Customer Reviews

Deep Purple in Rock

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

 

 

I ordered this with great anticipation, largely on the basis of the Amazon description of Speed King as the US album version - I took this to mean that I would finally get a remastered version of Speed King without the UK version's "shred" guitar intro (which was cool for one or two listens but now I find just irritating). I receive the cd, unwrap it, put it in the player, and what is the first thing I hear? The cacaphonous shred beginning of the UK version! OK, fine - this is not a disaster as long as the remaster sounds good. Well, no dice there either - while listening to it I found myself vaguely dissatisfied, and when I A-B'd the gold cd with the Anniversary Edition, I realized why: the Anniversary Edition has much more presence, is louder and has more bottom end than the gold cd. The gold cd pales in comparison. If you don't yet have the Anniversary Edition, buy that instead (it's much less expensive, as well). If you already have the Anniversary Edition, skip the gold cd and save your money; you already have the best version of In Rock.

Unfortunately I was disappointed with the sound quality of this vinyl re-issue by Friday Music. The sound has no vinyl clarity, warmth and depth. The same I can tell about Friday Music re-issue of Deep Purple "Burn" album on vinyl that was released this year. They both sound no better than the CDs.

I'm a big and constant Purple fan and finally added this edition to my collection. There is no comments on this. In Rock is a brilliant foundation-stone of hard rock. We know it. Just some words about this recording I have got.Let me quote [...]
"A remixed and extended anniversary edition was first issued with a slaughtered version of "Living wreck" and a prematurely cut-off version of "Hard lovin' man". This was soon corrected though. In case of doubt, according to Simon Robinson (in DTB 48:7), one way to tell a corrected release from a faulty one is by reading the shiny side of the actual disc: the faulty one says "EMI Swindon" while the corrected one says "EMI Uden". We are told by fans that discs printed with "EMI UK" also are faulty. Happy hunting!"
When I first saw a booklet with the faulty track length printed I got goose bumps, then I found EMI Uden on shiny side and listening of record approves that this is the correct one. On the one hand this is a little strange to get the faulty booklet along with the correct recording today but on the other hand this is a real collector's piece.
Btw, sound quality of this edition is very good. I have to say it once again: Happy hunting!

As much as I enjoy the fact of having this LP in my collection, it is a very rare situation when a record sounds worse than a CD. I have the anniversary UK edition and it sounds great so I expected the LP to sound even better, but instead the sound is flat, the songs are different in volume and it somehow doesn't rock. I remember how great the original LP was, even though the recording itself was not ahead of it's time. This is also an American version with introduction on Speed King cut off completely, and while I can understand some critics towards the guitar madness, cutting off the brilliant organ intro doesn't make any sense to me. So if you expect the greater sound out of this, pass it for the AE cd or try to get the original press on ebay. If you have both like me, it is still great to have it in your collection.

A SHINING HOUR FOR THIS MEGA U.K. BAND. RITCHIE BLACKMORE CONTINUALLY SHINES WITH HIS AMAZING FRETWORK! BRILLIANT TRACKS LIKE SPEED KING MAKE THIS A HOME RUN CLASSIC....ORIGINAL ALBUM COVER....

I was pleasantly surprized to hear the great sound quality on this release. I'm always wary about remastered CDs and if there is a definitive difference in the sound quality. On this CD you hear the original album like never before. It's cool to hear the way the album was originally mixed and overdubbed. Everything is clear as a bell. This is worthy of the extra money for purchase.

This Deep Purple album has always been a favorite of mine. It was my first DP acquisition and while I love Machine Head, this has a freshness and power that the band was never able to capture again. This album really rocks hard, the hardest of any DP before or after.

Unfortunately, it was not as well recorded as Machine Head was so it will never sound as good. This Audio Fidelity release does upgrade the sound for systems able to take advantage of its sonic subtleties. Not that much is subtle about In Rock :-)

Steve Hoffman's mastering does bring a level of nuance that I have not heard before. There is more of a soundstage presentation here rather than just raw and loud as found in the Anniversary edition remasters. That becomes a preference of course so if you want raw and loud, you know where to find it.

The booklet contains lyrics only and there are no bonus tracks. As another reviewer mentioned, the version of Speed King is the extended one with the 'shred' intro. Doesn't bother me and my guess is that as Hoffman likes to go to original recordings, that would be part of it. In conclusion then, a moderate, not major upgrade in sound.

Machine Head is also available in this Audio Fidelity series but the best sound for it is the hard to find SACD version (in my opinion).

Anyone familiar with this album knows it is a sonic assault. Anything other than a minimalist approach to remastering it would result in a over the top compressed mess. Steve Hoffman did a great job in this remaster. Played on an HDCD player, the album is a pleasure to listen to and not too harsh. Hoffman has missed the mark on other albums he remastered but not on this one. Get it while you can.

Super deal.

Right on time
In perfect condition
Right price

Can only recommend this seller * * * * *