In Concert 1970-1972 features the classic Mk II line-up of Deep Purple during two BBC performances, one during the In Rock tour of 1970 and the other supporting Machine Head in 1972. Both performances are of Blackmore, Gillan, Lord, Pace, and Glover at their most raw, venemous, and jamming best. If you like Deep Purple heavy, metallic, yet with a blues edge and drifting into wild improvisations, then you've come to the right place.
Disc one only features four songs, but it clocks in at nearly an hour, thanks to two early gems "Wring That Neck" and "Mandrake Root", both of which are practically pushing the 20-minute barrier and contain no shortage of lengthy jams. It's also great to hear Gillan on MkI material, especially the crankin' "Mandrake Root". He's also snarling & screaming on the proto-metal classic "Speed King", though he seems to suffer a little during his screaming sections of the epic "Child in Time". Blackmore unleases a monumental solo on this In Rock staple, and it will be up to you to decide whether this one tops his mercurial solo spot on Made in Japan or not. No matter how you feel about it, his lead break here will send shivers up your spine for sure. This concert without a doubt contains some of the most incredible Ritchie Blacmore solos you'll ever hear.
Fast forward two years and the band is out in support of Machine Head, and they are in full Made in Japan mode here, though we get a few different tunes in this set as opposed to that classic live album. Kicking off with a super-charged version of "Highway Star", Blackmore & Lord trading off blistering lines and Gillan screaming his lungs out, leading into a tight version of "Strange Kind of Woman". The next two are a pleasant surprise, the groovy, heavy rocker "Maybe I'm a Leo" and the slightly funky but hard rocking "Never Before", both deep album cuts from Machine Head that never got the attention they deserved. Jon Lord starts off "Lazy" with his wild Hammond antics before the rest of the band join the fray on this bluesy rocker, and a 20 minute version of "Space Truckin' " lets the band deliver some stunning solo spots. Of course, it wouldn't be a Deep Purple concert without the obligatory "Smoke On the Water", and this one's a good one, though in spots it seems a tad reserved. Throw in a rousing cover of "Lucille" and you have another strong set from a band that was at the top of their game by this point. Sadly, within two years both Gillan and Glover would be gone, though the band rebounded quite strongly with the addition of David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes on the Burn album.
Eagle Rock has done a fine job on this reissue, so expect all the same photos and info from the earlier Spitfire release in the booklet. It all amounts to another fine Deep Purple live concert set from the vaults that you'll need to have in your collection if you are a fan.
Track Listing
Disc 1:
1. Speed King 7:20
2. Child In Time 11:07
3. Wring That Neck 18:59
4. Mandrake Root 17:37
Disc 2:
1. Highway Star 8:32
2. Strange Kind Of Woman 9:17
3. Maybe I'm A Leo 6:17
4. Never Before 4:34
5. Lazy 10:22
6. Space Truckin' 21:46
7. Smoke On The Water 7:08
8. Lucille 7:22
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