Those who know this site know my affinity for the whole history of the band. Back in 1983, I was really into the Born Again album, and while I read before it came out that it might be a single album/project tour, I kept hoping we’d get another album from them in 1984. That didn’t happen, as Ian basically went straight back to Deep Purple after the Born Again tour, and I was pissed off at the time. I liked where they went with Born Again, and I was DETERMINED to hate the Deep Purple album that came from those sessions because of the breakup of the Born Again lineup of Black Sabbath. But Perfect Strangers changed my mind.
It was too good. It was an outstanding album, and of the 19 studio albums Deep Purple has released from 1968 to 2013, three of them are what I consider “essential”. They are Machine Head, Purpendicular, and Perfect Strangers. Perfect Strangers was a PERFECT album for that time. The fake Deep Purple attempt in 1980 aside, nobody had heard from Deep Purple since the band split up at the end of the tour for “Come Taste The Band”. With good reason, it had fallen apart too much, and it needed to stop. But putting what is generally considered the best Purple lineup of all time back together, given the egos and hostilities – what kind of album would we get? We got Perfect Strangers, which came out and did wonderful, and was well, bloody brilliant.
I keep waiting for either Eagle Rock or Universal to put out a 2 CD Deluxe Edition of that album (as they both have the rights to it, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they BOTH release one – that would be confusing). That hasn’t happened yet (I’m told it will), but in the meantime, we have a new DVD coming out from that tour. It’s called simply, “Deep Purple: Perfect Strangers Live”. It’s a recording from that tour, and will be available in just a couple of weeks on October 15th.
Formats & Ordering
It will be made available in several formats, unfortunately NOT Blu-Ray. Here’s some details on that, including some links to buy these:
- DVD [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ]
- 2CD/DVD Combo [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ]
- 2CD/DVD/2LP Deluxe [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ]
- Digital Audio (iTunes, Amazon MP3, etc) [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ]
- Digital Video (iTunes, etc)
The iTunes links & Amazon UK links are not available, probably will be there on release day.
Track Listing
- Highway Star
- Nobody’s Home
- Strange Kind Of Woman
- A Gypsy’s Kiss
- Perfect Strangers*
- Under The Gun
- Knocking At Your Back Door
- Lazy (inc Ian Paice Drum Solo)
- Child In Time**
- Difficult To Cure
- Jon Lord Keyboard Solo
- Space Truckin’ (in Ritchie Blackmore Guitar Solo)
- Black Night***
- Speed King
- Smoke On The Water
*Start of Side B of LP format
** Start of Side C of LP format and Start of Disc2 on CD format
***Start of Side D of LP format
Video Teaser
Eagle Rock has released a video teaser for this, showing the entire song “Perfect Strangers” being done. Check that out:
UPDATE: They released some more video. Here’s everything I’ve seen.
Summary
This release is right around the corner, and if you remember the Perfect Strangers album as fondly as I do, you are going to want to check this out. While I haven’t gotten an official word on this, I’m hopeful to do a giveaway. More on that soon. In the meantime, check out the press release below, as well as some artwork from the DVD.
RIGHT AFTER I posted this story, I got official word that I will be doing a giveaway. Once I figure out exactly how many copies and all that, I’ll get this up and running. Look for more details shortly.
Press Release
EAGLE ROCK ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE
DEEP PURPLE
PERFECT STRANGERS
~DVD, 2CD/DVD, DIGITAL FORMATS, AND DELUXE EDITION~
~OCTOBER 15, 2013~
New York, NY (September 30, 2013)– On October 15, 2013, Eagle Rock Entertainment will release Deep Purple – Perfect Strangers Live on DVD, 2CD/DVD, DVD/2CD/2LP, and Digital Audio and Video. [Pre-book Order Date September 20, MSRP $14.98 DVD; $29.98 DVD/2CD; $59.98 DVD-2CD-2LP]. The DVD contains the only footage available from the “Perfect Strangers” tour plus a bonus tour documentary. The second available format offers 2CDs and the DVD of the live show packaged in a 3-disc slimline CD jewel case. The third format offers 2LPs, 2CDs and the DVD of the live show packaged in a 3-panel gatefold sleeve.
