882. Deep Purple / ... To the Rising Sun (in Tokyo). 2015. 5/5

As the twin release alongside From the Setting Sun... In Wacken, this album was recorded at the other end of the tour in Japan, and thus titled ...To the Rising Sun (In Tokyo). Recorded some 18 months after the first concert, but of course released at the same time as that album, it may be seen as an indulgence by a band who is becoming renown for releasing live albums practically every year, while the release of new material is becoming further and farther between. For the enthusiast, it actually gives you the chance to compare the difference in the band's performance at opposite ends of the tour. Whether or not that is enough to retain your interest in this album is probably open to question.

The setlist here is for the most part the same as it was at the start of the tour, with a couple of minor changes. The one biggie is the one that makes me shake my head the most. "Apres Vous" from the latest album Now What?! is the opening track, and I have no problem with that. The problem I have is that it replaces "Highway Star", and it has in fact fallen all the way off the setlist completely! Now, I find it impossible to believe that Deep Purple can play a concert with "Highway Star". It just isn't right. yes, it is my favourite Deep Purple song, but it is a main attraction, a staple, a non-negotiable! This is just not on - at all. If I ever went to a Deep Purple gig and they didn't play "Highway Star" I would riot!
Anyway...
"Uncommon Man" from Now What?! also makes an appearance here, another instrumental that is placed between two others in "Contact Lost" and "The Well-Dressed Guitar", which then lead into "The Mule" from Fireball, in all its live glory with extended instrumental pieces including Ian Paice's drumming spectacular. The remainder of the set remains as it did on the earlier album release, because this was not at a festival like Wacken the setlist goes longer than the first release.

As a result, there is a slightly different feeling about the first half of this release than there is on the first album. It isn't any less spectacular, but for those who are more attracted to the older material then this album probably isn't as enticing as the Wacken release. Apart from my already-noted disbelief at the erasure of "Highway Star" this album rates as highly as any other Deep Purple live album - at the top of the tree.

Rating:  Can you remember... remember my name?  5/5