Beyond The Purple is a box set of the regular Deep Purple albums  released in Japan in September.

You can read more at the DTB Blog:

SR#600253

Deepest Purple, the TV promoted compilation from 1980 dreamed up by  EMI's marketing department, is due for a 30th anniversary make-over  for the Christmas market (on sale October), along with a few video  clips to spice it up for the iPhone generation (and another teaser  from the Made In Japan footage to tempt the hard-core) as a CD/DVD duo  sort of thing.

Here's a pub quiz question for you - What was the very first Deep  Purple EMI release to be issued on compact disc? Answer - this one!

SR#600252

A DVD Mk 4 documentary is being put out to tie in with EMI's Come Taste The Band CD / LP release, though label details are not known (to us) at present. It's a sort of 'making of', with studio knob twiddling, interviews, and footage of Deep Purple Mk 4. This includes the familiar Rises Over Japan half hour edit and some material from the 1975 Jakarta show. A full concert from the tour has now been confirmed but apparently won't be part of the DVD, though it is hoped it might be freed up at some future stage. Rises Over Japan was issued briefly as a pirate DVD a couple of years ago. A blu-ray edition is also promised.

There is a trailer for the documentary on YouTube, featuring clips from the California Jam 1974, Hammersmith 1974, Rises Over Japan, and New Zealand 1975 alongside new interviews with Jon Lord and Glenn Hughes.

SR/NY#6002512

Machine Head was the subject of a two hour special on Swedish radio on Sunday (18 July) between 23.05-00.00 CET. Previous shows in the series have played and analysed each track on the particular album, and also included tracks by other artists which provided the original inspiration. The series has not featured interviews with the musicians or producers so far.

Robert Lundgren reports : "The Deep Purple Machine Head special programme had no new information. It was more or less a summary of what is written in the booklet of the anniversary edition of the CD. No interviews, just the DJ telling the story of why Deep Purple recorded in Montrex and of course the story behind Smoke On The Water. The programme itself was well produced and all songs were played in chronological order with When A Blind Man Cries included after Never Before - following the story of the single. They used some of the '97 remixes, I don't know why. The two different drum intros for Pictures Of Home were also played. There was no demonstration of the origins to any of the songs."

SR#6002507 (with thanks to Robert Lundgren)

Come Taste The Band is now set for the 35th Anniversary Edition 2CD treatment, which comprises the remastered album done at Abbey Road, and remixes overseen by Glenn Hughes, plus a rare US only b-side mix and two unissued tracks from the album sessions, one being a Bolin / Paice jam.

This 2CD edition can be pre-ordered now at dpas mailorder. DPAS mail-order have made available a reprint of the original 7 page  American press sheet about the group and the album, along with a label  copy data sheet. In stock at dpas mailorder now. The vinyl edition has been confirmed at last; this will be a double set with the regular album and the remixes, in a gatefold sleeve with inner bags. It looks like a release date of early September is likely.

You can read more about this project on our new Come Taste The Band page. (updated 25 June 2010)

SR#6002506

A six part BBC2 series "I'm In A Rock n Roll Band" which aims to "investigate what makes the perfect rock 'n' roll band" kicked off last Saturday witha look at the role of the front man. No Deep Purple participation, but a preview of the 8th May episode, centering on the lead guitarist, featured clips of Ritchie Blackmore performing on "Doing Their Thing" in 1970. Jon Lord is also set to feature in the series, in the umm... keyboard episode!

Some comment on the 7th May episode, from Steve Hall:
"Holy shit!!!!! Ritchie Blackmore and Deep Purple on National TV twice on one night.. First in “I’m In A Rock n Roll Band” with clips Of Doing Their Thing and the California Jam and lo and behold there’s Jon Lord talking about his old band mate.. Brilliant.. Then later on again in the show Guitar Greats at the BBC…OK we see the old Black Night clip from Top Of The Pops but this is serious stuff here….What is wrong with the BBC??? Still great to see them/him getting a wee bit of recognition…Finally!!!!"

