Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.5
Overall		4.5

Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov December 12, 2011

"Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising", featuring a 30-minute concert recorded in Japan, in 1975, and the new documentary film "Gettin' Tighter", arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment. The supplemental features on the disc include the documentary film's official soundtrack and rare new bonus tracks digitally remastered in 2011; interviews with Jon Lord and Glenn Hughes; and an in-depth look at Deep Purple's album "Come Taste the Band". In English, with optional English, French, German, and Spanish subtitles for the documentary film. Region-Free.

Love Child

Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising features a newly restored 30-minute concert recorded live at The Budokan Hall in Japan on December 15, 1975. Also included is the fascinating new documentary Gettin’ Tighter, which features exclusive new video interviews with Glenn Hughes and Jon Lord during which the legendary rockers address the events that led to the disbandment of Deep Purple.

The documentary begins with comments from Hughes and Lord about the transition period that followed Ian Gillan and Roger Glover’s departures. Both also offer their thoughts on how and why the band’s style began to evolve.

Hughes’ comments about his transition to Deep Purple are particularly interesting as he was apparently under the assumption that he would have to do some vocal work with Paul Rodgers, whom he expected to see join the band. But the band hired the then completely unknown David Coverdale, who was the only singer that had the moody qualities Gillan had and could understand the specific style the band wanted to pursue.

According to Lord, Coverdale never felt intimated by the band’s success because he had an ego – with plenty of talent to go with it - which allowed him to quickly establish himself (the point Lord makes is that Coverdale never felt the need to imitate Gillan). Naturally, by the time Burn was released Deep Purple had already moved in a new direction and showed everyone that they could be just as good with Coverdale as they were with Gillan.

Burn also proved that Coverdale and Hughes can coexist in the band. According to Hughes, the album made both of them realize that they could effectively complement each other.

Stormbringer proved something else. Ritchie Blackmore, at the time arguably the most prominent member of Deep Purple, was apparently not happy with the stylistic changes the album had introduced and made sure that everyone knew how he felt. Naturally, some tension emerged which, according to Lord, was further exacerbated by Blackmore’s well documented eccentricity (on and off the stage). As time went by things got progressively worse, and eventually Blackmore decided to leave the band.

Tommy Bolin replaced Blackmore in 1975, but Deep Purple recorded only one album with him, Come Taste The Band. Lord and Hughes both agree that he was a terrific musician but deeply flawed person whose dependence on drugs eventually cost him his life (Bolin died on December 4, 1976, at the age of 25, from a heroin overdose).

There are two other segments in the documentary that are particularly interesting. The first focuses on Hughes’ drug addiction, which caused a serious riff amongst the members of Deep Purple and eventually led to their disbandment. The second addresses the band’s tragic and truly bizarre trip to Jakarta, Indonesia, in 1975, where one of their crew members was killed. (The documentary contains previously unseen raw footage from the band’s two infamous concerts in Jakarta).

The 30-minute restored footage from Deep Purple’s concert at The Budokan Hall in Japan contains live performances of the following songs:

1. Burn
2. Love Child
3. Smoke on the Water
4. You Keep on Moving
5. Highway Star

Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Eagle Rock Entertainment. The 30-minute concert from The Budokan Hall is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.33:1, while the documentary film Gettin' Tighter is presented in an aspect ratio of 1.78:1. Both are encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted 1080p transfers.

The newly restored concert looks very good. Even though the majority of the footage is rather dark, the close-ups convey surprisingly good detail and clarity. Even a few of the panoramic shots look good, though it is clear that one of the cameras is rather poorly positioned. Color reproduction is also as strong as it can be. The documentary is rather difficult to evaluate as the quality of the archival footage varies a lot, but the original content certainly looks fine. (Note: This is a Region-Free Blu-ray disc. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your PS3 or SA regardless of your geographical location).

Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There are two audio tracks on this Blu-ray disc: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 and DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0. For the record, Eagle Rock Entertainment have provided optional English, French, German, and Spanish subtitles for the documentary film.

The concert sounds great with the DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 track, and I am convinced that a lot of older fans of Deep Purple will be thoroughly impressed with it. The guitar solos, Jon Lord's keyboard solos, and especially David Coverdale's vocals sound incredibly crisp and lush. There is also a surprisingly decent range of nuanced dynamics, proving that these types of legendary concerts could be given a new life if they are properly remastered and brought to Blu-ray. Indeed, very impressive.

The documentary film comes with a DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 track. Predictably, the dialog is crisp, clean, stable, and very easy to follow. The archival footage has been optimized as best as possible.

Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Audio Extra - Eagle Rock Entertainment have included the official soundtrack and rare bonus audio tracks digitally remastered in 2011:
  
  1. Burn (Long Beach)
  2. Gettin' Tighter (Japan)
  3. Love Child (Japan)
  4. Smoke on the Water/Georgia on my Mind (Japan)
  5. Lazy (Long Beach)
  6. Homeward Strut (Long Beach)
  7. You Keep on Moving (Japan)
  8. Stormbringer (Long Beach)

• Jakarta, December 1975 - Jon Lord and Glenn Hughes discuss in detail Deep Purple's bizarre trip to Jakarta. In English, not subtitled. (8 min, 1080p).

• Electronic Press Kit - an elaborate look at Deep Purple's album Come Taste the Band. In English, not subtitled. (20 min, 1080p).

Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Deep Purple: Phoenix Rising is yet another outstanding release by the folks at Eagle Rock Entertainment. The newly restored footage from the legendary rock band's concert at The Budokan Hall in 1975 looks and sounds terrific. The new documentary film Gettin' Tighter is just as impressive, offering a wealth of information about the high-octane lifestyle the band enjoyed during the mid-70s. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.