By: Staff
Kayos Productions, Inc. has informed us that Eagle Rock Entertainment is set to release—for the first time in the U.S.—Deep Purple’s Total Abandon: Australia ‘99 on CD April 24.
Recorded April 20, 1999 at Melbourne Park, the 12-song 76-minute blockbuster, until now, was only available domestically as a DVD in the 2008 Around The World Live boxed set (also released by Eagle Rock Entertainment). Total Abandon is a major boon for Deep Purple fans as it musically traverses decades with material mostly from the ‘70s and the ‘90s. Lead guitarist Steve Morse, at this point in the band’s glorious career, had fully integrated himself into the mix, positively shining on songs from both eras.
The lineup of vocalist Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Jon Lord, drummer Ian Paice and guitarist Morse are in rare form: the almost nine-minute-each jam-happy versions of “Pictures of Home” and “Smoke On The Water” are just two highlights of many. Besides favorites like “Black Night” “Smoke On The Water” and “Highway Star” the band reached into its enormous catalog for an incredibly satisfying evening that included opener “Ted The Mechanic” and “Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming” both off guitarist Morse’s album debut with the band, Purpendicular, in 1996.
Touring in support of 1998’s Abandon album, the “A Band On World Tour” had Deep Purple criss-crossing the globe like the true road warriors they remain today.
Track Listing:
1) Ted The Mechanic
2) Strange Kind Of Woman
3) Bloodsucker
4) Pictures of Home
5) Almost Human
6) Woman From Tokyo
7) Watching The Sky
8) Fireball
9) Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
10) Smoke On The Water
11) Black Night
12) Highway Star