More incredulous commentary (this time on the14th-21st May episodes), from Steve Hall:
"Great stuff from the BBC. First of all we had Deep Purple and Blackmore on National TV. Then last week we have Ian Paice on the episode about drummers. Then last night in the episode about “The Other One” ( bassists and keyboard players), we get a clip from the Concerto, an interview with Jon Lord, and a clip from the California Jam. So Deep Purple have been on National TV for the last 3 weeks..Is that a record?"

MM#6002512

That venerable old CD collection Singles As & Bs, issued back in 1993, has been out of print for some time. It has now being replaced by a double disc set. This new 2CD set includes all the band's A & B sides from that time, along with a bonus selection of sometimes surprising tracks and edits issued on single outside the UK.

Record Collector and Hi-Fi World are planning features on Deep Purple to tie in with the release of The Deep Purple Singles & EP Anthology 1968-1980 (to give this set it's unexpurgated title), but the vinyl edition seems to have been dropped. This 2CD set is out now and shipping from dpas mailorder, who also
have a nice tie-in poster for the CD on offer which is due in very soon.

DPAS illustrated discography : Deep Purple, Singles Collection 68-76 (with full track listing)

SR#6002472

The new edition of Brazilian Rock magazine "Rock Brigade" (which has now been running for 29 years) includes a five page special on 'Come Taste The Band' to celebrate the album's 35th anniversary. Deep Purple also feature on the cover, with a shot of David Coverdale taken by Simon at the Liverpool Empire Theatre in March 1976.

(This reminds me, we're due an update in the magazine covers gallery... soon!)

DB#6002472 (with thanks to Albertino Viveiros)

Planet Rock - seemingly going from strength to strength under the new owner - has polled listeners on the greatest live album of all time, and they decided that a much overdubbed 'live' album by Thin Lizzy is better than a proper live album by Deep Purple! Top five were:

1. Thin Lizzy - Live & Dangerous
2. Deep Purple - Made In Japan
3. UFO - Strangers In The Night
4. The Who - Live At Leeds
5. AC/DC - If You Want Blood, You Got It

Rainbow's On-Stage album lurked way down at 37 thanks probably to the skimpy running time and missing tracks. Still think Live In Stockholm 1970 takes some thrashing myself!

SR#600258 (with thanks to Tom Dixon)

UK's BBC Four are screening a 90 minute documentary on Friday, March 5th at 9m, called 'Heavy Metal Britannia', which tracks the origins of 'metal' in the UK . Deep Purple tracks featured include 'Child In Time', 'Black Night' and 'Highway Star' - although in which form we don't know. Ian Gillan is apparently interviewed, as is Jon Lord - who demonstrates the very naughy flattened fifth - a note once banned by the church. Jon's devilish ivory tinkling is available to preview at: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes (UK only so it seems!)

In addition, BBC Four are also showing a rare repeat of the excellent 1995 "Rock Family Trees - Deep Purple People" documentary on Sunday, March 7th, at 11:50pm, (immediately followed by “Rock Family Trees – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” 12:40am Monday morning).

DB#6002571 (with thanks to Keith Livingstone, Nick Naylor and Sarah Murphy)

There's a new range of authorised Deep Purple shirts, based on the classic album sleeves. The range includes Fireball, Machine Head, Burn and Stormbringer designs. These are due out in February in a number of different sizes.

dpas mailorder are taking pre-orders.

SR#600255

EMI Finland are finalising plans for the third and final compilation in their CD hits trilogy, with sleeve notes by the Finnish fan club man Fyi Teppo. The last two have been very popular over there (reviewed in Darker Than Blue). This last one takes live material from the EMI vaults.

SR#600254

To mark the tenth anniversary of Purple Records' relaunch, their first ever Deep Purple compilation has been put together. It proves a remarkable journey through the group's live repertoire, and covers all four of the original line-ups with tracks sourced from across the label's entire catalogue.

