Rainbow
Bent Out Of Shape

THE REVIEW

"Bent Out Of Shape" is the title of the last album by Rainbow before the reunion of Deep Purple Mark II for the recording of "Perfect Strangers". Recorded in Denmark in 1983, this album is probably the best with Joe Lynn Turner on vocals. Besides the aforementioned Turner, we find of course Ritchie Blackmore on guitar, D. Rosenthal returns on keyboards, former Deep Purple member Roger Glover on bass, and the newly hired Chuck Burgi on drums.

The style of the compositions is that of melodic Hard Rock (like all of Rainbow's production from 1979 onwards) of excellent quality. Unlike its predecessors, this album has a qualitative level that does not suffer from awkward drops in tone and happier episodes, but is more regular and balanced. The class of the musicians involved is unquestionable: masterful are the performances of "Can't Let You Go" (certainly the best of the group), characterized by a stunning vocal performance from Turner, "Streets Of Dreams" (the single released), very beautiful and compelling, and the splendid instrumental "Anybody's There" in which the more "sanguine" side of Blackmore's guitar is also explored. The fast tracks are not missing: "Fire Dance" is hard and compact, a classic Rainbow speed song with excellent solos from Blackmore and Rosenthal, "Make Your Move" is fierce and at the same time catchy in which I highlight a splendid Turner, "Drinking With The Devil" is nice with an overwhelming guitar riff. There are less successful tracks as well, like "Desperate Heart" which in my opinion is a bit flat and struggles to take off and "Fool For The Night" which, despite being played excellently, is written too "by the book" to hit the target.

In conclusion, however, the result is more than good, aided by a finally fitting vocal performance from Turner (definitely the added value of the album compared to the two previous ones always with him on vocals) and a more attentive work in songwriting. Of course, Rainbow has done better, but right at the last moment, they have shown they could strike a winning blow.