Rising

After a very impressive and successful first album, band leader Richie Blackmore did something dramatic shortly before the bands first tour; he fired everyone except vocalist Ronnie James Dio. He recruited veteran drummer Cozy Powell, with newcomers Jimmy Bain on bass and Tony Carey on keyboards. This line up had a few days to meet and rehearsed before their late 1975 tour.

The bands chemistry was impeccable and soon this translated into new material. The band took ideas they created on stage and refined them during studio jam sessions and crafted them into songs. The recording sessions were swift and energized, capturing the band’s spontaneity and hard drive. The band took all of February in 1976 to record what became Rainbow – Rising.

After dismissing the groups original line up Blackmore sought one thing in his musical direction, energy. Having read reviews saying the band was tight but lacking any kind of high energy and even worse for him critics sighting his former band Deep Purple’s previous album “Stormbringer” as the better LP of the two bands. After the line up was established the band settled in California and recorded at Pirate Sound Studios in Los Angeles. Ironically Deep Purple were writing and recording “Come Taste The Band” with their new guitarist Tommy Bolin simultaneously and at the same studio. Having caught wind of this before Blackmore did, forced their manager to schedule sessions carefully to avoid Blackmore meeting his former bandmates.

Blackmore wanted the album to be “more aggressive” than the band’s debut LP. There were to be no ballades on the album. Dio pinned all the album’s lyrics, focusing on fantasy, mystical themes and history. Tarot Woman” written by Dio as Blackmore wanted a song about fortuneteller to open the album. “Run With The Wolf” explores werewolf lore. “Starstruck”sees a groupie staking the band and “Do You Close Your Eyes” sticks out as easily the weakest moment on the album.

Blackmore also wanted drummer Cozy Powell to be loud in the mix as his power really lead the charge. Why his name isn’t mentioned alongside Moon, Bonham, Baker and Paice I’ll never know. This is so apparent on the albums closing two songs; possibly the best thing Rainbow ever did, “Stargazer” and “A Light In The Black.”

Dio worked incredibly hard on his vocal delivery on “Stargazer” requiring many takes until he was satisfied with his performance. Producer Martin Burch suggested strings be added to song. Blackmore denied this initially due to his previous disappointment working with orchestras in Deep Purple. twenty-eight members of the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra recorded their part, the last addition before the final mix. Blackmore agreed that they brought the song to life.

“A Light In The Black” is a hit and run, bombastic blast of speed, aggression and precision. Cozy again, shines here. Quite possibly one Dio’s greatest vocal performances.

The albums iconic artwork was completed by Ken Kelly who’s worked with KISS and Manowar. Having done the artwork on KISS “Destroyer” released just months before “Rising.” Kelly recalls Blackmore telling him he wanted an album that represented his audience in that they like to “raise their fists in the air.”

The album was released May 17, 1976. It was not a huge commercial success; it did not enter the Top Ten of any chart worldwide, peaking at No. 48 on the US Billboard Top LPs & Tape chart and and at No. 11 in the UK. In 1979 was certified Gold and in 2013 Silver in the UK. The album continues to sell well to this day. 1976 prove to be a breakthrough year for a lot of bands, this is not only the best album of that year but one of the absolute cornerstones of hard rock/heavy metal.

DJ Madness