More details at Purple Records

MK#600253

MusicRadar.com's top fifty guitar riffs features Smoke On The Water at number four, just ahead of Derek and the Dominos - Layla. 3 Led Zeppelin - Whole Lotta Love, 2 Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O'Mine, and 1. Jimi Hendrix - Voodoo Chile (Slight Return)

Classic Rock magazine critics' selection of the Top 20 Music DVDs and Blu-rays of 2009 has been published in the new January 2010 issue. The full list is as follows: 1) Anvil / The Story Of (Universal Pictures) 2) Various / Woodstock: 40th Anniversary Edition (Warner Home Video) 3) Neil Young / Archives Vol.1 (Reprise) 4) Iron Maiden / Flight 666 (EMI) 5) KISS / KISSOLOGY VOLS 1 & 2 (EAGLE VISION) 6) ZZ TOP / DOUBLE DOWN LIVE (EAGLE VISION) 7) DEEP PURPLE / HISTORY, HITS & HIGHLIGHTS '68-'76 (EAGLE VISION)

NY#600252 (with thanks to Drew Thompson)

A fabulous limited edition print of Pete Frame's family tree is now available, signed by the rock archivist himself. They're not cheap, but with just 100 copies to be sold, they are real collectors items.

You can read a little more about these here, and the page has links to Pete's web site to order.

View the full Pete Frame Deep Purple family tree poster at Pete's site.

MK#6002511

Colin Hart's long-time in the making autobiography is finally schedule for early 2010. Colin was central to the Deep Purple crew for many years, following his first tour with them in America back in 1971. The book traces his experiences right up until he left the band in 2001 following a period of illness. More news to follow.

SR#600249 (Thanks to Jerry Bloom)

The label behind the 1996 Polish recording Live Encounters have dusted off the tapes, remastered them, and put it out as a 2xCD set and a 2xCD set + bonus track (No One Came) in a digipak. Previously it was issued in 5 different editions, some of which also had the bonus track. The original audio wasn't of the best quality, we're not sure if this remaster will do much.

As before it is technically limited to East Europe, but DPAS Mailorder have it available as an import if you missed it last time.

DPAS discography : Live Encounters

MM#600248

TS#600249

(with thanks to Thomas Max)

Stormbringer has been nominated in Classic Rock's annual awards in the BEST CD REISSUE category. You can vote in this poll online at the magazine's website : awards2009.classicrockmagazine.com

But only if you agree!

Thanks to Damian Phelan for the news.

SR#600246

Out of print for a few years now, the only surviving complete recording of a Mk 1 Deep Purple show is being reissued at last. Hip new American label Tetragrammaton pulled out all the stops to secure Deep Purple a prestigious U.S. live debut in October 1968, opening for Cream on their farewell tour of America at the Forum in Inglewood, Los Angeles, California.

Amazingly a reel of tape, thrown out when the label closed, was spotted and rescued by a fan. So little evidence of Mk 1’s live act remains that this tape is of great interest, with the band exhibiting a brash confidence in front of 16,000 Cream fans. As a support act, Deep Purple’s set was a little shorter than normal but despite the passing of over forty years, it’s still an exciting experience. Sonic Zoom had access to that original tape and restored it as much as possible, though limitations in the sound do remain. It comes in a new cover with an illustrated booklet, part of the respected Official Archive Collection.

This title is now shipping from DPAS Mailorder.

SR#6002452

This concert, first released as the On The Wings Of A Russian Foxbat bootleg, and issued officially on CD way back in 1995, is now being totally remastered from the original half inch tapes. It is generally regarded as one of the best Mk 4 concerts, with some great performances and over half the Come Taste album tracks included. The two bonus tracks from the original are retained but properly positioned at the end of side two so they do not spoil the running order.

It will appear first on the Sonic Zoom label in a limited edition digipak with a faithful reproduction of the old bootleg sleeve and a booklet.

DPAS Jukebox : Deep Purple - Live At Long Beach 1976 DPAS Photo gallery : Deep Purple - Long Beach Arena, February 27th 1976

First impressions (30th May): "Foxbat arrived yesterday, giving me the chance to BLAST IT through the stereo. Blimey, even though I know this concert by heart, it's SO MUCH BETTER than the 1995 issue. I was worried that it might be an over compressed /digitised mess, but not at all. A gigantic congratulations needs to go to the engineer." Timothy Campbell

"Blimey! Sometimes it's good to have a reissue just because it makes  you go back and listen to something all over again. I have to say  that the opening half hour of Long Beach sucks you in and spits you out the other side with ringing ears and a smile on your face. Of course it's live, the balance isn't all we'd like it to be and DC is  under pressure in places, but none of this matters a jot once you're  in there. The amazing performances on drums, bass and guitar just carry you along on a stream of adrenalin.

