Rising Rainbow, 1976

• Author:      Rainbow

  Released:   1976

Genre:        Hard rock

Producer:   Martin Birch

Rating:       ********** (out of 10)

Personnel:                                       List of Songs:

Guitar - Ritchie Blackmore                         Tarot woman; Run with the wolf;                       
Bass - Jimmy Bain                                      Starstruck; Do you close your eyes;
Drums - Cozy Powell                                  Stargazer; A light in the black
Keys - Tony Carey
Vocals - Ronnie James Dio

     It was two years after Ritchie Blackmore (the Man in Black) had left his enormous rocking ship called Deep Purple, which course had been brought in the direction of hard rock and evolving heavy metal. The world froze in horror having awaited his next step. It could be something huge, unexpected, and ravishing; but it could be something indefinite, boring, and missed. Fortunately the Man in Black made his move toward the first path. Thank you, Ritchie!

     Rising is the second album from the giant group Rainbow  that established their position in the musical universe. AllMusic says Rainbow hit a home run. That's true and what a true! In less than one month Ritchie and Dio did an excellent work, having laid the foundations for "rising" heavy metal and determining the direction of such bands as Iron Maiden or Metallica. Every single detail is refined to perfection and sound mixed by Martin Birch (Deep Purple, Iron Maiden Fleetwood Mac) leads one to think: Brilliant. This album changed a river current called rock, kindling another flame of Holy Graal of arts - music.

     Six songs lasting over 30 minutes on this album present artistry masterpiece of guitar playing of Blackmore, shaking the foundations vocal of Dio, doing pirouettes bass of Bain, and intimidating drumming of Cozy "Stick" Powell. But who doesn't know a thrilling keybords intro in Tarot Woman by Tony Carey? But where is the beginning and the end of this epic music album? Right here!

     Six minutes opener of Tarot Woman? Why not, forasmuch as this song begins with almost two minutes lasting intro on keybords entwining with a leading riff on guitar. I don't wanna go/ Something tells me no, no, no, no - Dio comes out of shadow and presents his one of most valuable voices in history. The song speeds up and culminates in the end commanding the listener to beg for more. And what is more? Run with the Wolf  tells the story of an animal (but it could be also a human) which follows its own way. Very harsh and crude track with a strong, galloping riff and a hard drums hitting. It ends up as suddenly as suddenly starts Strastruck with a famous If I'm high on a hill/ She'd still been looking down at me. Have you ever dreamt of a fan, who is a girl, that follows your every step and is ready for every step just to be near you? Dio and Blackmore knew and here we are! Starstruck is a definitive proof that milestone is not only a word but an animated matter which indicates in life a direction of everything else. Dio races with a guitar and drums bring them to the end of the loop. Guitar solo almost sculpts with sound the face of a girl hunting poor (!) musicians. Do You Close Your Eyes? Quintet asks a question to their fans ( especially to the female part of audience) in a short but distinct and expressive song with a good playing of keys and "uproarious" Dio's voice.

     These are four tracks that form wonderous and cohesive integrity but they would have been nothing if not next two songs, monumets of rock music, Stargazer and A Light in the Black. Stargazer seems at the moment so important that nothing would be capable to move it at least one inch. Nothing! This song created by Blackmore and written by Dio played with Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, lasting over 8 minutes, put an imprint on every well - known musician in the world, forcing them to push their skills forward. It is an epic, grand and mighty brainchild of outstanding soloist Ritchie Blackmore. Ronnie sings in first verse: Oh, I see his face. He points out the wizard with whom he built a tower to reach the stars With our flesh and bone. But what is the cost of that? Many died... B Phrygian dominant scale solo on stratocaster along with a thunder hitting Powell's drums and cello lifting in the air just to allow Dio to sing No sound, as he falls instead of rising. The song's climax seems to be as high as the wizard was, but instead falling down it raising and touching the top of musical skills, and when you think it is all over, Dio shouts: Where was your star?/ We believed. Yes, I believe in them! This is the song everybody must listen to and know.

     And what about A Light in the Black? Hard, powerful and heavy rocker wich staggers the wheel and finishes what has 30 mintues ago started. The sound turns down just to ring again in as much powerful Long Live Rock n' Roll!

     Rising of Rainbow is undeniable monster of rock and indispensable position for every rocker living in this world. To cite Rob Halford (Judas Priest): It plays as well and sounds as well and feels as good now as when it first came out. That shows you how important and how valuable that music still is. Oh, yeah!!!

Thanks for reading and showing interest.

And what do you think about Rising and Rainbow?

PS.: Be ready for next reviews of classics and not only!