Deep Purple: Days May Come And Days May Go - Special Edition on 2 CDs

In March 1976 the Deep Purple played their last concert in Liverpool, and passed into rock’n roll legend. There remains a fascination with the original band’s work which remains to this day and nowhere do people’s opinons polarise more widely than with the final Mk 4 line-up. They managed three months on the road before it all fell apart. Speculation as to whether Mk 4 could have ever scaled the heights of their illustrious predecessors is still rife amongst the fans. Both David Coverdale and Jon Lord are on record as defending the attempts to carry on with Tommy Bolin, citing the incredible atmosphere during the “Come Taste The Band” album rehearsals. The problem was that none of this material had survived. At least that was thought to be the case.....

Jon Lord and Tommy Bolin, 1975Back in 1975 Robert Simon (aka Captain California), after several years on the road as a sound engineer, set about turning an old studio in Hollywood into a purpose built rehearsal facility. Named Pirate Sound Studio, bands could set up a full stage rig, and rehearse or jam in a relatively relaxed atmosphere.

Robert had done front of house sound for several Deep Purple tours and so when Purple came off the road in April 1975, Pirate Sound was booked - somewhere they could regroup and start to address the problem of Ritchie Blackmore's replacement. Tommy Bolin got the gig, and the band began to rehearse and write for the next album. Periodically Robert - handling the mixer desk - would, at Purple's request, bang in a tape, some of which survived but lay forgotten for twenty years.

Cracking high energy blasts through some of the "Come Taste The Band" tracks, as well as no holds barred instrumental free-for-alls powered by Ian Paice, the material produced dropped jaws in all who heard bits. It is from these recordings that Days May Come... has been lovingly assembled. There are early versions of songs for the "Come Taste The Band" album, exhilarating blasts of the band jamming together, rehearsing or enjoying David Coverdale’s painfully accurate working men’s club rendition of Sonny & Cher. All in all a rare treat for fans, which proves that the final line-up of Deep Purple really did have what it takes.

This special edition with a 12 page colour booklet includes the extra half hour of material previously unavailable only via mailorder and has been extended to a double disc set.

(purplerecords. net)