Lady Luck is under three  minutes long for heaven's sake, but so perfectly and noisily formed  that you could make out a case for them inventing punk! Needless to say they follow this text-book example of minimalism with a journey  through Gettin' Tighter which comes close to quarter of an hour, but  there's never a dull moment as Glenn, Ian and Tommy crank up the funk  rock groove and ride it out.

The remastering is spot-on, subtle and  not over-loud, slamming you right in there with the mad for it Long  Beach audience. Most Mk 4 fans are of course familiar with the recording but if  you're one of those for whom it slipped under the radar at the time,  you're going to think Christmas has come early!" SR

MM#6002404

Our sister site in Japan has posted details of the Japanese edition of the upcoming 2xDVD archive collection which as you might expect has done their own thing and gone for a different cover design. They are also including some little repro tickets from the various Japanese shows over the years. If you can read Japanese the site is linked from our - er - links page!

It's out there a little after Europe by the looks of things (24th June).

SR#600237

(Thanks to Masaki Tanaka for the news)

Another book on the band's classic era, this one taking it album by album and using exclusive interviews the author has done over the years. 250 pages, text based (but nice colour cover).

This title is in stock at last at DPASMailorder, and shipping to customers who preordered. The author has signed all the copies.

Thanks to author Martin Popoff for the review copy (it will be covered fully in Issue 60) and John Tucker for the heads up. More at the books page.

SR#600236

Hanwell Community Centre has been saved from the clutches of the local council who tried to sell it off for luxury apartments, and is currently being refurbished before being reopened as a ... community centre.

The trust running it have a stall at the Hanwell Carnival (on June 20th, Elthorne Park, Hanwell, not at the centre itself) and the DPAS have donated text and images for a display panel about Deep Purple's association with this grand building. You can read more at the A-Z page. SR#600246 (Thanks to Diana Sedgwick )

German TV station ZDF Doku are broadcasting a 60 minute Montreux Jazz Festical documentary this week, called "Smoke on the Water, Claude Nobs and the Montreux Jazz Festival", with the first showing on Monday, April 27th at 21.45 CET. Deep Purple's involvement mainly comprises of a clip of Smoke On The Water from Montreux 2006. Claude Nobs also discusses the song, illustrated with some spectacular colour shots of the 1971 casino fire. The link music is a soft jazz version of 'Smoke..' with female vocals, one for the Smoke On The Water page!

The documentary is due for repeat on April 30th at 02.15, and May 1st at 12.00 and 23.00.

DB#6002482 (with thanks to Denis Zurcher)

Here is a track listing for dvd one of the Deep Purple archive 2xDVD, which is now due in June 2009 in UK, a little earlier in Japan. It can be pre- ordered from dpas mailorder.

DVD One Mk 1 - 1) Help 2) Hush 3) Wring That Neck Mk 2 - 4) Hallelujah 5) Mandrake Root 6) Speed King 7) Black Night 8) Child In Time 9) Lazy 10) Strange Kind Of Woman 11) Fireball Writing Session 12) Fireball 13) Demon's Eye 14) No No No 15) Into The Fire 16) Never Before 17) Highway Star 18) Smoke On The Water Mk 3 - 19) Burn 20) Mistreated Mk 4 - 21) Love Child 22) You Keep On Moving

DPAS preview: Deep Purple 1968-75 Archive DVD, discs one & two updated, April 5th

In response to a number of enquiries about the reported inclusion on the DVD of a clip from the 1972 'Made In Japan' shows, this originates from some Super 8mm footage known to have been shot during the tour, though we cannot as yet confirm. (Some Super 8mm footage was also shot of the band in Liverpool 1973).

Simon

SR/DB#6002442

Someone in the Deep Purple office is earning their corn with new movie "The Damned United", which chronicles Brian Clough's tenure as Leeds Utd manager in 1974.*

The soundtrack boasts "Flight of the Rat" (Roger Glover remix) and "Hush" twice each; with a big chunk of "Flight of the Rat" when Leeds arrive at Derby for a cup match, and then during the match itself. (The match scenes were filmed at Chesterfield's ground, due to its authentic 1970s feel!)

