Customer Reviews

In the Absence of Pink - Knebworth 1985

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a live CD from the newly reunited Mk II version of Deep Purple, consisting of Lord, Blackmore, Gillian, Paice and Glover. It comes from the tour to support the Perfect Strangers album. It consists of most of a concert, but is missing 2 tracks. Each disc is 50 minutes long.

The sound is loud and noisy. Deep Purple was always a loud band and even set the record for the loudest concert ever. But, they always had a crystal clear sound. This recording is horrible. It is noisy and painful to hear at times. On some tracks, you can even hear the audience talking. The editing is bad, with sharp cuts between some of the tracks. Other parts could have used some trimming. The cheering between tracks goes on too long in some parts. They could have cut out Gillian's stupid remarks between songs.

But, most of the music is great. There are only a few bland tracks, like Highway Star and some of the newer songs, which are just noisy copies of the studio versions.

On most of the tracks, the band really opens up and twists the songs in new ways, similar to how the band used play in seventies. There is a lot of energy and many great solos. Both Lord and Blackmore get into classical and neo-classical music, playing everything from Bethoven to Ravel.

At times, it sounds like Lord is copying Keith Emerson, and even breaks out into America, a popular staple of the Nice and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. Of course, there is some argument of who came first, Lord or Emerson. They both started introducing classical music into rock around the same time. (Before being a pioneering Hard Rock band, Deep Purple was a pioneering Progressive/Art Rock band).

The sound is so poor, I give it 3 stars. The music rates 4 stars. This album is certainly much better than the live album, Nobody's Perfect. The best Deep Purple live album is the original Live and Rare (not to be confused with the New Live and Rare), but it is currently out of print. Next best would be Made in Japan.

This 2CD set could have been great - instead its adequate. Firstly the good stuff - the band sound fired up to be back on home turf for their first UK comback gig and for the most part they deliver an enthusiastic 'glad to be there' performance, albeit with the odd mistake (wake up Blackmore!). The track selection is pretty good too. But ......... what lets this release down is the appalling packaging and some very dodgy decisions on the sound / editing. It seems the BBC lost two of the original tracks, so this may account for the poorly spliced editing. However what is unforgiveable is the sound quality on 'Lazy' - it's significantly different and far worse than the rest of the set. In fact it sounds like a bootleg or a bad soundboard tape that was slipped in as an afterthought ( to replace one of the Beeb's missing tracks perhaps ?). Frankly, it's so bad it should have been left off. Overall, if you're a Purple collector, you will probably want this CD and for the most part you won't feel ripped off, but it's fairly ordinary for something that could have been really special.

yes you can ask Ian Gillan, why he did the reformation in the DP reunion 1985 Perfect strangers era? The answer is easy, because Gillan, Glover, Blackmore, Paicey and lordy wanted to repeat their long time ago huge succes in the periode of Mk II early 70's. The reunion tour was succesfull, and the fans have celebrated together with the band. This show was recorded in Hertfordshire England at the Knebworth Park....Deep Purple reached as the loudest rock band on that night. They had circa 300.000 audiences. The fans who have waited for almost 10 years, were really enthusiastic to see the band live again. The opening songs like Highway star, Strange kind of woman, until the final song Smoe on the water and Speed king are great, there are no bad songs on this album. Noticement: The Deep Purple's final era with MK IV Bolin line up was disbanded in 1976, David coverdale formed later his own band called Whitesnake.

This live 2 cd set showcases the reunited deep purple's return to the british concert stage at the knebworth festival 1985. This concert was performed in pouring rain and mud, in spite of this they put on a great performance Ian Gillan is in good voice here and Ritchie's guitarwork is definitely inspired. The sound quality on the other hand is not great but Ian Gillan's voice is loud and clear as is Jon Lord's keyboards. Richie's guitar sound and Ian Paice's drum sound is a bit thin and rough. These are minor complaints about what is otherwise a decent recording of a great performance.

I don't understand everyone saying how bad this CD sounds. It sounds great! It was a terrific show and I'm glad I purchased it. This is 1985 people, not 1973. DP had a different sound and it's time to acknowledge that. Blackmore's tone is harder more like with live Dio-era Rainbow. If you don't like that fine, but lots of people do. The playing all around is excellent. I've listened to it several times while driving around town and really enjoy it. So don't panic and wish for the good ole days: buy the thing and enjoy it. What else you gonna spend your money on: Led Zeppelin bootlegs?

Ritchie's guitar tone is awful. Glitchy sounding. I've heard he was mixing his guitar tone with a guitar synth around this period. Unless you are a Blackmore nut, like me, buy the Stuttgart set from the '93 tour. Ritchie plays AND sounds awsome.

THE Come back of the giant Dinosaurus, GILLAN is always in the top form,...This cd was a greatness Name of Deep Purple,..this PURPLE show is much much better than any Led Zeppelin shows. I said better because Purple played always much harder and heavier

the band have reformed again in 1985, after their demise in 1976. The first singer Ian Gillan returned back to the Purple in 1984 to replace the 2nd singer in the middle 70's David Coverdale. While Coverdale was still busy with his new band Whitesnake, Gillan took a place as a vocalist again,...this cd presented their reunion Tour in the UK. This double cd has alot of the old songs of Mk II hey days. And absolutely the high light of the tour in 1985. The fans have been waiting for so long to see the band live again.....a Must for all deep purple fans! they are louder and energic than led Zeppelin!