by this artist debut album in early 1969, which also prompted the personnel change from Mark1 to Mark 2. That album embedded Deep Purple´s role as a defining element of the Hard Rock / Heavy Metal genres and Rock music in general. I often wonder why the role of Deep Purple Mark 1 is almost completely ignored by the Prog snobs. Even under the populist definition of Prog as an amalgam of Rock (electric instruments and rhythmic patterns), Classical (extended melodic and harmonic themes) and Jazz (improvisation), Deep Purple Mark 1 are the essence of Prog, much more so that say early YesFind albums by this artist, GenesisFind albums by this artist and other pretenders to the Big Five. By the same token the roles of other Deep Purple Mark 1 contemporaries, like NiceFind albums by this artist, Moody BluesFind albums by this artist and several others, are similarly completely overlooked, which is a pity to say to say the least. Prog was not just born one day with Robert FrippFind albums by this artist being struck by lightening… This is an essential piece of history of the formative years of Rock and a beautiful example how great music remains untouched by time and perhaps even gets better in time. I can´t imagine a music library, which does not include these classic recordings, so now is the time to repent and remedy.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ IN CONCERT PARLOPHONE 077779818129 (Barcode: 077779818129) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1970 - 1972 Released: 1992 This is a 2CD live album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. Released originally in 1980, the CD edition was expanded with two tracks. It presents two concerts by the first incarnation of the Mk II lineup of the group that included vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist: CD1 was recorded in 1970 and includes four tracks and CD2 was recorded in 1972 and includes eight tracks, both recorded by the BBC for their “in Concert” live broadcasts. The 1970 concert features a couple of songs from the “In RockFind albums with this title” album and two songs from the albums recorded by the Mk I lineup. The 1972 concert was taped just a week before the release of the “Machine HeadFind albums with this title” album and features live versions of six of the seven songs on that album. The group is in top form on both these recordings, as expected. The 1970 concert is characterized by expanded Rock improvisations lasting for almost twenty minutes on two of the songs and the other two being only somewhat shorter. It is a perfect summary of the Prog period of Deep Purple. The 1972 concert finds the group in their second phase, closer to Hard Rock, but one of the tracks also lasts about twenty minutes and features long instrumental improvisations. Overall, this is a brilliant document of the early period of one of the greatest Classic Rock groups of all time, as well as a hyper-productive period in British Rock. Although Deep Purple released a plethora of live albums, they are one of the very few acts, which produced such variety and diversity in their performances, that each and every one of their live albums is completely unique and worth listening to. As such this is another classic!

Updated: 18/08/2022Posted: 18/08/2022

CD 2 Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ INFINITE EAR MUSIC 4029759118480 (Barcode: 4029759118480) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2016 Released: 2017 This is the 20th studio album by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, released four years after their previous studio album “Now What?!Find albums with this title” from 2013. It is also the fourth studio album by the Mk VIII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, American guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. It is the 2nd album by the group produced by Bob EzrinFind albums by this artist. The album presents ten songs, all co-written by the group members, except the final track, which is a cover of a song by The DoorsFind albums by this artist. The music is everything one would expect from Deep Purple: a highly dynamic Rock music, which offers melodic themes and classic Rock riffs, which are the group’s trademarks. The current lineup completely consolidated its ranks since 2002 and became a perfect Rock machine, which has but a few contenders despite the advanced age of its members. The sound returns to the organ drenched heavy sound that was the group’s trademark from its onset, Gillan’s charismatic vocals are still one of the most recognizable Rock symbols and the music still manages to grab the listeners by their hearts, so what else would one want? The cover of “Roundhouse Blues”, originally recorded by the Doors and released on the “Morrison HotelFind albums with this title” album, is the longest and to me the best tracks on the album, being a great reminder of how great Deep Purple are when covering classic songs by others. It perhaps hints to making of the 2021 album “Turning To CrimeFind albums with this title”, which is entirely dedicated to covers. Overall, this is another great album by a veteran band, which refuses to rest and still sounds better that any of the wimps that call themselves Rockers these days.

Updated: 05/08/2024Posted: 25/01/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR KING BISCUIT 88002 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded in 1976 in the USA, this is the legendary California live concert that many DP fans consider as one of the finest ever recorded. This DP line-up is fronted by vocalist David Coverdale and includes the incredible guitar work by Tomy Bolin and powerful bass and vocals by Glenn Hughes. Lord and Paice complete the line-up. An absolute treasure!

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN BIRMINGHAM 1973 HNE 025 (Barcode: 5013929912526) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1993 Released: 2013 This is a remaster / reissue of a live album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, recorded during the last tour by the second and last reunion of the Mk II lineup, promoting “The Battle Rages On…Find albums with this title” album from 1993. Released originally in 2006 as the second part of the 4CD Box Set “Live In Europe 1993Find albums with this title”, this 20th Anniversary Edition was remastered. The Mk II lineup of the group that included vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist are heard here playing together for the final time. The group is in top form on these recordings, as expected, despite the internal tensions, which led Blackmore to leave the group following the last concert of the tour. The material includes some tracks from their last album and, as usual, a selection of their crowd pleasing favorites, which are completely timeless Classic Rock pieces. Overall, this is a brilliant document of the last reunion of the MK lineup and the history of one of the greatest Classic Rock groups of all time and British Rock unparalleled Masters. Although Deep Purple released a plethora of live albums, they are one of the very few acts, which produced such variety and diversity in their performances, that each and every one of their live albums is completely unique and worth listening to. As such this is another classic!

Updated: 27/12/2022Posted: 27/12/2022

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN CALIFORNIA 74 EMI 446779 (Barcode: 094634467797) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock 2nd installment of the “Deep Purple DVD Archive Collection”, presenting the band headlining the famous California Jam Festival. By the time this footage was filmed the band already reached stardom status, seen here as they arrive for the gig on their private jet. This version of Deep purple (Lord, Blackmore, Paice, Coverdale & Hughes) delivered fiery hard rock with vengeance, with very few contenders to their abilities, and this performance proves that beyond any doubt. Blackmore’s ill famous bad temper is displayed here in flagrante delicto as he smashes his guitar into one of the TV cameras. The entire show is a non-stop high-voltage affair as known only in the hay days of Rock. The commentary (see the 1st installment) is also available here. For fans of DP this is a must of course. Dolby Digital 5.0 Surround Sound and DTS, 119 minutes.

DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN CONCERT 72/73 EMI 317729 (Barcode: 094633177291) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 - 1973 Released: 2005 1st installent of the (so called) “Deep Purple DVD Archive Collection" series, which EMIFind albums on this label and the band intend to release, and it includes two concerts by Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist: one from 1972 (Copenhagen) and the other from 1973 (New York). The first concert is filmed in black and white, which has a nice nostalgic effect to it. The sound is cleaned up and upgraded and the visual material pretty decent, so overall this is not too bad, surely better than most similar archival material. The music of Deep Purple Mk II (Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, Jon LordFind albums by this artist, Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, Roger GloverFind albums by this artist & Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist) was heading into heavy rock and although there is quite a bit of instrumental improvisation there (by Lord and Blackmore), the on-stage theatrics look pretty ridiculous in retrospect. They were a hell of a show for sure and they all could play incredibly well, as opposed to many of their contemporaries. The interesting thing about the DVD is that there is an option to watch it with a “commentary” switched on, which means that you hear a commentator’s voice on top of the soundtrack. The commentary is quite well written, very informative and often even witty / funny – typical British humor mind you. This brings up considerably the educational value of the DVD. Dolby Digital 5.0 Surround Sound and DTS, 127 minutes.

Updated: 06/02/2024Posted:

DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN HONG KONG 2001 EAR MUSIC 4029759140214 (Barcode: 4029759140214) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2001 Released: 2022 This is a reissue / remaster of one of the six 2CD live albums by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, which were originally released in 2001 as the Box Set entitled “The Soundboard SeriesFind albums with this title”, which documented the group’s Australian / Japanese tour of the same year. The album features the Mk VII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. They are supported by a three-piece brass section and another three-piece background vocals section. The material includes a couple of songs from the 1996 album “PurpendicularFind albums with this title” and of course the classic songs by the band from their entire repertoire. These live recordings were amongst the last done with Jon Lord, before he retired from the group in 2002. As usual, Deep Purple perform spotlessly, full of vigor, dedication and masterful ability, completely ignoring the passing of time. They sound perfectly synchronized and in flawless balance, with Gillan’s vocals in faultless condition. Morse’s guitar playing revitalized the group’s sound considerably and the show is just as a brilliant Classic Rock experience as imaginably possible. Overall, this is a great live album, full of the everlasting Deep Purple energy and Classic Rock experience encapsulated for posterity. Although some of the material is repeated on almost every live Deep Purple album, each and every one of them is completely unique and for the band’s many fans indispensable. The album is a numbered limited edition and my copy is 8,177/10,104 :)

