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Rating: It is "the last session" for Deep Purple, as highlighted by the subtitle of "Live in Paris 1975" ("la Dernière Séance"). The Mk III is at its final stages: Blackmore is increasingly focused on the idea of forming Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio (and his "elves"); Jon Lord begins to engage in solo projects and Glenn Hughes falls into the abyss of drug addiction (not to mention that Hard Rock has never been his favorite genre). The only one keeping the band afloat is the force of nature that is David Coverdale, aware that DP is his only chance to escape misery.
Despite this, the English band records in Paris, on April 7, '75, a ferocious and powerful live (which would be released only in 2001).
"Live in Paris" is the last trumpet call of a band on the verge of a revolution and is also the final live where the band plays with the "Man in black", Ritchie Blackmore.
The first of the 10 tracks on the record is, as usual, "Burn" (which with the Mk III replaces "Highway Star" as the opener-track). Ian Paice's sharp hit and the instrumental noise that follows precede the flaming riff of this splendid song that talks about pyres and witches. Hughes's frenzied screams precede the neoclassical solos of Blackmore and Lord.
Coverdale's leonine cry announces the title track of Mk III's second album: "Stormbringer". A hard rock piece with a solid rhythm, one of the few songs that stand out from the eponymous 1974 album.
The next two songs are also from this album: they are the hypnotic "The Gypsy" and the crude hard boogie of "Lady Double Dealer". Despite the rust, the band is in excellent shape. Lord and Blackmore showcase all their skill, chased by Ian Paice's precise and powerful drumming.
Glenn Hughes announces a song from the "Burn" album: it's "Mistreated", the splendid hard blues ballad written by Coverdale and Blackmore. The audience follows David's passionate singing in reverent silence, only to then light up and join in with clapping during the "Man in black"'s solo.
The epileptic intro of "Lazy" sets up the quintessential Deep Purple song, the one that talks about a fire at the Montreux casino: "Smoke On The Water". Unfortunately, the performance suffers from Coverdale's take, whose warm voice doesn't quite fit the original by Ian Gillan. No matter, the result is excellent all the same.
No time to applaud as the singer introduces a song "opened by the 'master' Jon Lord, featuring a guitar solo by Blackmore and his magical fingers; but there's more: Mr. Ian Paice will perform a powerful drum solo!" It's "You Fool No One", a driving rock song with a samba rhythm.
It's the time for the collaboration between Ian Paice and Jon Lord. Ian hits the hi-hat at high speed while Jon starts playing Strauss's "Also Sprach Zarathustra" on his Hammond organ, and in a rock crescendo, here comes the megalithic riff of "Space Truckin'". Once again, Coverdale's voice doesn't quite measure up to Gillan's piercing screams and the song itself is replayed in a funky version, losing much compared to previous live performances.
For Deep Purple, the concert should end here, but not for the fans, who loudly call for an encore. And an encore it is. As they recover their instruments, here comes "Going Down", a cover by Don Nix. At the end of the song, a change of speed, drums intensifying, Jon Lord playing the main motif: yes, it's "Highway Star". Blackmore plays his Fender frantically, creating an epic solo. The finale is a musical trance in which both the musicians and the audience fall, a "symphony" of noises. A triumph.
And with this concert, the Mk III bids farewell to its audience forever. And what a concert!
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Burn (09:46)
The sky is red, I don't understand,
Past midnight I still see the land.
People are sayin' the woman is damned,
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand.
The city's a blaze, the town's on fire.
The woman's flames are reaching higher.
We were fools, we called her liar.
All I hear is "Burn!"
I didn't believe she was devil sprung.
She said, "Curse you all, you'll never learn!
When I leave there's no return."
The people laughed till she said, "Burn!"
Warning came, no one cared.
Earth was shakin', we stood and stared.
When it came no one was spared.
Still I hear "Burn!"
You know we had no time,
We could not even try.
You know we had no time.
You know we had no time,
We could not even try.
You know we had no time.
The sky is red, I don't understand,
Past midnight I still see the land.
People are sayin' the woman is damned,
She makes you burn with a wave of her hand.
Warning came, no one cared.
Earth was shakin, we stood and stared.
When it came no one was spared.
Still I hear "Burn!"
02 Stormbringer (05:12)
Comin' out of nowhere
Drivin' like rain
Stormbringer dance
On the thunder again
Dark cloud gathering
Breaking the day
No point running
'Cause it's coming your way
Ride the rainbow
Crack the sky
Stormbringer coming
Time to die
Got to keep running
Stormbringer coming
He's got nothing you need
He's gonna make you bleed
Rainbow shaker
On a stallion twister
Bareback rider
On the eye of the sky
Stormbringer coming down
Meaning to stay
Thunder and lightning
Heading your way
Ride the rainbow
Crack the sky
Stormbringer coming
Time to die
Got to keep running
Stormbringer coming
He's got nothing you need
He's gonna make you bleed
Coming out of nowhere
Drivin' like a-rain
Stormbringer dance
On the thunder again
Dark cloud gathering
Breaking the day
No point running
'Cause it's coming your way
03 The Gypsy (06:10)
Tell me gypsy can you see me
In your crystal ball
I'm asking you what can I do
My back's against the wall
And I can't hold on much longer
So I've come to you my friend
For now my life seems at an end
I came to see you once before
One hundred years ago
You took my hand and broke the spell
That should have let me go
But my years have gone so slowly
So I'm here again my friend
For now my life is at an end
05 Mistreated (12:48)
I've been mistreated, I've been abused.
I've been struck downhearted, baby, I've been confused
'Cause I know, yes, I know I've been mistreated.
Since my baby left me I've been losing my mind, you know I have.
I've been lonely, I've been cold.
I've been looking for a woman to have and hold
'Cause I know, yes, I know I've been mistreated.
Since my baby left me I've been losing, I've been losing,
I've been losing my mind, baby baby babe.
I've been mistreated, I've been abused.
I've been looking for a woman, yeh, I've been confused
'Cause I know, yes, I know I've been mistreated, ooh o-o-oh.
Since my baby left me I've been losing, losing,
I've been losing my mind, baby baby babe.
Oh oh oh, oh woman, oh woman, oh woman.
I've been losing my mind.
06 Smoke on the Water (11:10)
We all came out to Montreux
On the Lake Geneva shoreline
To make records with a mobile
We didn't have much time
Frank Zappa and the Mothers
Were at the best place in town
When some stupid with a flare gun
Burned the place to the ground
Smoke on the water
A fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
They burned down the gambling house
It died with an awful sound
Funky Claude was running in and out
Dragging kids out the ground
When it all was over
We had to find another place
Swiss time was running out
It seemed that we would lose the race
Smoke on the water
A fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
We ended up at the grand hotel
It was empty, cold and bare
And with the rolling truck stones thing just outside
We made our music there
With a few red lights and a few old beds
We made a place to sweat
No matter what we get out of this
I know I know we'll never forget
Smoke on the water
A fire in the sky
Smoke on the water
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