Rough Edge: Rainbow CD Reviews

RAINBOW

"Live in Germany 1976" (Eagle Records; 2011)

This double live CD should be required listening as much for its incredible music content as for its historic value.

Musically, it's the awesome Cozy Powell on drums, the legendary Ritchie Blackmore on guitar and the immortal Ronnie James Dio on vocals. Not much more really needs be said. Featured are eight live versions of classic Rainbow tracks, including the iconic "Man on the Silver Mountain," "Kill the King," "Stargazer" and "Mistreated," performed in the era's popular free-flow style (we'd probably call it "jam-style" today). Getting to hear these incredible musicians riff and jab live on stage is really worth the purchase price alone and, with an average running time of just over 14 minutes each, I believe these are unedited performances.

Historically, it's a document of what rock'n'roll shows were like in the mid-70s. First, there's the aforementioned free-flow style. The band play classic songs here that we all know and love but these are live performances of these songs and, as such, no two live performances are the same. The bandmembers, especially guitarist Blackmore (of course, it was his band), have the freedom to play and explore the songs, making them something different, something more than their studio versions. There are moments of almost complete silence on these discs, and you can almost hear the cogs of Blackmore's creativity as he muses over what to play next. Then, there's the audience: Unlike the roaring beast that is the live audience on albums like KISS's "Alive!", the audience in the 70s was almost laidback, applauding politely at the appropriate intervals, cheering occasionally, but -- for the most part -- just sitting and enjoying the music. It's a fascinating juxtaposition of then to now.

The sound quality is excellent, although you are aware throughout that you're listening to recordings made almost 35 years ago. There is some argument amongst purists about the apparent re-issue of some tracks here but, two discs with nearly two hours of music is a little hard to complain about.

"Live in Germany 1976" is a fascinating hard rock listen.

For more information, check out http://www.blackmoresnight.com/.

"Live in Munich 1977" (Eagle Records; 2006)

Reviewed by R. Scott Bolton

Although may fans argue that, like Deep Purple, Rainbow continue to issue a seemingly endless line of live performances taken from their perhaps unmatchable, extensive career history), "Live in Munich 1977" is perhaps evidence as to why this isn't a bad thing.

Recorded live at the Munich Olympiahall in Germany on October 20th, 1977, "Live in Munich 1977" is two discs featuring the legendary band with one of its most impressive line-ups. As you might expect, considering his reputation, this CD is mostly about guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. Although there are nearly 100 minutes of music here, there are also only eight tracks, once of which runs over 25 minutes alone. Blackmore is famous for turning a 4-minute radio hit into a 20-minute onstage extravaganza and that is certainly the case here. The good news is that it sounds great. Blackmore is truly one of rock's greatest musicians and listening to him do his thing on "Live in Munich 1977" is nothing short of riveting.

Of course, you've also got Ronnie James Dio on vocals, as well as Cozy Powell, Bob Daisley and Dave Stone rounding out the band. That's one killer line-up and they definitely deliver here.

The sound quality is amazing. "Live in Munich 1977" doesn't sound as slickly produced as, say, "Kiss Alive!", but instead has a rawer live sound that puts the listener in the middle of the show.

It's highly unlikely that we'll ever see any new music from Rainbow and it's nigh impossible that we'll ever see this line-up perform again so it's nice to have a record of their brilliance, even if it is almost thirty years old.

Rainbow: Ritchie Blackmore; Ronnie James Dio; Cozy Powell; Bob Daisley; Dave Stone.

For more information, check out http://www.blackmoresnight.com/.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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