DEEP PURPLE: The Archieve DVD Vol. 3 - THE FURTHER THOUGHTS

OK, so here it is - the detailed info about the Archieve DVD contain:

Disc 1
Help (5:21 - Danish TV)
Hush (3:30 - Playboy After Dark)
Wring That Neck (3:20 - Canadian TV)
Hallelujah (3:42 - Beat Club)
Mandrake Root (12:08 - Southbank)
Speed King (4:13 - WDR Vicky Leandros)
Black Night (3:10 - Top Of The Pops)
Child In Time (9:36 - Doing Their Thing)
Lazy (11:06 - Copenhagen 1972)
Strange Kind Of Woman (3:55 - Top Of The Pops)
Fireball writing session (silent) (3:58 - ABC TV Australia)
Fireball (3:26 - Disco ZDF)
Demon’s Eye (10:09 - RBB Germany)
No No No (7:15 - Beat Club)
Into The Fire (3:57 - RBB Germany)
Never Before (3:29 - promo)
Highway Star (6:04 - Beat Club)
Smoke On The Water (4:47 - Hofstra)
Burn (6:35 - London 74 / Polytechnic Project)
Mistreated (10:24 - California Jam)
Love Child (4:20 - Tokyo 75)
You Keep On Moving (5:42 - Tokyo 75)

Disc 2
And The Address (2:55 - Playboy After Dark)
Wring That Neck (24:19 - Bilzen Jazz Festival 1969)
Wring That Neck (11:19 - Pop Deux’ Paris 1970)
Mandrake Root (15:01 - Pop Deux’ Paris 1970)
Black Night (3:15 - Promo clip)
No No No (rehearsals) (15:00 - Beat Club)
Jt Nuit’ French TV 1974 (3:08 - INA France)
Burn (6:35 - Leeds Polytechnic Project 1974)
Interview (Leeds Polytechnic Project 1974)
Space Truckin’ (10:00 - Leeds Polytechnic Project 1974)
New Zealand TV Doc Nov 1975 (23:06 - New Zealand TV 1975)
Smoke On The Water (3:00 - New Zealand TV 1975)
Tony Edwards (DP manager) interview (2:11 - French TV 1976)

And some rumblings about what the selection carries!

Overall setlist impression:

It certainly is interesting. Still, in terms of aforementioned comprehensiveness - it fails to succeed. You can't have the long awaited shout out: "At bloody last I have it all!". Not this time at least... Someone's gonna make an attempt to get more money from you next time while other bits and pieces are being compiled - if any.

Flaws

The biggest flaw is the inclusion of only "Child In Time" from Granada TV's Manchaster 1970 screening. If it's due to the research for more complete footage than the available 23 minutes, then it's justified, but otherwise - this is unacceptable. Although in original shape "Speed King" has only it's 2nd half and "Wring That Neck" and "Mandrake Root" are edited to 5 minutes lasting endings - the quality of the picture and the level of band's performance are unbeatable. Only the other 1970 materials from this set (both included - "Southbank" and "Pop Deux") are equally as strong musically, but visually not as much attractive. The rest of the findings is interesting but does not closely follow these standouts.

The other major complaint is the use of the filler fragments from the previous Archieve DVD editions. "Lazy" of 1972's Copenhagen, "Smoke..." of 1973's New York and "Mistreated" culled off from "California Jam" do complete the cross-section of the material, but are nothing else than that. It would be better to use this space for items yet unreleased before in the string of DVD Archieve series. A full existing footage of Mk IV acting in Tokyo 1975 with the late Tommy Bolin - also comes to mind here.

Some indexes lead to asking if the included materials are complete. The footage of Blizen Jazz Fest from August 22, 1969 - being the earliest ever recording of Mk II live - was circulating underground as a collage of "Wring That Neck", "Paint It Black", "Mandrake Root" portions. Here we have only the 1st composition listed. "Burn" from legendary "Leeds Polytechnics Project" is listed twice on both discs, one can only guess why.

Aces in the set reviewed

Disc 1

Help (5:21 - Danish TV)
Hush (3:30 - Playboy After Dark)
Wring That Neck (3:20 - Canadian TV)

Anything showing the first Purple line-up is warmly welcome - after forty years fans will be able to watch the early Purple incarnation.

Mandrake Root (12:08 - Southbank)

First of the mind-crushers included. Probably in edited shape (in Lord's part), but featuring an extensive show-off from Mr. Blackmore. His black-white Stratocaster receives a real survival rally during the closing 6 minutes. If I remember well Paice also demolishes his drum kit at the very end.
Child In Time (9:36 - Doing Their Thing)

In terms of Lord and Gillan's performances - this one has never again been played so astonishingly. Pity that the guitar solo is edited, nevertheless chills down the spine are GUARANTEED.
Demon’s Eye (10:09 - RBB Germany)

Seems like at some point this song was supposed to be an exchanger to "Strange Kind Of Woman" in the setlist. Build around the same arrangment idea it wasn't as effective though. Anyway it's a lost gem that will be enjoyed by many.
Never Before (3:29 - promo)

It is probably the best mounted live video collage done accompanying a studio recorded sundtrack I've ever seen. If you wasn't aware that this track was only once played live in the history, you'd say that the film was shot at the live gig. Some of the bits in it make you think where do the unseen bits do actually come from.
Burn (6:35 - London 74 / Polytechnic Project)

A very tight performance of this classic track with some astonishing close-ups of Blackmore soloing wildly and doing some trademark guitar handtricks of his. Worth every second of it.
Love Child (4:20 - Tokyo 75)
You Keep On Moving (5:42 - Tokyo 75)

Say what you will - this was one of the best concerts Mk IV has performed. Reputation-wise dead and burried after the infamous shit-release of "Last Concert In Japan" now there is a chance to back up the restoration of glory of this concert together with the existing 2 CD release of it's tapes.

Disc 2

And The Address (2:55 - Playboy After Dark)

No idea why this is separated from the 'Hush" thing on the 1st disc. Everyone wonders if this is the famous 'teach Hugh Heffner' thing that's being rumoured for years. A classy performance of the Purple debut record opener follows.
Wring That Neck (24:19 - Bilzen Jazz Festival 1969)

Whatever shape this is in - the earliest Mk II gig ever captured on video will be out in the space now. A quarter of delight I guess.
Wring That Neck (11:19 - Pop Deux’ Paris 1970)
Mandrake Root (15:01 - Pop Deux’ Paris 1970)

This particular inclusion will not be reviewed in detail. A half of hour material that causes every rock and roll brain attempt to leak out of the head. Even Keith Emerson and Jimmy Hendrix would feel embarassingly amused to see this real apocalypse five piece unit going for the mayhem and destroyer. Biggest freak out of the release and probably the wildest bit of Purple ever captured. A MUST!

Space Truckin’ (10:00 - Leeds Polytechnic Project 1974)

While the fans opposing David Coverdale to sing the track will raise their voices in protest after this - please notice the 'Zarathustra' uprising intro to the song, as well as Blackmore's "Greensleeves" interpretation on the bridge to his improvisation part. Brilliant. Although Blackers doesn't cook up to his usual best at the end - he still manages to deliver goods in this one.

Be it then - some flaws and fillers incorporated but still it will be something that a hard rock fan can not miss in the collection. So now counting down to the early July... Tick-tock, tick-tock...