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Rating: The discography of Deep Purple is overwhelmingly large. Between studio albums, live records, compilations, official and unofficial material, it feels like being in the Labyrinth of Knossos. And as if that wasn't enough, reissues and remasters of old albums, with some unreleased or alternative arrangements, add to it. "LIVE IN LONDON" is one of these cases. Released in 1982 as a single vinyl, last year the album was reissued on a double CD (over ninety minutes in total). In the original edition, for obvious space reasons, Space Truckin' was not included, but the other tracks were also a bit cut. Now, thanks to digital support, we have the opportunity to enjoy the show in its full version.
The recordings date back to 1974, during the tour that followed the album "BURN". There had just been a lineup change in the band with the departure of singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover at the request of guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, much to the satisfaction of keyboardist John Lord and drummer Ian Paice. They were replaced by Dave Coverdale on vocals and Glenn Hughes on bass and backing vocals. Coverdale had a low, warm tone, an enveloping voice well-suited for blues, while Hughes with his "screaming" didn't make one miss his predecessor. On paper, the new formation had little to envy the previous one and the beginnings proved it. First the excellent "BURN" and then a series of concerts in line with it, fiery ones!
The setlist presented is a good compromise between what the group wanted to play, the new tracks, and the awareness of not being able to give up some classics from the previous repertoire. The show opens with the biting riff of "Burn", one of the best tracks composed by Purple, where the two newcomers immediately make it clear they are not just "substitutes"; Blackmore and Lord take turns with instrumental virtuosity of a clearly neoclassical influence, akin to "Highway Star", while Paice beats the skins like crazy. No track could have had a more emblematic title. Following are two enjoyable and catchy tracks, "Might Just Take Your Life" and "Lay Down Stay Down", of evident funky blues inspiration, but played with that typical hard rock flair. This leads to the masterpiece "Mistreated", a tortured and intense blues rock, with a solemn and epic pace; extraordinarily suited to Dave's voice. That the song is something special is understood immediately, from that Fender intro so Hendrix-like, composed by the guitarist some time ago, waiting to find the right voice to take flight. An audience now in ecstasy follows an amused Ritchie in light phrasing that at some point turn into a hint of Lazy; then it's time for the riff of riffs, "Smoke on the Water" and it's a frenzy! The track is sung in two voices and the first verse, unexpectedly, is sung again instead of the third. A vocal soul diversion by Hughes at the end (Georgia on My Mind). At first listen, the track might sound strange, as one was accustomed to Gillan's superb interpretation, but it is just a fleeting sensation, destined to fade away; in any case, it's one of those magical anthems that would make a great impression even for a beginner cover band, let alone musicians of that caliber.
The second CD opens with "You Fool No One", originally a typical funk-rock track, here transformed into a long suite, an essential showcase of the quintet's flair. Paice's usual "drum solo" cannot, of course, be missed. The last track is that "Space Truckin'" excluded from the 1982 LP. In truth, Coverdale's voice doesn't seem to suit the original tone of the piece, thus the frequent interventions of Hughes in the higher verses are extremely useful. But in reality, what impresses is the long instrumental improvisation derived from the old "Mandrake Root", where guitarist and organist take turns in solo phases, stretching the piece to almost half an hour. In the long musical marathon, there is room for everything: Hard rock, Blues, some sprinkles of progressive, and vaguely psychedelic incursions, all the characteristic elements of rock from those years. Surprisingly, there is also a welcome reference to "Child in Time" and the musical theme from the film 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Overall, the performance is spine-tingling, the band is in splendid form and it shows; it also displays the desire to prove that, despite the changes, Deep Purple are still in the game, ready to amaze (too bad that shortly after, the balance within the band would again crumble). The sound is pretty "tough," I would say harder than usual, and Blackmore's Stratocaster shines beautifully. The editing work and audio output are excellent, considering these are recordings from the distant '74.
In closing, in the new remastered guise, I think it can be considered the best official live release of the band after "Made in Japan", highly recommended to the band's fans, and I would say to all those who love rock, the real one, played with passion, energy, and great class; but more generally, to anyone who cares about good music.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Burn (06:58)
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 Might Just Take Your Life (04:51)
I got more than I asked for,
There ain't nothin' I need.
I took all till I had more,
I'm always takin' the lead.
Old man shakin' dice down on the street,
Try'n to make a livin' somehow
But I'm really sure about gettin' things sorted out
And I'm gettin' ready right now.
You can't hold me,
I have told you.
Might just take your life,
Might just take your life.
I've been called by many names
And all of them are bad.
I can take it all the same,
It's all I've ever had.
I've got somethin' that you can't get
But one thing you can see:
Gettin' there ain't easy
But it sure was hard for me.
You can't hold me,
I have told you.
Might just take your life,
Might just take your life.
Every time I take a look
There's someone close behind.
They never used to make a pass,
The things that crossed their minds.
Now they tell me that it's all right
And they want to be my friend.
They're ridin' on my back.
When is it goin' to end?
You can't hold me,
I have told you.
Might just take your life,
Might just take your life,
Might just take your life.
Got more than I asked for,
Got more than I need.
Got more than I asked for,
Got more than I need.
Got more than I asked for,
Got more than I need.
03 Lay Down, Stay Down (05:10)
I don't care if my lady's gone
as long as you give me just what I want.
I've been losin' my direction,
got to find a new connection.
You have wasted the love I tasted,
now I'm really gettin' hungry more and more.
Been a long time, had a bad sign.
Tell me what am I fighting for?
Let me know you feel it,
you know I really need it.
Keep on pushin' for more,
lay down, stay down.
I got something to find,
there's one thing I really need.
I'm gonna tell you right now,
lay down, stay down.
Lookin' for trouble, I guess that's right.
When I was young I was taught to fight.
It's been long gone since I had known,
now I'm headin' for some more.
Let me know you feel it,
you know I really need it.
Keep on pushin' for more,
Lay down, stay down.
I got something to find,
there's one thing I really need.
I'm gonna tell you right now,
lay down, stay down.
Let me know you feel it,
you know I really need it.
Keep on pushin' for more,
lay down, stay down.
I got something to find,
there's one thing I really need.
I'm gonna tell you right now,
lay down, stay down.
04 Mistreated (11:34)
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.
05 Smoke on the Water (10:33)
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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