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An essential DP release

By Björn Hansson

I didn't have very high hopes about this release when I bought it. I have heard several bootlegs from the early 70s and they were all very poor quality. The thing that struck me the most when I put on this CD was how crisp the sound is. The engineers have done a very good job, reducing fuzz and enhancing the actual recorded material. The sound is well balanced on all frequencies, so all the instruments can really be enjoyed. All in all a very, very good mix. Much better than the Bootleg Series, in my opinion. It should be said, though, that the vocals overload occasionally.

The bands performance on this gig is, in my ears, close to perfect. You can really feel the raw, vibrant energy present. I would even go so far as to say that this gig is just as good as "Scandinavian Nights" (Stockholm, November 1970), perhaps even better. Everyone in the band seems to be having a very good day here.

Ian Gillan cheerfully introduces the show and the guys kick off with a great, blistering version of "Wring That Neck". A few minutes into the song the guys are all warmed up and playing at 100%. ["Wring That Neck" wasn't necessarily the opening track, the CD might not be complete. Rasmus] This song really displays their talents as individual musicians as well as a band. Lord and Blackmore push each other harder and harder.

"Black Night" is next. Gillan does an awesome performance, and once again you're struck by the intensity and rawness of the performance. The guys are all welded together into a rock hard unit.

Song three is the cover "Paint It Black". In my opinion it's the best version of this song available. Paicey has a go at the skins in the middle of the song. Delivering his trademark drum solo.

The gig ends with "Mandrake Root". Gillan's introduction to this song alone is worth the price of the album. Listening to this song makes me wish the guys would perform it on the next tour. It's a masterpiece, and really proves that Deep Purple is the kind of band that you must experience live.

I strongly encourage you to buy this CD. It's an essential DP release. The sound quality is amazing, considering the source is a 31 year old bootleg tape.