Made in Japan

Certain Songs #298: Deep Purple – “Space Truckin’ (Osaka, Japan 08-16-1972)”

August 31, 2015 by Jim Connelly

Album: Made in Japan
Year: 1972

So of course, there’s a bit of a problem with “Space Truckin'”. The studio version on Machine Head is good, but it feels unfinished, while the version on Made in Japan is far more powerful, but goes on for over 20 minutes.

And I’ve got to be somewhere in 20 minutes!

That said, even if you have warp drive, travel in space takes a very long time, so you need a song with a lot of long guitar and organ solos to accompany you. So the live version it is!!

Certain Songs #297: Deep Purple – “Smoke on The Water (Osaka, Japan 08-15-1972)”

August 30, 2015 by Jim Connelly

Album: Made in Japan
Year: 1972

Where even to begin with this iconic piece of history? The fact that it was based upon a true story, and so wasn’t just another chick song or road song? The fact that writing a song about something that happened while you’re recording the album the song is on felt cool and fresh?

The fact that the studio version of this song was a #4 hit single right here in the U.S.A.? And this live version was a hit itself? And in fact, the single edit (of course) of the Made in Japan version the one I remember being played on KYNO-AM, not the studio version, which I’ve always felt was significantly weaker.

Nah, of course you gotta start with THE RIFF!!

Certain Songs #296: Deep Purple – “Highway Star (Osaka, Japan 08-16-1972)”

August 29, 2015 by Jim Connelly

Album: Made in Japan
Year: 1972

So, after the utter triumph of Deep Purple in Rock, Deep Purple followed with two pretty good records — Fireball and Machine Head — that didn’t even come close. The former showed them stretching out a bit while losing some of their edge, and the latter had some edge, but its best songs were all eclipsed by their live versions.

Because Made in Japan.