DIFFICULT TO CURE

Yesterday I just was on "Rainbow"concert, watching Joe Lynn Turner and Bob Rondinelli, so I just remembered this album right today morning. No, I am absolutely serious about concert: ok, it wasn't same "Rainbow"as on album, but very similar. Yes, you right, they are named "Over The Rainbow" now and there is not Ritchie, but his son Jurgen on guitar... But all other things are quite similar, they even play same songs. In fact it's a great Rainbow tribute band, and they are on European tour now, and yesterday they played there in Vilnius.

But now about album. I listened it soon after LP was released in 1981. I reallt loved Rainbow at that time. But after the very first listening I got a strange feeling, which stayed till now.

First of all, "Difficult To Care"is very melodic album with nice arrangements and some Blackmore's ( Ritchie at that time) guitar solos. Still heavy enough, accordind to hard-rock rules of that time. But... to rounded, too polished and ... not too much real hard rock. Even if some songs I like till now ( "I Surrender" and both perfect instrumentals), all album sounded a bit as imitation! It's like chamber band decided to play on rock party and demonstrated, that they can play hard rock. Music is very competent, but isn't ... true.

I don't know, if "pleasant"music is a compliment for the kind of music ( melodic hard-rock with classical music scent) Rainbow recorded there. So, I have this feeling right till now.

Album is not bad at all, but - I don't believe in that music! High quality imitation. Rebels with good suits. Salon rockers.

After that album "Rainbow" very soon missed all their magic, Blackmore after some flirt with reformed Deep Purple opened family business under "Blackmore's Night" label.

So, not real early Rainbow ( far from it!), but still nice album,and last sign and monument for Rainbow.