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Rating: The album Long Live Rock N' Roll and its subsequent supporting tour brought Rainbow, the band "wanted and created" by Ritchie Blackmore, fame and success. Sometimes, however, fame and money aren't enough to smooth over conflicts among members. This also happens with Rainbow. The relationship between the elf Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore was very tense at the time, but it became openly apparent during the Japanese tour. In a hotel, in fact, Ritchie Blackmore threw a fit and argued with Ronnie in front of about fifty embarrassed fans. Furthermore, Ritchie was pushing to change the sound towards more hard blues sonorities, something that was frowned upon by Dio who, for his part, wanted to maintain the classic epic sound of Rainbow. But the Rainbow is a "creature" of Ritchie, and therefore the English guitarist has the final say. New album, lineup revolution: in place of Daisley and Stone, the talented Don Airey enters on keyboards and the great Roger Glover on bass (a companion of Ritchie in the Purple). Cozy Powell is confirmed on drums. In place of Dio, the excellent hard-blues singer Graham Bonnett is "hired," endowed with a very warm voice. With this lineup, the group releases the CD DOWN TO EARTH in 1979.
It starts with "ALL NIGHT LONG," a track played with the usual class and skill, but which doesn't leave any particular mark, except for Bonnet's excellent first performance, which bodes well for the rest of the CD. In the group's live activity, this song will replace "KILL THE KING" as the opening track. At track number two, we find "EYES OF THE WORLD," one of the songs that most reminds of the Dio era, and also one of the best. The mysterious sound of Airey's keyboards introduces us to the piece, which then unfolds in a great rhythm by Powell and a great vocal performance by Bonnett. Notable is Blackmore's excellent solo, which seems particularly inspired. We move to "NO TIME TO LOSE," a very direct and catchy song (this song clearly shows the territories Rainbow were moving towards), driven by a great riff from Blackmore and the amazing works of Glover in rhythmic base together with Cozy Powell. At number four, we find "MAKIN' LOVE," a very soft and delicate piece with a very catchy chorus. Very well done by Ritchie, who with his guitar, very delicately accompanies this song dominated by Bonnett's voice, which fits very comfortably in this type of song. The second side opens with the hit (written by Russ Ballard) "SINCE YOU BEEN GONE," a song that shows the new course taken by Rainbow, focused on easy-listening. Not that this is a flaw. The song is indeed carried by a very well-done riff by Blackmore (a riff that we have all heard in one way or another) and by Bonnett's voice. Excellent also is the solo at the end of the song by the Man In Black. This song will over time become the true hit single (along with "I Surrender," also written by Ballard) of the group. Another crucial point of the album is the melodic blues of "LOVE'S NO FRIEND." Masterful is Bonnett's performance and excellent Airey's work on the keyboards. Blackmore here brings out a very engaging and successful solo, making "Love's No Friend" one of the most beautiful and intense tracks on the album.
With the last two tracks, Rainbow take us back to more hard sounds. The first track, "DANGER ZONE," unfolds on a raw and edgy riff by Blackmore. The rhythm supported by the rhythm section is fast and engaging, and gives this song a decidedly upbeat feel. Very well done by Bonnett and notable is a beautiful solo by Blackmore, who proves to be always in top form. It closes with the best track of the album. Rainbow pick up the pace and give us an extraordinary track, very fast and driving, "LOST IN HOLLYWOOD." The piece begins with a drum pattern by Powell (great work by Cozy in this song), who then gives way to a great riff by Blackmore. Excellent singing and the work of Airey and Glover on bass and keyboards. In the change, Rainbow first presents us with a beautiful keyboard solo by Airey, then Blackmore hits the accelerator and pulls out a very "bloody" solo, certainly the best of the entire album. Very well done is Bonnett, who proves he knows what to do even with the speedier songs.
An album that will probably make you wrinkle your nose if you are a fan of the Dio era. But you shouldn't (in my opinion at least) make too many comparisons with the albums with Ronnie. This is a whole different story. A story that, even after repeated listens, will not disappoint you.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 All Night Long (03:52)
You're walking up with your eyes on me
It's looking good but I just don't know
I need a girl who can keep her head
All Night Long
You didn't come just to see the show
I guess you know what you wanna see
The way you smile lets me know I can't go wrong
(Bridge)
I wanna touch you
I wanna feel you
I wanna make you mine
(Chorus)
I wanna love you (all night long)
I wanna be with you (all night long)
I wanna love you (all night long)
I wanna be with you (all night long)
I saw you standing down by the stage
Your Black stockings and your see through dress
Your mouth is open but I don't wanna hear ya
Say good night
You're sorta young
But you're over age
I don't care cause I like your style
Don't know about your brain
But you look alright
(Bridge)
(Chorus)
Your mind is dirty
But your hands are clean
You show the class
But youre left alone
I know I can't stand another night
(on my own)
Hey girl would you like some wine
What's your name?
Are you by yourself?
Are you the one?
