Deep Purple - Live at Montreux 1996 CD

Live at Montreux 1996 buy CD music Having scored four consecutive Top Ten albums in the previous two years, Grand Funk Railroad may not have seemed to casual observers like a band who needed to rise phoenix-like from the ashes, but the title of the band's seventh album referred to its re-emergence after a litigious split from manager/producer Terry Knight. Now, they were producing themselves, and they added organist Craig Frost, credited here as a sideman, though he went on to join the band formally. The biggest change, however, was a musical maturity. After releasing five studio albums in a little over two years, Grand Funk waited more than a year before releasing Phoenix, and in that time they managed to come up with more variety than they had displayed before. "Someone," for example, was a surprisingly gentle ballad, and "Rain Keeps Fallin'" was stronger melodically than most of songwriter Mark Farner's previous efforts. Unlike earlier albums, Phoenix didn't seem like one rudimentary rocker after another, which made it Grand Funk's most listenable album so far. And that's not to say it didn't rock, as the leadoff instrumental, "Flight of the Phoenix," and the Top 40 hit that closed the set, "Rock 'n Roll Soul," demonstrated. Unfortunately, Farner's lyrical abilities had not increased, while his self-importance had. "I Just Gotta Know," "So You Won't Have to Die," and "Freedom Is for Children" all contained political exhortations expressed in simple-minded terms, the worst being "So You Won't Have to Die," in which Farner, later to become a Christian artist, claimed Jesus had spoken to him on the subject of overpopulation. After such cringe-inducing foolishness, the band's return to rocking with "Rock 'n Roll Soul" could only be welcomed. ~ William Ruhlmann 24-bit digitally remastered reissue of their Top Ten-charting album from 1972 includes one bonus track, 'Flight Of The Phoenix' (2002 Remix With Extended Ending). Capitol. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Recorded at Sound Shop, Nashville, Tennessee. Originally released on Capitol (11099). Includes liner notes by Steve Roeser. Personnel: Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, harmonica, organ); Don Brewer (vocals, drums, congas, percussion); Craig Frost (piano, harpsichord, Clavinet, organ). Audio Mixer: Jimmy Hoyson. Liner Note Author: Steve Roeser. Recording information: Sound Shop, Nashville, TN (07/24/1972-07/28/1972). Illustrator: Joe Garnett. Photographer: Lorrie Sullivan. Unknown Contributor Roles: Yasuhito Kitai; Kuni Takeuchi. Grand Funk Railroad: Mark Farner (vocals, guitar, harmonica, organ); Don Brewer (vocals, drums, congas, percussion); Mel Schacher (bass). Additional personnel: Doug ...

Live at Montreux 1996 album for sale There's something about a post-millennium album cover that features a giant blue-horned minion of Satan in pre-pounce with an illuminated crystal ball in its leathery hand that simply warms the soul, and the fact that it adorns a record called Master of the Moon can mean only one thing: Dio. Unlike many in the aging metal community, Ronnie James Dio still possesses the same powerful voice that fueled the genre through its late-'70s and '80s heydays, and the reigning dark prince of Elfdom and two-time Black Sabbath frontman is still capable of writing a killer song or two. MOTM resembles earlier works like Last in Line and Sacred Heart in its ability to buffer those one or two great tracks with seven or eight forgettable ones. Luckily, it's the first one out of the gate, "One More for the Road," that packs the biggest wallop. Similar in attack to classics like "We Rock" and "Stand Up and Shout," it sets a breakneck pace for a record that gives up just minutes after the firing of the start gun. What follows is a series of midtempo rockers outfitted with RJD's generic fantasy lyrics about dreams, evil, and being "stronger than the wind," which flirt with creative arrangements and forward-thinking key changes, only to concede to the dark lord of banality. There are moments that inspire, like the snaky Brian May-like riff that weaves through the title track, and the surprisingly political, melodic, and complex "The Man Who Would Be King" -- in true RJD fashion he references the Middle Eastern community as "the people of the sand" -- is among his most satisfying since 1987's "All the Fools Sailed Away," but Dio's on autopilot for the record's majority, resulting in a mediocre romp through the ruins of a land and a time that hath been long forgotten. ~ James Christopher Monger Dio: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Craig Goldy (guitar, keyboards); Scott Warren (keyboards); Jeff Pilson (bass instrument); Simon Wright (drums).

