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Rating: We are in the midst of the '70s, on one hand, there are Hard Rock and Prog groups trying to stay at the top, on the other, there is the advent of the first Heavy Metal and Punk. In between, there is an Epic-Rock band, the Rainbow, founded by the quintessential rock guitarist: Ritchie Blackmore.
After debuting (and what a debut!) with the first album "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" and the majestic "Rising" (1976), the Rainbow go on tour as usual and, in September 1976, they arrive in Germany, where they will record a live that (without daring too much) can easily be compared with "Made In Japan" by Deep Purple, proving that where there's Blackmore, excellence is guaranteed. In Germany, the Rainbow records three dates: Cologne, Dusseldorf, and Nuremberg. It is in Dusseldorf that the band delivers their best, producing a performance worth remembering.
It is also worth recalling the lineup (seeing as there will be many changes throughout the band's history). The five are: Ritchie Blackmore on electric guitar, Ronnie James Dio on vocals, Tony Carey on keyboards, Jimmy Bain on electric bass, and Cozy Powell on drums.
After the customary introduction with the notes of "Over The Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz", they start with a bang: "Kill The King"! Sharp riff and thrilling speed, accompanied by a perfect rhythm section with Cozy Powell's double bass, a simply fierce guitar solo. From this song, it's clear that the Rainbow is not a branch of Deep Purple, but they’re serious. But it is from Deep Purple, though, the second song: "Mistreated", where Ronnie James Dio doesn't fear comparison with Coverdale and delivers a sublime performance, full of emotion and passion, more aggressive than ever. Needless to say, Blackmore delights us with a perfect solo, caressing the strings of his Fender to create a dreamlike atmosphere, thanks also to Tony Carey's contribution on keyboards.
They return to sixteenth-century England with "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves". A song inspired by a text from King Henry VIII, introduced by a beautiful medieval air from Blackmore (showing his passion for madrigal music). The rest is pure power, with an explosive riff and two fast solos: applause-worthy. The pace slows down again, but it’s worth it, because it's time to catch the rainbow: "Catch The Rainbow". An absolutely not banal ballad, showing Blackmore's gentle side, always well supported by Carey. A song that seems written just for Dio's voice, who doesn't disappoint fans, performing it with a note of melancholy and passion at the same time, it's worth recalling the poetry in the finale, sung by Dio: "Catch the Rainbow and ride the Sky. Make it shine, for you and all", beautiful.
Now it's time for Hard Rock and Rainbow delights us with the story of a man living on a silver mountain, "The Man On The Silver Mountain", performed at a higher speed compared to the studio version, also stretched with a blues intermezzo and a perfect medley by Dio.
But since the Rainbow is an epic band, the epic song par excellence must be performed: "Stargazer". And it's also time for Tony Carey to take center stage, introducing the song with keyboards and moog. The lyrics tell the story of a wizard who, to save his people, urges them to build a tall stone tower, but the wizard dies leaving his people in despair. In the middle, Blackmore performs perhaps the most beautiful solo of his entire career (perhaps only matched by "Child In Time"), lasting over four minutes, to be listened to in silence.
Unfortunately, the show must close, but Rainbow doesn't leave us hanging, gifting us "Still I'm Sad" (the much-coveted Yardbirds cover wanted by Blackmore). This song is a moment Rainbow pays themselves, showcasing everyone's skills, sharing the song: first Blackmore, then it's Carey's turn to shine, and finally, a powerful and fierce drum solo by Cozy Powell, who also shows an interest in classical music, accompanying with his drums the overture "1812" by Tchaikovsky. It ends with a crescendo finale and Dio cannot fail to give his contribution, with a performance always deeply felt.
The curtain closes, all that’s left is to applaud these fantastic musicians, forgive any possible verbosity, but it was essential to properly review a band like this.
An extraordinary record, the "Made In Germany" of Rainbow
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