Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (Release Year 1975)
Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow is the first disc where Blackmore joined forces with Dio’s Elf band mates to create Rainbow.
This disc starts off with the essential Rainbow track, Man on the Silver Mountain. This track has been a staple in most of Dio’s live shows, and still gets airplay on rock radio stations today.
Man on the Silver Mountain
Self Portrait has an older Deep Purple feel to it. It is an ok track, but nothing ground breaking.
Something about Black Sheep Of The Family reminds me of a late 60’s era Janis Joplin tune. This isn’t the Ronnie James Dio that I am accustomed to hearing in 2007. Once again, it isn’t bad, but not earth shattering either.
Catch the Rainbow is a low tempo number that quite frankly, I find to be a snoozer.
Snake Charmer is a cross between the 60’s style of rock with a southern rock flair. This isn’t a sound that appeals to me.
Ok, after The Temple of the King, I can almost hear the bell bottoms swooshing. I am afraid that Danny Bonaduce is going to haunt my nightmares. I can’t get into this song either.
If You Don’t Like Rock ‘n’ Roll is actually a fun little boogie woogie piano based rock and roll track. This kind of reminds me of a Bob Seger track. It is pretty good.
Sixteenth Century Greensleeves is the only other track on this disc that has that hard rock approach that Dio has been known for. Blackmore’s guitar finally starts to show a little bit of prowess here.
Ritchie Blackmore woke up for the instrumental track, Still I’m Sad which closes this disc. He has some good Purplesque guitar licks here, but the over emphasis of the cowbell kills this track for me too.
Bottom-line, only 2 or 3 cuts off this disc are about all you need. It is an OK listen, especially if you want to hear where Ronnie James Dio came from. Man on the Silver Mountain is certainly essential, but the rest of the tracks on this disc vary quite far from the sound of this song.
This is a CD for the DIO and Blackmore diehards only.
Rating: 
Out of 10
Track Listing:
- Man On The Silver Mountain
- Self Portrait
- Black Sheep Of The Family
- Catch The Rainbow
- Snake Charmer
- The Temple of The King
- If You Don’t Like Rock ‘n’ Roll
- Sixteenth Century Greensleeves
- Still I’m Sad
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Fantastic Album 9.9 Points
It is all good HeavyMetal. Glad you like them.
Disagree…This album is realy great….The songs like Catch the Rainbow and Temple of the king are far better than that you have said…. album 8,5/10….
One of the best early rocknroll records Eva!!! This brings back soo many memories-i had this wayyyy back in the 70s and loved it then and still do. Still have the Vinyl.
I agree, an OK album that is very Purple-ish in sound. RISING is the best Rainbow album, my personal favorite from the band.
I agree, this one is just alright. Rising and Long live rock and roll are way better.