Mk III: The Final Concerts
Encyclopedia
MK III: The Final Concerts, alternatively entitled Archive Alive, is a live album released by Deep Purple
, recorded during the band's 1975 European tour in support of Stormbringer
. It was released in 1996.
This double CD release is culled from the very last performances from Deep Purple MK III featuring Ritchie Blackmore
before he left to launch his new band Rainbow
with singer Ronnie James Dio
. The album features for the most part material from the last concert of the tour held at the Palais des Sports in Paris on April 7, 1975, with a few tracks taken from two shows in Graz, Austria, April 3 and 4.
After the end of the tour, and facing the prospect of the end of the band, Jon Lord
mentioned to the press the upcoming release of a double live set consisting of performances from the last European tour. However, as the band decided to carry on, the plans for the release were scrapped.
In 1976, after the definitive breakup of the band, the single disc Made in Europe
live album was released, using some of the material previously mentioned by Lord (from the Saarbrücken show), but apparently none of the material included on this release. Made in Europe was met with mixed reactions, as some argued that it failed to capture the energy that the band displayed live. Additionally, some resented what they felt was a healthy amount of studio editing.
Blackmore's lack of enthusiasm, as well as band tension onstage, are fairly evident on some of the tracks: Blackmore unexpectedly loses his way on the intro for "Mistreated" and he seems totally surprised by Lord's solo on "Lady Double Dealer" (the studio version of this song lacks a keyboard solo).
The alternate takes of "Mistreated" and "You Fool No One" on disc two are from the Graz shows, and although the liner notes mention "technical problems" on the Paris tapes as the justification for their inclusion, it is more likely that their inclusion has more to do with mistakes by the band.
Strangely, the alternate take of "You Fool No One" lacks Ian Paice
's trademark drum solo, even after being announced by David Coverdale
.
During the intro jam for "You Fool No One" Blackmore played riffs which he would later use on the songs "Still I'm Sad" and "Man On The Silver Mountain" from Rainbow's first LP Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
, which was already recorded only weeks before these shows.
Bonus tracks:
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, recorded during the band's 1975 European tour in support of Stormbringer
Stormbringer (album)
-Side Two:-35th anniversary bonus tracks:-Personnel:* David Coverdale - lead vocals* Ritchie Blackmore - guitar* Glenn Hughes - bass, vocals* Jon Lord - organ, keyboards* Ian Paice - drums-Additional personnel:...
. It was released in 1996.
This double CD release is culled from the very last performances from Deep Purple MK III featuring Ritchie Blackmore
Ritchie Blackmore
Richard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
before he left to launch his new band Rainbow
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
with singer Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
. The album features for the most part material from the last concert of the tour held at the Palais des Sports in Paris on April 7, 1975, with a few tracks taken from two shows in Graz, Austria, April 3 and 4.
History
At the time of the taping of the shows, the rest of the band was unaware of Blackmore's decision to leave the band by tour's end. Managers decided to tape the last 3 shows (Paris, Graz and Saarbrücken) in order to have some product available for release in the event of the band splitting up.After the end of the tour, and facing the prospect of the end of the band, Jon Lord
Jon Lord
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
mentioned to the press the upcoming release of a double live set consisting of performances from the last European tour. However, as the band decided to carry on, the plans for the release were scrapped.
In 1976, after the definitive breakup of the band, the single disc Made in Europe
Made in Europe
Made in Europe is a live album released by Deep Purple, recorded on the final dates in 1975 on which Ritchie Blackmore was a member of Deep Purple. It was released in 1976 after the group broke up....
live album was released, using some of the material previously mentioned by Lord (from the Saarbrücken show), but apparently none of the material included on this release. Made in Europe was met with mixed reactions, as some argued that it failed to capture the energy that the band displayed live. Additionally, some resented what they felt was a healthy amount of studio editing.
Blackmore's lack of enthusiasm, as well as band tension onstage, are fairly evident on some of the tracks: Blackmore unexpectedly loses his way on the intro for "Mistreated" and he seems totally surprised by Lord's solo on "Lady Double Dealer" (the studio version of this song lacks a keyboard solo).
The alternate takes of "Mistreated" and "You Fool No One" on disc two are from the Graz shows, and although the liner notes mention "technical problems" on the Paris tapes as the justification for their inclusion, it is more likely that their inclusion has more to do with mistakes by the band.
Strangely, the alternate take of "You Fool No One" lacks Ian Paice
Ian Paice
Ian Anderson Paice is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the English rock band Deep Purple. As of Jon Lord's departure in 2002, he is the only founding member of the band who never stopped performing with the group, and the only member to appear on every album the band has...
