Rainbow - Rising

\r\nThe Blackmore-Dio collaboration is one of the most distinctive in the history of music. Their partnership was short (only three studio albums) but was more than productive. In fact it was not just productive but one of the most productive, important and effective ever. Two artists in their prime of their careers, two men that played a really significant role in this music’s evolution, once met and played in the same band. Dio, maybe the best singer of all times and Blackmore one of the best and surely one of the most effective guitarists that we have ever seen. Concerning Dio most people have good words to say. Concerning Blackmore, he is being criticized now and then for his strange character and his professional decisions. One habit that Blackmore used to have was to fire people. So, right after the great debut album that Rainbow had, Ritchie decided to fire all the band members except Dio. The only thought I have for this, is that he was preparing something so good and he wanted only the best to accompany him to get the job done. So, in 1976 Ritchie Blackmore(guitar), Ronnie James Dio(vocals), Cozy Powell(drums), Jimmy Bain(bass) and Tony Carey(synth) enter the studio and prepare one of the most important albums in the history of rock and metal music, the amazing Rising. \r\n

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\r\nRising is the second Rainbow album right after Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and right before Long Live Rock ’n’ Roll and I consider it as its creator’s best moments. This might not be so sure for Blackmore but for Dio I am quite certain. Rising consists of 6 songs and its length is about 30 minutes. This fact makes the album one of the rare occasions where albums that last not long have many things to say. All 6 songs are exceptional with great riffs and solos from Ritchie, and Dio giving the best he’s got in all of them. The other three members also prove themselves great participants since not only they play great but they give something more to the album with their own performance. \r\n

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\r\nConcerning the songs, after an one minute and a half intro all the classic Rainbow traits appear on stage. Dio’s amazing performance, some nice Ritchie solos and a catchy chorus make up Tarot Woman. Run with the wolf follows, Bain’s bass sound exceptional and Dio is sings in his own distinctive way. \r\n

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\r\nNext follows the groovy Starstruck which reminds of Deep Purple, with the distinctive riff in the beginning and the quite catchy chorus. And then we listen to Do You Close Your Eyes the album’s shortest song, characterized by its plain and hard rock spirit. \r\n

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\r\nWhat follows is just indescribable. Stargazer is not just an amazing song. Many bands have amazing songs. Stargazer is a hymn, a true masterpiece, a song that I have never heard anything similar in my whole life. It’s the best song that these two people have ever written. Dio’s amazing singing in a song that requires a lot, Ritchie’s great performance and a magnificent guitar solo, a drum intro from outer space and the accompaniment of Philharmonic Orchestra of Munich create what I can easily describe as the best song I have ever listened. Even if the album was full of monkey’s sounds and just this song I would still write this article about it. \r\n

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\r\nIf you can recover from what you’ve heard then you move on to Light in The Black which gives you the final strike. Powerful as the previous song, it lasts 8 minutes and consists of nice solos both in guitar and keyboards, and it’s characterized unforgettable introduction riff and the aggressive way that Dio sings in the chorus. \r\n

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\r\nThe production part belongs to the famous from his works with Deep Purple Martin Birch. The recordings took place in Musicland studios in Munich and lasted less than a month. Rising reached #48 of Billboard’s Pop Albums chart and #6 of UK charts, but these are just numbers that cannot show the effectiveness that this album had. Many people claim that Rising was the beginning of power metal as a genre. (see light in the black). Regardless in what degree anyone agrees on that, all agree that numerous singers composers and musicians were influenced each one in a different way from this album. \r\n

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\r\nLet’s just mention that Ritchie as he used to do, right after Rising he fired Bain and Carey, which proved not a bad movement if we consider what came next! Now that I think of it, Ritchie could have been a greek football team’s manager with the range that he fires people! \r\n

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\r\nWhoever is not young enough will remember many things while reading this. Whoever is so young that does not have this album should run now and buy it. When he will listen to it he will realize that he has learnt much more things for the music that he loves so much! \r\n

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\r\nPanagiotis Agalopoulos \r\n

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