Deep Purple’s monstrous power as a live act was solidified more than four decades ago with the release of their first live album, Made in Japan.
This May, a tidal wave of Made in Japan reissues are surging your way,
from remasters to expansions to box sets on CD, vinyl and Blu-Ray.
In 1972, Deep Purple were flying higher than ever. The quintet – at the time, singer Ian Gillan, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice – had just released their sixth album in five years (and third with the Mk II lineup), Machine Head. It was their first chart-topper in their native England, and also went Top 10 in the States. By this time, the band had quite a sterling reputation as a live act, but were reluctant to attempt a live album for fear they could not produce the exact kind of polished set they could in studio.
Ultimately, upon discovering a burgeoning bootleg market around their tours, they relented, recording three consecutive nights in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan (where the band were particularly adored). Focusing solely on putting on a great show and less on how the final product would sound (to this day, members of the band have reportedly never heard the album), Deep Purple’s gamble paid off handsomely. A single backed with both studio and live versions of the instant classic (and arguable progenitor of heavy metal) “Smoke on the Water” was a U.S. Top 5 hit. The album went Top 10 in America and Top 20 in England, eventually earning a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America for over a million units shipped.
Made in Japan [2014 Remaster]
1. Highway Star (2014 Remaster) [06:39]
2. Child in Time (2014 Remaster) [12:31]
3. Smoke On the Water (2014 Remaster) [07:17]
4. The Mule (2014 Remaster) [09:26]
5. Strange Kind of Woman (2014 Remaster) [09:50]
6. Lazy (2014 Remaster) [10:22]
7. Space Truckin’ (2014 Remaster) [19:48]
Made in Japan [Original 1972 Mix]
1. Highway Star (Original 1972 Mix) [06:40]
2. Child in Time (Original 1972 Mix) [12:14]
3. Smoke On the Water (Original 1972 Mix) [07:34]
4. The Mule (Original 1972 Mix) [09:25]
5. Strange Kind of Woman (Original 1972 Mix) [09:50]
6. Lazy (Original 1972 Mix) [10:23]
7. Space Truckin’ (Original 1972 Mix) [19:53]
15th August 1972, Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka
1. Highway Star [07:10]
2. Smoke On the Water [07:35]
3. Child in Time [11:36]
4. The Mule [10:10]
5. Strange Kind of Woman [08:26]
6. Lazy [09:59]
7. Space Truckin’ [22:25]
8. Black Night [06:56]
9. Speed King [08:27]
16th August 1972, Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka
1. Highway Star [07:26]
2. Smoke On the Water [07:27]
3. Child in Time [13:12]
4. The Mule [10:46]
5. Strange Kind of Woman [09:37]
6. Lazy [10:09]
7. Space Truckin’ [20:06]
8. Black Night [06:56]
9. Lucille [09:01]
17th August 1972, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo
1. Highway Star [08:00]
2. Smoke On the Water [07:19]
3. Child in Time [11:27]
4. The Mule [10:24]
5. Strange Kinf of Woman [11:01]
6. Lazy [10:57]
7. Space Truckin’ [19:36]
8. Black Night [08:00]
9. Speed King [07:17]
In 1972, Deep Purple were flying higher than ever. The quintet – at the time, singer Ian Gillan, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice – had just released their sixth album in five years (and third with the Mk II lineup), Machine Head. It was their first chart-topper in their native England, and also went Top 10 in the States. By this time, the band had quite a sterling reputation as a live act, but were reluctant to attempt a live album for fear they could not produce the exact kind of polished set they could in studio.
Ultimately, upon discovering a burgeoning bootleg market around their tours, they relented, recording three consecutive nights in Osaka and Tokyo, Japan (where the band were particularly adored). Focusing solely on putting on a great show and less on how the final product would sound (to this day, members of the band have reportedly never heard the album), Deep Purple’s gamble paid off handsomely. A single backed with both studio and live versions of the instant classic (and arguable progenitor of heavy metal) “Smoke on the Water” was a U.S. Top 5 hit. The album went Top 10 in America and Top 20 in England, eventually earning a platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America for over a million units shipped.
Made in Japan [2014 Remaster]
1. Highway Star (2014 Remaster) [06:39]
2. Child in Time (2014 Remaster) [12:31]
3. Smoke On the Water (2014 Remaster) [07:17]
4. The Mule (2014 Remaster) [09:26]
5. Strange Kind of Woman (2014 Remaster) [09:50]
6. Lazy (2014 Remaster) [10:22]
7. Space Truckin’ (2014 Remaster) [19:48]
Made in Japan [Original 1972 Mix]
1. Highway Star (Original 1972 Mix) [06:40]
2. Child in Time (Original 1972 Mix) [12:14]
3. Smoke On the Water (Original 1972 Mix) [07:34]
4. The Mule (Original 1972 Mix) [09:25]
5. Strange Kind of Woman (Original 1972 Mix) [09:50]
6. Lazy (Original 1972 Mix) [10:23]
7. Space Truckin’ (Original 1972 Mix) [19:53]
15th August 1972, Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka
1. Highway Star [07:10]
2. Smoke On the Water [07:35]
3. Child in Time [11:36]
4. The Mule [10:10]
5. Strange Kind of Woman [08:26]
6. Lazy [09:59]
7. Space Truckin’ [22:25]
8. Black Night [06:56]
9. Speed King [08:27]
16th August 1972, Koseinenkin Kaikan, Osaka
1. Highway Star [07:26]
2. Smoke On the Water [07:27]
3. Child in Time [13:12]
4. The Mule [10:46]
5. Strange Kind of Woman [09:37]
6. Lazy [10:09]
7. Space Truckin’ [20:06]
8. Black Night [06:56]
9. Lucille [09:01]
17th August 1972, Nippon Budokan, Tokyo
1. Highway Star [08:00]
2. Smoke On the Water [07:19]
3. Child in Time [11:27]
4. The Mule [10:24]
5. Strange Kinf of Woman [11:01]
6. Lazy [10:57]
7. Space Truckin’ [19:36]
8. Black Night [08:00]
9. Speed King [07:17]
