Ripple Theater - Barry Richards TV Collection Vol.1 featuring Tommy Bolin, Alice Cooper, Humble Pie, Bob Seger

In the 3 years I've been scribbling for Ripple I've received some very cool stuff - lots of great music, some cool feedback on my reviews (Captain Sensible commented on my review of Grand Funk's Live Album!) and the chance to bond with my fellow rock freaks out there. But this DVD/CD that I was just got in the mail might be one of the best perks I've ever received. If you're into kick ass classic rock don't even bother reading this review. Just go to the bottom of the page and click the link to order a copy. Trust me, you're gonna want this as soon as possible.

Back in the early 1970's Barry Richards presented a low-budget TV show that featured rock bands playing live. Shit, just having good quality footage of Alice Cooper doing "Eighteen" and "Black Juju" from 1971 is worth whatever they're charging for this. And then there's the smokin' version of "Rollin' Stone" by Humble Pie back when Frampton was still in the band. So good! There's Zephyr featuring a very young Tommy Bolin (Racer, have you ordered your copy yet?) playing a gorgeous Les Paul. This is also back when Bob Seger used to rock hard so you get 3 killer jams including a burning "Ramblin' Gamblin' Man." Bob's really going for it rocking a red, white & blue Gibson Firebird (paint job probably inspired by Wayne Kramer's American flag Strat he played with the MC5) and a drummer with an insane drum kit. There's also some very cool footage of the Byrds backing up Fats Domino and an interview with Little Richard. But the best part for me is excellent performance from Muddy Waters.

The audio CD is also very cool. There are 2 interviews Barry did with the Beatles in 1964 that collectors will love to have. Dr. John also gets interviewed and turns in a great 10 minute version of "Gris Gris." Alice Cooper freaks like me will love the radio concert ad Barry did in 73 as well as the 16 minute interview with Alice and Flo & Eddie.

This review is kinda short because after the first viewing I was pretty dumbfounded. I could write some more but I'd rather go watch this thing again. The booklet has lots of cool photos and interesting liner notes from DC area native Joe Hasselvander of Pentagram and Raven. That guy certainly knows his rock n roll. This is mandatory viewing, don't snooze on it. The cover says it's Volume 1, hopefully there's a lot more of this coming out soon.


--Woody

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Deep Purple – Phoenix Rising

It’s too bad this country is so damn big. My first viewing of this should have been with Racer and Pope since one of the reasons I started Rippling is because those clowns love Tommy Bolin-era Deep Purple even more than I do. But it’s a long way from Brooklyn to California so I had to settle for the next best thing. My friend Vinny lives three blocks away and has a huge TV and also loves Deep Purple. It’s a hell of a lot easier to walk over there with a 12 pack of Bud talls then to deal with airport security to go space truckin to the west coast.

Phoenix Rising is a DVD/CD documenting the polarizing Deep Purple Mk.IV era. You either love Come Taste The Band or you think it’s heresy. I resisted for a long time but finally succumbed to its powers a few years back though I do tend to agree with a statement that Jon Lord makes that it’s a great rock album but not necessarily a Deep Purple album. Even if you’re not a fan you’ll find most of the documentary pretty interesting. Glenn Hughes was the driving force behind the band at this point, as well as the drug abuse, and he does a lot of the talking. Jon Lord provides more of a voice of reason behind the madness. Ian Paice is represented through an archival interview from 1976 and there are some interview clips with Bolin as well. David Coverdale was probably too busy counting his money or shampooing his hair to have been involved in any recent commentary on this part of his career.

One thing that the 80 minute documentary makes very clear is that Deep Purple was HUUUGE in the 1970’s. Millions of album sold, arena tours, private jets, mega egos and tons of drugs. Deep Purple was always more of a drinking band but Glenn Hughes had a major cocaine habit and Tommy Bolin was deeply involved in heroin. The fact that they made a great album and Glenn is still alive is truly astounding. Among the fun facts revealed is that Glenn was sent home from Munich when they were recording because his drug use was so out of control. He says that back then the treatment was large doses of valium. To add intrigue to the story, there’s an incident that took place in Jakarta that resulted in the death of a roadie. Glenn is adamant it was murder, though there’s a disclaimer at the end saying that Coverdale does not agree with this statement. By the time the band reached Japan things were really starting to unravel. Tommy Bolin arrived with his left hand basically useless. The story is that he fell asleep on his hand on a weird angle and woke up unable to play. Whatever the truth is it’s pretty certain that drugs were involved. The band was planning on a triumphant return to Japan and had to work extra hard to pick up the slack to cover for Bolin. Mk.IV ended on kind of a funny note. While on tour in Europe, after the last show Lord and Paice decided to break up the band. Right after they made the decision, Coverdale entered their dressing room to tell them he was quitting. Sadly, not long after Tommy Bolin overdosed ending a career that had a long way to go. Personally, I found the entire thing interesting but I’m a freak. It’s probably about 20 minutes too long and really could have used some other perspective, especially from Coverdale.

The live footage from Japan has been around for years but never in this good quality. All 5 songs from the original VHS are here with excellent fidelity. This was filmed during the final concert at Budokan Hall and it’s obvious that Bolin is sub-par but still pretty damn good. Jon Lord works really hard at picking up the slack and his playing is incredible. The rhythm section of Hughes and Paice is unbelievably tight and Coverdale’s vocals are spot on. What a killer band. There’s a kick ass version of “Burn” and great versions of “Love Child” and “You Keep On Moving” from Come Taste The Band. Mk.II standards “Smoke On the Water” and “Highway Star” get played but the jams are lengthy and self indulgent. And who allowed Glenn sing “Georgia On My Mind” in the middle of “Smoke On The Water?”