Recorded in Melbourne, Australia in 1984, Perfect Strangers live is the only full-length concert film of the band at this time. The long-awaited reunion of the classic Deep Purple line-up Ritchie Blackmore, Ian Gillan, Roger Glover, Jon Lord, and Ian Paice, who re-united for the first time since 1973, had recorded a brand new studio album Perfect Strangers, and subsequently headed out on tour. The setlist mixes then new tracks from the Perfect Strangers album with favorites from the early seventies: “Highway Star,” “Strange Kind Of Woman,” “Perfect Strangers,” “Knocking At Your Back Door,” “Child In Time,” “Black Night,” “Speed King,” “Smoke On The Water,” and many more, which are brilliantly performed as only Deep Purple can deliver.
Deep Purple is a musical force with a rich history, having boasted a wealth of incredible musicians and memorable eras. Perfect Strangers Live is a welcome addition to Eagle Rock’s extensive Deep Purple collection.
Eagle Rock Entertainment is the largest producer and distributor of music programming for DVD, Blu-Ray, TV, Audio and Digital Media in the world. Eagle works directly alongside talent to produce top quality, High Definition and 3D programs, both concerts and documentaries, including The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, The Doors, Jeff Beck, U2, Peter Gabriel, Paul McCartney and Ozzy Osbourne. Eagle is a Grammy Award winning company and has received over 30 multi-platinum, over 50 platinum and over 90 gold discs, worldwide. Eagle Rock Entertainment has offices in London, New York, Toronto, Paris and Hamburg.
Follow Eagle Rock Entertainment at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt
Twitter: www.twitter.com/EagleRockNews
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/eaglerocktv
TRACK LISTING
1) Highway Star
2) Nobody’s Home
3) Strange Kind Of Woman
4) A Gypsy’s Kiss
5) Perfect Strangers*
6) Under The Gun
7) Knocking At Your Back Door
8) Lazy (inc Ian Paice Drum Solo)
9) Child In Time**
10) Difficult To Cure
11) Jon Lord Keyboard Solo
12) Space Truckin’ (in Ritchie Blackmore Guitar Solo)
13) Black Night***
14) Speed King
15) Smoke On The Water
*Start of Side B of LP format
** Start of Side C of LP format and Start of Disc2 on CD format
***Start of Side D of LP format
# # #
first concert i ever saw was deep purple on this tour (feb 1985 uic pavillion in chicago) went to the 1st show of 2 nights… when i heard this was coming out i was and still am ecstatic over it — PHENOMONAL comeback album and this was such a great tour
im really looking forward to watching the footage and reliving some fond memories of my first ever concert ( been to at least 300 plus shows since that time)
i remember tickets were only $15 with service charge boy how times have changed—lol
cant even see a movie for that anymore
Yes, Deep Purple live, during Perfect Strangers is great.
The new Black Sabbath DVD/CD is great news too.
But the best/greatest news is what’s not being said.
There are no studio tracks announced on the new Sabbath Live CD.
THERE WILL BE ANOTHER BLACK SABBATH STUDIO ALBUM, and I’m betting for late 2014.
Look, they have 4 tracks** in the can, they’re already a third to half-way done.
**Cry All Night
Isolated Man
Season of the Dead
Hanging By a Thread
RockUSA Oshkosh 2014 – Live – Book it.
Those four songs are from the 13 sessions. They won’t use those on a new album. If they do another one (and I’m NOT convinced it is happening), they’ll write new stuff. Won’t use use those.
I saw 3 shows on that tour. Only concert where after seeing it I followed it to the next city because I was that blown away. What I remember about when they played Perfect Strangers was the green lasers going to the music all over the arena. Was awesome to watch. Too bad this video does not have the lasers.
To the list of “essential” DP albums, I would add “Burn” and “Come Taste the Band”. As for “Perfect Strangers”, for me it is close to “perfect”.
A guy I knew once said that he liked the “new” MKII albums better than the “original” MKII albums.
It was a few nights after this in Sydney that Gillan and Glover swapped roles for the evening! We were wondering “what the hell?” but it was actually very good. Glover is a better singer than Gillan is a bass player…
another Black Sabbath studio album, a good way to make ammends with Bill Ward something every fan would like to see, Bills new project looked interesting ,while 13 was going on,a collection of rhythm on canvas, hope for the best and everyones good health ,Black Sabbath ,4ever
still love the Rod Evans-Captain Beyond era ,all great music that does not get the time it deserves
I saw an interview with Gillan about this concert he said he had a bad flu and could barely make it through the show.
BTW this was a few years ago way before this release.
Yah, his vocals are not great and Blackers is a bit off as well but still visually stunning.
