Japan: 2011
Sitting with GENOCIDE nippon after the soundcheck, we ended up dissecting the Rising album with nodding heads, mimicking drum rolls, praising songs. We all recognised the record's legacy of greatness!
Scotland: 1978
It was the record which was my Epiphany, the first hard rock album I ever heard. I've my dear old friend Henry to thank/blame (delete as applicable). It was his copy of the album in cassette form (acquired through Britannia Music I remember).
After hearing Tarot Woman, I can honestly attest that I was the never the same again. I felt as if something wonderful washed over me and flooded my heart with such emotions that really only music can endow.
The record is a classic in every sense of the word even the weakest song Do You Close Your Eyes works.
While Tarot Woman retains a majestic place as one of THE best album openers of all-time there are the standouts Run With The Wolf and the blistering brilliance of A Light In The Black.
Of course the opus is Stargazer and this leaves everything else in its wake. It is a masterpiece and has few equals not then, not now.
Scotland: Present Day
The album is permanently with on the iPod, never far away like a dear friend.
In fact I've just spent yet another night with the Tarot Woman...
"She can take you there
The entrance to the fair
Mine, mine, mine
Ride the carousel
And cast a magic spell
You can fly, fly"
7 comments:
Your love speaks clear...
There are many albums that I love but I honestly can't think of one that is better than Rainbow Rising! It reeks class from the first note to the last. It was one of the first rock albums I ever heard and of course I had to get my own copy soonest. Ronnie James Dio remains my favourite singer, his like will never be known again.
Let's not forget the fantastic cover! I still have the gatefold sleeved version somewhere in my chaotic house...
My vinyl copy of it was a weird gatefold "twofer" double album with the first Rainbow album. Played it to death. It also has an iconic cover, and I used to have a red sweatshirt (hey, it was the 80s) with it on the front.
Steve - it is indeed one of my favourite albums
Toast - Ronnie Dio, was a class act. And you know what I like about the guy he was never ashamed of using the term Heavy Metal to describe his craft, unlike some of his contemporaries.
Thumper - I remember that package!
So what are your thoughts on the first album?
I probably play the first album more than Rising these days. Perhaps because I played Rising so much back in the day, but also because I appreciate the first album's quieter moments such as Temple of the King and Catch the Rainbow more now than I did back in the day. It has some hidden gems like Temple of the King, Self Portrait and Still I'm Sad and is probably a better record than it's given credit for.
Thumper - it is a very good album. I like the song Still I'm Sad which as a studio version remains crisp and endearing unlike the live version which seems to last 3 hours!
Rainbow Rising is holy music. Period. Here is one of the things that always amazes me: How one album can give you so much pleasure at such little cost for such a long period of time. I have been listening to Rising regularly for over thirty years (!) and it keeps getting better if anything. It's one of those albums.
@Jimmy: I must disagree, I love the live version of Still I'm Sad.
Post a Comment