RAINBOW - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll [Deluxe Edition] (2012)

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"Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" is one of the greatest hard rock albums ever released by a British band.
This classic was the final Ronnie James Dio-fronted recording by RAINBOW. Dio would go on to front Black Sabbath, while guitarist Richie Blackmore hired a new singer in Graham Bonnet.
But "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" is a more than brilliant swan song for this excellent Rainbow line-up.

The title track is a fan favorite and one of the strongest tunes from this era -- a heavy rockin' cracker written for arenas. "Lady of the Lake" is a solid number featuring haunting background vocals. "L.A. Connection" has great keyboard tinglings from David Stone and 'that' atmosphere.
"Gates of Babylon" is a mammoth track featuring the Bavarian String Ensemble, as synthesizer and strings combine for a symphonic big-rock sound. Another standout is "Kill the King," a speedy, full force tune with Mr. Blackmore doing what he does best.
Blackmore opens the thunderous "The Shed (Subtle)" with a fluid, effects-laden bluesy solo, and then the album ends with the jewel "Rainbow Eyes", a seven-minute epic that features a string quartet, flute, and Dio's euphonic balladry.

This digitally remastered and expanded Deluxe two CD edition features a whole CD of bonus material with the album in demo form as well as rehearsals and outtakes.
The main album has a more top-end clarity, while the bonus CD of previously unheard material is really good. The rough mix of "Rainbow Eyes" alone worth the purchase of this pack. This version, without the overdubs it's very 'alone' and poignant sounding which has extra significance with the passing of Ronnie James Dio.
On other rough mixes you find noticeable differences in the intro on "Lady of the Lake" and more perceptible bass lines on "Kill the King" in example.
Packaging is very good as usual in these Deluxe Editions, with extensive liner notes about the recording and all lyrics.
A Classic.


CD 1: Original album Remastered

01 - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
02 - Lady of the Lake
03 - L.A. Connection
04 - Gates of Babylon
05 - Kill the King
06 - The Shed (Subtle)
07 - Sensitive to Light
08 - Rainbow Eyes


CD 2: Previously unreleased

01 - Lady of the Lake (Rough Mix)
02 - Sensitive to Light (Rough Mix)
03 - L.A. Connection (Rough Mix)
04 - Kill the King (Rough Mix)
05 - The Shed (Subtle) (Rough Mix)
06 - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (Rough Mix)
07 - Rainbow Eyes (Rough Mix)
08 - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (Take 1) (Rehearsal 1977)
09 - Kill the King (Rehearsal 1977)
10 - Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (Live 1978)
11 - L.A. Connection (Live 1978)
12 - Gates of Babylon (Live 1978)
13 - L.A. Connection (Outtake Version)
14 - Gates of Babylon (Outtake Version)


Ritchie Blackmore: guitars, bass
Ronnie James Dio: vocals
Cozy Powell: drums, percussion
Bob Daisley: bass
David Stone: keyboards
The Bavarian String Ensemble


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The RONNIE JAMES DIO Story : Mightier Than The Sword (2011)

The depth of loss felt within the Rock and Metal communities by the passing of Ronnie James Dio on the 16th May 2010 was immense, and is testament to the high esteem with which the man and his legacy is held.
As a fitting reminder of this legacy, "The Ronnie James Dio Story : Mightier Than The Sword", is a fantastic a 2CD collection celebrating over three decades of music from one of the greatest vocalists in the entire history of Hard Rock.

As lead vocalist to such Rock giants as Rainbow and Black Sabbath, as well as fronting his own eponymous band for nearly three decades, Dio created some of the genres most defining and respected works.
Albums such as Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Rainbow Rising and Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll for Ritchie’s post Deep Purple band Rainbow; then Heaven And Hell, Mob Rules, Dehumanizer and Live Evil for the mighty Black Sabbath and with his own band Dio, albums such as Holy Diver, The Last In Line and Sacred Heart, all stand as towering monuments of sheer class and brilliance in the Rock pantheon.
As a live performer, Dio knew few equals. With his lions roar and incredible vocal range, the front-man presided over countless memorable rock shows, delighting millions of fans all over the world.

With two Discs full of Dio from early to late, we hear it where it all began with Elf, and Carolina County Ball from their 1972 eponymous debut album. Leading on to Dio’s time spent with Rainbow bassist and producer Roger Glover and his solo album The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshoppers Feast from which the song “Love Is All” is taken from.
The next eight tracks are then naturally centered around Dio’s time with Rainbow include tracks ‘Stargazer’, ‘Kill The King’ and ‘Gates Of Babylon’ which rank among some of the greatest rock tracks ever recorded and although Blackmore’s band was steered somewhat haphazardly at times, Ronnie James Dio’s consistently supreme vocal contribution over their three studio albums and one live release, ensured a level of artistic excellence was maintained and still stands as a hallmark to some of the very best music in the rock field.

Also included are tracks from Dio’s time spent as lead vocalist with Black Sabbath. Dio had given Sabbath a new lease of life and the two titanic studio albums they recorded during the early 80s, Heaven And Hell (1980) and Mob Rules (1981), hold some of Metal’s greatest tracks.
The version of ‘Mob Rules’ featured here is actually the demo track which was used in the soundtrack to the film celebrating the comic books 'Heavy Metal'.
Representing Dio’s time spent at the helm of his own band are the colossal title track and ‘Rainbow In The Dark’ from the debut album, Holy Diver (1983).
Also, featured are ‘We Rock’ from the follow-up, The Last In Line album (1984); ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Children’ from Sacred Heart (1985) and ‘All The Fools Sailed Away’ from Dream Evil (1987).
The track ‘Push’ represents Dio’s Killing The Dragon album released in 2002 and the final track from Dio (the band) is the opening track from the very last album, Master Of The Moon, released in 2004.

A further two tracks under the Black Sabbath brand also appear – ‘I’ from the first reunion album Dehumanizer in 1992 and also ‘Shadow Of The Wind’ which was a brand new track recorded exclusively for the compilation, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years and first released in 2007.
Rounding off The Ronnie James Dio Story: Mightier Than The Sword are two tracks recorded during the second reunion Dio undertook with his old Sabbath cohorts, though this time reunited under the banner of that first album, Heaven And Hell. ‘Neon Knights’ is the live version which appeared on the album Live At Radio City Music Hall (2007) and ‘Bible Black’ from The Devil You Know, which was the final studio album Dio recorded with Heaven And Hell in 2008.


"The Ronnie James Dio Story : Mightier Than The Sword" is a comprehensive, beautifully remastered and packaged 2 CD set which provides the perfect gateway for listeners looking to get Ronnie Dio's career wisely summarized.
UK only release.
A must have.








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RAINBOW - Down To Earth deluxe edition 2CD (1979-2011)

Remastered + 14 bonus tracks








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