Ahem.... what about MADE IN EUROPE?

[Keith]

Ok folks, time for some lively debate. This post is to find out if anyone out there agrees with me that Deep Purple's 1976 release "Made In Europe" deserves an official re-master and re-release along with the final three 70s studio recordings (Burn, Stormbringer, Come Taste the Band). I believe that it absolutely should be re-mastered and released again. And there are a number of good reasons.

 

I assert that "Made in Europe" was an official release by the band and therefore warrants re-mastering, even though some folks who are in influential positions do not seem to agree. I would also assert that they should consider the wishes of fandom on this issue, and not just their personal thoughts on the record, which often appear to be negative. In light of the upcoming Mark III Sonic Zoom releases, the upcoming "Live in London" EMI release, and the already available "California Jamming" and "Mark III - The Final Concerts", Simon Robinson seems obsessed with fixing the horrible mistake that was "Made in Europe." While I love that all these additional live releases are surfacing, I want my "Made in Europe," damn it!!

 

The main argument that I have heard against the re-release of "Made in Europe" is that in light of the Purple Records release "Mark III - The Final Concerts", and the fact that "Made in Europe" was heavily edited and/or overdubbed, there is no point in re-releasing "Made in Europe." First of all, it was the band's (and perhaps the management's) decision and right to alter the recordings used for "Made in Europe" and I believe it is not anyone else's place to second-guess this decision. What'll it be next? Returning Jon Lord's Rat Bat Blue solo to normal speed, in the name of accuracy?!

 

Simon Robinson's wonderful release of "The Final Concerts" may give us a more accurate snapshot of the band at this particular time, but "Made in Europe" was the official release of the period and should be released again to compliment/contrast "The Final Concerts."

 

Next. In the liner notes to "Mark III - The Final Concerts," Simon states that the bulk of "Made in Europe" seems to have come from the Saarbrucken (April 5th) performance. As we know, "Mark III - The Final Concerts" draws from the Graz (April 3rd ) and Paris (April 7th) shows. So without a re-master of "Made in Europe" we won't actually have the Saarbrucken performance at all. "The Final Concerts" can hardly be considered a substitute for a completely different performance.

 

Furthermore, the argument that we have "Final Concerts" so why release "Made in Europe" seems a little weak for another reason. If we follow the logic... since we have the "Live in Japan" 3CD set, why release "Made in Japan," right? Shit, we might as well request that EMI and Rhino records just delete "Made in Japan" because why the hell do we need it? Right? C'mon, everyone must agree, right? Of course not. The answer is that "Made in Japan" is a classic that is only augmented by "Live in Japan," so we must keep the classic album available in it's original form.

 

Now admittedly, "Made in Europe" is not (perhaps even nowhere near) the classic that "Made in Japan" was. But it is the original release, and therefore... I say again... warrants a re-master reissue, just like the rest of the catalog.

 

I also need to make another point. While Simon, Mike Howell and other fans may have felt let down or disappointed by "Made in Europe," I believe I am not exaggerating when I say that many, many fans loved the album dearly. I thought it rocked. When it was released, I was a young teen. I didn't give a shit about overdubbing... all I cared about was whether an album rocked or not, and "Made in Europe" rocked, baby. And I am willing to bet that thousands of fans out there agree with me. This likelihood only adds to the validity of a re-master project.

 

So to finish, I think that "Made in Europe" should be released as follows:

 

"Made In Europe Special Edition" - 2 disc set

 

disc 1: the original album... edits, overdubs, warts and all. plus songs not included on the original album from the Sarrbrucken performance to fill out the disc.

 

disc 2: more additional material from the Saarbrucken performance, also an unedited version of Mistreated and perhaps versions of other tracks from the original release without edits or overdubs.

 

Essay, photos, etc., indicating that Purple intelligentsia takes this album seriously, despite it's flaws.

 

OK, so what does everybody think?

[C H L]

Right fucking on! I for one, prefer this CD to anything DP has done with MkIII and still love this album very much. I take this CD anyday over Made in Japan, which i don't own by the way.

 

I have all the MKIII stuff and very little MKII stuff. Keith said it best..."warts and all..." who cares if it was overdubbed? What the hell do you think make up studio lp's?

 

I am an audio engineer and even went so far as to remaster the CD myself and thats why i listen to now. To fill up the remaster disc, i took Gypsy off of MKIII: The Final Concerts along with Going Down. Voila, instant MKIII classic.

