On Friday night, immediately after Grab A Stack of Rock, I had the honour of joining Peter Kerr, Reed Little, John Clauser and Tim “Unspooled” Durling for another amazing episode of Rock Daydream Nation! The subject this time was a comparison of Rainbow’s Bent Out of Shape, and Deep Purple’s Slaves and Masters. They have a lot in common, and a few differences as well. In common: a few blokes named Ritchie Blackmore, Joe Lynn Turner, and Roger Glover.
From five perspectives, we went around discussing our first impressions of these albums, tunes that we would spotlight, and then the big question: Is Slaves and Masters the followup to Bent Out of Shape?
Welcome, welcome, welcome! Welcome back to WTF Search Terms, one and all! Yes, it’s another batch of 10 search terms that somehow led people to my site. Some terms are simple typos, others are more chaotic, but they all have one thing in common: They all led people here. Enjoy!
This first one is a simple typo, but I like it so much, I might have to change the spelling of my last name!
DEEP PURPLE – Bombay Calling – Live in ’95 (2022 – Edel CD/DVD reissue)
Years ago, I begged for a CD issue of Deep Purple’s live DVD Bombay Calling. You could download the audio on iTunes and burn your own double live, which I did, but that just doesn’t do it for a physical product collector. I’ve made my case for physical product here over the years many, many times. Unfortunately, this physical release was pooched by Edel by excluding one song. Like similar CD bootlegs of this 1995 concert, the new Edel CD is missing the opening track “Fireball”! It’s still there on DVD, and it was always there on the iTunes edition, but it’s missing from CD 1. That’s a real shame since it’s a good version of “Fireball” and it’s the damn opener! (The original DVD of Bombay Calling was issued in 2000. iTunes got it in 2003.)
When originally released on iTunes, this was promoted as an “official bootleg”. Now it seems to be marketed as some kind of deluxe live album, limited and numbered to 10,000 CD/DVD sets. The hype sticker calls it “the best rock show ever staged in India.”
This concert was recorded on April 18 1995, which eagle-eyed fans will realize is well before thePurpendicular album. Bombay Calling was recorded not long after “the banjo player took a hike” and Purple ultimately carried on with Steve Morse for the next few decades. Joe Satriani stepped in for a short while, but it was Dixie Dregs guitar maestro Morse that took the Man in Black’s place permanently. This concert was recorded at the very start of Morse’s tenure, and features a few songs they would drop from the set a year or two later. It also features a brand new tune they were working on called “Perpendicular Waltz”, later spelled “The Purpendicular Waltz” on the album. The lineup was fresh, feeling each other out, but full of energy and the excitement of a band creatively reborn, both in the studio and on stage.
There is one earlier concert available from this period, which is Purple Sunshine in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, exactly two weeks prior. That one is truly is an official bootleg, taken from audience sources and released on the 12 CD box set Collector’s Edition: The Bootleg Series 1984-2000. The setlists are slightly different. When they hit India for this concert, a new song called “Ken the Mechanic” (retitled “Ted the Mechanic”) was dropped, as was “Anyone’s Daughter”. They were replaced by long time favourites “Maybe I’m a Leo” and “Space Truckin’” from Machine Head.
Special treats for the ears on Bombay Calling include Steve Morse’s incendiary soloing on “Anya” (which would be dropped from the set in 1996). His feature solo leading into “Lazy” is also excellent, and of course very different from what Ritchie used to do. Jon Lord’s keyboard solo is among the best I’ve heard, and even features a segue into “Soldier of Fortune” from Stormbringer. The solo segments that Deep Purple did often allowed them to play snippets from songs from the David Coverdale period of the band, and this one was unexpected and brilliant.
Highlights: “Fireball” (boo for excluding from the CD), “The Battle Rages On”, and “Anya”.
I love a good, raw live performance captured on tape, and Deep Purple don’t muck around. This is special, coming from that transitional period when Steve Morse was just getting his feet wet. Considering how different he is from Ritchie Blackmore, this smooth switcheroo is quite remarkable.
3/5 stars (subtracting half a star from iTunes edition, for losing a song)
DEEP PURPLE – “Woman From Tokyo” (Originally 1973, 1998 Warner Japan CD reissue)
The 2:56 single edit of Deep Purple’s “Woman From Tokyo” is somewhat of a rarity on CD. It’s not on the Singles A’s and B’s. You could get it on a Japanese box set called Purple Chronicle.
