Deep Purple: 1974 California Jam

"Deep Purple's 1974 US tour promoting the Burn album climaxed with this show at the Ontario Motor Speedway in California. The band were well into their stride, they were the highest selling artist in the US in 1973 and were enjoying the rewards and the lifestyle that went with it.

Anyway, Deep Purple co-headlined with ELP. The show has gone down as their most infamous largely due to Ritchie's attempt to burn his hair off. It has been available on video for ages now. The new Sonic Zoom edition sound mix is a vast improvement on the previous effort which to be frank was dreadful. Not only is the sound improved but we also get to hear a 'new' track for the very first time. So what's the craic?

The CD starts with Ritchie's strat feeding back before cranking into the Burn riff. It takes a while to get the sound levels right and as a consequence Ritchie's solo is a little down in the mix. He has developed his playing style since Mk 2 with a much faster right hand evident here and elsewhere on this disc. (In my opinion, Ritchie was at the start of his peak in 1974, lasting into Rising )

he California Jam Festival, Ontario Speedway, California, April 6th 1974.

[1] BURN
[2] MIGHT JUST TAKE YOUR LIFE
[3] LAY DOWN, STAY DOWN
[4] MISTREATED
[5] SMOKE ON THE WATER
[6] YOU FOOL NO ONE
[7] SPACE TRUCKIN'