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Deep Purple – California Jam 1974

deep-purple_california-jam-1974-cover

DEEP PURPLEs „California Jam“ appearance, filmed on April 06, 1974 has been available on DVD since 2005. ear music now offers a new cut of the video as 2016 DVD and Blu-ray release.

While the DVD, issued in a standard DVD case, features the new version and a digitized Super 8 crew recording, the Blu-ray also offers the original video edit as bonus and is published in a nice Digipak. Prior to editing, the material had been processed to improve its quality which results in a brighter and sharper image compared to the unprocessed original cut.

Sadly, Stephan Liehr (who did the additional editing) did not only choose different and maybe better angles for some scenes, but played around with side-by-side pictures and faded overlays. Especially during sequences like Ritchie Blackmore’s guitar solo in „Mistreated“, where the front camera has been faded over the back camera the whole time, the new edit is just annoying and less enjoyable than the original cut which changes the camera from time to time.

As the audio and video quality didn’t improve drastically and the new edit doesn’t add more than some playing around with video editing software, there’s no need to buy the DVD or Blu-ray if you already own „California Jam“ on DVD.



22 Comments to “Deep Purple – California Jam 1974”:

  1. 1
    Chris Clark says:

    I’ll read reviews before I buy. I’ve bought it on DVD twice over the years and the last version (Eagle Rock, with the white cover ) looked terrible…all the colors bled together.

  2. 2
    Andy Thompson says:

    This says don’t bother yer arse if you’ve already goat it #shametheyfucktitup

  3. 3
    Chris Clark says:

    Lol I didn’t even realize this was a review. I thought it was just another “coming soon” blurb. Cheers

  4. 4
    Felix Gauloises says:

    damn it 🙁

  5. 5
    Jeff says:

    Wow…what a bummer. The Japanese video I have is still better than the previous DVD.

  6. 6
    Blackwood Richmore says:

    Sad…., there’s always some fool that messes things up for everybody else….

  7. 7
    mike whiteley says:

    Many thanks,Andreas.
    Your straightforward review saved me some $$. Which is especially helpful at Christmas.

  8. 8
    Scott Baker says:

    I don’t understand. Doesn’t anyone know that the show was broadcast on radio too? I remember owning the ‘Perks and Tit’ bootleg with the added Cal Jam version of SOTW and it was clearly in stereo – guitar in one speaker and organ in the other. There’s a facebook page dedicated to Cal Jam featuring video clips with a different audio mix – even Burn has the guitar balanced properly and Richie’s solo comes through loud and clear. Couldn’t this audio have been used to improve the sound on the new DVD?

  9. 9
    byron says:

    I have it on the old dvd and it’s enough for me.Fabulous show,Ritchie wanted to play and destroy..Coverdale was so young ,and didn’t really know how to act on stage when not singing..but his voice was awesome.And Glenn is so hairy (and so high IMO).

  10. 10
    Paul Deblond says:

    Thanks for the info!! ??

  11. 11
    CJA74 says:

    I see that the blu ray may not be playable on US players, according to Amazon. Can anyone confirm this or know if a US version is to be released?

  12. 12
    purpledaniel says:

    One thing I don’t understand is are the super 8 extras the same as in the original DVD? DPAS had announced more 8mm footage had been found between 2005 and 2016.

  13. 13
    The Bodger says:

    That cover looks like it’s from the ‘DP Overseas Live Series’. It’s not, I know, but does anyone know what happened to the other planned releases in the DPOL Series? I have the existing six on vinyl, but there was planned to be ten, including ‘Days May Come and Days May Go’. Does anyone know what’s happening on that front?

  14. 14
    Stephen Rowell says:

    I was there, April 6, 1974, about 6 weeks or so later, ABC showed it all on TV, pretty good, then I purchased a DVD of only DP of the entire show, from a private source, it was great. I really don’t know what others expect from 1974.

  15. 15
    Anthony says:

    I’ll stick with my good old VHS video. Sadly it seems yet another Deep Purple et al related release not properly managed..half arsed and milking the money. I just wish some band members become involved in such releases so a certain amount of artistic control is there

  16. 16
    Fernando Mattedi says:

    Like #8 said, it is a shame that they insist on messing the video up, instead of enhancing audio tracks. Even the CD (California Jamming) has a opaque sound. Why ??

  17. 17
    al says:

    yeah sure let’s just rip of some more money off the fans,with some called restore the picture …

  18. 18
    max says:

    Thank you for letting us know. I won’t bother to fork out for the mmth time for that recording on CD, Video, DVD or what ever ….

  19. 19
    CP says:

    In response to number 8,Scott,the ABC-TV broadcast was simulcast on KLOS radio in stereo,but the original concert was not.It was just the TV edit from ABC. The San Diego show was a live feed from the concert,and the mix was pretty muddled from what I recall.

  20. 20
    Adel says:

    Keep polishing the old coin till it’s worthless. Digital rubbish remastering sound is more like a mobile ring tones nowadays.

  21. 21
    Scott Baker says:

    Hey CP. I think they could have taken the KLOS radio recording and used that to enhance the video. Zeppelin, The Who, Hendrix all have archive concerts out on DVD that have been carefully restored – it’s a shame it didn’t happen here.

  22. 22
    nick vaz says:

    The best version was the Connoisseur video release. It has some very good camera angles on it. Only problem is the HIFI Mono sound & no Lay Down Stay Down. It’s better than the Deep Purple DVD archive collection release in 2005. They should release a box set , with a cd of the concert . All the different camera angels from the different releases. Plus a vinyl record of the performance.

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