Customer Reviews

Deep Purple in Concert with LSO

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This has to be one of the finest acomplishments the band has ever produced. On a streak to release one double disc live album each year in the last half of the 90's, this is the third one to feature Steve Morse on guitar, and it's their best one to feature him if not one of their best in the band's 30+ years history. With the orchestra in tow and a wide range of special guests, the band perform a unique concert, showcasing not only the band's music, but music from each of the members solo outings as well. Opening up with the John Lord penned Pictured Within, featuring a guest vocalist, it's a soft piano track backed by the orchestra. A big surprise is when the most noticable special vocalist, Ronnie James Dio comes on and sings not one but two songs. Sitting In A Dream and Love Is All, both sounding awesome. John Lord showcases about the first 4 songs because Ian Gillan and the rest of Purple don't really surface until about the 5th track, with the Ian Gillan penned Via Miami, a spunky little number that will get your toes tappin'. Steve Morris not Steve Morse comes on to play guitar on That's Why God Is Singing The Blues but Steve Morse returns with the Steve Morse band to do The Dixie Dregs Take It Off The Top, a smokin' version indeed. Well with all the non Deep Purple tracks out of the way, and all the various special guests done, Deep Purple and the LSO can get busy doing the band's material. Starting with the early instrumental jam of Wring That Neck, the band is on fire only to ignite during the fantastic Pictures Of Home. The 2nd Cd opens up with the bands Concerto For Group And Orchestra in 3 movements. While it clocks in at almost 45 minutes, it's killer, alot better than when they attempted this 30 years ago. Everybody is in fine form. After that some Steve Morse era Purple tracks are performed. Ted The Mechanic, Watching The Sky and Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming, again all played excellently. The finale is a no-brainer, Smoke On The Water, but it's interesting how the orchestra backs the band up and how Ian Gillan hands the mic over to Roger Glover for lead vocals. It must be heard to be believed. Well I've rambled on for too long, if you like Deep Purple or classical music, you will not be dissapointed by this.

the reviewers below dont know what would they say,......this cd is a remake of concerto for group orchestra what the band did in 1969. the place took in the royal albert hall london 1999. I saw the performance in germany 2000 with the george enescu orchestra.
The result is amazing,...buy the cd!

In celebration of their thirty year anniversary of their first orchestral alliance, Deep Purple gives their fans another reason to cheer with a two disc set recorded with The London Symphony Orchestra. I wasn't to sure what to expect when I gave this a spin. I was pleasantly surprised at just how good it actually was. Your first thought may be-"Oh no, another rock dinosaur making a feeble attempt at a comeback." I've got news, Deep Purple never left, and they haven't found it necessary to ever make a comeback. They are, and remain, one the greatest rock bands on the face of the earth. Their immense, and now historic, catalog holds up quite well today as well.

What's a big surprise is the Steve Morse Band's performance, this is a Deep Purple record right? Well, Morse is a member of the group, in fact, an integral part of the Deep Purple picture. Some of the best guitar work that Morse ever did was with the Dixie Dregs. He proceeds to crank out a rousing version of "Take It Off The Top", one of the most recognizable instrumental numbers the group ever did. That just sweetens the pie.

The orchestra is exceptional in making the necessary transitions to coexist with a rock band. The marriage between rock and classical is now a common occurrence thanks to the groundbreaking efforts and strides the group made thirty years ago. After all, isn't rock and roll Beethoven, just played faster?

The only track that doesn't work is Ronnie James Dio singing "Love Is All", it's just not his cup of tea. Ian Gillian would have been much more appropriate for that number, Dio is more of a rock singer than anything else, with limited range and diversity. That's the only downfall of the entire set in my opinion. The rest is a total triumph. Most people don't realize what this group initiated by playing with an orchestra thirty years ago. Think of all the progressive rock groups that were to follow, and consequent rock operas. It all works so beautifully. Some of the guitar work is incredibly inspiring. Wait until you hear "Smoke On The Water" with horns, I got chills!

This is a classic for the ages that shouldn't be missed by any music fan, young and old alike. Your appreciation for the parallels existent in all music, will be awakened and realized once you hear this fantastic and electrifying performance.

