Search - Deep Purple :: New Life & Rare: Bootleg Series 1984-2000

For DP Collectors only!

eveoflove | North York, Ontario Canada | 02/25/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Made in AUT in 2000, Serial# 697593-00074-8, Playing Time 712:07This "box set" features 6 double-CDs recorded between 1984 and 2000. As the full title of this item reads "Collectors Edition - The Bootleg Series", it is targeted at the DP collectors. If you're not one of those, I suggest you forget about this item, and continue shopping: you can stop reading this review HERE.If you're not a DP collector (and you're still reading this), why else would you want a box set that contains 6 versions of EACH of the following: "Black Night", "Highway Star", "Lazy", "Smoke On The Water" and "Perfect Strangers"; 5 versions EACH of "Child In Time" and "Knocking At Your Back Door"? Carry on with your shopping; there's NO POINT for you to keep reading on!OK, I think I got rid of the casual DP listener, and we can get started on the meat of this review, which I'll try to make as brief as possible: you're a DP collector, so you'll probably buy this no matter what I say, and that's fine; I just want to prepare you for what this "box" is all about...I don't like bootlegs: not because they're released without the artist's approval (that's a philosophical topic for another day), but because they're often poorly recorded; in this case, it's released by their booking agency. On the other hand, they also allow fans to listen to a performance without the aid of "final studio touch-ups" which often "tamper" official releases. When I saw the price of this item, I thought "I'm gonna get an envelope with 12 CDs held together by a rubber band"; not so: each 2-disc set is in a slim double-jewelcase, in a little cardboard box. Unlike typical box sets, this one has no booklet, no photos, no liner notes. Still, DP is one of those bands that aren't afraid to expand their music when performing live: these records clearly and interestingly prove this, so I won't bother talking about musicianship or the quality of the music: that's a given.I want to thank Ian (the previous reviewer) for describing the venues for each of these sets, and I'll focus a bit more on content, by making comparisons with "regular" live releases of DP, set-by-set. As a reference for sonic quality, I would give "Last Concert In Japan" a 7 out of 10, and DP's "Made in Japan" an 8 out of 10.Set 1: 108 min. Atrocious recording quality (3 out of 10). Sounds like I'm listening to the album because my neighbour from across the street is playing it, and my windows are open. The set list (not the versions) on this set is the same as on the "Knebworth 85" album, but adds "Under The Gun" and "Child In Time". Knebworth sounds much better.Set 2: 112 min. Improved sound quality (4 out of 10). Sounds like that same neighbour has opened THEIR windows. Set list is the same as set 1, but "Woman From Tokyo" replaces "Speed King".Set 3: 139 min. Improved sound quality (5 out of 10). Sounds like my next-door neighbour also bought this and is now playing it. Same set list as "Nobody's Perfect", plus 5 songs: "Unwritten Law", "Dead Or Alive", "Difficult To Cure", Speed King" and "Call Of The Wild". This set contains some disappointing fade-outs!Set 4: 115 min. Better sound quality (7 out of 10). I'm in my kitchen, and my wife must be playing the CD downstairs. Same set list as on "Come Hell Or High Water", plus 8 tracks, but misses "Speed King". This one's worth it!Set 5: 114 min. Uneven but average sound quality (6 out of 10). Sounds like I'm in my car stopped at a red light, and the car next to me is playing this disc; our windows are up. Recorded during a break from the studio sessions of "Purpendicular". First set that features the "crunchy" guitar sounds of Steve Morse.Set 6: 123 min. Very good sound quality (8 out of 10). Set list is quite different from the "Total Abandon Australia '99" set. This is how DP was meant to be heard, and is worthy of a "commercial" release.This box will probably be out of print faster than you can sing the words to "Difficult To Cure" (if you're a DP collector, you'll know what that means! If you're not, why are you still here?). There's 647 minutes of actual music (about 1 hour's worth of playing time is "lost" for applause, intros, etc.) For people like us (DP collectors), this set is precious. There's a disclaimer at the bottom of the box that reads: "These recordings are taken from good quality audience tapes, and in no way represent high quality live concert audio". To which I say: "Who Cares! I'm a DP collector!!!""

Lousey Live Recordings

Harry E. Heathman III | Seattle, WA USA | 03/06/2001

(1 out of 5 stars)

"As a collector of Deep Purple music since 1971, I find this "bootleg" set just that, a bootleg set. Just because it is a management release does not mean it is good. I purchased it because of the set lists and songs not done live on previous live recordings. This has no better sound quality because it as been mastered. Live in Japan 2000 has about the best sound quality but you can't hear Ian Gillian singing. Buyer beware!!!"

Good buy for the money

Jay Denne | Sioux City, IA United States | 05/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What it comes down to is this - if you are used to buying bootlegs, this set is an absolute steal for $70 and the sound quality ranges from average to well above average for audience recorded material. Generally, to buy a 2 disc bootleg set, you have to pay at least $30 to $40, so here you are getting 6 two disc sets (12 cds total) for the price of two. If you are not used to bootlegs, buy the previously released offical live recordings from the tours represented in this box set (Knebworth '85, Nobody's Perfect, Come Hell or High Water, Live at the Olympia 96, and Total Abandon)."