Deep Purple
Scandinavian Nights

The musical explosion caused by the album "In Rock (1970)" had cemented the talent of Deep Purple, transforming them from a pop-progressive group into a hard rock band (actually, even the group themselves didn't believe they had revolutionized the music world so strongly). The success of the five British musicians was definitely due to the change in style, also influenced by the change in line-up. Singer Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover had replaced the modest Rod Evans and Nick Simper. Thus, a new scenario opened up in the rock music landscape, undoubtedly destined to make sparks.

The debut album had thus propelled Deep Purple to the top of the charts, thanks to its "hard" and raw sound, but at the same time embellished by the baroque and neoclassical embellishments of Blackmore and Lord, which give the album a unique sound.

It's also time to take this LP around the world. The tour begins, and on a cold November evening, Deep Purple find themselves in Stockholm to perform a show that will be broadcast live by the Swedish National Radio as part of the program Tonkraft. The performance will also be recorded on a disc that will only be released in 1988 in Europe and in 1992 in the USA (under the name "Live & Rare"). We are talking about "Scandinavian Nights", the first official live of the Mk II.

The album is divided into two discs, containing only seven songs for almost 2 hours of spectacle. This is because the band partially follows in the footsteps of groups like Cream or the Jimi Hendrix Experience: improvisation. The songs are impressively extended by the band, but it's never improvisation for improvisation's sake. Deep Purple's prerogative is always to follow a precise scheme, even in improvisations.

The show begins with a song from the Mk I, namely "Wring That Neck," opened by the initial fray between drums and keyboard and continues with a fast-paced rhythm where Blackmore and Lord chase and challenge each other, displaying their mastery. There is also room for the solo performances of the two, among references to classical music (such as Bach or Rossini), blues progression or simple tunes.

The result: a whopping 34 (thirty-four) minutes of pure rock. "Speed King," on the other hand, belongs to the classic repertoire of the new line-up and represents that shift towards the hard sound desired by Blackmore. Composed by Roger Glover and characterized by Gillan's "screaming" singing, this song also sees Blackmore and Lord challenge each other once again. A skinny and Sabbath-like riff introduces another song from “In Rock”: "Into The Fire," whose chorus is yelled by a very fit Gillan. The first disc closes with an instrumental cover of "Paint It Black" by the Rolling Stones, in which Ian Paice performs a furious six-minute-long drum solo(!).

The second disc opens with another classic from the Mk I, it's "Mandrake Root," a sort of embryo of what will be the live version of "Space Truckin'". The sung part lasts just two minutes before giving way to a wild Jon Lord, supported by a beautiful rhythmic base created by Paice, Glover, Blackmore, and even Gillan on the congas. From Lord, it passes to Blackmore with his Arabian solo, then the tones and speed are lowered. The "Man in black" paints and showcases his entire repertoire, playing with Lord and Glover in a crescendo that will end in a noisy climax.

The time to catch one's breath as it turns to an immortal DP classic: "Child in Time." A dramatic ballad that evolves first in Gillan's heart-wrenching screams and then in a frenzied instrumental central part. The singer's high notes reach a power that is hard to imitate, and Blackmore's solo is phenomenal (once again challenging Lord).

To close the entire disc is "Black Night," the single that preceded the release of "In Rock." The track is characterized by a "whip-like" riff and is a rock shuffle with a syncopated and sustained pace, simply Hard Rock and once again Blackmore and Lord create the unbelievable with the Fender and the Hammond Organ.

If this disc had been released at the time of the recording, it would have made the band's fortune, immortalized in one of the best live performances ever and in an amazing shape, where disputes and arguments between Blackmore and Gillan were still far off.

For lovers of improvisations, this disc cannot be missed.