Disc 2 is entitled “Total Abandon.” This 1999 concert, recorded in Australia, has crisp production, excellent sound and solid camera work. Steve Morse has now been with the band for four years and the sound is tight. Ian Gillian is in fine form as a singer and front man for the group. It is good to hear and see such songs as “Bloodsucker,” “Lazy,” and “Perfect Strangers” played live. Also interesting is the ability to compare the renditions of such songs as “Black Night,” “Fireball,” “Woman From Tokyo,” “Highway Star,” and “Smoke On The Water” as they appear on more than one disc.

Disc 3 is the farewell concert for Jon Lord. “Live At The NEC” was recorded in England and features both Lord and Airey on keyboards. This was a unique concert in Deep Purple history as Jon Lord was making his retirement exit. Such songs as “Hush” and “Mary Long” are resurrected from the archives. This was an emotional performance as Lord’s thirty-year relationship with the band he helped form was coming to an end.

Disc four is a 90-minute documentary, which mainly focuses on their later years. Topics that are explored are Steve Morse joining the band, a live concert on top of a mountain in Switzerland in the middle of a snowstorm, and Jon Lord’s decision to retire. What quickly becomes apparent is that Lord is the emotional and intellectual center of the band. The extensive interviews find the group members intelligent and fairly introspective. There is a lot of good stuff here.

Around The World Live is a spectacular release and essential for even the most casual Deep Purple fan, however, it is a long journey and should be divided into several listening and watching sessions. When you finish, though, you will have caught up with the modern day Deep Purple; and you, too, will be an official member of the group’s family.