Updated: 06/11/2022Posted: 06/11/2022

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN LONDON 2002 EAR MUSIC 4029759169659 (Barcode: 4029759169659) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2002 Released: 2021 This is an archival album presenting a live concert recording by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, captured at the Hammersmith Apollo, London on February 22, 2002. It features the Mk VII lineup of the group with four veteran members going back together since the forming of the Mk II lineup in 1969: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist and the latest addition (since 1996) to the group, American guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist. It is one of the last concerts featuring Lord, who was replaced due to illness by keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist, and the temporary replacement soon after became permanent, followed by Lord’s amicable departure from the group, forming the Mk VIII lineup of the group, which exists till now. The 2CD album presents sixteen songs. The brilliantly recorded live performance presents Deep Purple as an unstoppable, perfectly oiled Rock machine, performing songs from the entire recording legacy of the group, going back as far as the first album recorded (then) thirty-four years earlier. Everything works like clockwork and if Rock is to be remembered in the distant future by this album alone, full justice would be done to the genre. As usual, the concert environment allows the musicians to take many liberties, usually not allowed during studio recordings, including long instrumental passages. Gillan introduces all the songs and tells occasional jokes, as usual in his case, holding the audience in the palms of his hands, and both his vocal ability and charisma are undeniable. Deep Purple have released about fifty or so live albums, so there is plenty to choose from, but a few of those are absolute classics, like “Made In JapanFind albums with this title” for example, and this album is very close to those classics, and as such absolutely essential to the many Deep Purple fans all over the world. The album is a numbered limited edition and my copy is 198/10,000 ;)

Updated: 13/04/2022Posted: 13/09/2021

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN NEWCASTLE 2001 EAR MUSIC 4029759139010 (Barcode: 4029759139010) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2001 Released: 2019 This is a reissue / remaster of one of the six 2CD live albums by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, which were originally released in 2001 as the Box Set entitled “The Soundboard SeriesFind albums with this title”, which documented the group’s Australian / Japanese tour of the same year. The Newcastle here is of course the Australian town not the British one. The album features the Mk VII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. They are supported by a three-piece brass section and another three-piece background vocals section. The material includes several songs from the 1996 album “PurpendicularFind albums with this title” and of course the classic songs by the band from their entire repertoire. These live recordings were amongst the last done with Jon Lord, before he retired from the group in 2002. As usual, Deep Purple perform spotlessly, full of vigor, dedication and masterful ability, completely ignoring the passing of time. They sound perfectly synchronized and in flawless balance, with Gillan’s vocals in faultless condition. Morse’s guitar playing revitalized the group’s sound considerably and the show is just as a brilliant Classic Rock experience as imaginably possible. Overall, this is a great live album, full of the everlasting Deep Purple energy and Classic Rock experience encapsulated for posterity. Although some of the material is repeated on almost every live Deep Purple album, each and every one of them is completely unique and for the band’s many fans indispensable. The album is a numbered limited edition and my copy is 17,141/20,000 ;)

Updated: 13/04/2022Posted: 13/04/2022

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN ROME 2013 EAR MUSIC 4029759144311 (Barcode: 4029759144311) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2013 Released: 2019 This is an archival album presenting a live concert recording by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, captured at the Ippodromo Delle Capannelle, Rome on July 22, 2013. It features the Mk VIII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, American guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album, which is one of the “Soundboard Series” releases, presents twenty-two songs. The brilliantly recorded live performance presents Deep Purple as an unstoppable, perfectly oiled Rock machine, performing songs from the entire recording legacy of the group, going back as far as the early albums recorded (at the time of the recording) forty years earlier. Everything works like clockwork and if Rock is to be remembered in the distant future by this album alone, full justice would be done to the genre. As usual, the concert environment allows the musicians to take many liberties, usually not allowed during studio recordings, including long instrumental passages. Deep Purple have released about fifty or so live albums, so there is plenty to choose from, but a few of those are absolute classics, like “Made In JapanFind albums with this title” for example, and this album is very close to those classics, and as such absolutely essential to the many Deep Purple fans all over the world. The album is a numbered limited edition and my copy is 4,817/20,000 ;)

Updated: 19/01/2022Posted: 19/01/2022

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN STUTTGART 1993 HNE 024 (Barcode: 5013929912427) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1993 Released: 2013 This is a remaster / reissue of a live album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, recorded during the last tour by the second and last reunion of the Mk II lineup, promoting “The Battle Rages On…Find albums with this title” album from 1993. Released originally in 2006 as the first part of the 4CD Box Set “Live In Europe 1993Find albums with this title”, this 20th Anniversary Edition was remastered. The Mk II lineup of the group that included vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist are heard here playing together for the final time. The group is in top form on these recordings, as expected, despite the internal tensions, which led Blackmore to leave the group following the last concert of the tour. The material includes some tracks from their last album and, as usual, a selection of their crowd pleasing favorites, which are completely timeless Classic Rock pieces. Overall, this is a brilliant document of the last reunion of the MK lineup and the history of one of the greatest Classic Rock groups of all time and British Rock unparalleled Masters. Although Deep Purple released a plethora of live albums, they are one of the very few acts, which produced such variety and diversity in their performances, that each and every one of their live albums is completely unique and worth listening to. As such this is another classic!

Updated: 29/09/2022Posted: 29/09/2022

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN TOKYO 2001 EAR MUSIC 4029759173151 (Barcode: 4029759173151) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2001 Released: 2022 This is a reissue / remaster of two (combined into one, as the two consecutive night concerts were almost identical) of the six 2CD live albums by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, which were originally released in 2001 as the Box Set entitled “The Soundboard SeriesFind albums with this title”, which documented the group’s Australian / Japanese tour of the same year. The album features the Mk VII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. They are supported by the Shin Nihon Philharmonic Select OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Paul MannFind albums by this artist. Vocalist Ronnie James DioFind albums by this artist guests on five tracks. The material includes a rare performance of the “Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title”, some songs originating from outside of the band’s albums and of course some classic songs by the band from their entire repertoire, arranged for orchestral accompaniment, which makes this album particularly unique and special. These live recordings were amongst the last done with Jon Lord, before he retired from the group in 2002. As usual, Deep Purple perform spotlessly, full of vigor, dedication and masterful ability, completely ignoring the passing of time. They sound perfectly synchronized and in flawless balance, with Gillan’s vocals in faultless condition. Morse’s guitar playing revitalized the group’s sound considerably and the show is just as a brilliant Classic Rock experience as imaginably possible. Overall, this is a great live album, full of the everlasting Deep Purple energy and Classic Rock experience encapsulated for posterity. Although some of the material is repeated on almost every live Deep Purple album, each and every one of them is completely unique and for the band’s many fans indispensable. The album is a numbered limited edition and my copy is 6,319/10,000 :)

Updated: 08/11/2022Posted: 08/11/2022

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN VERONA EAR MUSIC 4029759130147 (Barcode: 4029759130147) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2011 Released: 2014 This is a live album by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. It features the Mk VIII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded on July 18, 2011 at the legendary Arena di Verona Roman amphitheater, with the group accompanied by a full scale symphonic orchestra, the Neue Philharmonie FrankfurtFind albums by this artist, conducted by Stephen Bentley KleinFind albums by this artist. The 2CD album presents twenty-one tracks, spanning the entire repertoire of the group. The music is of course familiar to all the fans of the group, but the amazing performances included herein are simply beyond expectation, proving that Deep Purple are still the best live Rock group out there, which has its roots decades ago and an uninterrupted span of making excellent music without compromise, ignoring the world changing around and the true values of music in general and Rock in particular disintegrating. The orchestral accompaniments are of course new and quite unusual, and although Deep Purple recorded with orchestras before, the integration between the orchestra and the group on this album is absolutely unprecedented and fully complementing. Depp Purple impersonate the Classic Rock definition better that any other existing Rock act today, not only due to their persistence and stamina, but for their ability to keep the music timeless and able to preserve the aesthetic values of creativity, ignoring fads and fashions. Despite the fact that their lineup changed over time and they lost the spiritual leadership of Jon Lord, the managed to overcome the hardships and kept their faith in what they do. Overall, this album is an amazing display of Classic Rock at its best, superbly recorded and performed by incredibly talented musicians, who know exactly what they are doing. There is no one false note, one disturbance in the continuity and flow of the music, simply perfection itself. Regardless of what some people may think, these dinosaurs still rule the earth!

Updated: 08/01/2024Posted: 08/01/2024

CD 2 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ LIVE IN WOLLONGONG 2001 EAR MUSIC 4029759140252 (Barcode: 4029759140252) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2001 Released: 2021 This is a reissue / remaster of one of the six 2CD live albums by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, which were originally released in 2001 as the Box Set entitled “The Soundboard SeriesFind albums with this title”, which documented the group’s Australian / Japanese tour of the same year. The album features the Mk VII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. They are supported by a three-piece brass section and another three-piece background vocals section. The material includes a couple of songs from the 1996 album “PurpendicularFind albums with this title” and of course the classic songs by the band from their entire repertoire. These live recordings were amongst the last done with Jon Lord, before he retired from the group in 2002. As usual, Deep Purple perform spotlessly, full of vigor, dedication and masterful ability, completely ignoring the passing of time. They sound perfectly synchronized and in flawless balance, with Gillan’s vocals in faultless condition. Morse’s guitar playing revitalized the group’s sound considerably and the show is just as a brilliant Classic Rock experience as imaginably possible. Overall, this is a great live album, full of the everlasting Deep Purple energy and Classic Rock experience encapsulated for posterity. Although some of the material is repeated on almost every live Deep Purple album, each and every one of them is completely unique and for the band’s many fans indispensable. The album is a numbered limited edition and my copy is 332/10,000 :)

Updated: 21/05/2022Posted: 21/05/2022

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ MACHINE HEAD WARNER 081227976545 (Barcode: 081227976545) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1971 Released: 2019 This is a reissue of the sixth studio album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. It was recorded in December of 1971 by the first incarnation of the Mk II lineup of the group that included vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The album presented seven original songs co-written by the group members. It contains the song “Smoke On The Water”, which is related to the circumstances surrounding the recording of the album, and which remains an anthem of the group, featured in all live appearances until today, over five decades later. Grueling touring and recording schedule did not prevent from the band to create absolute master albums one after another, and this one is an excellent example of their early work. Deeply influenced by Blues and with some Prog tendencies, this album remains an icon of Classic Rock fifty years after it was recorded. No other Rock band managed to produce such an outstanding series of albums with absolutely no weak tracks on them like Deep Purple Mk II. Overall, this is an everlasting Classic Rock gem, which lost nothing of its glory over time and stands as an icon of what Rock music is all about, making contemporary “Rock” look utterly ridiculous. An absolute must in any decent record collection.

