Deep Purple – California Jam 1974
DEEP PURPLEs „California Jam“ appearance, filmed on April 06, 1974 has been available on DVD since 2005. ear music now offers a new cut of the video as 2016 DVD and Blu-ray release.
While the DVD, issued in a standard DVD case, features the new version and a digitized Super 8 crew recording, the Blu-ray also offers the original video edit as bonus and is published in a nice Digipak. Prior to editing, the material had been processed to improve its quality which results in a brighter and sharper image compared to the unprocessed original cut.
Sadly, Stephan Liehr (who did the additional editing) did not only choose different and maybe better angles for some scenes, but played around with side-by-side pictures and faded overlays. Especially during sequences like Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar solo in „Mistreated“, where the front camera has been faded over the back camera the whole time, the new edit is just annoying and less enjoyable than the original cut which changes the camera from time to time.
As the audio and video quality didn’t improve drastically and the new edit doesn’t add more than some playing around with video editing software, there’s no need to buy the DVD or Blu-ray if you already own „California Jam“ on DVD.
I’ll read reviews before I buy. I’ve bought it on DVD twice over the years and the last version (Eagle Rock, with the white cover ) looked terrible…all the colors bled together.
December 16th, 2016 at 19:32This says don’t bother yer arse if you’ve already goat it #shametheyfucktitup
December 16th, 2016 at 19:35Lol I didn’t even realize this was a review. I thought it was just another “coming soon” blurb. Cheers
December 16th, 2016 at 19:42damn it 🙁
December 16th, 2016 at 21:11Wow…what a bummer. The Japanese video I have is still better than the previous DVD.
December 16th, 2016 at 22:24Sad…., there’s always some fool that messes things up for everybody else….
December 16th, 2016 at 22:48Many thanks,Andreas.
December 16th, 2016 at 23:54Your straightforward review saved me some $$. Which is especially helpful at Christmas.
I don’t understand. Doesn’t anyone know that the show was broadcast on radio too? I remember owning the ‘Perks and Tit’ bootleg with the added Cal Jam version of SOTW and it was clearly in stereo – guitar in one speaker and organ in the other. There’s a facebook page dedicated to Cal Jam featuring video clips with a different audio mix – even Burn has the guitar balanced properly and Richie’s solo comes through loud and clear. Couldn’t this audio have been used to improve the sound on the new DVD?
December 17th, 2016 at 10:06I have it on the old dvd and it’s enough for me.Fabulous show,Ritchie wanted to play and destroy..Coverdale was so young ,and didn’t really know how to act on stage when not singing..but his voice was awesome.And Glenn is so hairy (and so high IMO).
December 17th, 2016 at 12:27Thanks for the info!! ??
December 17th, 2016 at 13:41I see that the blu ray may not be playable on US players, according to Amazon. Can anyone confirm this or know if a US version is to be released?
December 17th, 2016 at 14:45One thing I don’t understand is are the super 8 extras the same as in the original DVD? DPAS had announced more 8mm footage had been found between 2005 and 2016.
December 17th, 2016 at 16:45That cover looks like it’s from the ‘DP Overseas Live Series’. It’s not, I know, but does anyone know what happened to the other planned releases in the DPOL Series? I have the existing six on vinyl, but there was planned to be ten, including ‘Days May Come and Days May Go’. Does anyone know what’s happening on that front?
December 17th, 2016 at 17:57I was there, April 6, 1974, about 6 weeks or so later, ABC showed it all on TV, pretty good, then I purchased a DVD of only DP of the entire show, from a private source, it was great. I really don’t know what others expect from 1974.
December 17th, 2016 at 23:32I’ll stick with my good old VHS video. Sadly it seems yet another Deep Purple et al related release not properly managed..half arsed and milking the money. I just wish some band members become involved in such releases so a certain amount of artistic control is there
December 18th, 2016 at 09:59Like #8 said, it is a shame that they insist on messing the video up, instead of enhancing audio tracks. Even the CD (California Jamming) has a opaque sound. Why ??
December 18th, 2016 at 13:21yeah sure let’s just rip of some more money off the fans,with some called restore the picture …
December 18th, 2016 at 16:57Thank you for letting us know. I won’t bother to fork out for the mmth time for that recording on CD, Video, DVD or what ever ….
December 18th, 2016 at 19:43In response to number 8,Scott,the ABC-TV broadcast was simulcast on KLOS radio in stereo,but the original concert was not.It was just the TV edit from ABC. The San Diego show was a live feed from the concert,and the mix was pretty muddled from what I recall.
December 18th, 2016 at 21:00Keep polishing the old coin till it’s worthless. Digital rubbish remastering sound is more like a mobile ring tones nowadays.
December 19th, 2016 at 12:55Hey CP. I think they could have taken the KLOS radio recording and used that to enhance the video. Zeppelin, The Who, Hendrix all have archive concerts out on DVD that have been carefully restored – it’s a shame it didn’t happen here.
December 20th, 2016 at 08:31The best version was the Connoisseur video release. It has some very good camera angles on it. Only problem is the HIFI Mono sound & no Lay Down Stay Down. It’s better than the Deep Purple DVD archive collection release in 2005. They should release a box set , with a cd of the concert . All the different camera angels from the different releases. Plus a vinyl record of the performance.
January 7th, 2017 at 04:52