The original song was almost six minutes, so half of the tune was chopped out for single release. The intro is mangled. The middle section is missing, and cut in such an amateurish way. The guitar solo is missing. Rule of thumb: never cut the friggin’ guitar solo from a Deep Purple song, of all bands! This is a butcher job of a single edit. Probably why it never made the cut to Singles A’s and B’s.
The B-side “Super Trouper” is also 2:56, but unedited. That’s just how the song goes, one of Purple’s shortest. No, it’s not an Abba cover, but both songs were named after Super Trouper stage lights. Some of Ian Gillan’s lyrics can be interpreted to be about his impending departure from Deep Purple. “I wanna be like I was before, but this time I’m gonna know the score.” A lot of looking in the rear view mirror in this song. A lot of past-tense.
Because of the butcher job on the “Woman From Tokyo” edit, the B-side here outshines the A-side. The single at least has lyrics. For collectors and analysts only!
Jen and I took a Friday off so we could make a long weekend at the lake. With three days to ourselves, good food and good music were a given!
Music for the road trip up:
Ace Frehley – Bronx Boy
AC/DC – Power Up
Deep Purple – Deep Purple
Upon arrival, I spun the usual Kiss on the porch, until 9:00 PM at which point I tuned in to Thursday Night Record Club with Brent Jensen and Alex Huard, discussing AC/DC’s Back In Black.
We filled the weekend with food (pork chops, steaks, trout, and veggies) and more music (lots of Kiss and Iron Maiden). We enjoyed a few nice walks in the cool summer air. Yes, it was a chilly one, but we still managed a game of Monopoly on the back porch, in the open air. Our money never blew away once!
What did blow me away? Listening to Iron Maiden’s Live After Death on the back porch. It was like 1986 all over again, but only if 1986 had digital quality sound on the back porch! We also played some music for Grampa Winter, who would have cranked Kenny Rogers’ Greatest Hits and “The Gambler”. Except he did it on vinyl with some big old speakers mounted on the front of his bunkhouse.
Friday night I did an excellent live show with Rob Daniels and Harrison Kopp, showing off some incredible collectables. This enabled me to do some stop motion with my new phone/camera, which turned out really cool. The new camera is also finally capable of capturing some of the majesty of Kincardine sunsets. I was impressed with the results and intend to use it frequently all summer. Another feature is slow motion, which I used to capture some fire and waves.
It was over all too quickly.
Music for the drive home:
Peter Criss – Out of Control
Peter Criss – Let Me Rock You
Criss – Cat #1 (Half)
I can’t explain why I chose those, but every once in a while, you need to listen to some Peter Criss. So I did.
Please enjoy the video of the weekend, all the sound of Max the Axe, below.
It was May 2002 and I was a first-time homeowner. My dad taught me, “Never rent! Only buy. Put your money towards something.” So I trusted his advice and lived at home as long as could I possibly milk it!
Moving in to my new place took a day. I had a lot of help from family and friends. We probably had 10 or 12 people total. I packed up all my CDs and insisted that only I handle them. It caused me more than a little anxiety. I figured a few jewel cases would crack, but there were some special ones I took extra precautions with. Coloured jewel cases are hard to replace. The most precious CD case to me is the 1996 Deep Purple In Rock anniversary edition. The case comes etched with signatures and other text. Breaking one of those means either living with it, or trying to find another copy with case intact. I desired to do neither. In Rock survived the move intact. I would not be lying to you if I told you that this one little item was of more concern to me than anything else I moved that day. My stereo equipment came in second.
Some people say they have a hard time sleeping, their first night in a new home. I did not have that problem. After a full day of moving, I was wiped. But also eager to get going the next day and set up my new place. Against the better judgement of everyone who helped me move, the very first thing I did was set up my CD towers. Having those discs sitting in boxes really bothered me. I wanted them out, so I could inspect them and ensure they all survived intact, and I wanted them accessible. A long day of painting was ahead!
I cannot remember the first album I played in my new home. Strange, because normally I’d commit that sort of thing to memory. It was probably Kiss. I like to use Kiss for firsts. I do remember the first movie I watched. It was The Phantom Menace. I wanted my first movie to be a DVD, and I wanted it to be a Star Wars. The older Star Wars films would not exist on that format until 2004.
I set up the CD towers, put the discs back in their alphabetical homes, and was relieved that only a couple cases broke. I then painted around them. Priorities.
The funny thing about these memories is how much space I thought I had back then. I had so many empty closets. I didn’t have enough stuff to put on my shelves. To say things have changed would be an understatement. Due to lack of storage, there are CDs everywhere in random order. We need to hire a carpenter and get some proper CD shelving made for this place!