Updated: 25/10/2022Posted: 25/10/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ MADE IN JAPAN (DELUXE EDITION) UNIVERSAL 602537696406 (Barcode: 602537696406) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2014 British Rock legends Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, in their second incarnation called Mk II, were one of the definitive bands of all times and this live recording captures the band at their absolute peak form, resulting in an iconic album which is an integral part of the pantheon of live Rock albums. The band was an incredible amalgamation of talent and included the fierce rhythm section: bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist, two absolutely stupendous instrumentalists: organist Jon LordFind albums by this artist and guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist and a charismatic, energetic and unstoppable vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist. Between them they also shared a rare ability to write incredible catchy riffs that stuck with the listener forever and some of the most beautiful Rock melodies ever composed. As a result at that time they had only very few competitors to the "Kings of Rock" title. Originally this album was released as a double LP, a tradition that started in the late 1960s and continued for the decade to come, with most top Rock acts releasing at least one double live album during their career. The album included seven original Deep Purple tunes, originating from the three studio albums that preceded this recording: "In RockFind albums with this title", "FireballFind albums with this title", and "Machine HeadFind albums with this title". The average playing time of each of these tunes is over ten minutes, which means these were expanded versions, full of long solo spots, improvised passages and a general mayhem and race with the devil. The level of musicianship, energy, inventiveness and sheer stunning brilliance is simply astounding. This Deluxe edition of the album adds a second CD of previously unreleased material recorded at the same concerts that produced the original album, and includes mostly encores the band played at the time. It includes songs which were not included on the original album, one of which is the band´s cover of a classic Rock song (they rarely played covers so this is a treat). Of course one can only speculate when the complete recordings done on the three nights in Japan will be released in their entirety. In retrospect this is a piece of the Holy Grail, which appeared on earth for a brief decade and then was lost again. Nobody makes music like this any more and probably nobody will ever do. Thank God for sound recording and record labels for sharing this Ambrosia with us (for a fee, mind you). I pity the generations that came after ours for being ignorant of this music´s existence.

CD 2 Digipak Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ MADE IN JAPAN (LIMITED EDITION SUPER DELUXE BOXED SET) UNIVERSAL 602537696383 (Barcode: 602537696383) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2014 This is the expanded reissue / remix of the seminal live album by iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, recorded in Osaka and Tokyo during three consecutive nights on August 15, 16 and 17, 1972. The album was recorded by the original Mk II lineup of the group with vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The Box Set presents the full concerts played during the three nights on CD1 to CD3 and the encores of all three nights on CD4. There is also a DVD with a documentary about these concerts and other material, as well as a replica of a 7” Vinyl single released in Japan during the tour and a plethora of printed materials. The set list of the three concert is identical, as are the encores (with one exception). This provides the fans with an opportunity to compare these concerts looking for subtle (and sometimes less subtle) differences between them. Of course, every live concert is different from another, but the creativity of these musicians is truly amazing and in fact they are able to create many variations of the same tunes in a most astonishing way. This album has been hailed for generations as “the best live Rock album of all time”, and it certainly deserves an honorable place on a pedestal of most memorable live recordings for its sheer power, ingenuity and brilliant music, uniquely combined into one. The new remixes might surprise listeners, who have listened to the earlier versions of this album (and who hasn’t?), as it offers a much more detailed separation between the instruments and clear sound. Of course even if you already have an earlier version, this Box Set is worth having, except for the fact that it now has an astronomical price rag. Overall, this is a monumental historic Rock document, which is an essential part of every decent Classic Rock record collection, not necessarily in this expanded version. If your wife is bothering you about wasting money on buying records, tell her that this album is now worth over ten times as much as you paid for it ten years ago ;) Best investment ever!

Updated: 06/02/2024Posted: 06/02/2024

4CD+DVD+VINYL SINGLE 6 Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Essential Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ NOW WHAT?! (DELUXE EDITION) EAR MUSIC 826992031828 (Barcode: 826992031828) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2012 Released: 2013 This is the 19th studio album by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, released over seven years after their previous studio album “Rapture Of The DeepFind albums with this title” from 2005. It is also the third studio album by the Mk VIII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, American guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. It is the 1st album by the group produced by Bob EzrinFind albums by this artist. The original album presents eleven original songs, all co-written by the group members. This Deluxe Editions adds one bonus tracks and a bonus DVD with an interview with the band and three bonus audio tracks. The album is dedicated to Jon LordFind albums by this artist, the founding member of Deep Purple, who died in 2012, while this music was recorded. The music is everything one would expect from Deep Purple: a highly dynamic Rock music, which offers melodic themes and classic Rock riffs, which are the group’s trademarks. The current lineup completely consolidated its ranks since 2002 and became a perfect Rock machine, which has but a few contenders despite the advanced age of its members. The sound returns to the organ drenched heavy sound that was the group’s trademark from its onset, Gillan’s charismatic vocals are still one of the most recognizable Rock symbols and the music still manages to grab the listeners by their hearts, so what else would one want? Overall, this is another great album by a veteran band, which refuses to rest and still sounds better that any of the wimps that call themselves Rockers these days.

Updated: 05/08/2024Posted: 23/01/2022

CD+DVD 2 Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM CLASSICS SONY 886979445024 (Barcode: 886979445024) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1990 - 1996 Released: 2011 This Box Set collects reissues of three albums by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, originally released on the RCAFind albums on this label label between 1990 and 1996. They are: “Slaves And MastersFind albums with this title” (1990), “The Battle Rages On…Find albums with this title” (1993), and “PurpendicularFind albums with this title” (1996). “Slaves And Masters” is the thirteenth studio album and the only album recorded by the Mk V lineup of Deep Purple, in which the lead singer Ian GillanFind albums by this artist was replaced by the ex-RainbowFind albums by this artist vocalist Joe Lynn TurnerFind albums by this artist. The rest of the members were veterans since the forming of the Mk II lineup in 1969: keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. Some string orchestral arrangements are also present. The album presents nine songs, all co-written by the band members. Later reissues of the albums included single edits as bonus tracks, which are not present here. “The Battle Rages On…” is the fourteenth studio album and the only album recorded by the second reunion of the Mk II lineup of Deep Purple, in which the lead singer Ian Gillan returned to his vocal duties, alas for the last time. This was the last album recorded by the classic Mk II lineup. The album presents ten songs, all co-written by the band members. “Purpendicular” is the fifteenth studio album and first album by the Mk VII lineup of Deep Purple, which marked the arrival of ex-Dixie DregsFind albums by this artist / KansasFind albums by this artist American guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, as a replacement for Blackmore (The short-lived Mk VI featured American guitarist Joe SatrianiFind albums by this artist, who eventually could not join the group on a permanent basis). The album presents twelve songs, all co-written by the band members. Later reissues of the albums included single edits as bonus tracks, which are not present here. Although these albums were met with mixed reception by critics and fans at the time of their release, they are still classic rock album created by Masters of the trade, who never played a wrong note in their life. Considering how dreadful Rock / Pop music created in the 1990s was in general, these three albums are some of the last strongholds of sanity and of course they are an essential part of the Deep Purple legacy. And yes, all the three album covers are amongst the ugliest ever! ;) Side Note The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label, the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label, the "5 Original AlbumsFind albums with this title" by UniversalFind albums on this label, the Box Sets by RhinoFind albums on this label and other similar releases are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases has been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard for the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires as to treat our Cultural Legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. Most importantly these Box Sets don't include any booklet offering a historical background and perspective about the Artists and the Music, which are extremely important and vital to the preservation of our Culture and passing the knowledge to the next generations. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 06/02/2024Posted: 11/09/2021

CD 3 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ PERFECT STRANGERS POLYDOR 731454604529 (Barcode: 731454604529) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1984 Released: 1999 This is a reissue / remaster of the 11th studio album by iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, which was also the first album recorded by the first reunion of the Mk II lineup with vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. Blackmore and Glover arrived from RainbowFind albums by this artist, Lord from WhitesnakeFind albums by this artist, Gillan from Black SabbathFind albums by this artist and Paice from Gary MooreFind albums by this artist’s band, which emphasizes the omnipresence of these musicians on the British Rock scene at the time. The album presents eight original songs and this reissue adds two bonus tracks. The album offers an excellent collection of songs, which resulted in turning it into one of the most successful albums in the band’s history. The instrumental performances are as perfect as always, offering impressive solo parts. Despite the fact that the Rock music in the 1980 was already completely disintegrated, Deep Purple firmly hold on to the formula forged over a decade earlier, and were simply way above any other Rock group active at the time. Overall, this is a superb Classic Rock album, which despite the continuous attempt to classify it as Heavy Metal, has absolutely nothing to do with that genre. Forty years later this still sounds better than everything you can hear these days in what remains of the media. Definitely worth to be re-visited!