's trademark drum solo, even after being announced by David Coverdale
David Coverdale
David 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
.
During the intro jam for "You Fool No One" Blackmore played riffs which he would later use on the songs "Still I'm Sad" and "Man On The Silver Mountain" from Rainbow's first LP Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
Note: On the cassette version of the album, Side One features the last five tracks, while Side Two plays the first four. Also, on the case insert and on the cassette itself, "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" is written as "Sixteen Century Greensleeves"....
, which was already recorded only weeks before these shows.
Disc one
- "BurnBurn (Deep Purple song)"Burn" is a song by British rock band Deep Purple. It was released on the album of the same name in 1974, and was the first song by the Mark III lineup.The song remained the band's concert opener for the next two years, taking over from "Highway Star". It opened Deep Purple's set on the California...
" (Ritchie BlackmoreRitchie BlackmoreRichard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
, David CoverdaleDavid CoverdaleDavid 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
, Jon LordJon LordJonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
, Ian PaiceIan PaiceIan Anderson Paice is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the English rock band Deep Purple. As of Jon Lord's departure in 2002, he is the only founding member of the band who never stopped performing with the group, and the only member to appear on every album the band has...
) – 7:33 - "Stormbringer" (Blackmore, Coverdale) – 4:38
- "Gypsy" (Blackmore, Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Lord, Paice - 5:40
- "Lady Double Dealer" (Blackmore, Coverdale) – 3:53
- "Mistreated" (Blackmore, Coverdale) - 12:38
- "Smoke on the WaterSmoke on the Water"Smoke on the Water" is a song by the British hard rock band Deep Purple. It was first released on their 1972 album Machine Head. In 2004, the song was ranked number 426 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and in March 2005, Q magazine placed "Smoke on the Water"...
" (Blackmore, Ian GillanIan GillanIan Gillan is an English rock music vocalist and songwriter, best known as the lead singer and lyricist for Deep Purple. During his career Gillan also fronted his own band, had a year-long stint as the vocalist for Black Sabbath, and sang the role of Jesus in the original recording of Andrew Lloyd...
, Roger GloverRoger GloverRoger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
, Lord, Paice) - 10:17 - "You Fool No One" (Blackmore, Coverdale, Lord, Paice) – 13:24
Disc two
- "Space Truckin'Space Truckin'"Space Truckin" is a song by British hard rock band Deep Purple. It is the seventh and final track on the Machine Head album. Its lyrics talk of space travel and it showcases the vocal abilities of singer Ian Gillan and powerful drumming of Ian Paice...
" (Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, Paice) - 19:54 - "Going Down" / "Highway Star" (Don NixDon NixDon Nix is a songwriter, composer, arranger, musician, and author. Although cited as being "obscure", he is a key figure in several genres of Southern rock and Soul, R&B, and the Blues...
/ Blackmore, Gillan, Glover, Lord, Paice) - 15:13
Bonus tracks:
- "Mistreated" (Blackmore, Coverdale) – 14:13
- "You Fool No One" (Blackmore, Coverdale, Lord, Paice) – 12:43
- Tracks 1, 2, 8, 10 and 11 are from Graz show, all others from Paris show.
- The intro to Track 6 includes an excerpt from "Lazy"Lazy (Deep Purple song)"Lazy" is a song by British hard rock band Deep Purple from their 1972 album Machine Head. A live performance of the song can be found on the album Made in Japan, released later the same year....
. - Track 7 includes an Ian Paice drum solo and "The Mule".
- Track 11 includes "The Mule"; the drum solo has been edited out.
Personnel
- Ritchie BlackmoreRitchie BlackmoreRichard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
- GuitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - David CoverdaleDavid CoverdaleDavid 'Jack' Coverdale is an English rock singer, most famous for his work with the his own hard rock band Whitesnake which achieved massive commercial success.-Early life:...
- Lead vocals - Glenn Hughes - BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, Vocals - Jon LordJon LordJonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord is an English composer, pianist and Hammond organ player.Jon Lord, also known as 'Hammond Lord', is a classically trained piano player. He is recognised for his Hammond organ blues-rock sound and for his pioneering work in fusing rock and classical or baroque forms...
- KeyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Ian PaiceIan PaiceIan Anderson Paice is an English musician, best known as the drummer of the English rock band Deep Purple. As of Jon Lord's departure in 2002, he is the only founding member of the band who never stopped performing with the group, and the only member to appear on every album the band has...
- DrumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....