Recorded during studio rehearsals in the summer of 1975 with their new guitarist Tommy Bolin, this previously unissued set includes early versions of "Come Taste.." album tracks, and several lengthy instrumental jams. Track 10 is not mentioned in the booklet, or in the Tracklist on the backcover. It is an impromptu version of "I Got You Babe" by Sonny Bono.
Recorded at Pirate Sound Studio, California, USA, June 1975. Sound Restoration done at SRT Studios.
All Tracks published by Purple Music Ltd., except Track 5 published by Peer Music UK Ltd.
Credits: Our thanks to Robert Simon (aka Captin California), his wife Rita (and Buzz the parrot) for their hospitality during a couple of memorable days in snowy Lake Tahoe and to Mark Maddock for his company. Also to Tony Edwards at Deep Purple (Overseas) Limited; Nick Robinson for the cyber connections, Mike Richards and Martin Ashberry for their input; Nick Watson for his incredible work on the sound restoration; Steve Church for his enthusiasm; Mike Drumm at the Tommy Bolin Archives for helping it happen; Ann Warburton for (still) letting me do all this - and to everyone out there who has waited patiently for this release. Thanks also to the Official Deep Purple Appreciation Society.
I’m really only “purple curious” and not a proper fan but somebody has to start things off so here goes. YouTube’s algorithm showed me the gorgeous “Owed to G” and i like bootleg-y live recordings and noisy jams. It was available very cheaply so i took a chance.
The first thing to say is that the quality of the product put together by purple records is excellent, the 20 pages of notes were very interesting indeed, they gave the arc of the Mk4 band from enthusiasm and musical chemistry to heartbreak. G is Gershwin by the way, makes sense when you know doesn’t it?
Purple fans are lucky to be so well served, This is my first experience of these releases but my impression is that its on the same level as the King Crimson collectors club releases.
As for the actual music itself, after the the strong start with the excellent Owed to G I’m afraid I have to say I found the rest a bit of a let down. I was expecting the full on Bolin attack of effects pedals and noise solos like on the enjoyable Springfield gig and the exemplary Long Beach gig. I found the funky jamming on this release to be of the rather generic hard-rock-band-goes-funky type. then generic mid 70’s fusion Your mileage may vary.
Things picked up somewhat for me during Dance to the Rock ‘N’ Roll. Throughout and even on the stuff i didn’t like the chemistry between Bolin and Paice was obvious even to my ears. Drifter has some big chunky satisfying wodges of burning guitar.
However the Paice/Bolin Jam on the 35th anniversary edition of Come Taste The Band blows everything on this cd away, if you’re new like me start there first.
The unlisted bonus track is amusing and i will be ripping and keeping that to prank my friends. It’s…its… .. will i be spoiling the surprise by telling you? It’s David Coverdale singing I got you babe in the style of a British pub singer 😄
The excellent and exhaustive notes explain how everything was going great, so great in fact that Tommy wanted the guys to play on his solo album. The sh*t only really hit the fan when it came time to tour and it became apparent that the guys wanted Tommy to play the old tunes note for note as Richie Blackmore had done. Despite this he did manage to exert an his iinfluence on some of the old tunes in concert and he certainly didn’t copy Richie’s tone. Smoke on the water became very funky at some gigs as the irresistible musical chemistry between the band kicked in.
If you’re curious about this period the Phoenix Rising DVD+CD is available very cheaply. The cd contains highlights from their 2 best Gigs Long Beach ‘76 and Tokyo ‘75