But you say can I take you home
(Bridge)
(Chorus x2)
02 Eyes of the World (06:42)
I see the innocent victims
Fighting to get to his door
No chain of events
Can settle him down
He's not a man anymore
Evil moves, evil ways
Without seeing at all
You ain't got a lot to say
Judging by the things you do
If only you could feel the tears and pain
In the eyes of the world
Dust to dust by the million
Broken dreams in the ground
Aching heart in the heartbeat of home
Where their spirits are gone
Evil takes, evil kills
With no shame or concern
Killing me, killing you
Watch the end of the burn
Maybe you didn't understand
We don't need you anymore
If only you could see the tears and pain
In the eyes of the world
And in the name of religion
For me gave him our soul
The clock with chime
Every second in my heart
For it's taken it's toll
Evil moves, evil ways
With his back to the wall
Evil man look at him down
Without seeing at all
Eyes of the world
Don't wanna, don't wanna cry no more
Eyes of the world
In the eyes
Eyes of the world
You ain't got a lot to say
Eyes of the world
Got to got to feel this way
Eyes of the world
Oh
Eyes of the world
We don't need you anymore
Eyes of the world
If only you could feel the tears and pain
In the eyes of the world
04 Makin' Love (04:40)
I was always on the wilder side
Chasing love away
Love was something for romantic fools
Just a game how to play
How can I deny my heart
When my love is blind
I got no choice
I've gone too far
I lose my mind
When we're makin' love
When we're makin' love
When I look into your magic eyes
The mirror of my love
I like to see you
Smiling back at me
It makes me feel so good
Need to keep you satisfied
The only way I know
And all the cares I cannot hide
Will never show
When we're makin' love
Woh makin' love
Don't believe that I'm a liar
But I can't get enough
Never knew I could be higher
Just by makin' love
How can I deny my heart
When my love is blind
I got no choice
I've gone too far
I lose my mind
When we're makin' love
When we're makin' love
Don't believe that I'm a liar
But I can't get enough
Never knew I could be higher
Just by makin' love
Oh oh oh yeah oh makin' love
Oh makin' love
Makin' love
Coming to you
Makin' love
With nothing to do
Makin' love
Makin' love
Makin' love
Makin' love
05 Since You Been Gone (03:20)
[INTRO]
Whhooaa, whhooaa, whhooaaaa
I get the same old dreams, same time every night
Fall to the ground and I wake up
So I get out of bed, put on my shoes, and in my head
Thoughts fly back to the break-up
These four walls are closing in
Look at the fix you've put me in
Since you been gone, since you been gone
I'm outta my head, can't take it
Could I be wrong, but since you been gone
You cast a spell, so break it
Oooohhh - Whhooooaaa - Ooooohhh
Since you been gone
So in the night I stand beneath the back street light
I read the words that you sent to me
I can take the afternoon, the night-time comes around too soon
You can't know what you mean to me
Your poison letter, your telegram
Just goes to show you don't give a damn
Since you been gone, since you been gone
I'm outta my head, can't take it
Could I be wrong, but since you been gone
You cast a spell, so break it
Oooohhh - Whhooooaaa - Ooooohhh
Since you been gone
[INTERLUDE]
If you will come back
Baby you know
You'll never do wrong
Huhhhhh
Since you been gone, since you been gone
I'm outta my head, can't take it
Could I be wrong, but since you been gone
You cast a spell, so break it
Oooohhh - Whhooooaaa - Ooooohhh
Ever since, you been gone
[GUITAR SOLO OUTRO]
Since you been gone, since you been gone
I'm outta my head, can't take it
Since you been gone, since you been gone
[FADE]
07 Danger Zone (04:31)
Shaking off the tresholds of a long forgotten dream
And you just can't make it last
Coaching paradise on a personal line
But you get fired to fast
And you lie, memories drifting by
Love don't make it on those pin-striped nights
When you're looking through someone's disguise
You can't make it alone, so you gotta make a move
But you're looking at nobody's eyes
Well that's love, or maybe love come and go
Looking for love is a danger zone
Love don't go begging in the danger zone
You won't get nothing from the danger zone
Tales that you tell from the stories that you'll hear
And you'll get what you can while you may
Don't understand when you're looking for a dame
But it's only a heartbreak away
And you'll learn, faking has no return
No way when you're feeling that way
Will your feet get caught up in the crowd
And the song that you sing is too soft to be heard
But your speakers are way too loud
Like the pain, loving is no big game
Looking for love is a danger zone
No don't go living in the danger zone
You won't get nothing from the danger zone
Don't take no chances in the danger zone
Love don't go begging in the danger zone
No don't go living in the danger zone
You won't get nothing from the danger zone
Don't take no chances in the danger zone
Love don't go begging in the danger zone
08 Lost in Hollywood (04:50)
Gotta get a message through
Cause I think I'm losing you
Am I too late?
Drinking habit's a loose sometime
I gotta know if you're still mine
And I can't wait
Last time I saw your face
You tried to hide the tears
But I could see the trace
I'd be there if I could
But it's so far away from home
Lost in Hollywood
In the dark the vultures wait
I can hear them
Knocking at my gate
But I'm not here
The brew was cold
The meat is stale
In the L.A. night the sirens wail
The song you can feel
Pale stars that never shine
Scotch and the whiskey
And the Rainbow local wine
She's done more bad than good
I gotta get away somehow
Lost in Hollywood
On the streets the sun is fine
Don't you feel the advantage hit your mind
Feels all right, oh yeah
But I'm a lover
Like a loaded gun
Chasing shadows on the run
Out in the night
I'm gonna lose control
If I been losing you
To pay for rock'n'roll
Get back I know I should
Gotta get back home to you
You don't know what I been through
But there's nothing I can do, oh no
Lost in Hollywood
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