Deep Purple Duo: Blackmore's Final Show, "Slaves and Masters" to Be Reissued

Deep Purple fans have much to be excited about this month with two new catalogue projects covering two very different eras of the long-running rock group.

Eagle Rock kicks things off with a new remaster and reissue of Live in Paris 1975, reportedly the first of 10 forthcoming titles from the band on the label. First released in full back in 2004 but excerpted on many Deep Purple live projects (starting with 1976's Made in Europe), this show, recorded at Paris' Palais de Sports in April 1975, is significant for being the final show (for a time, anyway) to feature founding guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. (Blackmore had already founded Rainbow earlier that year and would release his first album with that group in August.) With that, the Mk. III era of Deep Purple ended, with Tommy Bolin becoming the guitarist until the band disbanded in 1976. This version of Live in Paris features an interview as a bonus track.

The group's disbandment would end in 1984, when the Mk. II lineup, featuring Blackmore, vocalist Ian Gillan, bassist Roger Glover, keyboardist Jon Lord and drummer Ian Paice came together once more. By 1987, Gillan (whose departure and replacement by David Coverdale established the aforementioned Mk. III lineup) would leave once again, to be replaced by onetime Rainbow vocalist Joe Lynn Turner.

The sole Mk. V album, Slaves and Masters, featured the Billboard Mainstream Rock hits "King of Dreams" and "Fire in the Basement," and certainly remains a unique entry in their catalogue. Friday Music will bring Slaves back on CD in the U.S. for the first time since its original release, appending two bonus tracks: the single edit of "Love Conquers All" and its non-LP B-side, "Slow Down Sister."

Expect Live in Paris 1975 in stores on January 29, while the expanded Slaves and Masters streets the following week on February 5. Find the usual pre-order links and track info after the jump!

Live in Paris 1975 (originally released as Purple Records PUR-330D (U.K.), 2004 - reissued Eagle Rock, 2013)

Disc 1

Burn
Stormbringer
The Gypsy
Lady Double Dealer
Mistreated
Smoke on the Water
You Fool No One

Disc 2

Space Truckin'
Going Down
Highway Star
Interview (bonus track)

All tracks recorded at the Palais de Sports, Paris - 4/7/1975. Portions of this performance previously released on Made in Europe (Purple Records TPSA-7517 (U.K.)/Warner Bros. PR-2995 (U.S.), 1976) and Mk. III: The Final Concerts (Connoisseur Collection DPVSOP CD 230 (U.K.), 1996)

Slaves and Masters: The Deluxe Edition (originally released as RCA/BMG 2421-2-R, 1990 - reissued Friday Music FRM-24212, 2013)

King of Dreams
The Cut Runs Deep
Fire in the Basement
Truth Hurts
Breakfast in Bed
Love Conquers All
Fortuneteller
Too Much is Not Enough
Wicked Ways
Slow Down Sister (B-side to "Love Conquers All" - RCA PT 49212 (U.K.), 1990)
Love Conquers All (Single Edit) (12" A-side - RCA PT 49212 (U.K.), 1990)

Mike Duquette

Michael Duquette (Founder) was fascinated with catalog music ever since he discovered there was more than one version of John Williams' soundtrack to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. A 2009 graduate of Seton Hall University with a B.A. in journalism, Mike paired his profession with his passion through The Second Disc, one of the first sites to focus on all reissue labels great and small. His passion for reissues turned into a career, with bylines on catalog at Discogs, City Pages and Ultimate Prince and credits on titles including the Grammy-winning 'Squeeze Box: The Complete Works of "Weird Al" Yankovic.' Born and raised in New Jersey, Mike lives in Astoria, Queens with an ever-expanding collection of music.

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