Concerto For Group & Orchestra [Live, Import]

Deep Purple | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 21, 1998)
• Format: Live, Import
• Label: Msi/Sound Product
• ASIN: B000006EBA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  DVD Audio  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,764,326 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

1990 EMI reissue of their 1970 album for the label with The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Malcolm Arnold, plus two bonus tracks from 1977, 'Child In Time' & 'Wring That Neck'. Five tracks total. The album was recorded live in concert at the Royal Albert Hall. The band's Jon Lord composed the original three tracks on the album. The full title is 'Concerto For Group And Orchestra'. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Way back when rock music was still progressing!, January 22, 2003

By 

John (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Concerto for Group & Orchestra (Audio CD)

This was back when rock music was still progressing. The strength of an orchestra working with the power of a rock band. Deep Purple were the first band to integrate rock music with classical. The idea came from Jon Lord, Deep Purple's keyboardist.
The band have the muscle to avoid being buried by orchestration, yet manage to join forces with the orchestra. The outcome is a magnificent union that will delight those who care at all about music.
This set was recorded live at the Royal Albert Hall in London on September 24th, 1969 and was divided into three movements:
1st Movement: Allegretto.
2nd Movement: Allegro with lyrics by lead singer Ian Gillan.
3rd Movement: . Vivace presto which integrates a solo for Ian Paice on drums.
For only having two complete rehearsals, the outcome is absolutely amazing.

(Important note) Make sure to get the current release (import only, as of early 2003) which has been completely re-mixed to sound 100% better than the old CD and/or LP, it also includes a nice big booklet full of pictures and if that's not enough for you, a great bonus disc of the band performing a three song set before the Concerto.

Track 1: Hush - Perhaps a better version than the one we always hear on the radio, with Ian Gillan's incredible vocal delivery. Sounding almost like early Elvis at times.
Track 2: Wring that Neck - A smoking instrumental with room to play for guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and keyboardist Jon Lord. I must also mention the solid rhythm section of Roger Glover on bass and Ian Paice on drums, they just drive this piece along. Nice.
Track 3: Child In Time - The band were just about to record this "soon to be classic" for the upcoming album "In Rock". It might be one of the finest live version they ever did.
It's so new to them that they play it incredibly tight, and Gillan keeps his famous screams slightly off the mic, so not to scare the classical side of the crowd, but it makes for a great reverb sound. Those three tracks give you about half an hour of warm up. The audience sounds like they enjoyed the opening set. Fabulous!
The Concerto for Group and Orchestra was and is an excellent idea from JON LORD, he is a true hero. Thanks Jon.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars when I'm dead................................., February 20, 2008

By 

J. C. M. Kemenade (the Netherlands, Barneveld) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Concerto for Group & Orchestra (Audio CD)

It's actually very simple. Ever since I was a little boy, I've always contemplated the music I want to be played at my burial (or cremation for that matter). No speeches, to save any audience well-meant crap, but music, only music! To me music symbolizes the sheer genius of mankind and is able to voice every possible emotion I can have at any given moment. It lifts me up and beats me down (what is a mountain without a valley?), caresses and comforts me. I simply can't imagine life without music. Over the years I've come to appreciate so many forms of music, fell in love with so many songs, symphonies, bits and pieces, that it seems virtually impossible to make a selection, representing in less than an hour my musical "meaning of life". But, not too long ago, all of a sudden it struck me. Back in my teens came, on hindsight, the epitomy of my musical life: Deep Purple's Concerto For Group And Orchestra; Jon Lord's masterpiece. The ultimate fusion of classical music and rock music (ie classic rock). This concerto, and nothing else, is the music to be played at my funeral (you're all invited).

I just can't think of a greater salute to this truly masterpiece. I rest my case!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Bold Experiment, October 1, 1998

By 

Yisroel Markov - See all my reviews

This review is from: Concerto For Group & Orchestra (Audio CD)

This is what you think it is: Deep Purple with orchestra (British Royal Symphony), recorded live in Albert Hall. Lord wrote in the accompanying booklet: "Too many people took it too seriously". But it is a very interesting effort: DP sound is pre-Machinehead, and the orchestral part sounds like Beethoven. A must for the serious collector; skip if you don't like pre-Machinehead DP.