Rainbow - Down To Earth (1979)

Question: how do you go about replacing Ronnie James Dio? Answer: recruit a short haired bit-part actor and ex-member of 1960s obscurities The Marbles, Graham Bonnet! What an inspired move that proved to be too with Graham Bonnet providing his considerable vocal talent to a ‘new’ commercial-edged Rainbow – gone were the dragons, rainbows and mythology of the Dio era and in came shorter, chart-friendly numbers enabling Rainbow to trouble the upper echelons of the UK chart for the first time with All Night Long and Since You’ve Been Gone reaching numbers 5 and 6 respectively.

Whilst Rainbow had previously been a reasonably well-kept secret of the rock fraternity, now they became more mainstream – a move that gathered apace following Down To Earth. Quite why Down To Earth was to be Bonnet’s debut and swansong (as well as signalling Cozy Powell’s departure) I’m not overly certain but the album contains some classic tracks – including the sublime Makin’ Love.

Bonnet sings his heart out giving full reign to his staggering range while the Airey-Powell-Glover backing was one of the strongest lineups Rainbow was to enjoy: Blackmore, as ever, is consistently good throughout.

This was also the first Rainbow album to reunite Richie Blackmore with ex-Deep Purple band-mate Roger Glover who undertook production duties and co-wrote the majority of the tracks which also helped the band transition from heavy rock to commercial melodic rock. Notable is the absence of writing credits for Graham Bonnet who, with his post-Rainbow band Alcatrazz, co-wrote all the tracks: even Cozy Powell gets a writing credit here on Lost In Hollywood – possibly for the drum roll at the beginning one wonders?

As with the follow-up, Difficult To Cure, this album represents Rainbow at the peak of their popularity.

• Graham Bonnet – Vocals
• Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
• Don Airey – Keyboards
• Roger Glover – Bass
• Cozy Powell – Drums

Rainbow - Difficult To Cure (1981)

Following the departure of Graham Bonnet after one album, Down To Earth, Rainbow further pursued a more commercial sound with Difficult To Cure. With the extremely capable Joe Lynn Turner on vocals, the band further developed a more mainstream, chart-friendly approach which paid dividends with I Surrender achieving Rainbow’s highest-ever UK chart position at number 3.

Whilst I harbour a strong leaning towards the Dio-era Rainbow, Difficult To Cure is nevertheless a strong album and the last before the commercialism went too far. There is a good blend here of all-out rock riffing with Richie Blackmore in fine-form on Spotlight Kid and the track Magic is a real highlight. Joe Lynn Turner’s vocals are strong and soaring throughout the album and the band really were riding the crest of a wave. New boy Bobby Rondinelli ably steps into Cozy Powell’s shoes too providing the blunt, thundering style eschewed by Mr Powell.

The album also gives vent to Riche Blackmore to explore his classical roots once more with Vielleicht Das Nachste Mal and the title track (based around Beethoven’s Ninth) in which Don Airey performs a section in a very much Keith Emerson mould!

Chart success and a new vocalist who also would prove to be one of the greatest in rock – could it get any better? Well, no really and the band gradually slid into decline but for fans of classic melodic rock – and/or Richie Blackmore – this album should definitely be added to the collection.

• Joe Lynn Turner – Vocals
• Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
• Don Airey – Keyboard
• Roger Glover – Bass
• Bobby Rondinelli – Drums

Alcatrazz - No Parole From Rock 'N' Roll (1983)

Following an all-too brief stint as frontman with Rainbow, vocalist Graham Bonnet pursued several short-lived projects for a few years – a short stint with the Michael Shenker Group and a solo album – only to re-emerge with Alcatrazz in 1983 and this, their debut album No Parole From Rock ‘N’ Roll. Featuring a largely unknown bunch of musicians, and Bonnet as chief songwriter (as opposed to in Rainbow) the omens weren’t good.

However, what in fact emerged was something of a revelation during what was something of a transition period in the development of rock with Bonnet ‘taking a punt’ on a then-19 year old Swedish guitarist named Ymgwie Malmsteen who, at that time, was heavily under the influence of Richie Blackmore in both classically-influenced style and appearance coupled with rapid sweeps, runs and arpeggios: something which he would develop to a phenomenal extent in his post-Alcatrazz career.

Furthermore, Bonnet’s writing was first rate with Jet To Jet, Hiroshima Mon Amour and Too Young To Die being three of the outstanding tracks from the album. Whilst Bonnet’s vocals were good with Rainbow, the more commercial approach that that band were taking at the time had somewhat limited the scope for his vocal abilities where as here, Bonnet really could let rip with his awe-inspiring range and power.

Unfortunately, the Bonnet-Malmsteen partnership only saw this studio album, and a live offering released, before Malmsteen pursued a solo career but for lovers of melodic shredding guitar, melodic yet powerful rock and soaring vocals, you couldn’t ask for more than No Parole From Rock ‘N’ Roll. My only criticism would be the production is a little ‘limp’ but hey, you can’t have everything!

• Graham Bonnet – Vocals
• Yngwie Malmsteen – Guitar
• Gary Shea – Bass
• Jan Uvena – Drums
• Jimmy Waldo – Keyboards

Rainbow - Long Live Rock And Roll (1978)

One of the finest proponents of blues-based hard rock during the latter half of the 1970s, Long Live Rock marked the end of the Ronnie Dio era of the group which, including this one, spawned three powerful studio albums.

Despite internal turmoil within the group which would lead to Dio, Bob Daisley (bass) and Dave Stone (keyboards) departing from the group shortly afterwards, the album itself is a classic of its day that still sounds good when cranked up on the stereo!

Kicking off with Cozy Powell’s pounding intro to the title track (Cozy being the only member other than Mr Rainbow Himself, Richie Blackmore, to make it to another Rainbow album) the album thunders along with the trademark guitar/Hammond sound developed in Deep Purple giving a thick and heavy sound to the tracks with Dio’s powerful voice belting out the lyrics with his usual gusto.

Personal standout tracks are the title number and Kill The King which was an earlier Rainbow track that appears on the live ‘On Stage’ album a year prior to this release.

Whilst Rainbow progressively became more and more commercial following Dio’s departure – the three albums with Ronnie Dio were consistently prime examples of 1970s rock at its best and perhaps if Blackmore had been a little less irascible maybe this album wouldn’t have been the swansong of the group’s strongest lineup!

• Ronnie James Dio – Vocals
• Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar
• David Stone – Keyboards
• Bob Daisley – Bass
• Cozy Powell – Drums