Updated: 16/06/2022Posted: 16/06/2022

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

	DEEP PURPLE ~ PERIHELION (DVD) GAMEMANIA 9 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock This is a 2001 recording of the original Deep Purple Mk II (Gillan, Glover, Lord & Paice) minus Blackmore, who is replaced by Steve Morse. The material covers many old favorites from the early albums and some newer material as well. Includes behind the scenes footage and interviews. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, 102 minutes.
Updated: 06/02/2024Posted:	DVD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ RAPTURE OF THE DEEP EDEL 4029758655429 (Barcode: 4029758655429) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2005 Released: 2005 This is the eighteenth studio album by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, released two years after their previous studio album “BananasFind albums with this title” from 2003. It is also the second studio album by the Mk VIII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, American guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. It is the first album by the group produced by Bob Ezrin. The album presents ten original songs, all co-written by the group members. The music is everything one would expect from Deep Purple: a highly dynamic Rock music, which offers melodic themes and classic Rock riffs, which are the group’s trademarks. The current lineup completely consolidated its ranks since 2002 and became a perfect Rock machine, which has but a few contenders despite the advanced age of its members. The sound returns to the organ drenched heavy sound that was the group’s trademark from its onset, Gillan’s charismatic vocals are still one of the most recognizable Rock symbols and the music still manages to grab the listeners by their hearts, so what else would one want? This album, the second produced by Michael BradfordFind albums by this artist, who also produced “Bananas”, is somewhat “heavier” than usual sounding, with a strong bass presence, probably due to the fact that Bradford is also an influential bassist. Overall, this is another great album by a veteran band, which refuses to rest and still sounds better that any of the wimps that call themselves Rockers these days.

Updated: 16/03/2022Posted: 16/03/2022

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ STORMBRINGER (35TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION) EMI 5099926464527 (Barcode: 5099926464527) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1974 Released: 2009 This is a reissue / remaster of the ninth studio album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. It was the second (and last) album by the Mk III lineup of the group that included vocalist David CoverdaleFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Glenn HughesFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The album presented nine original songs co-written by the group members. This remastered edition was expanded with five bonus tracks, which are remixes of four album tracks and an instrumental version of one track. The bonus DVD audio offers the original Quad mix of the album in 5.1 and PCM stereo versions. The lineup change had a relatively minor influence on the musical direction, with included elements of soul and funk, but the prevailing riff dominated and Blues influenced style remained mostly intact. Coverdale turned out to be a fierce lead vocalist, to some degree more rounded and stable that his predecessor. Sadly, this lineup would exist for just over a couple of years, producing just one more studio album, called “BurnFind albums with this title”. Overall, this is an everlasting Classic Rock gem, which lost nothing of its glory over time and stands as an icon of what Rock music is all about, making contemporary “Rock” look utterly ridiculous. An absolute must in any decent record collection.

Updated: 18/09/2023Posted: 18/09/2023

CD+DVD 2 Slipcase Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ TURNING TO CRIME EAR MUSIC 4029759157151 (Barcode: 4029759157151) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2021 Released: 2021 This is the 22nd studio album by the iconic British Rock / Prog band Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist and their first album dedicated entirely to covers of Classic Rock songs by such legends as Fleetwood MacFind albums by this artist, Bob DylanFind albums by this artist, YardbirdsFind albums by this artist, CreamFind albums by this artist and others. The lineup includes vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. A few additional musicians appear on selected tracks. The album presents twelve tracks, the last of which is a medley of five songs, so altogether the album includes covers of sixteen songs. The album, recorded during the Covid-19 pandemic, was put together by recording the five members of the band in separate studios and then pasted together by the band’s regular producer Bob EzrinFind albums by this artist, for whom this was the 4th DP album he produced. Although Deep Purple created a plethora of great original songs during the fifty plus years of their existence, they were always superb interpreters of songs written by other songwriters, starting with their debut album. This album proves that they indeed are able to put new life into songs, which are mostly as old as the group, and that without damaging the original songs and often improving on them. The instrumental abilities that come together on this album are absolutely convincing, which of course is no surprise to any music lover familiar with Deep Purple’s legacy, Gillan is still a mighty vocalist, losing just a bit of his upper range, which is all for the better. Sparkled with some British sense of humor and obvious love of the subject matter, they are simply unbeatable. Veterans, grandpas, dinosaurs and whatever they are called, they still easily kick the ass of any band half their age. Overall, this is a superb Rock album, which combines tradition, great selection of material and sublime musicianship, which is way more than one dares to expect from any contemporary Rock music. The fans of the group need no convincing and the youngsters might just learn something from what it has to offer. Hats off are in order and hopefully see you all on stage one day soon, lads.

Updated: 05/08/2024Posted: 25/12/2021

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ WHO DO WE THINK WE ARE EMI 724352160723 (Barcode: 724352160723) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1972 Released: 2000 This is a reissue / remaster of the seventh studio album by the legendary British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. It was the last album by the first incarnation of the Mk II lineup of the group that included vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. The album presented seven original songs co-written by the group members. This remastered edition was expanded with seven bonus tracks, which include remixes, outtakes and a lengthy instrumental jam. Grueling touring and recording schedule did not prevent from the band to create absolute master albums one after another, and this one is an excellent example of their early work. Deeply influenced by Blues and with some Prog tendencies, this album remains an icon of Classic Rock fifty years after it was recorded. No other Rock band managed to produce such an outstanding series of albums with absolutely no weak tracks on them like Deep Purple Mk II. Overall, this is an everlasting Classic Rock gem, which lost nothing of its glory over time and stands as an icon of what Rock music is all about, making contemporary “Rock” look utterly ridiculous. An absolute must in any decent record collection.

Updated: 16/07/2022Posted: 16/07/2022

CD 1 Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

DEEP PURPLE ~ WHOOSH! (LIMITED EDITION) EAR MUSIC 4029759141358 (Barcode: 4029759141358) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2020 Released: 2020 This is the 21st studio album by the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, released three years after their previous studio album “InfiniteFind albums with this title” from 2017. It is also the fifth studio album by the Mk VIII lineup of the group: vocalist Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, American guitarist Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Don AireyFind albums by this artist, bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist and drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist. It is the 3rd album by the group produced by Bob EzrinFind albums by this artist. The album presents thirteen tracks, grouped into two six songs sets called Act 1 and Act 2 and one bonus track. All the songs were co-written by the group members and Ezrin, except the final track of Act 2, which is a re-make of a song from the group’s debut album “Shades Of Deep PurpleFind albums with this title” from 1968, written by Ritchie BlackmoreFind albums by this artist and Jon LordFind albums by this artist. The Limited Edition includes a bonus DVD, which includes an interview with Glover and Ezrin and a full live concert performance filmed in 2017. The music is everything one would expect from Deep Purple: a highly dynamic Rock music, which offers melodic themes and classic Rock riffs, which are the group’s trademarks. The current lineup completely consolidated its ranks since 2002 and became a perfect Rock machine, which has but a few contenders despite the advanced age of its members. The songs are distinctly shorter in duration, featuring less instrumental passages, but retain the Classic Rock formula faithfully and are all performed brilliantly, producing a time capsule, which sound nothing like contemporary music, thank God! The sound returns to the organ drenched heavy sound that was the group’s trademark from its onset, Gillan’s charismatic vocals are still one of the most recognizable Rock symbols and the music still manages to grab the listeners by their hearts, so what else would one want? Overall, this is another great album by a veteran band, which refuses to rest and still sounds better that any of the wimps that call themselves Rockers these days.

Updated: 05/08/2024Posted: 13/03/2022

CD+DVD 2 Digibook Recommend To A Friend

FIVE DAY RAIN ~ FIVE DAY RAIN NIGHT WINGS 05 ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1970 Released: 2006 Only album, previously unreleased, by the obscure British group Five Day RainFind albums by this artist, led by guitarist / singer Rick SharpeFind albums by this artist and including keyboardist Graham MaitlandFind albums by this artist. The short-lived group managed to record quite an excellent album, which unfortunately was never released, seeing the light of the day only 36 years later. Their music was a great mixture of Psychedelic Rock and Prog, somewhat similar to the early Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist albums. Great tunes, splendid vocal harmonies and one 11+ minutes long instrumental track, which alone is worth the price of the album. As bonus material four unfinished tracks, recorded at the time the album was recorded, were completed by Sharpe in 2005. Definitely a lost gem, worth reviving and listening to after all these years.