After a solid weekend of working, painting and assembling, I was settled into my new place. I had my first guests over that Monday. I loved my new place, but I did not have long to enjoy it. The following week, I was on my way to Prince Edward Island, determined to find the home of Stompin’ Tom Connors, and eat lobster at least once a day. Success on both counts. But I couldn’t wait to get home again. I had a new Deep Purple box set of official bootlegs waiting for me to finish listening. 12 CDs. I only had time to hear the first three discs before departure. And you can bet your last dollar that I picked up where I left off, with disc four.
Jen moved here in 2008. It’s cramped but we make due. Her illness set us back in the sense that we haven’t been able to move somewhere bigger. But it’s home. It’s our home. It has 20 years of memories. I’m proud to say that many of them are musical in nature.
We know it as well as anyone: family must come first.
Deep Purple’s Steve Morse is taking a break from touring to care for his wife who is suffering from cancer. In a statement Morse said, “At this point, there are so many possible complications and unknowns, that whatever time we have left in our lives, I simply must be there with her.”
Replacing Morse on tour is Simon McBride who has previously worked with Ian Gillan and Don Airey. Morse notes that if his wife Janine gets a clean bill of health, he will re-join the tour.
It is heartbreaking how cancer can derail plans so suddenly. After two years of not touring, Morse is forced off the road again. We wish the Morse family all the best and Janine a swift recovery. We also wish Simon McBride all the best in what will surely be the biggest tour of his life to date.
Iron Tom returns with his 2020 list of awesome, a little bit of commentary, and plenty of Youtube videos for you to check out!
ElderOmens
King Buffalo Dead Star
Drive-By TruckersThe New OK
The Atomic BitchwaxScorpio
King Gorm King Gorm
Five Alarm Funk Big Smoke
Let the ‘Wheels on the Bus’ take you on a tight funky ride…
Jerry JosephThe Beautiful Madness
Drive-By TruckersThe Unraveling
Great album for the shit-storm that was the last four years. However, I’m not sure I’ll be partying to some of it four years from now….
Brant Bjork Brant Bjork
The coolest dude on the planet being a one-cool-man-band….
Steve Earle Ghosts of West Virginia
Emphasizing the humanity over politics plays well….
Deep Purple Whoosh!
After the quality of the last few albums, I don’t know why I was surprised by how much I liked this one… Keep going boys….
Testament Titans of Creation
This band has been pretty consistent over the decade and have produced another great thrash album that is as catchy as it is heavy….
Neil Young Homegrown
1974-recorded and 2020-released and enjoyed…I read that Young thinks that the album is ‘the unheard bridge between Harvest and Comes A Time’ and he’s right….
Armored Saint Punch the Sky
A pleasant surprise…no gimmicks just solid consistent heavy metal.
Blue Öyster Cult The Symbol Remains
A little uneven but the highs more than outweigh the lows… The videos may be unintentionally hilarious but the rock fire remains….
Wishbone Ash Coat of Arms
Fans of well crafted rock with tasty twin guitar will enjoy….
AnnihilatorBallistic, Sadistic
A heavy riffy old-school thrashfest that does not let up….
Jason Isbell, Reunions
It doesn’t quite match the strength of his last two, but that’s only because Isbell has set the bar so damn high for himself… This is an excellent album in its own right….
Mr. BungleThe Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo
Ian’s and Lombardo’s presence help Mr. Bungle deliver little on the experimentation, but some great straight-up thrash….
Brimstone Coven The Woes Of A Mortal Earth
Riffy modern occult rock with excellent vocal harmonies….
Lowrider Refractions
Who knew there were deserts in Sweden? These Kyuss-wannabies make a good case that there are….
Wytch Hazel III: Pentecost
Wishbone Ash fans will have lots here to enjoy….
King Weed – Riffs Of The Dead
King Weed The Seven Sins Of Doomsday
Instrumental Stoner from France… Groovy cool shit… And there are two more 2020 releases I haven’t checked out yet….
Diamond Head Lightning to the Nations 2020
A fresh coat of paint on some metal masterpieces and some pretty cool covers….
WobblerDwellers of the Deep
Yes, Crimson and Gentle Giant fans will find much to like here….
Freeways True Bearings
Vintage 70’s guitar rock for 2020 and they are from Brampton….
2020 may have sucked, but the music didn’t. This year I bought and reviewed more new releases than ever before, which I narrowed down to the Nigel Tufnel Top Ten studio albums of 2020 listed below.
I would like to dedicate this list to my good pal Uncle Meat who originated the concept of a “Nigen Tufnel Top Ten” earlier this year. It has become our thing.
