How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Not applicable
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
You get a free rock map . . Woohoo !
Disadvantages:
Its not the rock you get at the seaside . . .
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
As you all probably know by now,I do like my rock music. So sorry,it's another CD review. Although I have got over 700 CD's and can quite happily rate them all if you want. My God that would be riveting! I chose this album as it is a greatest hits album.And my word it has some really fantastic rock tunes on it.This is probably one of the most played 'best of' Cd's in my collection.Although Deep Purple 30 is a great one too.Anyway...here I go.
A Brief Introduction To The Band
Rainbow were evolved from various members of the notorious British Hard Rock band Deep Purple.Whom had various hits through the seventies and eighties.Their most Famous perhpas being 'Smoke on The Water'. The one that everyone tries to play air guitar to when had one too many bitter shandies! Deep Purple mark 1,originally started out in 1968,and went on to have more than four different line ups. And gradually filtered through the hard rock family tree,Rainbow mark 1.Originally consisted of Ritchie Blackmore,Ronnie james Dio,Gary Driscoll,Mickey Lee Soule and Craig Gruber.This is the original 1975 line up,which changed no less than eight times up to April 1984. The trouble was apparently Blackmore (lead guitar) and Dio (vocalist) never really got on.It seemed to be battle of the ego's between the two of them,or handbags at dawn really. So that is a brief history,now onto the album!
The CD Cover
On the front cover we have Ritchie Blackmore in a glorious pair of platforms playing his guitar in a rather orgasmic fashion. Surrounded by purple - yellow smoke. Above his head is the title,The Very Best Of Rainbow. The inside cover has various pictures of band memebers on stage,and some very posed photographs.In one picture Dio looks like a 17th century Dandy.What a flamboyant imp he is! The best thing is when you fold out the inlay thing,it has a comprehensive list of albums,a giant rock family tree,and a detailed biography of Rainbow. It really is an exeptional inlay.You could base a whole pub quiz around it! On the back cover we once again have Blackmore playing his guitar,surrounded by some more smoke.That dry ice machine must have been going overtime!
The CD was released in 1997 by Polygram
You can also write to the Ritchie Blackmore fanzine if you so wish.Unless he's giving free guitar lessons,I aint bothering. Anyway.....here are the tracks..as divulged by myself!
Man on the Silver Mountain
Sung by Dio,this is a real epic song of all proportions.This little man has such a huge voice and can really wail. He also has an obsession with the occult and so forth.So you do have some weird lyrics.But with the slow rhytmic guitar,it really is a bonified rock epic.
I'm a wheel,I'm a wheel I can roll I can steal And You can't stop me turnin'
Once again sung by Dio,so expect high long wailing notes.But...this is a ballad and has a beautiful dreamy quality to it.It makes me want to run naked through Sherwood forest. Very slow and sublime,and nice to listen to without being gooeeeyy.
We believe we catch the Rainbow...
Starstruck
This song was released in 1976 and also sung by Dio.This song is about an obssesed groupie.Hence the title. It is a really fast song,with fast punchy lyrics,and a great riff to it.There really is some great drumming in this too. Dead easy to wail along to.
If I were high on a hill She'd be still be looking down at me What does she see that brings her closer every day to my heart?
Stargazer
Taken from the 1976 album Rainbow Rising,it is a staggering 8.26 long. Another truly epic song with lyrics surrounding death and the occult. A really heavy riff that travels right its way through the whole song.Dio really sings his nuts off in this tune,reaching some notes that I did'nt even know existed.There is also a ghostly ahhh noise in the background too. Which could be a synthesiser.However the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra feature on this track,so it could be them strumming their insruments.
Where is your star, Is it far,Is it far, Is it faaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrr
Kill The King
This is not one of my favourite songs.The lyrics seem to be a little botched together. But the music is still fantastic.It has a really fast pace to it and really low guitar riff to it. As I listen I can actually tell it's the late ,great,Cozy Powell drumming. Once again Mr Dio is singing.
Danger,Danger The Queens about to kill, Theres a stranger,stranger, Life about to spill.
Long Live Rock and Roll
Woohoo! This song is just excellent! The tune is great to sing along to, and you have really loud drums and a well placed organ thing,that makes it sound like a funeral. This song once again proves that Dio has amazing vocal ability.And this song is just pure rock and Roll. You just have to listen to it!
Long live Rock and Roll... It's the best that you can do...
This is yet another Dio/Blackmore collaboration.Taken from the 1978 album Long Live Rock and Roll.Amen to that. Starts with a strange sound effect and is then carried on with a real fast paced,running riff. I can hear strings,and I would be right.It is the Bavarian String Ensemble. Definitley no Ohhm papaps here! This is quite similar to Stargazer.Very epic,but you can actually sing to it.Well I do,much to the disgust of my neighbour dwelling folk.
