If you're like me and disappointed that Deep Purple recently cancelled their April 2024 tour of Australia, then fear not - not only did they say they'd hope to "return soon" (Let's count them on it!), but a yet another band new version of the classic 1972 album 'Machine Head' has just been released recently as a 3 Disc / Vinyl LP and Bluray boxset. Why has this album been remastered again? Well they're dubbing this one the '50th Anniversary Edition' (just shy of 2 years...)
Back in 2012, we had the "40th Anniversary Edition" reissue of Machine Head by EMI, when it was released shortly afterwards EMI went bankrupt and the boxset shortly disappeared from sale, making it quite rare to find in full. I was lucky enough to get a copy of this boxset before it disappeared. But what's so different about this new 50th anniversary edition, you might wonder? Quite a few things. There's a brand new 2024 remix and remaster of the album by Dweezil Zappa, son of legendary rock musician Frank Zappa who helped inspire the song 'Smoke On The Water'. The new remix and the remaster (exclusively to this set) are both on the one disc. This makes room for the other content, a new 2024 remaster of "Live In Concert 1972" on the BBC, which was released previously on the 40th anniversary edition - but sounds just so much better here. The drums and bass certainly stand out more. Disc 3 is something very special, it includes a previously unreleased concert - Live in Montreux 1971. Heavily bootlegged in the past, this concert was a rare glimpse of Deep Purple action during the 1971 Fireball tour. It also contains a extremely rare version of Speed King, where right at the beginning of the concert, a power cut happens. Drummer Ian Paice fills in the space with a drum solo until the power comes back on. The track is unlike regular concert versions of the era and is more spontaneous, featuring more power cuts several times. Thankfully, there are only a few power cuts at the beginning of the show, leading up to a really unique version of 'Speed King'. Though this is an audience recording, the quality is quite good and seems to have been remastered as well.
This is the first time we've had a new Deep Purple archive concert released for a long time. Unfortunately, DEEP PURPLE (OVERSEAS) shut down in 2017, and the Deep Purple Archive shut down even earlier back in 2012. Now Deep Purple have cut a new deal with Edel and Warner Bros records to release more content. Thankfully they kept their promise with this new boxset. Sadly, during the Montreux 1971 concert there is a noticeable cut during the track Child In Time, due to the recorder changing tapes, but it's overall a great concert and i'm just happy to have something new release from the Deep Purple live concerts.
Disc 4 is a Bluray Audio disc, which features a new 2024 Atmos Remaster, the 1974 Quad Mixes and a few 5.1 Remixes of a couple of tracks on the album. Sadly, Roger Glover's 1998 Remixes are completely omitted from this release for unknown reasons. Maybe they wanted to offer something new with the 1971 live concert instead.
The boxset also includes the album on a brand new Smokey Deep Purple Coloured Vinyl and a oversized 60 page book with new band interviews, photographs and text recounting the making of the album and events leading up to the Montreux Casino fire which inspired the track 'Smoke On The Water'.
Overall, this 50th Anniversary Boxset of Deep Purple's Machine Head is a fantastic collectible for Purple fans old and new. The Dweezil Zappa remixes are fantastic and the new content is truly special. Now we had this Super Deluxe Edition of Machine Head released, I really hope they end up releasing that Made In Europe boxset that was shelved several years ago.
Deep Purple - Machine Head 50th Anniversary Boxset is out now !
CONTENT:
Vinyl LP 2024 Remix
SIDE ONE
01. Highway Star
02. Maybe I'm A Leo
03. Pictures Of Home
04. Never Before
SIDE TWO
05. Smoke On The Water
06. Lazy
07. When A Blind Man Cries
08. Space Truckin'
CD1: 2024 REMIX (By Dweezil Zappa)
01. Highway Star
02. Maybe I'm A Leo
03. Pictures Of Home
04. Never Before
05. Smoke On The Water
06. Lazy
07. Space Truckin'
08. When A Blind Man Cries
2024 REMASTER
09. Highway Star
10. Maybe I'm A Leo
11. Pictures Of Home
12. Never Before
13. Smoke On The Water
14. Lazy
15. Space Truckin'
CD2: IN CONCERT 1972 (2024 Remaster)
01. Introduction
02. Highway Star
03. Strange Kind Of Woman
04. Maybe I'm A Leo
05. Smoke On The Water
06. Never Before
07. Lazy
08. Space Truckin'
09. Lucille
10. Maybe I'm A Leo (Soundcheck)
CD3: LIVE IN MONTREUX 1971 (Previously Unreleased)
01. Swiss Yodel
02. Speed King
03. Strange Kind Of Woman
04. Into The Fire
05. Child In Time
06. Paint It Black
07. Wring That Neck (Hard Road)
08. Black Night
09. Lucille
CD4: BLURAY 2024 ATMOS REMIX
01. Highway Star
02. Maybe I'm A Leo
03. Pictures Of Home
04. Never Before
05. Smoke On The Water
06. Lazy
07. Space Truckin'
08. When A Blind Man Cries
1974 US QUAD MIXES
01. Highway Star
02. Maybe I'm A Leo
03. Pictures Of Home
04. Never Before
05. Smoke On The Water
06. Lazy
07. Space Truckin'
01. When A Blind Man Cries
02. Maybe I'm A Leo
03. Lazy
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