CD 1 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

GILLAN ~ THE GILLAN TAPES VOL. 1 ANGEL AIR 004 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock GillanFind albums by this artist were of course the group led by the ex-Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist singer Ian GillanFind albums by this artist and this collection of previously unreleased material proves again how good the group was. Gillan`s extraordinary vocal abilities and the excellent musicianship by his group members made them one of the hottest rock groups of all times. This is the first part of the collection.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

GILLAN ~ THE GILLAN TAPES VOL. 2 ANGEL AIR 023 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock GillanFind albums by this artist were of course the group led by the ex-Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist singer Ian GillanFind albums by this artist and this collection of previously unreleased material proves again how good the group was. Gillan`s extraordinary vocal abilities and the excellent musicianship by his group members made them one of the hottest rock groups of all times. This is the second part of the collection.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

ROGER GLOVER ~ SNAPSHOT+ EAR MUSIC 4029759170105 (Barcode: 4029759170105) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2001 - 2002 Released: 2021 This is a reissue of the fourth solo album by the veteran Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist bassist Roger GloverFind albums by this artist, called “SnapshotFind albums with this title”, originally released in 2002. The album was recorded with American vocalist / multi-instrumentalist / songwriter Randall BramblettFind albums by this artist, guitarist Warren HaynesFind albums by this artist and about a dozen other contributors. The album presented fourteen original songs, most written by Glover and a few by Bramblett. This reissue adds five demo recordings recorded some years before the album was recorded and a much improved design and packaging. Musically the album is pure Classic Rock, with strong American influences (Allman Brothers BandFind albums by this artist and others) and far removed from the Deep Purple heavy sound. The songs are all very melodic and present Glover as a seasoned songwriter. Several guitarists contribute excellent guitar solos, which are the main instrumental contribution on this album, on top of keyboards background, solid rhythm section and a few brass section parts on selected songs. Overall, the album a great collection of excellent Rock songs, superbly executed and full of grace and elegance. The music is definitely retro oriented and sounds more like something recorded back in the 1960s rather than four decades later, which of course is all for the best. For Classic Rock lovers this is a real treat!

Updated: 06/04/2022Posted: 06/04/2022

CD 1 Digipak Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

GLENN HUGHES / GEOFF DOWNES ~ THE WORK TAPES BLUEPRINT 285 ~ UK ~ Classic Rock This material was recorded in 1994 for a solo album by Glenn HughesFind albums by this artist (Black SabbathFind albums by this artist, Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist) but eventually never released. It sees the light of day for the first time on this CD. The songs are mostly written by the keyboards player Geoff DownesFind albums by this artist (YesFind albums by this artist, AsiaFind albums by this artist) and the cooperation between these two rock giants works very well.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JON LORD ~ CONCERTO FOR GROUP AND ORCHESTRA EAR MUSIC 4029759081838 (Barcode: 4029759081838) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2011 - 2012 Released: 2012 British organist / composer Jon LordFind albums by this artist composed his legendary “Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title” in 1969, when he was a member of the iconic British group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. The concerto was first recorder live by Deep Purple with the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraFind albums by this artist, conducted by Malcolm ArnoldFind albums by this artist, and became Depp Purple’s 4th consecutive album (1st live). It was one of the first Rock albums to feature a full orchestra. The concerto’s original score was lost shortly after the first performance and was later painstakingly recreated by Lord and since 1999 was performed live many times around the globe with many different orchestras. This album presents the first studio recording of the concerto, recorded in 2011 and 2012, and completed shortly before Lord’s death in July of 2012. The orchestral parts were executed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Paul MannFind albums by this artist. The group parts were executed by Lord, guitarists Darin VasilevFind albums by this artist, Joe BonamassaFind albums by this artist and Steve MorseFind albums by this artist, vocalists Steve BalsamoFind albums by this artist, Kasia LaskaFind albums by this artist and Bruce DickinsonFind albums by this artist, bassist Guy PrattFind albums by this artist and drummer Brett MorganFind albums by this artist. Separated by forty-two years, this version of the concerto offers a much better balance between the Rock group and the orchestra and a sublime sound quality, which was simply unobtainable at the time of the original recording. The music lost absolutely nothing of its power, beauty and relevance over time and is still very much a model of cross-genre thinking. Overall, this is a timeless classic, which every fan of Rock, Prog and good music in general must have in his private music library. Thanks to Lord’s determination to complete this project before his departure, we can now enjoy it in its full glory.

Updated: 16/12/2021Posted: 16/12/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JON LORD ~ DURHAM CONCERTO AVIE 2145 (Barcode: 822252214529) ~ UK ~ Classical Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 Known to the world as the founder of the seminal Rock / Prog group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, organist / composer / bandleader Jon LordFind albums by this artist is less known for his great love of Classical Music, although much of his late period activity was almost completely dedicated to that genre. As early as 1969 Lord astonished the Rock world as a pioneer of Rock-Classical Fusion with his “Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title”, which was one of the first recordings of Rock incorporating a Philharmonic Orchestra. He flirted with the Rock-Classical Fusion idiom on several of the early Deep Purple albums, in a less obvious form, as well as on his early solo albums and recordings with other musicians (“Gemini SuiteFind albums with this title”, “WindowsFind albums with this title”, “SarabandeFind albums with this title” and others) and his love for Classical Music was always present in his life. By the turn of the Millennium Lord started to record a series of Classical music albums, starting with “Pictured WithinFind albums with this title” and followed by “Beyond The NotesFind albums with this title”, “Durham ConcertoFind albums with this title”, “Boom Of The Tingling StringsFind albums with this title” and finally “To Notice Such ThingsFind albums with this title”. He also participated in recording of a new version of the “Concerto For Group And Orchestra”, sadly unable to see it completed and released before his parting. “Durham Concerto” is a three-part concerto for four soloist and orchestra. Each of the three parts is subdivided into two chapters. The soloists are: Mathew BarleyFind albums by this artist on cello, Jon Lord on Hammond organ, Ruth PalmerFind albums by this artist on violin and Kathryn TickellFind albums by this artist on Northumbrian pipes and the orchestral parts are performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Mischa DamevFind albums by this artist. The music is absolutely stunning, and although strictly within the Classical norms, it has a “subversive” Rocky feel at times and the usage of the Hammond organ and Northumbrian pipes offer a wonderful variety and aural diversity. The music is very “English”, which is hardly surprising, divinely melodic and deeply moving. Lord certainly had a lot to offer as a Classical composer, far reaching with his ideas, same as he did in Rock music, and deserves to be remembered as such. This album is a great addition to every serious record collection and offers a most rewarding listening experience, which is wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 26/02/2021Posted: 26/02/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JON LORD ~ PICTURED WITHIN VIRGIN 493704 (Barcode: 724349370425) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1997 Released: 1998 Recorded in 1997 while Jon LordFind albums by this artist was still an active member of Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, this is his furthest venture away from Rock and into the classical music. Although previous Lord`s solo albums flirted with classical music, on this one he takes the deep plundge and leaves the Rock elements completely out of the equation. This mostly instrumental / orchestral music is serene and deeply lyrical, with only a few vocal tracks. The album consists of 4 legthy suites, each sub-divided into 3 parts. As all things, a matter of taste, but the classical textures he produces here are really quite beautiful.

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JON LORD ~ TO NOTICE SUCH THINGS AVIE 2190 (Barcode: 822252219029) ~ UK ~ Classical Recorded: 2010 Released: 2010 Known to the world as the founder of the seminal Rock / Prog group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, organist / composer / bandleader Jon LordFind albums by this artist is less known for his great love of Classical Music, although much of his late period activity was almost completely dedicated to that genre. As early as 1969 Lord astonished the Rock world as a pioneer of Rock-Classical Fusion with his “Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title”, which was one of the first recordings of Rock incorporating a Philharmonic Orchestra. He flirted with the Rock-Classical Fusion idiom on several of the early Deep Purple albums, in a less obvious form, as well as on his early solo albums and recordings with other musicians (“Gemini SuiteFind albums with this title”, “WindowsFind albums with this title”, “SarabandeFind albums with this title” and others) and his love for Classical Music was always present in his life. By the turn of the Millennium Lord started to record a series of Classical music albums, starting with “Pictured WithinFind albums with this title” and followed by “Beyond The NotesFind albums with this title”, “Durham ConcertoFind albums with this title”, “Boom Of The Tingling StringsFind albums with this title” and finally “To Notice Such ThingsFind albums with this title”. He also participated in recording of a new version of the “Concerto For Group And Orchestra”, sadly unable to see it completed and released before his parting. “To Notice Such Things” is a six-part suite for flute, piano and orchestra. The soloists are: Cormac HentyFind albums by this artist on flute and Jon Lord on piano and the orchestral parts are performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Clark RundellFind albums by this artist. The album also includes three additional short pieces, composed earlier and appearing here in new instrumentation, as well as a recitation of a poem by Thomas HardyFind albums by this artist (read by Jeremy IronsFind albums by this artist). The music is absolutely beautiful and very “English” in nature, which is hardly surprising, divinely melodic and deeply moving. Lord certainly had a lot to offer as a Classical composer, far reaching with his ideas, same as he did in Rock music, and deserves to be remembered as such. This album is a great addition to every serious record collection and offers a most rewarding listening experience, which is wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 01/03/2021Posted: 01/03/2021

