Search - Deep Purple :: This Time Around: Live in Tokyo 1975

Shouldn't Have Been The "Last Concert In Japan"

Sampson Simpson | Canada | 12/09/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many of the old, post-breakup-issued Deep Purple live albums are virtually impossible to find today. One of those is Last Concert In Japan, which was originally released only in that country. It featured the Mk IV lineup of Deep Purple: David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Ian Paice, Jon Lord, and the late Tommy Bolin on lead guitar.If you're even looking at this album, you already know the story, so we'll stick to the music. The original one-record set has now been expanded to two lengthy CDs, 17 tracks. It's been remixed and remastered. Production was supervised by Purple expert Simon Robinson, so you know that the quality level is high. Finally, some of the finest live Deep Purple moments have been restored to this album, such as "Gettin' Tighter" which was too long to include on a single record.Some flaws remain. Tommy's guitar is now barely audible in the "Burn" riff as opposed to non-existent. You can only do so much while remastering, it seems.If you're lucky enough to own Last Concert In Japan, this purchase gives you over an hour more of unreleased music. Even so, all of it has been remixed, so you don't own the songs in these versions. If you already own dozens of Deep Purple live albums (believe me, it's possible), this one has five songs that you can't get elsewhere in live versions. It's also a much stronger recording than the In Concert/King Biscuit Flower Hour (aka, On The Wings Of A Russian Foxbat) CD with stronger vocals. Plus you get Tommy singing on "Wild Dogs"."