* Brian Clough: An outspoken and brilliant English football manager; although not a fan of Jan Tomaszewski !

Simon adds: The Chesterfield ground is indeed an amazing survival, with the rusty corrugated iron cladding on the backs of the main stand looming over the houses behind the ground. It's well worth a potter round outside (even if, like me, you're not a massive footie fanatic), especially as they are supposed to be building a new ground soon and demolishing the old one. It's also a handy place to park up free if you're visiting the town - well worth it for the great part- medieval town square (which they also tried to demolish a few years back!) on flea market day! Who needs the Rough Guides?

DB#6002471 (with thanks to Audie Philips)

Boo! EMI have just announced the deletion of the Listen Learn Read On box 6CD set. Released back in 2002, this monster set is certainly the most luxurious collection on the band ever issued, and was twice runner up in 'best box set' category in Record Collectors annual poll. While it was a very expensive item to produce and has been kept on catalogue longer than expected, EMI actually let it go right out of print BEFORE announcing the deletion, so dpas mailorder who normally buy up the last stock of titles like this have had to delete it as well.

2002 DPAS review: Deep Purple, Listen Learn Read On box-set

MM#600246

JVC in Japan are boxing up the three Deep Purple Mk 1 CDs for sale in April under the title Deepest Trilogy Box; same editions as previously sold  separately. They have also boxed up all their recent mini sleeve titles in a  rather bland looking slipcase with just the Taliesyn art on the side.

Thanks to Masaki Tanaka for the information.

MR#600243

There is also a double gatefold vinyl edition, also limited, in a gatefold sleeve, with album art fully restored and looking loads better than the original. The inner gatefold has all the lyrics. There are special printed inner bags with full sleeve notes, pics and memorabilia (see images left). DPAS Mailorder have warned us that the vinyl edition is already looking like a sell out, so please do orderquickly if you want this. Recent changes  to the sales and supply chain at the label mean getting extra stock  after release date is going to be almost impossible.

These editions are available to order from dpas mailorder, and are shipping now!

T-Shirt : there is a limited edition repro US 1974 shirt design available. See details below or pre-order here.

Poster : a lot of fans have asked about this, and there will be a limited edition poster (approx 600 X 1200mm) available shortly with the gatefold artwork in full. You can see an image of this here. It can be pre-ordered.

Once the 2 disc Ltd Edition has gone, the title will revert to a lower priced 1CD regular edition with the album, remixes and a few other items. The old CD version is being deleted so if you haven't got this, best order sharpish.

DPAS RESOURCES

1. DPAS Features: Stormbringer progress report with pictures (updated November 29th 2008) 2. If you want to see the EMI vinyl remasters, there are some clear photographs of these at the new Japanese website www.deep-purple-japan.net. Click on the 'rare things library'. 3. You can read all the lyrics to Stormbringer here. 4. The DPAS Jukebox currently features streaming mp3 clips of the Glenn Hughes remixes.

There's a short interview with Glenn on the subject of Stormbringer which he did with GTFM Rock Show presenter Andy Fox, available at their site to listen to or download. Thanks to Mike Garrett for the info:rockofages.wordpress.com/2009/03/01/glenn-hughes-interview.

SR#6002348

Can't find the Quad versions? Read how here!

A few folk have not been able to listen to the quad mixes. EMI have put two mixes on the enhanced DVD. If you go into the Play All or Track Selection straight off, the disc seems to pick the default PCM Stereo option, the original stereo album takes of the tracks. If you go into Set Up and select DTS 5.1, you get the quad mix. Thanks to Martin Ashberry for the help. He also adds:

"The quad stuff sounds effing ace, really sharp and crisp, much less muddy in many areas with the sound stripped back to expose the vocals and bass as much as some previously unheard synth bits that I can't pick out on my wafer-thin `74 vinyl copies."

SR#600242

EMI are rounding up all the various BBC sessions done by Deep Purple over the years for release late spring. These have all been bonus tracks on various remasters and box sets but this will be a handy way to have them all in one place. We'll post more details when we have them.

This can be pre-ordered at DPAS Mailorder. It's a project I've long wanted to do, but having shied away for years EMI suddenly gave it a green light yet imposed such tight production / artwork and deadlines / conditions on it that there is no way it can be done how I envisaged so I've had to pass.

