RITCHIE BLACKMORE'S RAINBOW

WOW! Rainbow on Prog Archives! Any prog album created by Rainbow? Well, I do not really know. As far as a bit definition of prog that lays around my head and my heart, there has been no such thing as prog from Rainbow. Nevertheless, I love this album very much man! Even until more than 30 years since it was first released. This album is so memorable for me personally for some reasons:

First, it was AKTUIL - the most respected local magazine in my country which discussed in deep the processes of Ritchie Blackmore's divorce from legendary band Deep Purple. Almost in every issue this magazine discussed this topic tirelessly. Why Blackmore is leaving? Who's gonna replace him as Deep Purple's guitarist? How the new band named as Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow would sound like? Would it sound like Deep Purple? Would it be radically different? Who would be Rainbow's members? Oh yeah .. finally the magazine discussed about Dio's previous band: ELF. Oh .. what a great news at that time. I think, the news about the shift of Deep Purple's line-up was LOUDER than any political or economics issues at that time. It was so BIG (I mean it!). It;s because Deep Purple was evryone's business at that glory days. When the band finally released its debut, AKTUIL provided its readers with bonus poster of Rainbow line up. In fact, I still have a photograph of my room (in 1975) where there was a wall. full of posters, including RAINBOW! ANd .. I was proud of it man!

Second, AKTUIL magz brought in Deep Purple to perform live in open stadium with 80.000 audience in December 1975. It was the first experience that Indonesians could see a ROCK CONCERT from one of the best bands. People were wondering about the capability of Tomy Bolin in replacing Ritchie's position in Deep Purple. At about the same time, people in my country adored the debut album of RAINBOW. "Temple of The King" had become a radio standard! It was a BIG thing, really. Third, when this album was released I was on holiday in Jakarta and my brother Jokky kept playing this album many times at his room where I also shared. He loved "Temple of The King" but I was so impressed with "Still I'm Sad" and "Snake Charmer" .. oh also "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" ... and "Catch The Rainbow" .. "Self Portrait" .. oh no ... to be honest with you .. I love each song in this album!!! Sorry for not being selective but .. it's a FACT!

Musically, I would say that this album is NOT the same or close to any album that Deep Purple had ever made. Bravo Ritchie! You are the man! In fact, I admired his capability to form a band which has different style and sound from Deep Purple. Look at his decision to hire Ronnie James Dio with his eerie vocal! He did not sound similar at all with Ian Gillan. This was a good decision to include Dio in the band.BRAVO Ritchie!

This is an EXCELLENT rock album!!!

Keep on rockin' ..!!!

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