BEST ALBUMS OF 2020
11. Now or Never – III
10. Mr. Bungle – The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny Demo
Storm Force’s debut album goes straight to #1 on their very first appearance! No surprise here. I’ve been raving about this disc since February and I owe it to Superdekes for putting these guys on my radar in the first place. This is a well-deserved #1. Age of Fear is an uplifting album with depth. It’s a thoughtful, heart-pounding blast of classic hard rock.
Deep Purple’s Whoosh! and AC/DC’s PWRUP prove two things: old dogs that both learn and don’t learn new tricks can all be champions. (I call this theory “Schrödinger’s Dog”.) Deep Purple’s growth continues while AC/DC managed to tap into the vein of success that always worked for them. Both records deserve their spots in the Top 3.
It was a thrill for me to learn that Dennis DeYoung both read and enjoyed my review of his newest album 26 East Vol 1. It’s a terrific, Styx-like conceptual work that will please the old fans. As will the new albums by Harem Scarem and Stryper, who didn’t stray far from their successful classic hard rock formulas. Kim Mitchell and Sven Gali on the other hand dared to be different. Kim went laid back and acoustic, while Sven Gali went with their heaviest uninhibited inclinations. As for Mr. Bungle, it has been 21 years since their last album California. All four Bungle studio albums are completely different from one another — four different genres. For The Raging Wrath of the Easter Bunny, they teamed up with Scott Ian and Dave Lombardo to re-record their first thrash metal demo tape. And it could be their best album since the self-titled debut in 1991. Not bad for a bunch of songs they wrote in highschool.
Corey “Mother Fuckin'” Taylor makes his debut on any list of mine with his solo album CMFT. It’s a surprising collection of commercial hard rockin’ tunes. Also appearing for the first time is Now Or Never (NoN) with their third album called III, featuring singer Steph Honde. It’s an excellent, dramatic metal album with light and shade.
Song of the year: “LeBrain Train“ by T-Bone Erickson
Single of the Year: Mammoth WVH – “Distance”
Ultimately whether or not you liked the new Ozzy, its success or failure falls at the feet of producer/guitarist Andrew Watt. He is already working on the next Ozzy album, so….
Huge thanks to T-Bone Erickson for the “LeBrain Train” theme song, which amazingly and unexpectedly became the song of the year in 2020! Weird how that happened. No bias here I assure you.
Finally, Wolfgang Van Halen finally released his first solo music under the name Mammoth WVH. The non-album single “Distance” is dedicated to his late father Eddie. Though musically it’s a modern power ballad, the lyrics and especially the music video evoke serious emotion. Well done Wolfgang. Can’t wait to check out his album in 2021.
There were a lot of cool rock releases in 2020, so we need more lists! Of course the brilliant new live Maiden deserved some loving attention. Meanwhile, Sloan, Def Leppard and Thin Lizzy have continued to put out quality collections of rarities & unreleased material, well worth the time and money you’ll spend on them. The Sloan collection is a vinyl exclusive and the first in a series of LPs re-releasing some of their B-sides and non-album and bonus tracks. Finally, Metallica delivered the goods even without Michael Kamen on S&M2, a very different live set than the first S&M. That’s the way to do it!
It’s naive to assume that major touring and concerts will return in 2021. This appears highly optimistic at present, with Covid still ravaging the landscape and vaccinations only just beginning. Instead of looking ahead at things like the resuming Kiss tour, or the Motley Crue reunion, we should continue to put our faith in new music.
Accept have a new album due January 15 intriguingly titled Too Mean to Die. It is their first without bassist Peter Baltes. Steven Wilson has a new record out at the end of that month. In February we get new Foo Fighters, The Pretty Reckless, Willie Nelson and Alice Cooper. Greta Van Fleet, Weezer, Rob Zombie, Ringo Starr, and Thunder will be back soon too. Many other bands are writing and recording without an announced due date. Ghost, Marillion, Scorpions, Megadeth and even Ratt are hard at work to make next year suck a little less. Support the bands by buying the music.
Three (or four, or five, or six?) guests. Six lists. One unboxing. A marathon live stream like none before. Bear witness to the greatest Nigel Tufnel Top Ten list ever as we rhyme off our favourite concerts.
For the unboxing, go to 0:05:30 of the stream.
For the start of the lists, skip to 0:32:10.
Thank you Mom and T-Bone for your lists! Thanks to Meat, Mr. Books, and Superdekes for co-hosting. Special thanks to Rob Daniels for joining us at the end! And as always thanks to YOU for watching!
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