On May 17, 1976 Rainbow produced their critically acclaimed second album, Rising. After wowing fans with their imaginative lyrical content, the bar had been raised for the former Deep Purple guitarist, however Ritchie Blackmore would certainly deliver. With his last band experiencing a break-up, this followup record would solidify his success as a musician.
Blackmore kept Ronnie James Dio for songwriting and vocals while a new rhythm section was arranged consisting of drummer Cozy Powell and bassist Jimmy Bain, who would later become household names.
Once Blackmore and Dio became familiar with their songwriting subject of medieval fantasy, their visions grew bigger by the time they were gathering ideas for Rising.
Although there are only 6 tracks on the full LP, it still clocks in at roughly 33 minutes. Most of that time goes to the lengthy epics, packed with musical structures years ahead of their time. The addition of longer songs introduced a more progressive sound and narrowed the band towards Blackmore’s playing style from Deep Purple.
Another factor that was incorporated into Rainbow was the use of keyboards. The opening track, Tarot Woman begins with a menacing organ solo that transitions into Blackmore’s lively guitar riff. From that point, the new lineup is seemingly more uptempo and has also traded their hard rock roots for something audibly heavier. If Rainbow‘s debut effort was compared to Led Zeppelin, Rising would be more correlated with Black Sabbath. Starstruck brings heavy metal to the forefront of the group’s tone from the guitar patterns to the assertive lyrics.
The major highlight of the album is the 8 and a half minute Stargazer. It starts with a drum solo that puts Powell in the much needed spotlight and quickly shoots into Blackmore’s echoing riff. Accompanied by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, Dio doesn’t hold anything back as he soars through the lyrics with elegant imagery.
Rising was a landmark among the best records from the 1970s. Although the chemistry between Blackmore and Dio would soon be broken after the frontman’s departure, it was one of the most unique collaborations in classic rock.
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