DEEP PURPLE darker than blue H.H.D-P

Deep Purple’s Raw Power: ‘Darker Than Blue’ Live 1970 Bootleg

Today’s entry is a piece of underground rock history. We are looking at the vintage bootleg LP Darker Than Blue, capturing Deep Purple at the height of their improvisational powers in 1970.

The Aachen Open Air Festival

Recorded live at the Aachen Reitstadion in Soers, Germany, on July 10, 1970, this album documents the band’s performance at the Aachen Open Air Pop Festival. Featuring the legendary Mark II lineup (Gillan, Glover, Lord, Paice, Blackmore) shortly after the release of In Rock, the set is defined by extended jams and raw energy.

Extended Improvisations

The tracklist focuses on the band’s penchant for long-form improvisation:

- Side A: Kicks off with the hit “Black Night,” followed by a rare instrumental cover of The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black,” showcasing the interplay between Ritchie Blackmore and Jon Lord. It concludes with the first part of the jazz-influenced instrumental “Wring That Neck.”
- Side B: Features the conclusion of “Wring That Neck” and the explosive, chaotic closer “Mandrake Root.”

Collector’s Details

This release is a classic example of 1970s bootleg culture:

- Source: The recording is sourced from a radio broadcast, offering relatively good sound quality for an unofficial release of this era.
- Labels: The vinyl features blank labels with no text.
- Matrix: The runout grooves contain the handwritten matrix code H.H.D-P SIDE A and SIDE B.
- Jacket: The cover typically bears no label branding, focusing solely on the band and title.

It is a vital document for collectors seeking to hear the unpolished, ferocious live sound of Deep Purple in their prime.