After several nostalgic months of viewing various early Rainbow tunes on YouTube, I decided to take it a step further recently by purchasing the classic 'Rising' on Amazon for a splendid £5.00. And am I glad I did that! Look out for more reviews of early Rainbow in the up coming months, for I am sure that I will be visiting Amazon for more!
'Rising' is the second album from Blackmore's Rainbow since he quit Deep Purple. It is looked upon as one of the greatest classic rock albums of all time and features many a classic song.
After a mesmerising keyboard into, a stabbing Blackmore riff sets the scene for the opening track, 'Tarot Woman' (5:58). This is a young Ronnie James Dio at his most powerful. A truly great song, with a stunning harmonic yet sleazy guitar solo in its middle.
'Run with the Wolf' (3:48) flashes along with a tremendous drum beat by the late great Cozy Powell. It is a slow number, but stomps along all the same. We have a sliding, cheeky guitar solo and the ever great vocals.
'Starstruck' (4:06) is a steady swinging song about a nightmare of a groupie. A crowd favourite. I have seen Dio play with as a solo artist.
'She wants a souvenir, to everyone it's clear, he's hooked. One look! She wants a photograph, And everybody laughs… but not me, I see…'
'Do you close your Eyes' (2:58) continues in the same vein. Get you air guitar out for this one!
'Stargazer' (8:26) is a epic song in which each musician plays to their potential. A classic drumming riff opens it up and then there follows a bluesey guitar until the song builds up. There is a delicious instrumental part in the middle with both guitar and keyboard solos abound. A well known classic amongst rock fans.
'I see a rainbow rising, Up on the horizon and I'm coming home…'
A Light in the Black (8:12) is another epic track, never a favourite of mine, but I guess Stargazer is a tough act to follow!
All the songs were written by Blackmore and Dio and the album was produced by Martin Birch.
The band:
Bass - Jimmy Bain - This artist left the band after this album, but joined up with Dio later for Dio's solo albums.
Guitar - Ritchie Blackmore - The best guitarist there ever was! Continued to make more Rainbow albums before reforming Deep Purple. Now left Purple and after a failed attempt to resurrect Rainbow, formed Blackmore's Knight (I think he communicates with goblins now).
Keyboards - Tony Carey - left after this album, went onto the Planet P Project and several solo albums.
Vocals - Ronnie James Dio - Recorded another album with Rainbow, then joined Black Sabbath, recording the stunning Heaven and Hell album. Created Dio in the mid eighties.
Drums - Cozy Powell - Featured in several bands and recorded several solo albums. A top drummer, sadly passed away in 1998.
One thing that strikes me about this album is that it is only just over thirty three minutes long, and that is quite short. Another thing is that it is over thirty years old! Yet, to me, it still sounds as fresh and energetic now as it did when I first heard it as a pimple faced teenager.
Now…
Where did I put my air guitar..?
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Tarot Woman @@us/uswm2/253/136253_1_01.asx?obj=v10207@@ Run With The Wolf ... more
@@us/uswm2/253/136253_1_02.asx?obj=v10207@@ Starstruck @@us/uswm2/253/136253_1_03.asx?obj=v10207@@ Do You Close Your Eyes @@us/uswm2/253/136253_1_04.asx?obj=v10207@@ Stargaze...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
![Rising [Remastered] - Rainbow](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/normal/665/product-5838665.jpg)
![Overall user rating: Rising [Remastered] - Rainbow](http://images.ciao.com/ide/images/stars/2003/stars50.gif)
exceptional by (1%):
very helpful by (95%):
helpful by (4%):
