Deep Purple - Stockholm 1970 (2014)
Deep Purple – Stockholm 1970 (2014)
Mk II live at the dawn of a legend
Released in 2014, Stockholm 1970 is a live archival recording capturing Deep Purple during the classic Mark II lineup—Ian Gillan, Ritchie Blackmore, Jon Lord, Roger Glover, and Ian Paice—performing in Stockholm, Sweden. This concert showcases the band freshly formed as Mk II, performing shortly after the release of Deep Purple in Rock (1970), which would solidify their reputation as pioneers of hard rock.
Stockholm 1970 offers fans a raw, energetic, and unpolished look at Deep Purple during their early peak, with extended jams, fiery solos, and the chemistry that defined their legendary live shows.
🎧 Mini Album Review
Stockholm 1970 is raw, intense, and electrifying, offering a snapshot of Deep Purple finding their stride.
-
Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar is sharp, aggressive, and improvisational, a driving force behind the band’s energy.
-
Ian Gillan’s vocals are already powerful and versatile, navigating the highs and lows of early Mk II material.
-
Jon Lord dominates with his Hammond organ, balancing classical influences and rock intensity.
-
Extended jams on tracks like Child in Time and Speed King showcase the band’s improvisational chemistry.
Verdict:
An essential document of Mk II, capturing the band before they became global icons, with all the raw power and spontaneity of early 1970s live rock.
🎶 Tracklist – Representative Highlights
-
Speed King
-
Into the Fire
-
Child in Time
-
Black Night
-
Mandrake Root
-
Lazy
-
Fireball
The concert blends early hard rock originals with extended improvisation, reflecting the band’s high-octane live approach during this formative era.
👥 Personnel – Mk II Lineup
-
Ian Gillan – Vocals
-
Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
-
Jon Lord – Keyboards
-
Roger Glover – Bass
-
Ian Paice – Drums
This is the classic lineup that would define Deep Purple’s sound for decades, combining virtuosity, power, and chemistry.
🎼 Performance Highlights
🔥 Speed King
An explosive opener featuring tight riffs, dynamic vocals, and extended guitar solos, immediately setting the tone.
🌊 Child in Time
A definitive early live performance, with Gillan’s soaring vocals matched by Blackmore and Lord’s dramatic instrumental interplay.
🎹 Lazy
Extended jams allow Lord and Blackmore to improvise freely, giving the audience a unique live experience not captured on studio albums.
⚡ Mandrake Root
A platform for improvisation, highlighting the band’s ability to stretch compositions into thrilling live explorations.
🎸 Fun Facts & Trivia
🎤 Mk II at its infancy
This show captures the new lineup just months after forming, performing material from Deep Purple in Rock and earlier compositions.
🎹 Jon Lord’s emerging signature
Lord’s organ playing blends classical motifs with rock intensity, foreshadowing the sound that would define Mk II.
📀 Rare archival release
While bootlegs of Stockholm 1970 existed, this official release features remastered sound, giving fans a high-quality glimpse of the concert.
🎸 Live improvisation
Tracks like Mandrake Root and Child in Time showcase the band’s signature extended jams, which became a hallmark of Deep Purple live performances.
🤔 Did You Know?
-
Stockholm 1970 was recorded shortly after Roger Glover replaced Nick Simper and Ian Gillan replaced Rod Evans, marking the birth of Mk II.
-
The band was still refining their live sound, resulting in performances that feel raw, spontaneous, and highly energetic.
-
Ian Paice’s drumming is already technically precise and versatile, anchoring the group through complex tempo changes and extended solos.
-
Blackmore’s improvisations during this era influenced generations of hard rock and heavy metal guitarists.
🎼 Album Credits
-
Recorded: 1970, Stockholm, Sweden
-
Released: 2014
-
Label: Eagle Rock / Purple Records
-
Producer: Deep Purple archival team
-
Format: CD, digital
🧠 Legacy & Final Thoughts
Stockholm 1970 is an essential historical live recording of Deep Purple’s classic Mk II lineup at its inception. It highlights:
-
The raw power and intensity of early Mk II
-
Blackmore’s inventive guitar, Gillan’s soaring vocals, and Lord’s organ mastery
-
Extended jams and improvisation that would define Deep Purple’s live shows
For fans and historians, this album is a vivid snapshot of a band on the brink of global fame, capturing the energy, experimentation, and excitement of Deep Purple’s early 1970s live performances.
