omg duuude!!!!!!! What a difficult task! I'll try my best and I hope no one gets offended by my opinion. Thanks very much lovely anon. I will do a Top 10 Ranking... that's okay for you? Because if we count all the live albums... we will be here forever.
It's okay that this album has some great hits and all.. I understand that but If we pay attention just to Ritchie... he sounds so... bored. His playing has not a charm like the other albums, he sounds desmotivated. I think it has to do with he was meeting again with Big Ian and Jon and the whole idea of the Dleep reunion. Also he was literally bored with Rainbow.
9. Straight Between The Eyes.
The same as Bent Out Of Shape but in this case his playing is more vividly and with some melodic solos and charming riffs. Great lyrics and ideas. This album shows that Ritchie was still interested in Rainbow.
Whole new line up. The vocals of Doogie are so different from what we were hearing and it has a charm in it. A little bit Ronnie-ish but the guy can sing. This is the heaviest Rainbow album since Rising (apart from the live albums) and I find it so interesting. The performances were great, super cool and Black Masquerade's riff is just great and the new Still I'm Sad is great too! <3
7. Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.
DON'T kill me... I know this is the first and it has a special place in our hearts. After listening a lot of Rainbow I reached the conclusion that... Rainbow without Cozy is not Rainbow. I mean... in the first album Man On The Silver Mountain sounds so... sticky and slowed down.. same as Greensleeves compared to the live versions with Cozy. But apart from that, the album is still amazing. Ritchie playing is so exciting because he was excited about the new band.
Great great album to prove everyone that Ritchie could continue as nothing happened. The riffs are great and the albums has a lot of variety of styles. Ritchie is more charming, spontaneous, ingenious and motivated than ever and Don's keys are the spotlight in this album. A nice album for Joe's debut.
5. Monsters Of Rock, 1980
I decided to put this album in the ranking because Graham deserves it. He just killed it his Stargazer is nice and his Catch The Rainbow is an honourable version. Cozy stole the show and Ritchie's playing was so sparkling. Is really an amazing album.
4. Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
Mind blowing, yes.. specially Gates Of Babylon. They were so mad at each other and Ronnie was getting bitter with all the members specially with Ritchie and Cozy. The chemistry was not quite well but they settled their minds on the album ane music, that's why the album sounds great. Bob is a hell of a bassist and Dave a hell of keyboardist, very good choices. This album was the beginning of 'Commercial Rainbow' era.
I personally like more this one than Long Live.. because of the creativity. This has two hyper commercial songs but the rest is pure talent and delightful songs, even though they are talking about love the melodies are fantastic and Graham's vocals are magnificent. Just what the album needed, a new powerful voice. Definitely Eyes Of The World steal the spotlight.
Everyone's favourite and I don't wonder why.. his album has everything and did a lot of things for music with just 6 songs. This is Cozy's debut and comparing with the previous album... you understand what i meant with "No cozy no rainbow" Cozy changed Rainbow. With his heaviness changed the medieval sound for a rock-heavy one. You can lose yourself in that album (like Ronnie lost himself in Stargazer), it has a magic in it. I don't need to describe it, it's better to listen than talking.
You can't catch Ronnie's magnificent vocals, Ritchie's impressive playing and Cozy's powerful lead in a studio record, you need to hear them live to know why Rainbow is Rainbow. You'll understand the magic that they had. Mistreated and Catch The Rainbow are the best part of the show. Cozy's fills on Mistreated with Ronnie's passion and Ritchie solos. Catch the Rainbow with Cozy's unexpected fill after Ritchie slowed down and again, Ronnie's fantastic and professional performance. In my opinion, On Stage is the album to understand Rainbow.