There’s also a 70 minute live CD made up from recordings from Japan and a much better concert in Long Beach, California. You get audio of the five songs from the DVD (though “Burn” is from Long Beach) plus “Getting’ Tighter,” “Lazy,” “Stormbringer” and “Homeward Strut” from Bolin’s Teaser album. And if that wasn’t enough, there are two fat, full color booklets. One contains a band history of DP Mk.IV with lots of photos and vintage press clippings. The other booklet is a reproduction of a 28 page Deep Purple magazine produced in 1976 with articles and interviews with Mk.IV as well as Blackmore, Ian Gillan and Roger Glover. You even get interviews with managers, booking agents and roadies. The packaging is great and even if you don’t watch the movie part of it more than once, this is a great value.

 --Woody

Buy here: Phoenix Rising [DVD/CD Combo]
Buy here: Phoenix Rising [Blu-ray]

Classic Rock Attack - Featuring Robin Trower, Thin Lizzy, and Deep Purple

When you’re a classic rock fan you get used to new & supposedly improved versions of your old favorites getting re-issued every few years. Usually it’s just an attempt by the record label to generate some revenue on something they don’t have to spend a lot of money to create. That’s probably the case with this batch, too, but each of these releases gives the consumer some decent value for money.

Robin Trower - At The BBC 1973-1975


First up is Robin Trower At The BBC 1973-1975. Do I even need to tell you how great this is? This 2CD set is a mandatory purchase for Trower fans and anyone who loves outstanding guitar playing. This is Trower leading his excellent trio with James Dewar on bass & vocals during their peak time together. Reg Isidore plays drums on the 1973-74 sessions and is replaced by Bill Lordan for the 1975 recordings. There are two radio sessions from 73 and 74 and one from 75, recorded for John Peel and Bob Harris. They’re not playing live in the studio, but basically re-creating the classics from the essential albums Twice Removed From Yesterday, Bridge Of Sighs and For Earth Below. Most of the versions tend to be a little faster and rawer since they were done quickly in a day at a radio studio. Trower’s playing is inspired as always and the vocals of James Dewar are warm and inviting. The best part is a live BBC concert broadcast from 1975 that rivals the official Live album issued the following year. The 8 page booklet is a little light on photos but contains good liner notes from Malcolm Dome of Kerrang and Classic Rock fame. Might be a little pricy since it’s an import but completely worth it.


Buy here: At the BBC 1973-1975
Buy here mp3: At The BBC 1973-1975

 
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak and Johnny the Fox: Reissues

I’m sure everyone reading this owns Thin Lizzy’s 1976 twin peaks of Jailbreak and Johnny The Fox on at least 1 format. If you own the original LP’s, the playing surface is probably destroyed and the covers have water rings from inconsiderate friends leaving their empties on them. The CD’s issued in the 90’s suffered from low levels and flimsy packaging, they’re now both double discs with improved sound and fancy full color booklets. The remasters of the original albums sound great and the volume level is up but not overly compressed. The bonus material on the 2nd discs contain some remixes done by Joe Elliot of Def Leppard with some new guitar parts added by Scott Gorham. I was a little worried about this, but they all sound good but I honestly don’t think I’ll listen to them all that often. The BBC sessions, however, I will, especially the extra fired up versions of “Warriors,” “Emerald” and “Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed.” Works in progress like “Scott’s Tune” and “Blues Boy” are cool to hear but, again, probably not gonna play those a whole lot. There’s a very funky instrumental run through of “Johnny The Fox” that’s very cool, you can really hear that they’re having a good time getting the groove right on this song. The booklets come with great photos, liner notes and new interviews conducted by Neil Jeffries. The UK label Back On Black has reissued both of these albums and other jewels from the Thin Lizzy catalog on heavy weight vinyl. If you’re not sure whether to get the CD’s or LP’s, I’d say get ‘em both. You work hard, you deserve it.

Buy here: Jailbreak: Deluxe Edition
Buy here mp3: Jailbreak (Deluxe Edition)

Buy here: Johnny the Fox: Deluxe Edition
Buy here mp3: Johnny The Fox (Deluxe Edition)

 Deep Purple - Come Taste the Band: Reissue

Last up is a real classic rock connoisseur favorite, Deep Purple’s 1975 overlooked gem Come Taste The Band. As a huge Ritchie Blackmore fan, I avoided this album for many years but as soon as I let my guard down I realized just what a great album it is. Tommy Bolin’s playing is unfuckingbelievable and he’s one of the guys that helped bond me with the two clowns that run this website. I think I’m on a first name basis with just about everyone on the planet who loves this album. The reissue of Come Taste The Band follows the template laid down by the awesome Machine Head double disc. Disc one is the original album with excellent remastered sound and a bonus track of the 7” edit of “You Keep On Moving.” Disc two is a remixed version by Iron Maiden’s producer Kevin Shirley (he’s also responsible for the awesome audio on the double live Led Zep DVD). The remixes don’t sound drastically different but the guitars and the drums are a bit more upfront. The best part is that the songs are all longer. No fade outs or edits and there are some minor differences in the vocals and lyrics. Bonus tracks include a previously unreleased song called “Same In L.A.” that’s pretty cool but the best is the final track “Bolin/Paice Jam.” Who wouldn’t want to hear almost 6 minutes of Tommy Bolin blazing away accompanied by one of rock’s greatest drummers? Fucking excellent!

--Woody

Buy here:  Come Taste the Band






--Woody