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Well, whatever became of Deep Purple in the 80's and 90's, you can't argue with te brilliance of these guys in their 70's heyday. Alongside their two studio epics, "Fireball" and "Machine Head," "Made In Japan" is the pinnacle of Deep Purple. One of the all-time classic live albums, "Made In Japan" has been issued and re-issued in many different versions. Here it is in a crystal clear 24K gold re-master, and this over twenty-five year old masterpiece sounds as revolutionary and exciting as it did on its first pressing. Even more so without the 1973 limitations.
A two-record set squeezed onto one CD, the seven songs on "Made In Japan" are all full, extended jams that go on much longer than their studio album counterparts - most notably, a twenty minute-plus "Space Tracking" (the song Richie Blackmore once broke his arm playing on stage). Even the hit radio singles "Smoke On The Water" and "Strange Kind Of Woman" go into wonderful extra innings.
In an age where white noise and attitude has almost entirely replaced musicianship, its refreshing to look back at old Deep Purple and how this band helped to create a sound and style of music that became heavy metal. And what a great sound it was - Ian Gillan's voice (for my money one of the absolute finest in rock) melding perfectly with Blackmore's singing guitar and Jon Lord's classically-tinged keyboard haze. And at the bottom, Roger Glover and Ian Paice drive a solid rhythym. This was the magic of Deep Purple in their finest moment, the peak of the classic 'Mark II' line-up.
While the band today is a shadow of its former self (though head and shoulders above anyone currently in MTV rotation), they have made their mark with their work in the seventies. "Made In Japan" serves as a reminder of a great period in rock music. It is a must-have classic.
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