Deep Purple – Around The World Live (Eagle DVD)

 

Picture: C+     Sound: B-     Extras: C+     Concerts: B-

 

 

I give Deep Purple credit for hanging in there, never selling out and being as consistent as possible, including their 1980s comeback, but the new 4-DVD Around The World Live set is so extensive that only the biggest fans are going to be able to deal with it.  The content is as follows:

 

DVD 1 – Bombay Calling from India in 1995, including a 1995 Seoul concert as a bonus.

 

DVD 2 – Total Abandon from Australia 1999, including the documentary A Band Down Under.

 

DVD 3 – Live At The NEC from the United Kingdom 2002 with bonus Ian Gillan/Roger Glover interview.

 

DVD 4 – Access All Areas documentary

 

 

Running around nine hours (!) or so, that is a ton of material, some of which debuts on this set, but it is really a live crash course or overdose (no pun intended), set for fans and the most curious.  The quality of the performances vary, no mater the consistent ambition and Smoke On The Water and Woman From Tokyo keep showing up, there is only so much one can take.  If you love them, you’ll enjoy this, but especially after so many group and solo projects form these band members from Eagle alone, this treasury (including a nice color booklet with extended text built into the book-like case) is all out, to say the least.

 

Most of the concerts are 1.33 X 1 on analog video and show it, though the NEC show is anamorphically enhanced 1.78 X 1 and has some color and detail advantages, they are limited.  The image can be too soft and only a Blu-ray will resolve the limits.  It and the Australia concert add DTS 5.1 and Dolby Digital 5.1 to the mix, while all four have Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo.  As usual, the DTS is best, but in all 5.1 cases, I was not always happy with the soundfield.

 

At least they are still serious rockers.

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo