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| Deep Purple - Made In Japan |
  Released: 1972 / 1998/2001 Label: Warner Archives / Rhino / Purple Records Cat. No.: R2 75623 Total Time: 76:32 / 21:50 | |
Reviewed by: Eric Porter, October 2003 Hearing a great rock band in their prime is truly a special experience, and Deep Purple’s Made In Japan captures that moment in their storied career. This is what many consider the band's classic lineup, with the top notch vocals of Ian Gillan, the tight and heavy rhythm section of Roger Glover and Ian Paice, and the dueling lead work of Ritchie Blackmore on guitar and Jon Lord on Hammond Organ. The six minutes and forty three seconds that make up the opening track "Highway Star" display the power that Purple had onstage. Why this band is often forgotten when mentioning the greats could only be due to the many lineup changes the band endured, making it hard to follow who exactly was in the band. Gillan shows off his pipes with the a stellar performance in "Child In Time." The slow brooding song with the Hammond organ bubbling underneath builds as Gillan's sighs turn to screams with the band cranking it up behind him, and believe me, no one can scream like the master. One would think that "Smoke On The Water" should go on the list of "songs I never need to hear again," but there is a freshness to this version. The band stretches out the songs into extended jams, and duels between Blackmore, Lord, and even Gillan gets into the mix on the incredibly fun "Strange Kind Of Woman" where he and Blackmore try to copy each other. The only place where this recording fails is the overly drawn-out drum solo in "The Mule." The few sections that feature the entire band on this track are much more enjoyable. The bluesy "Lazy" may be the real treasure in this set. Blackmore shows why his name should be mentioned along with Clapton, Beck, and Page, as he turns in a marvelous performance. Lord is no slouch either, dueling with Blackmore at every opportunity, and Gillan even breaks out the harmonica. Disc 2 features the Encores, covering "Black Night," a raucous "Speed King" and "Lucille." A great testament to a band at the top of its game, Made In Japan is a great live record. Rating: 4.5/5 Review of the remastered version More about Made In Japan: Track Listing: Disc 1: Highway Star (6:42) / Child In Time (12:18) / Smoke On The Water (7:37) / The Mule (9:28) / Strange Kind of Woman (9:52) / Lazy (10:27) / Space Truckin’ (19:53) Musicians: Contact: Website: www.deep-purple.com/ Discography
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