Having now become a bona fide rock aficionado at twelve, by the age of fourteen I was scornful of other less trendy music types and was keen to expand my rock appreciation still further. I had researched and absorbed the entire Deep Purple back catalogue and was now busy gorging myself on the satellite bands which had formed following their demise. Enter the Man in Black, the strange and wondrous world of Richie Blackmore and his new band Rainbow. I obtained a copy of Rising for the princely sum of a bag of midget gems and 13p off a poor unfortunate in my year who was down on his luck, only 6 months old, nice condition, bargain! 

So I plonk it on the turntable (Ah, memories!!), plug in my headphones (see Queen review) and crank it up. Listening now to the noodly ethereal keyboard intro to “Tarot Woman” never fails to send shivers cascading through me and bring a smile to my face. The insistent and repetitive guitar and unmistakable Cozy Powell thunderous drumming lead into an urgent album opener that still sounds fresh today.

“Run with the Wolf” follows in a similar vein, some outstanding guitar work from Ronnie Blackhead lend this track an edge even all these years later.

Vocalist Ronnie James Dio comes into his own on “Starstruck”, another neat slice of moody axe work from the dark lord all wrapped up with a chorus to die for.

Side 1 closer “Do You Close Your Eyes” has probably the most traditional rock riff urging it on, and is a suitable end to a fire breathing fantasy of four songs.

Flip the record (them were the days) and Side 2 only has two tracks. The sprawling epic “Stargazer” is a majestic tour de force, the whole band are on song, from Powell’s hammer blow fills to Tony Carey’s attention seeking keyboard work, running through to one of Blackheads finest angst ridden fretwanks and Dio’s steel-melting vocal performance.

Closer “Light in the Black” shows a band in top form both creatively and performing, a suitable climax to a superb six song set which stands as a statement in time as Rainbow in serious rock guise’s creative peak. The following tour saw the band implode somewhat, with Carey’s self indulgent live shows prompting a quick exit and Bain leaving the bass seat to pursue a solo career. Though follow up album Long Live Rock n’ Roll is good, the format is becoming strained and Blackhead was soon to dismantle the progressive blueprint of the band and re-assemble it as an altogether more accessible chart friendly rock act.

Though success followed, the proggy overtones and sword and sorcery imagery of Dio’s lyrics coupled with some superb Strat action from Richie make this album a stunning no brainer in my albums of influence.

Let us know your views on Rising

Track Listing

Tarot Woman
Run With the Wolf
Starstruck
Do You Close Your Eyes
Stargazer
Light in the Black

Line Up

Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
Tony Carey – Keyboards
Jimmy Bain – Bass
Cozy Powell – Drums