If you’re a Deep Purple fan, then you’ll definitely want to check out In Concert ’72, which arrived on record store shelves earlier this week, but we’ll forgive you if you do a momentary double-take and ask yourself, “Wait, do I already have this?”

The truthful answer to that question is that you might already have a fair amount of it, but even at that, you definitely don’t have all of it. And, yes, we realize that’s an answer which requires a bit of further clarification, so here goes.

This particular concert took place at London’s Paris Theater on March 9, 1972, but it was originally paired with another performance from February 19, 1970, and released under the less specific title Deep Purple in Concert. Both shows were recorded by the BBC, which is how the ’72 show ended up getting its own release in 2004 under the title Live on the BBC, but in 2012, that show received another reissue – this time with a new remix – and was released under its current title, In Concert ’72, and with the running order of the performance actually matching the original set list for the first time.

That’s what you’re getting here, along with a bonus track (“Maybe I’m A Leo”), and from a historical standpoint, this is a must-own for Deep Purple fans, given that it features the band’s first live performance of “Smoke on the Water,” an extended version of “Strange Kind of Woman,” and a really, really extended version of “Space Truckin’,” which is 22 freaking minutes long.

Yes, that’s a whole lot of “Space Truckin’.” But it’s also Deep Purple as they were firing on all thrusters, ready to make the jump to rock ‘n’ roll superstardom, which means that if you’re a fan, you’re probably already chomping at the bit to hear it. If so, then, hey, don’t let us stop you!

The "Maybe I'm A Leo" bonus referenced here is a rehearsal/soundcheck version that was on the vinyl issue of the 40th anniversary Machine Head reissue/remaster box set from 2012, which included a remixed version of the 1972 BBC In Concert, which was released originally in 1980 and initially on CD in 1992.

Basically the rehearsal/soundcheck version of MIAL is what's "new" about this CD since this track was a vinyl-only bonus. Well, also there's the fact that the MH40 box set was never issued in the U.S. and it's already out of print. I recommend this remixed version; it sounds great and (finally) has the songs in the correct set order and includes some previously missing in-between song intros & comments from Ian Gillan that weren't present on the 1990s CD issue.

Since I have the 2012 MH40 box, not sure whether I'll buy this. It was released as an import a few months back on Universal; not sure if a soundcheck of "Maybe I'm A Leo" justifies re-buying it.