Having produced what many believe to be the definitive live rock album, Made In Japan, nearly 20 years ago, Deep Purple had much to live up to in the aftermath. Though Knebworth ’85 will never garner the same affection as that oriental opus, it is, nonetheless, a genuine collector’s item.
Herein are rare-in-the-extreme live versions of later Deep Purple works including Knocking At Your Back Door, Nobody’s Home and Gypsy’s Kiss, along with another unique, humour-filled, corny-cum-colloquial, five-man-jam version of Space Truckin’.
The true power of the band is also evidenced: Speed King, Black Night and, of course, Smoke On The Water would have raised the roof if Knebworth had one. It’s only let down by a lack of affection in the production of this collection-amply demonstrated by some unsympathetic editing and two misspellings of song titles on the sleeve.
