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Contractual obligations

Ian Gillan Contractual Obligations cover art

Back in November 2016 Ian Gillan did a short tour of Eastern and Central Europe backed by the Don Airey Band and various local orchestras conducted by Stephen Bentley-Klein, all supported by Grace Gillan’s band Papa Le Gal. The last three shows of the tour were recorded and are now being released as a series of three live albums, each in a different format (perhaps to make our lives more interesting).

Contractual Obligation #1: Live In Moscow

Kremlin Palace, Moscow, Russia, November 15, 2016
Blu-ray

  1. Hang Me Out To Dry
  2. Pictures Of Home
  3. No Lotion For That
  4. Strange Kind Of Woman
  5. Razzle Dazzle
  6. A Day Late ‘N’ A Dollar Short
  7. Lazy
  8. Rapture Of The Deep
  9. When A Blind Man Cries
  10. You’re Gonna Ruin Me Baby (with Grace Gillan)
  11. Ain’t No More Cane On The Brazos
  12. Difficult To Cure (Beethoven’s Ninth)
  13. Anya
  14. Perfect Strangers
  15. Hell To Pay
  16. Demon’s Eye
  17. Smoke On The Water
  18. Hush
  19. Black Night

Contractual Obligation #2: Live In Warsaw

Hala Koło, Warsaw, Poland, November 19, 2016
2CD & digital download

CD1

  1. Hang Me Out To Dry
  2. Pictures Of Home
  3. No Lotion For That
  4. Strange Kind Of Woman
  5. Razzle Dazzle
  6. A Day Late ‘N’ A Dollar Short
  7. Lazy
  8. Rapture Of The Deep
  9. When A Blind Man Cries

CD2

  1. You’re Gonna Ruin Me Baby (with Grace Gillan)
  2. Ain’t No More Cane On The Brazos
  3. Difficult To Cure (Beethoven’s Ninth)
  4. Anya
  5. Perfect Strangers
  6. Hell To Pay
  7. Demon’s Eye
  8. Smoke On The Water
  9. Hush
  10. Black Night

Contractual Obligation #3: Live In St. Petersburg

BKZ Oktyabrsky, St. Petersburg, Russia, November 17, 2016
3LP vinyl

Side A

  1. Hang Me Out To Dry
  2. Pictures Of Home
  3. No Lotion For That
  4. Strange Kind Of Woman

Side B

  1. Razzle Dazzle
  2. A Day Late ‘N’ A Dollar Short
  3. Lazy

Side C

  1. Rapture Of The Deep
  2. When A Blind Man Cries
  3. You’re Gonna Ruin Me Baby (with Grace Gillan)
  4. Ain’t No More Cane On The Brazos

Side D

  1. Difficult To Cure (Beethoven’s Ninth)
  2. Anya
  3. Perfect Strangers

Side E

  1. Hell To Pay
  2. Demon’s Eye
  3. Smoke On The Water

Side F

  1. Hush
  2. Black Night

Record company PR blurb to follow:

Still fresh from the success of the studio album “NOW What?!”, and just a few months before the release of the latest and equally successful album “inFinite”, Ian Gillan accepted the offer to tour for a month in Eastern Europe with a full rock show, accompanied every night by a different local orchestra.

Gillan decided to recruit the Don Airey Band, which features the guitar talent of Simon McBride.

All shows were truly unique, with Airey and McBride delivering perfect performances night after night. Deep Purple material (including rarities like “Razzle Dazzle” or “Anya”) went hand in hand with Gillan solo songs and surprises for those into the deepest catalogue.

The title is a humorous reference to Ian Gillan’s notorious reticence to pay any attention to his own or Deep Purple live releases (as he explains in the album liner notes). This live album and video might well be one of the nicest chapters in Gillan’s solo production ever and a reminder about how great his solo music and concerts have been over the years.

Curiosity: The last Deep Purple album was named “Infinity” (which later turned into: “inFinite”) during the afternoon preceding the Warsaw show that ended up being immortalized for its CD release.

“Contractual Obligation” will be available on Blu-Ray (Contractual Obligation #1: Live In Moscow), 2CD & digital (Contractual Obligation #2: Live In Warsaw) and as a 3LP+Download (Contractual Obligation #3: Live In St. Petersburg) on July 26, 2019 on earMUSIC.

In other related news, Deep Purple show in Newcastle, Australia, from 2001 is being released as a standalone album. It has previously been available as a part of The Soundboard Series. The album is due out on July 5, 2019.

Deep Purple Newcastle Australia 2001 cover art

Thanks to our editor emeritus Benny Holmström for the info.



9 Comments to “Contractual obligations”:

  1. 1
    Blackwood Richmore says:

    Very nice indeed. Looking forward to this one.

  2. 2
    nupsi 59 says:

    That’s another chapter in the Long-Overkill-Live-Concert-Series!
    Encores: Smoke, Hush, Black Night…

    I’m waiting for the third Flying Colors album instead.

    Have a nice Day!

  3. 3
    Buttockss says:

    I heard about this show, and from what i heard about,. is that it was outstanding shows from eight different reviewers all very positive. Will have to give a listen, and possible purchase. Thank You!.

  4. 4
    Kenn says:

    Hi sadly there appears to be a lack of Gillan tracks.

  5. 5
    Rajaseudun Rampe says:

    Of course, nobody is obliged to spend their money on these products. But, but, but .. let’s take these releases as documents in the long history of an exceptionally creative and musically talented group of people. I am very glad these shows were documented and released to wider audiences. I cannot wait to listen to and watch these documents. Thank You!

  6. 6
    mike whiteley says:

    I’m not terribly excited over either of these releases,but Contractual Obligation on BluRay might get my dollars.
    Too bad there’s not a lot of IG solo tunes,though.
    Newcastle ?? Nah. There is more than enough MkMorse live stuff in my collection already.Besides,I listened to Jimmy Barnes screech over Gillan thru Highway Star on YT. Not good,in my view.

  7. 7
    Renato Torres says:

    An opportunity to record Deep Purple songs not yet performed live, for example: “Super Trouper”, “Place in Line”, “Flight of the Rat”, “Mitzi Dupree”, “Solitaire”, etc … Same always.

  8. 8
    BreisHeim says:

    Speaking of Ian Gillan DVDs, does anyone know where we can still purchase the documentary, ‘Chopin’s Story’?
    It seems very elusive.

  9. 9
    lavaud says:

    absolument sans aucun intérêt….

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