Deep Purple - The Best of Deep Purple: Live in Europe (2003)
Deep Purple – The Best of Deep Purple: Live in Europe (2003)
Classic Deep Purple energy captured across the continent
Released in 2003, The Best of Deep Purple: Live in Europe is a live compilation that captures Deep Purple’s raw concert energy across several European shows. Unlike standard live albums documenting a single tour, this release combines performances from multiple concerts, presenting a snapshot of Deep Purple’s enduring live power across the continent.
The album highlights the Steve Morse era (Mk VII), featuring a lineup that had reached remarkable musical cohesion. It also nods to the band’s classic past, including material from the Mk II era, making it a bridge between classic hits and modern interpretations.
🎧 Mini Album Review
The Best of Deep Purple: Live in Europe is a powerful live experience, demonstrating that Deep Purple’s stage presence remained formidable decades into their career.
The album features:
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Dynamic renditions of classic hits like “Smoke on the Water” and “Highway Star”
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Modern-era songs from the Morse lineup, including “Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming” and “Ted the Mechanic”
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Extended solos and improvisations that highlight the musicianship of Ian Paice, Steve Morse, and Jon Lord
The sound quality is professional but retains the raw energy of live performance, giving listeners a sense of being in the crowd while appreciating the clarity of the instruments.
Verdict:
A satisfying compilation for fans who want the best live moments from European tours without committing to multiple individual concert albums.
🎶 Typical Tracklist
While track listings vary slightly by edition, a standard version includes:
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Ted the Mechanic
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Pictures of Home
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Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming
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Steve Morse Guitar Solo
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Perfect Strangers
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Lazy
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Smoke on the Water
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Highway Star
The setlist balances classic Deep Purple anthems with modern material, highlighting the band’s ability to reinterpret older songs while maintaining energy and relevance.
📊 Commercial Performance
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Targeted at fans of live performances and collectors
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Limited promotional push; mainly catalog sales in Europe and Japan
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Did not chart significantly, but enjoyed steady sales due to fan interest in live recordings
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Helped maintain the visibility of Deep Purple in the early 2000s as a touring and live-focused band
👥 Personnel – Mk VII Lineup
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Ian Gillan – Lead vocals
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Steve Morse – Guitar
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Jon Lord – Hammond organ, keyboards
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Roger Glover – Bass
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Ian Paice – Drums
This lineup is praised for tightness, consistency, and a balance of classic and modern styles, which is evident in these live performances.
🎸 Performance Highlights
🔥 “Ted the Mechanic”
Opener that demonstrates the band’s ability to deliver post-Blackmore material with energy and precision.
🎹 “Pictures of Home”
A standout track with intense organ and guitar interplay.
💥 “Sometimes I Feel Like Screaming”
Showcases the band’s melodic capabilities and highlights the Morse-era songwriting approach.
🚀 “Smoke on the Water” & “Highway Star”
Classic Deep Purple anthems performed with updated arrangements that respect the originals while incorporating the modern lineup’s style.
🎸 Fun Facts & Trivia
🎤 Multiple shows compiled:
Unlike single-show live albums, this release combines performances from various European concerts, offering the best renditions of each song.
🎵 Steve Morse soloing freedom:
Morse was given space to improvise, creating unique interpretations of classic guitar solos.
📀 Accessible live entry point:
For fans new to Deep Purple live albums, this compilation serves as a high-quality sampler without requiring multiple releases.
🎹 Jon Lord’s classic touch:
Even in the 2000s, Lord’s organ lines maintain their iconic character, blending perfectly with Morse’s guitar tone.
🤔 Did You Know?
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Some performances were taken from the 1995–2001 European tours, featuring the band at a peak of consistency and creativity.
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“Pictures of Home” is rarely performed outside of Europe, making these recordings particularly valuable.
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This release helped solidify the Steve Morse era’s legitimacy in live performance, showcasing his reinterpretation of the classics alongside modern material.
🧠 Legacy & Final Thoughts
The Best of Deep Purple: Live in Europe is a high-quality, fan-focused live compilation that demonstrates the continued vitality of a band more than three decades into their career.
It’s not a groundbreaking release, but it serves as:
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A digestible introduction to Deep Purple live for casual listeners
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A collector-friendly compilation of strong performances across Europe
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A reminder that Deep Purple could still deliver tight, energetic, and engaging concerts well into the 2000s
For fans of the Steve Morse era, it’s an essential showcase of live power and musical cohesion, bridging the band’s classic and modern periods.