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

JON LORD BLUES PROJECT ~ LIVE EAR MUSIC 4029759140672 (Barcode: 4029759140672) ~ UK ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2011 Released: 2021 This is a reissue of the only album by British keyboardist / composer / bandleader Jon LordFind albums by this artist and his group Blues ProjectFind albums by this artist, which included some of the finest British musicians associated with Blues and Blues-Rock idioms: guitarist / vocalist Miller AndersonFind albums by this artist, keyboardist / vocalist Zoot MoneyFind albums by this artist, vocalist Maggie BellFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Colin HodgkinsonFind albums by this artist and drummer Pete YorkFind albums by this artist. The album was recorded live and presents twelve tracks, which include original material by the members of the group as well as classic Blues songs by British and American songwriters. Lord, primarily known as the founder of the seminal Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, but also as a respected Classical composer, had a deep affinity towards the Blues and recorded several Blues albums with the Australian band Hoochie Coochie MenFind albums by this artist. This album, recorded in May 2011, almost exactly a year before Lord’s untimely death, is one of his very last recordings. The music is absolutely divine and the stellar lineup offers some breathtaking vocal and instrumental performances, in the best tradition of the British Blues / Blues-Rock. Lord’s Hammond organ gets a lot of the well-deserved exposure and everybody on the stage seems to have a great time, which projects directly on the music played. Overall, this is a true blast from start to finish, an unadulterated serving prepared by savvy veterans, who know their stuff inside out and seem to be completely unaffected by time. The album is an absolute must to all British Blues / Blues-Rock fans and a great reminded of the many talents of Jon Lord, who is greatly missed!

Updated: 08/09/2021Posted: 08/09/2021

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

JON LORD / HOOCHIE COOCHIE MEN ~ DANGER WHITE MEN DANCING EDEL 4029758846285 (Barcode: 4029758846285) ~ GERMANY ~ Blues-Rock Recorded: 2007 Released: 2007 Known to the world as the founder of the seminal Rock / Prog group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist and later as a wonderful contemporary Classical Music activist, organist / composer / bandleader Jon LordFind albums by this artist is less known for his great love of the Blues idiom. This is the second album he recorded with the Australian Blues-Rock power trio The Hoochie Coochie MenFind albums by this artist, which comprises of bassist Bob DaisleyFind albums by this artist, guitarist Tim GazeFind albums by this artist and drummer Rob GrosserFind albums by this artist. Three guest vocalist: Ian GillanFind albums by this artist, Jeff DuffFind albums by this artist and Jimmy BarnesFind albums by this artist sing on two tracks each and the rest of the vocals is by Gaze. The album presents thirteen tracks, mostly composed or co-composed by the trio members (and Lord in one case), but a couple of classic Willie DixonFind albums by this artist songs are also included, as well as one Rolling StonesFind albums by this artist and one Don NixFind albums by this artist numbers. A bonus DVD adds a documentary and three tracks recorded live. The music is absolutely stunning from start to finish and for Blues-Rock enthusiasts is nothing short of heaven on earth. The trio plays superbly, Lord provides sublime organ and piano parts and the guest singers do their job perfectly, which combined with the excellent songs offers a brilliant listening experience. Of course music lovers familiar with Lord’s recording career are aware of the Blues influence in his music and way of playing from day, even before he joined The ArtwoodsFind albums by this artist, but somehow this direct connection with the Blues idiom had to wait until Lord’s career was nearing its end. Sadly, no more cooperation with the Australian trio was recorded before Lord’s passing in 2012, but the two albums they made together are absolute classics and are worth their weight in gold. Essential stuff!

Updated: 24/02/2021Posted: 24/02/2021

CD+DVD 2 Digipak Essential Recommend To A Friend

JON LORD / HOOCHIE COOCHIE MEN ~ LIVE AT THE BASEMENT EMI 596789 ~ UK ~ Blues Recorded in Australia in 2003, this fabulous album captures the legendary organist / composer Jon LordFind albums by this artist, Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist founding member, taking a trip back to the roots and playing some blues again with the Australian Blues-Rock outfit The Hoochie Coochie MenFind albums by this artist, as almost all groups did in their early days. The atmosphere at The Basement club is very relaxed and the players are top notch, with everybody getting ample space to solo. This is a delightful set for all blues lovers and a fascinating document of the many faces of Jon Lord.

Updated: 24/02/2021Posted:

CD 2 Recommend To A Friend

JON LORD / HOOCHIE COOCHIE MEN ~ LIVE AT THE BASEMENT EMI 599184 ~ UK ~ Blues Filmed in Australia in 2003, this fabulous album captures the legendary organist / composer Jon LordFind albums by this artist, Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist founding member, taking a trip back to the roots and playing some blues again with the Australian Blues-Rock outfit The Hoochie Coochie MenFind albums by this artist, as almost all groups did in their early days. The atmosphere at The Basement club is very relaxed and the players are top notch, with everybody getting ample space to solo. This is a delightful set for all blues lovers and a fascinating document of the many faces of Jon Lord. Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound, 130 minutes.

Updated: 24/02/2021Posted:

DVD 1 Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

QUIDAM ~ …BEZ PÓLPRADU (…HALFPLUGGED) ROCK SERWIS 066 (Barcode: 5907729906628) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2006 Released: 2006 6th album by this great group, which survived the departure of their phenomenal female lead singer and lyricist Emila DerkowskaFind albums by this artist (replaced by male vocalist Bartek KossowiczFind albums by this artist), an event that would have destroyed most other groups. This album is quite unusual in many respects, as it wasn’t really planned to happen at all. QuidamFind albums by this artist were invited to perform an acoustic (i.e. unplugged – see the album’s title) concert and although hesitant at first they sized this opportunity to rearrange some of their material and some Prog classic to create a new sound for the group. The result is truly outstanding. The acoustic Quidam sounds every bit as fantastic as their electric alter ego. The new singer does a superb job even when singing older material, which Derkowska performed (compare the version of “Sanctuary” with the original performances on their Angels` DreamsFind albums with this title and Baja ProgFind albums with this title albums). As usual, they include in their music tributes to the Classic Rock and Prog icons, this time performing (or incorporating passages into their own work) songs by BeatlesFind albums by this artist, Pink FloydFind albums by this artist, Moody BluesFind albums by this artist and Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist. It certainly looks like Quidam can do nothing wrong. With 6 first-rate albums and a consistent level of excellence they are one of the leading contemporary Prog groups and their future looks brighter than ever. Brilliant music!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

QUIDAM ~ BAJA PROG – LIVE IN MEXICO `99 (LIMITED EDITION) ROCK SERWIS 103 (Barcode: 5907729910328) ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1999 Released: 2006 3rd album by Polish Prog band QuidamFind albums by this artist recorded live during the annual Baja Prog festival in Mexicali, Mexico. Quidam are not only the best Prog group in their country since the mid-1990s, but also one of the best bands worldwide. They play modern Prog at its best: vibrant, complex, improvised and deeply melodic. Fronted by the amazing female vocalist Emila DerkowskaFind albums by this artist, who sings both in Polish and English, and including some amazing instrumentalists, they have little competition when it comes to creating memorable and moving melodies and stellar performances. Obviously the opportunity to perform live removes many of the constraints and limitations of the “serious” studio situation and the bands expands their material here to pay tribute to their many influences. Note the legendary guitar solo from the GenesisFind albums by this artist’ “Firth Of Fifth”, quotes from CamelFind albums by this artist’s “Snow Goose” or their incredible version of Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist’s “Child In Time” – each and every one of these performances being truly breathtaking. Derkowska sticks to Polish vocals during the concert, which is for the best. The companion DVD presents most of the material from the audio CD and a few additional songs heard (and seen) here for the first time, as well as a short documentary about the band’s stay in Mexico. This beautiful new edition includes both the CD and DVD in an exquisite mini-sleeve packaging.

CD+DVD 2 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

TERRY REID ~ ORIGINAL ALBUM SERIES RHINO 825646163960 (Barcode: 825646163960) ~ UK ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1968 - 1991 Released: 2015 This Box Set collects five of the six albums by the British vocalist / guitarist / songwriter Terry ReidFind albums by this artist released between 1968 and 1991. They are: his debut album "Bang, Bang You`re Terry ReidFind albums with this title" from 1968, this eponymous second album "Terry ReidFind albums with this title" from 1969 (both produced by Mickie MostFind albums by this artist), the third album "RiverFind albums with this title" from 1973, the fifth album "Rogue WavesFind albums with this title" from 1978 and finally the sixth album "DriverFind albums with this title" from 1991. The fourth album "Seed Of MemoryFind albums with this title" from 1976 was sadly left out simply since there is no place for six albums in a five albums box; how stupid is that? Reid is sadly almost completely unknown to Rock fans, probably due to the fact that he refused several times offers that can´t be refused, like fronting Led ZeppelinFind albums by this artist (he recommended Robert PlantFind albums by this artist for the job) or fronting Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist as their lead singer. His solo albums never achieved commercial success, despite the fact that they were all excellent, which is a great pity. Reid´s completely original timbre of voice is one of the most unique in Rock history and his sensitivity and intelligence as a musicians were truly above most of his contemporaries. Reid incorporated in his music Blues and Soul influences, creating a long string of memorable performances over the years. He also cooperated with many first-rate musicians over time, like Graham NashFind albums by this artist, with whom he co-wrote songs and who produced his fourth album. When listening to these albums in retrospect it becomes obvious that success is blind as a bat, and in countless cases it prefers worthless twits to hidden geniuses. At least this music is now available again for future generations and hopefully it will be discovered by some and even properly appreciated. This is, after all, a great chapter in Rock´s history. Side Note: The "Original Album SeriesFind albums with this title" by Warner Bros.Find albums on this label and the "Original Album ClassicsFind albums with this title" by SonyFind albums on this label are an archetypal example of how good intentions turn sour. Although these new editions often bring back to life some of the best music ever made on this planet, which in many cases have been lost in the tides of time and was unavailable on the market for ages, they suffer from an unforgivable disregard to the essence of cultural values and general sloppiness, contrary to human decency, which requires us to treat our cultural legacy with respect and loyalty. The Box Sets produced under these monikers have no discographical information whatsoever about the lineups, musician names, composers, lyricists, dates and places of recording, original release data and even basic copyright data (the last is strictly illegal BTW). Although the original LP sleeves are reproduced, they are often edited and information (which would be in most cases too small to be readable) is removed. In short the fact that these Box Sets are meant to be inexpensive, does not mean that they have to be cheap. Considering the fact how many times this music has been sold over and over again by the labels, this is a crying shame!