Keith Hannaleck June 08, 2000 MuzikMan's Sound Script

DEEP PURPLE, one of the the heaviest and the oldest rock band since 30 years their long live career. This cd is a new version of the 29th Anniversary of the Royal Albert hall in London 1969. In 1969 DP had played with the orcestra for the very first time. Today in 1999 they appeared again in the same hall by celebrating their 30th Anniversary. John Lord is still the big hero. This cd is very cool and super absolutely number one! Smoke on the water's been played for the first time with the horns and the whole orchestra....the result is WONDERFULL! SPECTACULAR! IAN GILLAN sang amazingly,....Pictures of home is a good number, the Arrangement Orchestra is perfect for the songs Pictures of home, some times I feel like screaming, and of course SOEM ON THE WATER,...which featured IAN GILLAN & RONNIE JAMES DIO on duet Vocals. Let'S forget Led Zeppelin, forget Bob Seger, Eagles, Fleedwodd Mac, all the commercial bands.... THIS BAND IS A SYMBOL OF ROCK N ROLL HALL OF FAME FOR OVER 30 YEARS their career,...see ya on the next tour guys! We love ya your immortal FAns

yes this is Deep Purple with the Mark 7 line up; Steve Morse on the banjo. This cd is a remake of the old CONCERTO FOR GROUP AND ORCHESTRA LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL 1969. The new remake of the Concerto is much more powerful and innovative. I said innovative because Deep Purple had put on the bonus tracks of their new studio albums PURPENDICULAR & ABANDON in 1996 and 1998. The result is absolutely amazing and fascinating, there are alots of solo projects from 5 PURPLE members, which include on this pretty album. John Lord's own composition like Pictured within which opened the set on the first track, sounds very amazing. Ian Gillan's own composition like that's why god singing the blues sounds very innovative and gently, Roger Glover's own composition like Butterfly ball sounds absolutely brightly. And don't forget that Ronnie james dio had sung duet with Gillan on the final incredible Smoke on the water. Many Deep Purple fans are very happy with this cd. LONG LIVE DP.

We were there! No matter what anyone else says, nothing could possibly come close to being THERE; in that electrified atmoshpere in the Royal Albert Hall - a building with probably the finest acoustics in the world!

This CD is a wonderful memory of that occaision, especially for those of us that made the trek to those historic concerts. Even it, however, doesn't come close to the emotions displayed and felt on those nights! None-the-less, it's a First Class effort, and a remarkable likeness of the music the way it was presented.

Firstly, one has to remember that Jon Lord penned, "The Concerto For Group and Orchestra" himself. This piece of pioneering music wasn't a, "We'll play a song and let's see what kind of accompaniment you can put to this," kinda thing. No, it was written from the ground up, when no one had considered such a thing, and indeed, a lot of critics disdained it. However, if you're a musician, and that's the key word here, you can't help but be in awe of the tremendous effort, even today, that went into it, and the rationale. Every note has a reason and a place. The only fear of the day, and rightfully so, was that it would be so far above everyone's head that it would be misunderstood. Fears that would be proven in '69, but not '99. But I digress...

Firstly, it helps when you have a band of very talented players, and these guys have talent in SPADES - synergistically, probably more than any other band before or since. Then it helps to have a first rate orchestra to do this with (just like the Royal Philharmonic was in 1969), and a Conductor whose life dream was to be in this very spot. Paul Mann was a vision of energy to behold and you can hear it in the music. Add a few very talented friends, and the night was what one would expect - a grandios party! Not a pretentious affair, but a truly FUN night. That's all it was meant to be. But, as always with Deep Purple, it was also Grand, with a capitol "G"!

From Jon's lovely, lilting "Pictured Within" to the racus rendition of "Ted The Mechanic," (musical "stress relief" if I ever heard it), the musicians on that stage bring forth a range of emotions rarely, if ever, possible to be felt in one sitting. "Smoke on the Water," a tune that has surely been played to death, became the anthem of the night! Avec "Tout le gang," this is a rendition not to be missed! The combination of all the instruments, voices, and the atmosphere of triumph in that building, pushed this song into the stratosphere - just when one would think everyone's sick of hearing/playing it! That's the story with Deep Purple, though. Always fresh. Always with a surprise or two.

