RockerNRollerRainbow - 'Long Live Rock 'N' Roll'. 🎸⚡💿 (9 April 1978)
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The third and final studio album with Ronnie James Dio on lead vocals came just before Ritchie Blackmore steered Rainbow towards a more pop rock, Foreigner-style sound. That shift had its merits, but it never quite matched the artistic punch of the band’s earlier, if slightly self-indulgent, incarnation. As such, 'Long Live Rock 'N' Roll' lands in an interesting spot, arriving straight after their magnum opus, 'Rising', and inevitably living a bit in its shadow. It may not reach the same heights throughout, and a couple of tracks are not quite as instantly memorable as those on the previous two albums, especially the latter, but that said, there are still more than enough stone-cold classics here to justify its reputation, alongside some excellent deep cuts such as "The Shred" and "L.A. Connection". If I am honest, deep down I would probably call it the weakest of the three Dio-era records, but that is hardly a criticism when the standard is so high. Even at its “least best”, it remains a brilliant listen. I feel the musicianship is top drawer throughout, with Blackmore’s riffing and neoclassical phrasing standing out, whilst Dio delivers his signature vocal performance, and Cozy Powell brings his powerful, driving drumming that adds real weight and momentum to the record, with Bob Daisley locking in tightly to provide a solid and often underrated backbone, giving the songs extra punch. All of this is even more impressive given that tensions within the band were through the roof during the recording, something that ultimately does little to diminish the album’s overall quality. Ultimately, this album gets my recommendation in the end!
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‎#rainbowband #vinyl #vinylcollection #discogs #music
‎ ‎ ‎
The third and final studio album with Ronnie James Dio on lead vocals came just before Ritchie Blackmore steered Rainbow towards a more pop rock, Foreigner-style sound. That shift had its merits, but it never quite matched the artistic punch of the band’s earlier, if slightly self-indulgent, incarnation. As such, 'Long Live Rock 'N' Roll' lands in an interesting spot, arriving straight after their magnum opus, 'Rising', and inevitably living a bit in its shadow. It may not reach the same heights throughout, and a couple of tracks are not quite as instantly memorable as those on the previous two albums, especially the latter, but that said, there are still more than enough stone-cold classics here to justify its reputation, alongside some excellent deep cuts such as "The Shred" and "L.A. Connection". If I am honest, deep down I would probably call it the weakest of the three Dio-era records, but that is hardly a criticism when the standard is so high. Even at its “least best”, it remains a brilliant listen. I feel the musicianship is top drawer throughout, with Blackmore’s riffing and neoclassical phrasing standing out, whilst Dio delivers his signature vocal performance, and Cozy Powell brings his powerful, driving drumming that adds real weight and momentum to the record, with Bob Daisley locking in tightly to provide a solid and often underrated backbone, giving the songs extra punch. All of this is even more impressive given that tensions within the band were through the roof during the recording, something that ultimately does little to diminish the album’s overall quality. Ultimately, this album gets my recommendation in the end!
‎ ‎ ‎
‎#rainbowband #vinyl #vinylcollection #discogs #music
