The Gillan Tapes. Volume 3

Another helping of alternate mixes and takes, mixed in with some live tracks. No dates are given; that would take the mystery out of the hunt, wouldn't it? Since Gillan's brand of manic, oft-silly hard rock, mixing metal and prog and overwrought vocals, wasn't so special in the first place, you'd really need to be bitten by the bug to chase this down. The eight-minute live-in-the-studio version of "Smoke in the Water," released as a B-side "in some territories" according to the liner notes, is here. Occasionally the fidelity is a little distant, but mostly the sound quality is very good. The first 5,000 pressings come with a bonus "for Gillan fans only" CD, its ten songs (no sources or dates provided) sometimes showing a more comic side of the band than you'd usually be wont to come across, as on "The Harry Lime Theme." It's one instance, though, when the addendum "for fans only" is certainly truth in advertising. — Richie Unterberger.