SR#600241

There is a promo t-shirt to tie-in with the Stormbringer release, based almost exactly on the tour design available on the band's late 1974 American tour. This has the rather smart winged horse logo (as seen on the slipcase of the remastered CD) in colour on black. As with previous shirts this will only be available for a short period.

This is in stock (Feb 2009) and due to many requests a variety of  sizes are available , and details can be found at dpas mailorder. We also have a rare shot of Coverdale wearing the shirt, which was taken in late 1975.

SR#600236

Exciting plans are apparently afoot for a 40th anniversary edition of Shades Of Deep Purple according to Simon. This follows exploratory studio run-throughs of some of the old tape reels (prior to the Hush Jaguar commercial) which proved more than promising. "I was pleased when we got the material for the Remastered EMI CD in 2000, as that was a big-leap forward from the existing analogue source tape. But frankly we were speechless after hearing these 'new' tapes, which really prove just what an incredible sound they had right at the start, and how heavy they were too. Derek Lawrence deserves a medal for archiving the work in progress like this, especially given the pressure and deadlines he was under to record and mix an album in just a few days." This project didn't get  beyond the decision makers.

DB#6002581

The vinyl resurgence continues with news that EMI are releasing a vinyl edition of the Deep Purple Singles Box Set of a few years back. All the singles will be reproduced with their original sleeves on black vinyl. In addition the box will contain the posthumous New Live & Rare EPs as well.

Update: Still no progress on this title, though we would hope it appears in 2009

Simon tells us he picked up a test set of the singles recently from EMI.

DB# 9002533

Please be very wary of this latest pirate DVD release. It's a rubbish copy of The California Jam pretending to be something unissued. Some sites have been plugging this.

IMV Blueline has set a February 10, 2009 release date for the DEEP PURPLE "Live 1974 (TV Recordings)" DVD. According to the sales sheet, the disc features "DEEP PURPLE performing for the TV cameras in 1974 in Germany, originally broadcast in Argentina."

Absolute tosh.

SR#600240

(Thanks to Michael Eriksson and others for the warning)

Roger Glover has talked of remastering the Perfect Strangers album for the twenty fifth anniversary in 2009. Which will make a lot of fans happy as well as making some of our younger readers suddenly feel very old!

"Early in December I did manage to get time to explore some of the tape archives in a search for Perfect Strangers recordings. The reissue is planned but more work has yet to be done." www.rogerglover.com

UPDATE : We have spoken to the label co-ordinator and they are hoping to do anniversary editions of all three Deep Purple Polydor albums starting this year. And yes we have reminded them about the longer takes of House Of Blue Light tracks!

SR#6002391

The first three Deep Purple reunion albums get the SHMCD treatment in paper sleeve editions. Perfect Strangers, The House Of Blue Light and Nobody's Perfect will be issued in this format in Japan in late February 2009 as limited editions.

SHM CDs will be reviewed in Darker Than Blue 60 and compared to earlier pressings. If you have any thoughts on the format, do please email us.

UPDATE : Given that remasters of these titles are now on the cards (see above) I would suggest these are mostly of interest to packaging collectors.

SR#6002371 (Thanks to Bill Peter)

Planet Rock radio's Greatest Voice In Rock poll has seen "high-pitched rough-edged wail of Robert Plant" (as described in the Daily Mail) come out on top. Two Deep Purple vocalists came in the top ten; with Ian Gillan at number four, and David Coverdale at six. Glenn Hughes was at number twenty five. The poll reflects Planet Rock's demographic as much as anything. Best tour of the year was the Whitesnake / Def Leppard pairing.

JR#600238 (Thanks to Stuart Hamilton) photo: EMI / Deep Purple (Overseas) Ltd

In 1974 the first UK DPAS was set up by two fans still at school. The  newsletters were very basic and ceased in 1975 (a detailed history of  the club appears in Darker Than Blue Issue 59). After many requests a reprint of all seven newsletters is now  available via dpas mailorder.

SR#600239

It's nearly Christmas, so EMI are issuing another budget DP collection to celebrate. They're even calling it The Collection. 12 tracks, "An essential taste of the legendary heavy rock group (1968-1975)". Er.

