Notes

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Feb 19, 1970, Mar 1972

It's widely agreed that one of the first great live heavy metal albums was Deep Purple's classic 1972 release Made in Japan, as the "Mach II" version of the group (in other words, the one with Ian Gillan and Ritchie Blackmore in attendance) appeared to be at the peak of its in-concert powers. As it turns out, this is not the case. The double-disc In Concert (1970-1972) shows that the band had been a raging live act for a year or two prior, as it manages to match (or arguably, maybe even pass) the majesty of Japan. Comprised of a pair of sessions recorded for the BBC, the contents of In Concert show that Purple were in a league unto themselves on-stage, as high-charged versions of "Speed King," "Strange Kind of Woman," "Never Before," and "Smoke on the Water" push the energy of the better-known studio versions (which were pretty darn impressive on their own) up a notch or two. Also of note is an exceptional reading of the slowly building "Child in Time," which showcases Gillan's oft-overlooked vocal abilities. If you want proof that Purple circa the early '70s was one of rock's top live acts, be sure to check out In Concert (1970-1972).