 

Cory

 

"Keith" <kei...@nycap.rr.com> wrote in message news:dLUba.39737$_7....@twister.nyroc.rr.com...

[Jeffery Reedy]

I agree with you , Keith .... at least in the interests of "art".   Some of those keyboard solos are some of the best live Jon Lord, in my opinion .... blistering!!!   He's been consistently brilliant as far as never running out of "surprises" in his live (particularly solo) spots.

"Keith" <kei...@nycap.rr.com> wrote in message news:dLUba.39737$_7....@twister.nyroc.rr.com...

[Keith]

Jeffery you are so right! I have always loved Jon's solos on Made In Europe. When I first got the album as a teen Jon's playing was the first thing that blew me away! Perhaps some of these solos were overdubbed.... who the hell cares?! The listening experience was exciting and that's all that mattered to me then, and frankly, that’s all that matters to me now.

"Jeffery Reedy" <j99r...@telus.net> wrote in message news:TFVba.21128$UV6.1...@news1.telusplanet.net...

[Kev]

I can see where you're coming from regarding completeness, but I also
think it's a better idea to concentrate on better (and much more
different)performances from this band than having two very similar
releases form the same tour at a point where a lot of the time Ritchie
couldn't be arsed. Made In Japan is considered to be some of the best
concerts from MKII, whereas Made In Europe is from some of the weakest
(but still good) MKIII concerts. No only that, but it's overdubbed and
incomplete. Much better idea to release another full, unedited concert
-preferably with the Space Truckin including the Child In Time adlib
by Coverdale. It would seem a bit redundant, though. Sonic Zoom maybe?
Live in London is just so good I'm not really that bothered.

This is a bit like Kind Crimson's USA. Finally re-released after being
deleted for ages, but very similar to the previous day's (superior)
concert, and incomplete.

--
Kev
"Keith <kei...@nycap.rr.com> wrote in message news:<dLUba.39737$_7.8...@twister.nyroc.rr.com>...

> --

[Keith]

Kev,
As many have done before you, you're falling into the "overdubbed and
incomplete" argument, which misses the point. The album was an official
release which many fans, including myself, love. I think that this alone
justifies the idea fo releasing it. Your better idea has been done and will
be done again. There are "Live In London" and two Mk III Sonic zoom releases
coming soon, and two more Mk III live releases currently available. While
these are all great, I am sure, none are a substitute for "Made In Europe."
But even if you dont agree on that, would you or would you not support the
release so that those fans who love the album as it was can have their cake
and eat it too? What do you think?
Keith

"Kev" <ltia...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:1867b9d4.0303...@posting.google.com...

[Kev]

"Keith" <kei...@nycap.rr.com> wrote in message news:<QDeca.22125$Gk2....@twister.nyroc.rr.com>...

> Kev,
> As many have done before you, you're falling into the "overdubbed and
> incomplete" argument, which misses the point. The album was an official
> release which many fans, including myself, love. I think that this alone
> justifies the idea fo releasing it. Your better idea has been done and will
> be done again. There are "Live In London" and two Mk III Sonic zoom releases
> coming soon, and two more Mk III live releases currently available. While
> these are all great, I am sure, none are a substitute for "Made In Europe."
> But even if you dont agree on that, would you or would you not support the
> release so that those fans who love the album as it was can have their cake
> and eat it too? What do you think?
> Keith

Hi Keith,

If you put it like that, yes, I would (do) support it's release, and
of course I would buy it. :-). You could almost give the same argument
for a release of LCiJ, though. Maybe a single disk release with bonus
tracks, but keeping the original tracks at the start in their
original/remastered form?

It's missing Gypsy, Smoke, Space Truckin & Going Down/Highway star
from the setlist. It's what - a 40 min album?
That leaves 40 mins of space - Certainly Gypsy (most notably absent)
and Smoke (More likely to sell to casual listeners?), and there would
certainly be space for Space Truckin (the one with CiT w/vocals).

I actually really like MKIII Smoke - especially the Live in London
version, so I think it's worth including.

However, the worst thing that could happen for me would be if they
decided to release this and put LiL back another few hundred years.
:-)

--
Kev - awaiting the next sonic zoom with baited breath, and awaiting
the 71 radio show with even more baited breath. What does 'baited
breath' mean, anyway? :-)

[Don]

Just to chime in, this would be such a great choice to release with extras....gets my vote!!!

Don