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 5 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend

TERRY REID ~ SEED OF MEMORY EDSEL 425 (Barcode: 740155142520) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1976 Released: 1995 This is the 4th album by the extraordinary British singer Terry ReidFind albums by this artist, who is one of the most enigmatic and underrated artists of the era. His refusal to join Led ZeppelinFind albums by this artist as the band´s lead singer and later on again the refusal to replace Ian GillanFind albums by this artist in Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist are some of Rock´s most bizarre and legendary stories, both true of course. His unique voice, theatrical delivery and great sensibility were underappreciated and his recorded legacy is mostly completely unknown to most music fans, which is quite sad. This album features Reid´s own material and was recorded in the US with some incredible musicians supporting his. It was produced by Graham NashFind albums by this artist, who also sings vocal harmonies with Reid. In retrospect this is a little known gem, which deserves to be listened to. Highly recommended!

CD 1 Recommend To A Friend

SAMMAL ~ MYRSKYVAROITUS SVART 370 (Barcode: 6430050663452) ~ FINLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 2014 Released: 2015 This is the second album by Finnish Prog group SammalFind albums by this artist, which consists of vocalist Jan-Erik KiviniemiFind albums by this artist, guitarist Jura SalmiFind albums by this artist, keyboardist Juhani LaineFind albums by this artist, bassist Lasse IlanoFind albums by this artist and drummer Tuomas KarivaaraFind albums by this artist. The album presents nine original pieces, written by the group members and featuring lyrics in Finnish. The music takes off exactly where the debut ended and follows the quest of direct continuation of the Prog / Hard Rock idiom that crystallized in the late 1960s / early 1970s during the original early Prog / Hard Rock wave (Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, Uriah HeepFind albums by this artist and of course many others), which blossomed in Finland in parallel to other Prog centers across Europe. Sammal, like several other contemporary Finnish Prog groups, decided to skip over the dreaded Neo-Prog wave, which proved to be mostly derivative, and decided to return to the source of the music, at the height of its magical powers. They also decided to use vocals in Finnish (or in one case in Swedish, which is the second formal language in Finland), rather than ridicule the vocal parts with broken English pronunciation and accent. As a result of these conscious decisions and of course their talents and abilities, they offer a retro sound / style of the idiom, which is authentic and at the same appealing. The music is excellently structured within the idiom´s boundaries, offering great melodies, strong riffs and superb soloing. The instrumental execution is spotless, as are the vocals, and original Prog connoisseurs should be delighted to hear this music, which is able to bring on waves of nostalgia and excitement at the same time. The pieces on this album are every bit as strong and stimulating as those on some the best albums created in the past. This album was followed by the third album "SuuliekkiFind albums with this title", which affirms the group´s success to bring Prog back to its former glory. For people who already have numerous Prog albums, but are not aware of Sammal, it is a high time to discover them. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 21/09/2021Posted: 24/10/2020

CD 1 Mini-Sleeve Recommend To A Friend

JOE SATRIANI ~ THE COMPLETE STUDIO RECORDINGS SONY 887254184225 (Barcode: 887254184225) ~ USA ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 1986 - 2013 Released: 2014 This Box Set collects all the studio albums released on the EpicFind albums on this label label by prominent American Rock guitarist / composer Joe SatrianiFind albums by this artist, one of the most prolific and influential guitar heroes since mid 1980s. The Box Set includes fourteen newly remastered albums and a bonus CD collecting many tracks previously available only on special or Japanese editions of his albums. Satriani is considered a highly technical player and innovator of many typical Rock guitar licks heard by contemporary Rock guitarist all over the world. He plays almost exclusively his original material on his solo recordings but also collaborated with other musicians and played lead guitar in Rock groups like Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist for example. He also founded the G3Find albums by this artist trio, which featured many leading Rock guitarists as members of the trio over the years. Many famous contemporary Rock guitarists studied with Satriani over the years. Although Satriani´s teachers in his youth were Jazz musicians, including the legendary pianist Lennie TristanoFind albums by this artist and pioneering guitarist Billy BauerFind albums by this artist, his music has very little, if any Jazz influences and stays firmly within the American mainstream Rock idiom, which is somewhat limited and in retrospect repetitive. He does however improvise extensively during his solos, often being very imaginative and with obvious extraordinary skills. For lovers of guitar based instrumental Rock music this Box Set is a dream come true and an obvious source of joy. Others might enjoy parts of this extensive collection, absorbing it over time in limited doses. In any case this is a momentous piece of contemporary American Rock history.

Updated: 26/01/2019Posted:

CD 15 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Bonus Tracks Recommend To A Friend

SKALDOWIE ~ PODROZ MAGICZNA KAMELEON 19 ~ POLAND ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1973 - 1978 Released: 2012 This album by the legendary Polish group SkaldowieFind albums by this artist, founded by brothers: Andrzej ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, keyboardist, composer, arranger and leader) and Jacek ZielinskiFind albums by this artist (vocalist, multi-instrumentalist) presents four recordings of instrumental Symphonic Prog pieces recorded during the 1970s, all previously unreleased, which of course is a major event for the many fans of the group. The other group members on this album are: guitarist Jerzy TarsinskiFind albums by this artist, bassist / vocalist Konrad RatynskiFind albums by this artist and drummer Jan BudziaszekFind albums by this artist. Two Polish Symphonic Orchestras and one German Radio Orchestra and two Big Bands are utilized in the recording as well as choir in one case. Two guest guitarists: Pawel BirulaFind albums by this artist and Andrzej PuczynskiFind albums by this artist participate in the title track. Andrzej Zielinski composed and arranged three of the pieces and Jan OleszkowiczFind albums by this artist composed the remaining one. The title piece (and the first track on the album) is the longest and most complex composition, lasting over half an hour. It was commission as a ballet suite, which was performed on and filmed by Polish TV. The suite is subdivided into twelve themes, flowing each other and presenting a coherent musical continuum. The music combines influences from Classical music, World Music (mostly Middle Eastern and Spanish motifs), Jazz and of course Prog and is simply exquisite. The second piece, which was recorded in West Germany for the WDR is a shorter suite utilizing extensively the brass section of the Radio Big Band, which results in Jazz-Rock oriented music similar to that performed by Brass-Rock bands like ChicagoFind albums by this artist, Blood, Sweat & TearsFind albums by this artist and others. The third piece is another suite, comprising of pieces which were used as the soundtrack for a film comedy, directed by Andrzej KondriatukFind albums by this artist entitled "Jak To Sie Robi (How Is It Done)". The last piece is an ambitious concerto for a Rock group and Orchestra, similar to other such endeavors tried previously, like Jon LordFind albums by this artist´s (Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist) "Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title", which pioneered this style. This recording was the first event of the kind in Poland and Skaldowie was the only group that could perform it, due to their musical education and ability to read music fluently. Overall this album presents some superb instrumental music, very versatile but all of the highest quality, which shows previously unknown sides of the group and emphasizes their highly artistic ambitions. Andrzej Zielinski is portrayed not only as an extraordinary songwriter, but also as an ambitious composer of extended musical works. The musicality, intelligence and open-mindedness heard on this album are simply exceptional. The bonus DVD presents the filmed performance of the ballet suite, which is the title track of this album. This album is an absolute must for all the many fans of the group around the world and might surprise many by its wealth of ideas and musical beauty. Definitely worth investigating!