Anyway it's dead cheap, so if you've any relations who need a stocking filler, it's out on Dec 1st 2008 and dpas mailorder have it on catalogue.

MM#600238

dpas mailorder tell us that scouring the warehouse in town where a lot of stuff was stashed when they moved office a few years back has thrown up a few more dusty collectors items...

Several copies of the original import DVD pressing of Total Abandon, the one with the Platinum Award Logo on the cover, and the longer bonus tracks (still shrinkwrapped). A few copies of the Steve Morse Sects Dregs & Rock & Roll import DVD, again with the expanded bonus material left off the later edition (retitled Cruise Control). A box of the long deleted 1999 Connoisseur Deep Purple Box Set "On The Road". This was a selection of live tracks from 1970-1985 designed to sell in Germany, and very short lived. Still in the original slipcase too. They've all been whacked up on the on-line store.

SR#6002343

Cherry Red are reissuing the old Deep Purple Video Singles title on DVD ... today! It contains just five promos - Bad Attitude / Call Of The Wild / Perfect Strangers / Knockin’ At Your Back Door / Nobody’s Home. A must have buy when it first came out on VHS, all the titles (plus 22 other tracks and clips) are now available on New Live & Rare, issued in 2000 and still available (in stock at dpas mailorder) so I'm not sure who this new version is aimed at.

SR#600265

Thanks to Neil Hunt.

Warner Pioneer in Japan are issuing all their DP titles in card sleeves again (we think this is the fourth time now!). From Concerto to Come Taste The Band. Due out September.

They have been remastered for a format called SHMCD. This is a new clear plastic developed in Japan for LCD screens, now used on CDs, which they claim allows the laser to see the data more easily and thus improve quality. The actual data has not been tampered with in any way. We will add a more technical entry to the DPAS format guide shortly.

SR#600264

EMI Finland have followed up Purple Hits, a Finland-only compilation album which almost went platinum, with More Purple Hits - similar cover, 2CD, 33 tracks including the reunion.

It includes the promo- only 'Mellow Mix' version of Haunted as well as Don't Hold Your Breath, from the Japanese edition of Purpendicular.

MR#600263

(Thanks to Rami Mähkä)

Titles which appeared on VAP Records in Japan in 2003 are now moving across to JVC Records, and being reissued in card mini sleeves from June 2008 onwards. There are 21 titles in all. There is nothing here which has not been issued musically in Europe. The covers will also be the same as the VAP ones, except in two cases. New Live & Rare Volume One will carry the original Japanese vinyl album cover art . This Time Around - Live In Tokyo 75 is going out in the original Last Concert In Japan vinyl sleeve design, which should cause confusion! The titles will NOT be on the Purple Records label either.

All titles are in a new mastering format which is said to be better than actually being in the studio listening to the group recording. I jest.

SR#600262

Jaguar's ad campaign for their new XF saloon began airing in Britain during the first week of February 2008. The TV commercial comprises a fast cut visual set to an edited version of Deep Purple's original 1968 recording of Hush, albeit taken from the remastered CD. The campaign was originated in America, where the song was such a big hit.

During development work on the commercial, we unearthed an amazing tape reel with all the progressive mixes of the song. There will be more about this in the next issue of DTB.

The Jaguar advert debuted in America in the middle of the Academy Awards TV coverage and again at the end. (thanks to Tony Edwards and Carla for the news)

SR# 900254 (thanks to James Bateman, and everyone who has reported sightings of the ad!)

The request on the web site for people's recollections of seeing Deep Purple back on the British tour of 1974 produced a whole load of interesting submissions, some of which we used on the Live In London CD booklet. To mark the 40th anniversary of the band next year, we'd like to open this up a little more, and would invite people who saw the group between 1968 and 1976 to send us their thoughts and recollections or the show, the day, or anything about the event. We'll be using some in the magazine and on-line. This will be an ongoing feature, so do drop us a line. If you've still got a ticket stub (or photos/local ads/reviews), send a scan of those along as well if you can. Simon.

Many thanks for all the many, varied and wonderful contributions received so far. Please keep them coming. They are all very much appreciated!

SR# 9002521