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Deep
Purple & Family We took a look forward to this year's releases at the end of 2005. Three months into 2006 seems a good time to have a look at the state of play regards upcoming old and new Deep Purple family releases on CD and DVD. This news has been assembled from loads of different sources and is as accurate as we can make it, but inevitably plans change so keep this in mind and watch this site for updates throughout the year. Most of these titles can be pre-ordered at DPAS Mail Order. (And if Record Collector is going to swipe any of this info make sure you give the site a credit!)
Ian Gillan / Gillan's Inn 40th Anniversary CD : Ian's baby sees him recutting tracks he's done over 40 years with a massive guests list of Purple guys and others. This is a dual layer disc with audio on one side and vision on the other. Out April 2006. Verdict : you can't fault this in value for money terms, and interesting to compare against the originals.
Rainbow / Live In Cologne 1976 (2CD) : the first of three shows from the band's September tour of Germany (DUSSELDORF and NURNBERG will follow), newly mixed from the multi-tracks. The Japanese are planning to issue the lot in a costly box set around April, the Europeans are splitting them into three separate releases (cheaper and with more packaging). The first release is now due in May. . Verdict : awesome sound. Overkill perhaps, but what a way to go!
Rainbow / Rockpalast 1977 (DVD) : full show from Oct 1977 from German TV, with three bonus promo videos. First ever official release, already out in Japan, Europe (with extra commentary) now follows in June 2006.. Verdict : great image quality, much better than the bootlegs.
Tony Ashton / Testimonial (CD - DVD) : Tony Ashton's mates organised a unique show at Abbey Road in 2000. As well as numbers from Tony, there were sets from from John Entwhistle, Whitesnake (with Lord and Paice but minus Coverdale), and PAL - their only live reunion. The highlights have been mixed for a single CD in May 2006 and a DVD will follow later. Verdict : an emotional night which was great fun, and sounds great on CD.
Tommy Bolin / Masters Series (CD) : The first of a planned series using really rare material and stuff remixed from multi-tracks, some of this is utterly astonishing. The label are giving it a damn good profile too so it should win many more fans to the Bolin altar. Due April 2006. Verdict : having been privvy to some upfront listens to this over the last year, Simon reckons this is one we should all be really looking forward to.
Whitesnake remasters (CD) : they've been a long time coming but the first three are on track for May 2006, and they all have bonus cuts. Verdict : with so many collections out lately it's about time.
Glenn Hughes / Ian Paice - MOONSTONE (CD) : playing together for the first time in thirty years on 3 tracks from this Italian CD. Verdict : shame it has taken so long to hear this pair working together!
Deep Purple / Live In Montreux (DVD) (CD) : Single CD followed by the DVD a few weeks later (April and May - both with different bonus tracks) from the 1996 and 2000 shows. Verdict : the 1996 set just made me want to get in the car and catch a show, it really is that good.
Deep Purple / Rapture Of The Deep Tour Edition (CD) : double CD with the original album and a CD of bonus tracks. Already out elsewhere, held back in the UK until after Milton Keynes. Clever. Verdict : bizarre marketing.
Steve Morse / Dixie Dregs Live In Montreux (DVD) : a fabulous early performance from the famous jazz festival back in 1978 giving us a chance to see the line-up which established Steve's reputation not long out of college. Verdict : should be one to have guitarists getting depressed about!
Glenn Hughes / Studio album (CD) : Glenn Hughes / Studio album (CD) : Glenn is nearly ready with the follow-up to Soul Mover. Verdict : his solo albums usually have a few excellent tracks on them at the very least.
Rainbow / Promos (DVD) : details sketchy but believed to be on the way, a collection of all the band's official promos. Verdict : long overdue.
Gillan / Live (CD) : much further down the line but looks like some of the classic 80s shows saved on multi-track might at last get remixed and released properly. Verdict : the band were never well served on the live front, so it'll be good to see this rectified.
PAL / Live In London (DVD) : the band's live debut was filmed by UK TV and is scheduled for DVD at last. It centres around the tracks on the album and comes with the long lost documentary Lifespan as a bonus. Never released before. Due July 2006. Verdict : a nervy performance from what we remember, but an interesting insight into the ups and downs of PAL.
Deep Purple / Live In London (CD) : 2006 is the year which sees this set from Kilburn in 1974 finally beefed up, remixed and released. A great show. Watch the progress reports on this site. Verdict : we almost hesitated to list it but Simon says EMI really mean it this time.
Deep Purple / Stormbringer (CD) : remastered from original tapes and with the usual selection of remixes, this should push the anniversary series on nicely. It was a funky album at the time, should sound even better redone. Verdict : just to hear Hold On at full tilt will be enough.
Gillan / Live (CD) : much further down the line but looks like some of the classic 80s shows saved on multi-track might at last get remixed and released properly. Verdict : the band were never well served on the live front, so it'll be good to see this rectified.
Deep Purple / Archive Collection (DVD) : with Denmark and California Jam now out, work is beginning on the nitty gritty of assembling the first collection of rarities which fans have been waiting for. Verdict : should include a lot of rare material, including some the bootleggers have missed.
Deep Purple / Day By Night (Book) : the words "almost ready" still apply, but final editorial and design meetings are being scheduled. Verdict : The proof copy rarely leaves my side, this is a monumental piece of work.
Purple Records : have been fairly quiet for the latter half of 2005, mainly as Simon has been busy on other projects. However we're told high on the list are a CD edition of The Gemini Suite studio album, with a DVD edition of Windows, and the Silverhead back-catalogue also in the pipeline. Sonic Zoom-wise a Scottish show from 1974 and Paradiso from 1969 are in the planning stage, with the Dutch Radio master tapes of the latter at last tracked down. Not covered are any EMI compilations that may be pending. One suspects Angel Air will probably foist more low-fi Gillan material on us and we're sure there'll be more DVDs of pirated video clips from Classic Rock Productions. |