Live at Montreux 1996 CD music Deep Purple's 2005 album Rapture of the Deep generally maintains the quality of 2003's surprisingly sturdy Bananas. It's the second release from the re-energized lineup of vocalist Ian Gillan, guitarist Steve Morse, bass guitarist Roger Glover, drummer Ian Paice, and keyboardist Don Airey, who replaced the retired Jon Lord. The band's comfort level has increased, and after nearly a decade onboard, Morse's stamp is all over the place. At first, this guitar genius' presence was noticeable because of what it lacked -- the incredibly distinctive Fender Stratocaster electric guitar tone of Ritchie Blackmore. Thus, sometimes Deep Purple didn't sound like Deep Purple. However, the variety of tones Morse incorporates in his style gives the pioneering heavy metal quintet more sonic weaponry. Airey's long, respectable career as a journeyman keyboardist-for-hire pretty much guaranteed he would largely adopt Lord's organ-based style, at least at first, but he has expanded his sound on Rapture of the Deep too. "Money Talks," "Girls Like That," and "Wrong Man" ride strong riffs and rhythms into decent grooves. "Rapture of the Deep" floats along on a lightly hypnotic wave. The mature ballad "Clearly Quite Absurd" has a lilting, controlled tempo, and it's the biggest surprise on the album; Gillan's singing is appropriately subdued while Airey's piano supplies the beauty and Morse's gradually ascending riffs toward the end build the tension. "MTV" is a vicious, bile-spewing, all-out attack on how the modern music industry treats classic rock/heritage artists, although in 2005 Deep Purple clearly appeals more to VH1 Classic than MTV. Initially, the song risks biting the hand that feeds by correctly criticizing classic rock radio for not playing new music by veteran artists. The last verse is a cannon blast that pummels clueless, uninformed disc jockeys who, during interviews, butcher artists' names ("Mr. Grover 'n' Mr. Gillian"), get facts wrong (misinterpreting the Frank Zappa-inspired "Smoke on the Water" legend), and avoid in-depth discussion of new music (like Bananas) in order to record more station IDs. Rapture of the Deep -- Deep Purple's first album for Eagle Records -- misses equaling Bananas by a notch or two, but it's a good example of how many veteran artists still maintain creative vitality. ~ Bret Adams Deep Purple: Ian Gillan (vocals); Steve Morse (guitar); Don Airey (keyboards); Roger Glover (bass guitar); Ian Paice (drums).

Live at Montreux 1996 songs Recorded in London during 1995, HOLY DIVER LIVE finds revered metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio recreating his classic '83 solo debut in its entirety onstage. Opening with the barnstorming "Stand Up and Shout," Dio leads his proficient band through each track of the album, garnering a huge crowd response with the hard-rock anthem "Rainbow in the Dark." The second disc of this set finds the leather-clad one delivering another strong batch of tunes that draws largely on his stints with both Rainbow ("Gates of Babylon," "Man on the Silver Mountain") and Black Sabbath ("Sign of the Southern Cross," "Heaven & Hell"), making this an essential concert release for Dio diehards. Liner Note Author: Dave Ling. Recording information: Astoria Theatre, London, England (10/22/1995).

Live at Montreux 1996 album for sale This two-CD live set captures the vintage Ronnie James Dio/Ritchie Blackmore Rainbow at its best, two years after its initial formation and just before it recorded 1977's LONG LIVE ROCK 'N' ROLL album. Blackmore, Dio, and the storied British drummer Cozy Powell are all on incendiary form on a set that includes the full-throttle boogie of "Long Live Rock 'N' Roll," Blackmore demonstrating his both guitar mastery and his interest in 16th-century classicism on "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves," and Dio displaying his ironclad rock & roll pipes on a thundering version of "Kill the King." Liner Note Author: Simon Robinson. Recording information: Munich Olympiahalle, Germany (10/20/1977). Rainbow: Dave Stone (keyboards); Bob Daisley (bass instrument); Cozy Powell, Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio. Personnel: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Cozy Powell (drums).

Live at Montreux 1996 CD music Purple's first live album without keyboardist/founder Jon Lord finds the band returning to Montreux for the festival's 40th anniversary in 2006. It's a spirited affair and even though this single-disc CD is edited down by about a third from the DVD of the same show, available separately, it's still a rousing document from these hard working hard rockers. Purple was touring behind its new album at the time, 2006's Rapture of the Deep, and three of its songs are featured here, all lumped together in the middle of the set. The tunes ("The Wrong Man," "Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye" and the title track) have a prog/jazz feel to them, perhaps influenced by guitarist Steve Morse who comes from that background with his work for Kansas and the Dixie Dregs. While none of them are likely to be future classics, it does push Purple's boundaries in a logical direction without losing the guitar/organ interplay so integral to the sound. Singer Ian Gillan can't quite navigate some of the high notes on the new additions or the hits that dominate the disc's playing time like he used to. But otherwise Purple sounds tight and committed despite having played much of this music on nearly every show for three decades. The bluesy "When a Blind Man Cries," somewhat of a rarity originally recorded in the Machine Head days, makes an appearance just before the closing batch of evergreens that wrap up the concert. Don Airey gets a solo spot, similar to Rick Wakeman's in Yes shows, to feature his skills on various keyboards. In five minutes he shifts from prog to boogie woogie to classical and jazz with uncanny grace, although how many times you'll want to hear it is questionable. Steve Morse's analogous showcase on guitar is only available on the DVD. A nearly nine-minute take on "Highway Star" kicks off with a prog jam that includes licks from the Yardbirds' "Over, Under, Sideways, Down" before hitting its familiar riff. The quintet also goofs around with a surprisingly effective straight-ahead jazz version of "Smoke on the Water" before pounding out the metal chords that launched a million air guitarist's bedroom fantasies. Bassist Roger Glover and drummer Ian Paice, the latter Purple's only original member, make a formidable rhythm section that keeps the pocket grounded in its hard rock origins, yet remains flexible enough to invite bits of other genres to the table. Nearly four decades into its career, Deep Purple is as powerful and dedicated as at any time in its storied history. ~ Hal Horowitz Liner Note Author: Dave Ling. Recording information: Montreux Jazz Festival (07/15/2006). Deep Purple: Ian Paice (vocals); Roger Glover (bass guitar); Don Airey, Ian Gillan, Steve Morse. Personnel: Ian Gillan (vocals); Steve Morse (guitar); Don Airey (keyboards); Ian Paice (drums).