Enough of what I have to say. Do yourself a favour. Go out and buy this! Better still, go get the video, too. If you're a musician, or a connoisseur of fine music, you shant be disappointed.

For me it is great that deep Purple, one of my favorite groups along with Iron Maiden, Judas Priest , and Black Sabbath, joined forces with The London Symphony Orchestra, which has given me an enormous source of inspiration with the performances of all the Star Wars scores and many classical recordings. Although my favorite DP songs are not here, the concerto alone is more than I hoped. I really liked the original version which I still have in vinyl, but this version sounds much better. The LSO sounds more energetic and coordinated than the previous RPO did. Just listen to the third movement, with incredibly powerful , epic and frenetic momentum! In regards to the songs, my , ( which are not exactly DP songs but are brilliant, romantic ,and relaxing) There were also, Sometimes I feel like Screaming, and Pictures of Home. This were even better when supported by the orchestra . I just would have like Perfect Strangers to be included. It would be truly great to hear it augmented with the power of a symphony orchestra. Thank you John Lord, conductor, group, and orchestra!

Attended this show at Mexico City's National Auditorium was one of my greatest experiences on musical apreciation. During the concert, i cant believe what i was watching and what i was listening to. The band, the orchestra (of Las Americas, on Latinamerican tour), Paul Mann, Ronnie James Dio, horns section, backing vocalists.... a georgeous stage.

The music is simply perfect, the mixture of the classical music played by the orchestra and the great talents of Jon and company.

This set was an important musical document recorded at London's Royal Albert Hall.

This CD set contains Jon Lord's 1968 "Concerto for Group and Orchestra" on its three movements; as i said, a great mixture of rock and classical music, great Steve Morse guitar solos and an Ian Paice drum solo.

"Pictured Within" and "Wait a While" (this second sang by Sam Brown)are really beautiful songs written by Jon Lord; just his piano, the orchestra and the voice.

"Sitting in a dream" and "Love is All" are great songs sang by Ronnie James Dio; Extraordinary orchestral arrangements and the voice of the best hard rock lead vocalist.

"Thats why God is singing the blues" is a pretty acoustic song, and "Via Miami" is a typical Rock & Roll with horn arrangements.

"Take it off the Top" and "Wring that Neck" are good instrumental works.

The rest of the songs are fantastic Purple's tracks ("Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming" is terrific), excellently played by the band with the magic companion of the orchestra.

Essential "Smoke on the Water" takes a new dimention with the orchestra, horn and backing vocals arrangements, and the lead vocals duet of Ian Gillan and Ronnie James Dio.

This CD is a must have for all rock fans, this double album is a "jewell" in my 200+ CD's collection; an absolute masterpiece.

I agree , I agree with his opinion about this cd. I had been a fan since 1976,.... the songs are cool,...SMOKE on the water, PICTURES OF HOME, SOMETIEMS I FEEL LIKE SCREAMING have been played for the very first time with the whole orchestra included French Horns, trumpet and string instruments V.S STEVE MORSE's guitar Riff.... This band has been called as the biggest and the loudest HARD Rock band in this planet, okay! Led Zeppelin perhaps might be bigger! but according to my humble opinion DEEP PURPLE has more Charisma than any other commercial rock bands. DEEP PURPLE must be included in the Rock n Roll hall of FAME (story of rock n roll) We love you GUYS,...we are waiting for you all on the next tour....your immortal FAN

yes I shall see them on stage again, it is my 4th experience to see DP live again. The whole set is absolutely fantastic and cool, has many classical elements and rock n roll back ground. The songs like Pictured within which had been sung by Miller anderson and composed by Jon Lord (the great keyboard man), Wait a while which featuring Miss Sam Brown on voice sounding very nice and touched my heart deeply. The orchestra set was divided into three section; DP played enthusiastically towards their fans. Watching the sky, Ted the mechanic and Sometimes I feel like screaming are pretty time less songs, Ian Gillan is on the top form on that night in london 1999. The final song SMOKE was arranged together with the orchestra and Gillan sang duet with DIO on the voice, the audience stood up and sang the text together. The result is brain melting. Oh well, I cannot forget that great night in London 1999, I m very proud to be a fan of Deep Purple. I love ya guys see ya on the next tour!

cheers your fans in Koblenz Germany