This CD is a compilation of live tracks (and one studio release) released in 1996 in South Africa only. There are a number of mistakes in track timings, cover art and general info, but don't let this distract you from a great listening experience. This CD is compiled from 3 Connoisseur Collection live CDs, plus the studio outtake (and b-side) "When A Blind Man Cries".

All the live tracks are taken from:
Scandinavian Nights (recorded in 1970),
Mk 3: The Final Concerts (recorded in 1975) and
Live In California (1976, also known as On The Wings Of A Russian Foxbat)

According to the album cover, Glenn Hughes and Tommy Bolin are both left-handed guitarists (wait till Jimi hears about this!). This is the same photo as on Foxbat, just reversed and with a different logo style. The title on the cover is Live And Blue, but on the spine it says Out Of The Mists Of Time (and on the actual disc the title is The Deep Purple Connection!).

OK, let's talk about the music which is why I wrote this review in the first place and why I listen to this CD so often. I bought this CD after already having all the other albums mentioned above, but I really liked the idea of a live compilation.

The CD opens with Black Night, which was the encore from Stockholm on the 12th of November 1970. A wonderful version especially considering this song wasn't even a year old at the time. Great guitar/vocal interplay near the end.

This is followed by Speed King from the same show. This track "speeds" along and includes Ian Gillan telling us what a Speed King is. (Some-one who can sing at 100 miles an hour!)

Next up is Smoke On The Water from the Long Beach Arena, 27th February 1976. Whose says Tommy can't play SOTW? (not me, anymore!). A superb version until Glenn Hughes starts his warbling, barely-recognisable version of Georgia On My Mind. Why did he bother?

Highway Star is the the encore from the Long Beach show. A thundering track that includes a snippet from Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away. Listed on CD cover as Goin' Down/Highway Star, but Goin' Down has gone!

Burn, the fast-paced show-opener from Graz in Austria on the 4th April 1975 with an excellent organ solo from Jon Lord.

The last Deep Purple performance with Ritchie until 1984 included this majestic version of Mistreated from Paris on the 7th April 1975. This powerful blues song still gives me cold shivers when I hear it and you would never guess that this was Ritchie's last show. The snippet from BB King's Rock Me Baby is handled well by David Coverdale.

Last live track is a long (17 minute) version of Child In Time from Stockholm in 1970. Meanders in places, but overall a great version.

The last track on the CD is the Machine Head outtake When A Blind Man Cries, originally only available as a b-side in 1972. In South Africa, however, this track became a big radio hit and was (and still is) extremely popular, hence it's inclusion here, I guess. South African DP fans were thrilled that this track was included on their 1995 Masters Of Rock tour (A double bill with Uriah Heep). This song was also played "unplugged" in the studios of SA radio station 5FM by The Deep Purple Trio (Jon, Steve and Roger) as part of the same tour.

Well, there you have it, a great collection of live tracks and one of my favourite DP compilation albums.

Brian Currin

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