Sleep with the Devil, The Devil will take you away...
Since You've Been Gone
This is probably the most famous Rainbow song.It is just bloody fantastic! With some great grunting and quite simple lyrics.This is sung by a guy called Graham Bonnet. I think he's Australian,but don't hold me to that. He has a real throaty voice,but can sing higher than I can.I really do like his voice,and so did Blackmore apparently,and that was the end of the Dio/Blackmore alliance for now.
Since You've been gone Since you've been gone I'm outta my head Can't take it
All Night Long
Taken from the 1979 album Down to Earth.Also sung by Graham Bonnet.Who does actually make me want to bonk him,as this is basically what the song is about. Although it does have some really sexist lyrics! This track has more drums and percussion than anything else and is quite similar to Since you've been gone. It's a great late 70's tune though.
I wanna love you All Night Long I wanna be with you All night long
I Surrender
Also by Mr Bonnet, wailing on lead vocals. A real heavy guitar,but an upbeat,uplifting song. Which is about losing someone you love and surrendering to them.AAAAAHHHH.How beautiful. Quite repetetive,but unique in it's own right.Another one I love to sing to,when inebriated.
I surrender,I surrender, Darlin, Now won't you be tender.
Can't Happen Here
This is fairly similar to the last track.Punchy,simple lyrics that are easy to remember.This was actually co-written by Blackmore,and begins sounding like a line dancing song.But don't worry it only lasts for a second! It then blasts into a bluesy,sounding tune. I think we are heading towards the 80's here.This is sung by Joe Lynn Turner,who was a young American singer at the time. He has a clean cut voice and can also hit those real high notes.He sounds a little like Ian Gillain from Deep Purple.
Cant happen here, All that you fear It can't Happen here,
Jealous Lover
This is taken from the 1981 album 'Difficult to Cure' It was in fact a B side to the previous song.Once again sung By JL Turner. We are now steadily being pushed into new Rainbow territory. You can hear the difference between these last few songs and the earlier Dio stuff. I do like this song though.Has a lot of good singing on it and is crisp.By that I mean,not a noisy song. Has a funky riff to it which is quite different to the earlier more complex ones.
And it's hard to discover You're like any other Jealous Lover
Stone Cold
This is fairly similar to the previous song.Also sang by the same guy. It has a great chorus.It does sound fresh and clean,if a song can sound that! Has a real quiet intro,with a keyboard and a bass just humming along.Then it bursts into the chorus,which is a great contrast to the slow rhythm it is being sung over.
Searching in the darkness Fading out of sight Love was hear and gone Like a thief in the Night Stone Cold
Power
This is taken from the 1982 album,Straight Between the Eyes'. The year I was born! And I have to say that this song is a bit naff really. It's all synthesisers and sounds like it should be a soundtrack to something.For some reason this song reminds me of the Films ,'Back to the Future'. Maybe as it sounds a little like Huey Lewis and The News. Theres a lot of American sounding wooing going on as well.Perhaps a little over done for me.
Ive got the Power Somehting or other....
Cant Let You Go
Wait for it,it's a ballad...but it begins with a Church Organ playing.I havent died writing this review have I? No,it's stopped now..it moves onto crashing drums and JL Turner singing because he misses me so much. Sorry JL,but I have a boyfriend. A fairly nice rock ballad,with a really powerful chorus.But it does'nt really sound like Rainbow.Although it is not qithout it's charm.If it did'nt have the chorus it would be a bit disappointing though.
This is the last song you'll be glad to know.It was taken from the Bent out of Shape album,released in 1983.I was one year old then.We still have JL Turner singing on this little number. This song has a great rhythm to it.Light guitar sounds and JL manages to restrain his huge voice to light yell. I am listening to this now,and it is really good. The chorus is a little chilling.It makes me think of being dead,God knows why! Well I have been hunched over this Laptop for hours.I'll be bent out of shape in a minute.
Do you remember me? On the Street of Dreams Running from a memory On the Street of Dreams
MY OPINION
This is a great compilation album,and gives a great cross section of Rainbows Discography and members through the years. Don Airey plays keyboards on a couple of the tracks.He lives two miles from me! A very nice chap,I once served him in a shop I used to work in. So if you like Rainbow then I suggest you buy this.I can't remember how much I payed for mine.But Amazon are offering it for £10.99.A bloody bargain,considering you get that huge rock family tree inside the case.So for that I give it the full five stars! I must go and de hunch myself.
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