Deep Purple - Copenhagen 1972 (2013)
Deep Purple – Copenhagen 1972 (2013)
A snapshot of Mk II at their explosive peak
Released in 2013, Copenhagen 1972 is a live archival recording capturing Deep Purple’s classic Mark II lineup—Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice—performing in Copenhagen, Denmark. This concert is a prime example of the band’s early 1970s live power, highlighting their ability to balance precision, improvisation, and raw rock energy.
Recorded during the height of their Machine Head / Made in Japan era, this performance showcases the band on fire, with extended jams, blistering solos, and the chemistry that would cement Deep Purple as one of hard rock’s most formidable live acts.
🎧 Mini Album Review
Copenhagen 1972 is high-voltage, thrilling, and technically masterful.
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Ritchie Blackmore delivers searing solos with precision and flair.
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Ian Gillan’s vocals are at their peak, navigating high screams and dynamic phrasing with ease.
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Jon Lord dominates with his Hammond organ, providing both melodic texture and explosive leads.
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Extended jams of Space Truckin’ and Child in Time showcase the band’s improvisational skill.
Verdict:
A must-have for fans of Mk II Deep Purple, capturing a legendary lineup at the height of its live powers.
🎶 Tracklist – Representative Highlights
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Highway Star
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Smoke on the Water
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Lazy
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Space Truckin’
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The Mule
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Child in Time
The concert blends hard-hitting rockers with extended jams, demonstrating why Deep Purple were considered one of the greatest live bands of the era.
👥 Personnel – Mk II Lineup
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Ian Gillan – Vocals
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Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
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Jon Lord – Keyboards
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Roger Glover – Bass
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Ian Paice – Drums
This is the classic Deep Purple lineup, often cited as the band’s most influential and iconic formation.
🎼 Performance Highlights
🔥 Highway Star
Opens the show with relentless energy, featuring Blackmore’s guitar precision and Lord’s iconic organ intro.
🌊 Child in Time
A highlight of the night, with Gillan’s screaming vocals perfectly matched by Blackmore and Lord’s dramatic instrumental interplay.
🎹 Lazy
Extended jams highlight the band’s improvisational creativity, giving Paice room for drum solos and Lord for organ flourishes.
⚡ Space Truckin’
A powerhouse closer with fast-paced riffs, tight rhythm, and explosive solos, epitomizing Deep Purple’s live intensity.
🎸 Fun Facts & Trivia
🎤 Mk II in full force
This concert captures the lineup that defined Deep Purple’s signature hard rock sound, following Machine Head’s release.
🎹 Jon Lord’s organ mastery
Even in high-energy tracks, Lord balances melodic sophistication with raw power, a hallmark of the Mk II era.
📀 Previously unreleased
The Copenhagen 1972 recordings were largely bootlegged until the 2013 remastered release, now officially available for fans.
🎸 Extended live jams
Tracks like Lazy and Space Truckin’ feature longer solos and improvisations than the studio versions, giving fans an authentic live experience.
🤔 Did You Know?
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This show was part of the Europe ’72 tour, supporting the Machine Head album.
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Child in Time at Copenhagen 1972 is considered one of the most intense live performances of the track ever recorded.
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Ian Paice’s drumming on The Mule is a standout, blending technical precision with high-energy showmanship.
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The concert showcases how Mk II could transition seamlessly between hard rock, blues, and progressive improvisation.
🎼 Album Credits
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Recorded: 1972, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Released: 2013
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Label: Eagle Rock / Purple Records
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Producer: Deep Purple archival team
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Format: CD, digital, deluxe edition
🧠 Legacy & Final Thoughts
Copenhagen 1972 is a live time capsule of Deep Purple’s most influential era. It highlights:
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The technical skill and improvisational mastery of Mk II
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The energy and precision that defined early 1970s hard rock
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The chemistry between Gillan, Blackmore, Lord, Glover, and Paice, a lineup that became legendary
For fans and historians, this album is essential listening, providing a vivid snapshot of Deep Purple at the peak of their powers on the European stage.