For ‘essential’ Deep purple I’ll take Deep Purple in Rock (25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition), Live in Japan (3 CD MIJ Remix) and Listen, Learn, Read On (6 CD Box Set). The only song I liked on PS was the title track (it was a good promo vid. too).
Ted
The cassette version of Perfect Strangers has a bonus track (they were doing it even then! But I chalk it up to the marketing dept of the record company more so than the artists trying to milk the last dollar) entitled “I’m Not Responsible” that is a great track, and fits perfectly in with the rest of the material. I was actually disappointed when I got the vinyl version and found it was not included. It would be a shame not to include it on any future editions.
I found it on Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxFZNM6BxCw
Hi Joe,
I’m listening to Perfect Strangers Live just while writing this. It’s really great.
My favorite song at the moment is “A Gypsy’s Kiss”.
Regarding your comment that this is the only complete footage of the tour…
That’s not the case. There is another one from Paris 1985 and it’s on YouTube…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUi6GDfni2I
It was broadcasted by the German TV station WDR for the ROCKPALAST Series.
It’s a stunning performance. I love Ritchies guitar sound of that period. At this concert Ian has a cold and you can hear that very clear. I love that concert anyway…
Greetings from Germany
I remember seeing the Born Again tour, and dug the first half of it, more or less, until Gillan got too wasted on booze to be able to sing without slurring and not being able to hit all the high notes (tough as they were regardless). Same with many live recordings I have of that tour, and likewise for many of the DP concerts I’ve seen. In fact, I once had a seat that allowed me to watch Ian go behind the curtains between songs and during the mostly instrumental bits when he could, just chugging away at whatever his choice of poison was. And the concert would inevitably suffer for it by the time they did “Smoke on the Water”.
I can see understand why Iommi and company had to let him go. And (with flame shield held up high), I can also understand why Bill Ward had to split as well. If a drummer needs two teleprompters to let him know what to hit and when, he no longer has the rhythm in him. And I’m sure I’m not the only one here who knows of Bill’s drinking problem.
Back to Ian … the last couple of DP shows I attended were noticeably better, and i didn’t catch our man Ian traipsing off to the distillery during the performance, and all was good and solid.
Bill: Not sure whether he’s simply suffering for his past (like Ozzy), or whether he’s still hitting the grain, bulbing up his nose even more so, but i truly do miss the man that added so much to the original Sabbath sound. His drumming overdubs on “Children of the Grave” have as much to do with the allure of the song as Iommi’s dropped-down tuning, Geezer’s lyrics, and all other contributions involved.
Flame away if you will, but know that I still love Sabbath and DP, and nobody I know will ever take my rock and roll away from me…
My favorite by far on the Perfect Strangers CD was “Knocking At Your Back Door” – can’t get enough of that riff!
“Perfect Strangers-Live” DVD is currently the #1 best seller on Amazon.com under music video-concerts category. I pre-ordered the 2CD/DVD edition. I was 15 when “Perfect Strangers” was originally released and bought it on cassette, vinyl and eventually CD. If it hasn’t already been done, I think it would be a perfect candidate for a audiophiile SACD/hybrid reissue. I also purchased “Nobody’s Perfect” on release day and still have the original 2CD edition. Those are some of my favorite Purple albums from back then although I really enjoy listening to the early (60’s & 70’s) era Deep Purple and “April” is one of my favorite songs.
The press release says “Recorded in Melbourne, Australia in 1984, Perfect Strangers live is the only full-length concert film of the band at this time.”
WRONG! There’s the Paris concert from 7/9/85 shown on Rockpalast, German TV. It was reaired in beautiful digital quality shortly after Jon Lord’s passing and is widely available.
just seen deep purple mate and also black Sabbath and deep purple are much better, best purple albums, are in rock, fireball, machine head, the battle rages on and the new album now what, so sorry your way off mate.
hey joe cant you except critism
‘your’ way off mate?
**you’re** way off mate!
and I hope you are able to **accept** (not except) criticsm
wonderful dvd! great nostalgia.
I was suggested this blog by my cousin. I am not sure whether this post
is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem.
You’re amazing! Thanks!
This dvd rocks like a b*****d! Forget the crap about BS being better than DP,rubbish,totally different beasts,ridiculous even comparing them! Born again (one of my top BS albums) turned me onto DP. This show is amazing,superb performances from all,Blackmore is on fire,as are gillan and paice. Riff city expertly executed over the top rock. Just get it and play it loud,this is why I love rock and metal,this is why I’ve played bass for around 25yrs,this is what its about. AMAZING.