Review of Rainbow's Rising

Released 1976

"Hot wind, moving fast across the desert.
We feel that our time has arrived.
The world spins while we put his dream together. A tower of stone to take him straight to the sky. Oh I see his face!"

Categorising Rainbow Rising as a prog album will surprise some and perhaps anger others. Most would agree that the three MKI Deep Purple albums could reasonably be classified as prog or 'proto' prog. It is generally thought that the MKII albums moved into the realm of more mainstream classic rock; live many tracks were extended to twenty minute or more of extended instrumental workouts. However, such jams were seen as indulgent rather than improvisational, with little regard given to applauding the virtuosity of the musicianship employed. Whilst I would largely agree with this common view, I have long felt that Ritchie Blackmore's creativity could, in the right band, have resulted in more typically prog like output.

Occasionally, as the prog section of my record collection grew, I would reappraise other albums already residing on my shelves through my new 'prog filter'. Looking again at Rainbow Rising, I believed there was a reasonable argument to view this as Mr Blackmore's closest dalliance with the prog rock genre.

One aspect of this incarnation of Rainbow which is often overlooked is Tony Carey's keyboards. While I wouldn't place him anywhere need the premier division of established keyboard players, the opening strains of 'Tarot Woman' heard in isolation would more readily label the album as resolutely progressive as opposed to mainstream. True, the lyrics which follow don't count as Ronnie James Dio's most imaginative, but the sum of the constituent parts raise it above the norm.

'Run with the Wolf' and 'Starstruck' in the hands of lesser musicians would come over as good solid, but not much better than average rock songs. The three key players; Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio and drummer Cozy Powell, all are arguably at the peak of their careers, each appearing to push and stretch the rest of the group, raising the bar significantly.

It isn't until Stargazer that the full potential of the band is realised. Blackmore has admitted that he borrowed very heavily from Led Zeppelin's 'Kashmir' for this track, to create a huge eastern tinged behemoth of a riff. In my opinion he takes it to a much greater place infinitely superior to it's ancestor. The chemistry between each of the instruments and RJD's vocal is extraordinary, stretching themselves impossibly far until the climax of the song under-scored by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra, producing, for my money, one of the most successful marriages between a rock group and an an orchestra. The energy of the group is inspiring, in particular that of Cozy Powell. To think that he used to play Stargazer and A Light In The Black, both heavily driven by a furiously intense rhythm back to back in concert without a pause is remarkable.

Technically, Rainbow's Rising is as accomplished as many premier league prog bands. To label it as 'just' a rock album is unfair and elitist and ignores some very real talents.