Deep Purple: Made in Japan review - Maximum noodling

In 1972, no self-respecting rock kid was without two essential live albums: Rory Gallagher Live in Europe and this one, Deep Purple's double-vinyl wig-out, recorded over an August weekend in Tokyo and Osaka. The band had no intention of releasing it outside Japan, but this was just too good not to share with the rest of the world. This album captures five hairy blokes at the height of their rock 'n' roll powers, pulling out every cliché in the book for the eager Eastern audience to lap up. There are interminable guitar solos from Richie Blackmore, endless jazz odysseys from keyboard player Jon Lord and bassist Roger Glover, and a drum solo from Ian Paice that takes up half of side two. Topping it all off is Ian Gillan's impressive rock tenor, punctuated with larynx-shredding, speaker-busting screams. The songs are all classic Purple, stretched out to extra length to allow for maximum noodling, including Highway Star, Child in Time, Strange Kind of Woman, Space Truckin' and the mighty Smoke on the Water. Deluxe edition comes with extra noodling - sorted.

Download: Child in Time, Strange Kind of Woman, Smoke on the Water.