CD+DVD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

TOE FAT ~ TOE FAT / TOE FAT TWO BGO 278 (Barcode: 5017261202789) ~ UK ~ Progressive Rock Recorded: 1969 - 1970 Released: 1995 1st and 2nd albums by short-lived British proto-Prog band Toe FatFind albums by this artist, founded by vocalist Cliff BennettFind albums by this artist, a veteran of UK Rock scene in the 1960s, and including an impressive lineup consisting of future Jethro TullFind albums by this artist bassist John GlascockFind albums by this artist and future Uriah HeepFind albums by this artist founders keyboardist / guitarist Ken HensleyFind albums by this artist and drummer Lee KerslakeFind albums by this artist. Bennett´s impressive vocal abilities and the band´s instrumental strength turned the band into a notable unit, which played powerful Rock music with many Prog elements, similar to early Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist and other proto-Prog outfits. Unfortunately the band never achieved much success, despite their grueling touring schedule both in UK and USA, which led to their demise just after one year of activity and two studio albums. By the time the second album was recorded, almost at the end of their days, Hensley and Kerslake left the band and were replaced by Alan KendallFind albums by this artist and John´s brother Brian GlascockFind albums by this artist. The second album is even more Prog oriented, with longer tracks and more instrumental solos. In retrospect these two almost forgotten albums reflect perfectly the UK scene at the end of the 1960s with Rock becoming heavier and louder, transforming in the process into Prog. Listening to this music, which still holds all its merits, is still quite an experience and surely deserves to be re-visited, not only for nostalgia´s sake. Worth investigating!

CD 2 Remastered Recommend To A Friend

TRAJZEGA ~ DEFICYTY MILOSCI GAD ~ POLAND ~ Pop & Rock Recorded: 2024 Released: 2024 This is the debut album by Polish Trash Metal band TrajzegaFind albums by this artist, which comprises of bassist Marcin AdamczewskiFind albums by this artist, vocalist / drummer Pawel BogaczewiczFind albums by this artist, guitarists Rafal KszczotFind albums by this artist and Bartlomiej ZerekFind albums by this artist and drummer Radoslaw MencfelFind albums by this artist. The album presents eight tracks, all co-composed by the band members with lyrics by Zerek. The music lasts for just under half an hour, so actually this is rather an EP than a full album. I admit that by the time the so called innocent “Heavy Metal” of the late 1960s and early 1970s, i.e. Led ZeppelinFind albums by this artist, Black SabbathFind albums by this artist and Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, transformed by the late 1980s into Trash Metal (i.e. MetallicaFind albums by this artist, MegadethFind albums by this artist and worse), I completely lost touch with Rock, lamenting its tragic demise. Therefore, I am probably the least competent person on this planet to write about this music. However, since the album landed on my desk due to some convoluted circumstances, I decided to give it a spin, and then another one and ended up quite liking it, against all odds. Yes, the music is LOUD and rowdy, but when played at a very low volume (in proportion to the expected volume) I discovered a lot of things I can identify with. This music does have coherent melody, albeit well-hidden beneath the dense guitar riffs and the condensed rhythm ruckus. The most surprising element, however, are the lyrics, which actually make a lot of sense and express the anger and frustration, which basically are shared by every generation, going through a certain age bracket. These guys are ANGRY, as I was, when I was their age – actually to think about it I am still angry at the world around me, so why shouldn’t they be. And these guys certainly can play, sing and weave a song like pros and I certainly agree with their basic assumption about the fact that there is never enough love around. Overall, this is a rather surprising and promising debut outing by this band. I hope they will explore somewhat less aggressive musical paths in their future ebdeavors, simply because I believe they are definitely able to do so, and a more relaxed output will probably do them good. But hey, whatever they decide to do next I will be very happy to listen to.

Updated: 29/06/2024Posted: 29/06/2024

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ CELEBRATING JON LORD THE COMPOSER EAR MUSIC 4029759095590 (Barcode: 4029759095590) ~ UK ~ Pop-Classical Fusion Recorded: 2014 Released: 2014 This is a live recording of a concert at The Royal Albert Hall held on April 4th, 2014, which commemorated the compositions of keyboardist / composer Jon LordFind albums by this artist, known primarily as a founding member of the seminal British Rock band Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, who sadly departed a couple of years earlier. Lord was a pioneer of the Rock-Classical Fusion and his "Concerto For Group And OrchestraFind albums with this title" album performed and recorded in 1969 by Deep Purple with the Royal Philharmonic OrchestraFind albums by this artist at The Royal Albert Hall was a first of its kind attempt to combine Rock and Classical Music on such scale. Over the years Lord composed a long list of orchestral works, which often bridged Rock and Classical Music and his works were always received enthusiastically by his many dedicated followers, including yours truly. Lord´s surprising and tragically premature death from cancer was a terrible blow to his many fans and fellow musicians, who respected him deeply. The album presents eight beautiful orchestral compositions by Lord, performed by the Orion OrchestraFind albums by this artist conducted by Paul MannFind albums by this artist, who was a long time collaborator with Lord. Celebrated Rock musicians take part in the concert including: keyboardist Rick WakemanFind albums by this artist, guitarist Micky MoodyFind albums by this artist, bassist Neil MurrayFind albums by this artist, pianist Nigel HopkinsFind albums by this artist, vocalist Steve BalsamoFind albums by this artist and many others. Actor Jeremy IronsFind albums by this artist recites poetry. The music is beautifully produced and performed with taste and panache, with the typical British restraint and elegance. The album achieves its goal in full, both plying respect to Jon Lord the composer and musician and presenting his sublime music in the best possible form, keeping the memory alive. Overall this is a superb piece of music, which should be appreciated by a wide circle of connoisseurs, both from the Rock and Classical Music spheres and all good music lovers around the world. Wholeheartedly recommended!

Updated: 13/09/2019Posted: 13/09/2019

CD 1 Digipak Recommend To A Friend

VARIOUS ARTISTS ~ SUNFLOWER SUPERJAM EAR MUSIC 4029759101833 (Barcode: 4029759101833) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 2012 Released: 2015 This is a live recording of the annual fundraiser concert for The Sunflower Jam charity, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London with the participation of top British Rock stars and some guests from abroad. Organized by Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist, the event was also partly a tribute to his Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist bandmate Jon LordFind albums by this artist, who sadly passed just a couple of months before the event took place. The album presents fourteen tracks of ass kicking Rock music and the companion DVD presents the concert in its entirety, adding four tracks that did not fit on the CD due to playing time constrains. The gallery of names is very long and includes some superstars like Alice CooperFind albums by this artist, Brian MayFind albums by this artist, John Paul JonesFind albums by this artist, Micky MoodyFind albums by this artist, Uli Jon RothFind albums by this artist, my all time favorite Hammond player Brian AugerFind albums by this artist, who plays some wicked solos, and many more (if these names are not familiar to you, please don´t read any further). Various lineups formed by the participating musicians perform Rock standards and the overall atmosphere is relaxed and informal, emphasizing the joy of playing together. Of course there is no end to spectacular guitar soloing and some great vocal performances. The music is a tribute to the "real" Rock of the 1960s and 1970s, when the idiom enjoyed its golden days, and shows that many of the Rock idols are still great performers. Overall this is a great piece of Rock fun performed by the best musicians out there, so what else can one ask for. Rather than innovate, this kind of albums are preserving the tradition. I wish I could have been there…

Updated: 06/09/2020Posted: 06/09/2020

CD+DVD 2 Recommend To A Friend

WHITESNAKE ~ LITTLE BOX `O` SNAKES PARLOPHONE 5099993483728 (Barcode: 5099993483728) ~ UK ~ Classic Rock Recorded: 1978 - 1982 Released: 2013 This is a Box Set collecting remastered reissues of the initial EP “SnakebiteFind albums with this title” (1978) and first seven LP albums by the British Rock group WhitesnakeFind albums by this artist: “TroubleFind albums with this title” (1978), “Live At HammersmithFind albums with this title” (1978), “LovehunterFind albums with this title” (1979), “Ready An` WillingFind albums with this title” (1980), “Live… In The Heart Of The CityFind albums with this title” (1980), “Come An` Get ItFind albums with this title” (1981) and “Saints & SinnersFind albums with this title” (1982). The group was formed in 1978 by vocalist David CoverdaleFind albums by this artist, following his departure from the iconic British Rock group Deep PurpleFind albums by this artist, of which he was the lead singer between 1973 and 1976, recording three albums with them: “BurnFind albums with this title” (1974), “StormbringerFind albums with this title” (1974) and “Come Taste The BandFind albums with this title” (1975). The initial lineup of the group included, in addition to Coverdale, two lead guitarists: Micky MoodyFind albums by this artist and Bernie MarsdenFind albums by this artist, bassist Neil MurrayFind albums by this artist and drummer Dave DowleFind albums by this artist. By the time the first album was recorded Deep Purple keyboardist Jon LordFind albums by this artist joined the group. Later on another Deep Purple member, drummer Ian PaiceFind albums by this artist, also joined the group replacing Dowle. Whitesnake were one of the best British Rock bands of all times, characterized by great musicianship and superb songwriting. Somewhat similar to Deep Purple, they had more Blues influences and at times sounded remarkably like FreeFind albums by this artist. Overall, this Box Set is a remarkable treasure chest of superb British Classic Rock at its best, sounding better than ever and bringing back to life some albums that have been out of circulation for ages. Of course for Deep Purple fans the presence of Coverdale, Lord and Paice makes this Box Set completely irresistible. And Moody was always one of my favorite guitarists, with an incredible feel for the Blues. Loved every minute of it and I admit not hearing most of this music for the last four decades… tasty!

Updated: 04/06/2022Posted: 04/06/2022

CD 8 Mini-Sleeve Box Set Remastered Recommend To A Friend