Kevin's Watch

Ain't no secret, I'm a big fan of Rainbow. I think Ritchie Blackmore is a genius on the guitar, and I've found the songwriting to be better than anything Deep Purple had either done in the past, concurrently, or after. With the exception of Down to Earth (the only record to feature Graham Bonnet on vocals), Every album holds up incredibly well and is legendary in the rock world.

Unfortunately, it's not Deep Purple, so that's the band they always take second fiddle to. But without Rainbow, no one would have ever heard of Ronnie James Dio. So that's something.

I saw them on the Bent out of Shape tour with Joe Lynn Turner singing, and they were amazing. I missed out on seeing the reunion in 1996 for Stranger in Us All, which is a brilliant record.

And now, at 71 years of age, Blackmore's assembled another band and is doing a mini tour in Europe. Lucky bastards.

There are a lot of clips on YouTube, and they're pretty good. Good enough that I'd have been ecstatic to seen them live.

I was in the music store looking for a Camel album as I've been itching to DAW some real-drum-machine loops. As opposed to the usual ticka-tocka sequencer beats. Andy Ward, although mainly a top kit player, is always one of my first choice of drummers when lacking inspiration.

So thinking about adding a Heavier Rock sound to the 'inspirational brainbox' I also picked the Rainbow Anthology 1975-1984. I've never really gotten into that kind of rock sound, but I like to keep an open-mind where music's concerned. It might take me several listens to fully appreciate Rainbow. I'm unable to tune into the drums as yet, but I do like that Medieval style and Blackmore definately has some interesting guitar work.

From memory, Rainbow had a different drummer every album except for two.

Family tree here, though it's missing the Stranger in Us All lineup....

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/73 ... 2042a5.jpg

Thanks for the link. It isn't too well focused so I tried putting it on memory stick and had it printed and photo copied at the library, A4 to A3. It's still blurry so I'd like to dig out the colored pencils and color it in strip of balsa wood and a piece of string to hang with, might look good.

Side One drummers certainly get progressively heavier as the songs go from Greensleeves to Stargazer. Good stuff!

Stargazer is one of my all-time favorites.

Sorus wrote:Stargazer is one of my all-time favorites.

"Stargazer" is awesome, and I particularly like the intro.

Never seen Rainbow live, but I saw Dio perform Stargazer at two different shows.

I think it's going to be nostalgia night on iTunes...

I've only seen the JLT-era Rainbow live. While I like his voice, he just can't carry a song like "Stargazer" It was good with him, but just not the same. Doogie White from Stranger In Us All did (from what I've seen on YouTube) a fantastic job with the RJD stuff.

Where should I start with Rainbow?

dlbpharmd wrote:Where should I start with Rainbow?

That's a difficult question. Other than the guitar, there's not much in common between their first and last albums. The Dio-era stuff is great, but it's also very '70s-hard rock. The three JLT albums get progressively glossier and poppier. I'm really taken with the last album, but it's new to me so I think that colors my opinion.

I think the best thing to do is start with this YouTube playlist and see what you like.

One of a number of Rainbow songs with which I've always been highly impressed, from a musical standpoint...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHObvdslyBw

[Rainbow: Gates Of Babylon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0El3Dqk0wfU

[Rainbow: Can't Happen Here]