What you think about Richie Blackmore is a question of taste. I always feel he a much better composer than a guitar player. Yes, he is good, but not great; he could never stand up to people like Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Johnny Winter, Uli Roth and Hendrix. Blackmore's solos are more atmospheric than anything and never quite catch fire. But he has a great sense of melody and comes up with catchy and melodic licks over and over again. He is really good at what he is doing. But let's leave it here. I want to talk about something else : the sound quality of this recording.
The quality of this recording is really not up to par. The mix is all mushy and muddy. I could almost say the recording was done with a microphone recorded straight onto a two-track cheapo Phillips recorder. If the music was recorded mult-track, then it is a feat to make the end-product sound so murky. This is supposed to be an offical release. I have heard bootleg recordings from that period sound a lot better. As to the music, no problem with that, Richie always delivers the goods : reliable, disciplined, well-rehearsed and almost mechanical. Really pleasant and unobtrusive music to listen to any time. Bubble gum Rock.

No words to describe.....as Tina would say...Simply The Best...
Apart of the video quality (1977) Ronnie in his best...and Ritchie as usual....the best of all progressive, metal, hard rock or whatever lead guitar....
Greetings from Portugal. Unfortunately we can't have them in Rock in Rio in Lisbon this year :-)...they are out of business :-(

Long Live Rock'n Rolllllll........

If you are a Rainbow fan from the beginning then this is a must buy.

Ritchie Blackmore was a hard rock icon. His virtuosity, signature sound, and onstage flair, helped make him one of the genre's first guitar heroes as a member of Deep Purple. Blackmore's personality and approach to music, contributed to his reputation as a mysterious, larger than life figure, as he left Purple to form Rainbow with Ronnie James Dio. Over the years, much has been said about Blackmore, how he managed Rainbow, and the numerous lineup changes to the band. The truth seems to be somewhat shrouded in myth. This release provides a look at Rainbow near the high point of the Dio era.

The circumstances concerning this performance are discussed in the bonus materials. The details vary, but basically just prior to the concert, Blackmore was being detained in an Austrian jail. Upon being released, he rushed to Munich, to take the stage only slightly behind schedule. Rather than being upset by the circumstances, Blackmore seems to be in a good, perhaps even a sedate mood. Beneath a huge illuminated rainbow, the band plays for nearly two-hours, covering the best of their material at the time. Blackmore lets his guitar do the talking, as the concert becomes a musical odyssey, where most of the songs become extended vehicles that display a dynamic range of sound and styles. Much like Purple, Rainbow live is nothing like the records, as the songs transcend their traditional format. Each performance is truly unique, with much dependent on the mood of the `Man in black'. This appears to be a very good night. The band is tight, adept at taking cues from Ritchie on the various long improvisational numbers, anchored by drummer Cozy Powell. Recent additions are Bob Daisley on bass, and David Stone on keyboards.

Not yet the metal icon in black leather, a youthful Ronnie James Dio is relaxed and comfortable running the show. One of the seminal voices in heavy metal, Dio has the gift to take you to magical places. Seeing him in jeans and a white tasseled shirt, thoughts may wander to his future work with Black Sabbath and Dio. High points include Kill the King, Catch the Rainbow, Man on the Silver Mountain and Sixteenth Century Greensleeves. With the many extended instrumental breaks, Dio is often absent giving way to Ritchie and the band. Through Blackmore is most often on center stage, Still I'm Sad features David Stone's extended solo break, followed by Cozy Powell's drum solo.

The only sour note is Blackmore's destruction of a guitar in the finale. Indicative of the time, the excess is pure theater. Fortunately it does not appear that anyone was injured while Blackmore was whipping guitar remnants around, though it appears that it could easily have happened.

A release from this lineup of Rainbow is a gem well worth having. The quality of the video is mostly good, with a variety of unobstructed camera angles. The audio is muffled at times, but overall very listenable. The bonus materials include vintage music videos for Gates Of Babylon, LA Connection and Long Live Rock `n' Roll. Interviews with Bob Daisley and roadie Colin Hart, though unfortunately nothing from either Blackmore or Dio. There is a slide show with a commentary by an unnamed but quite informed narrator. Also included is a booklet of detailed liner notes and a mini reproduction of the original concert program.

Great DVD. Dio, Cozy etc, what more could you ask. This also appears to be the last tour the mega large Rainbow light show was used. I was awe struck with how many different displays could be achieved with 1970's era technnology. Listen to the audio commentary area. It explains that Blackmore talked of throwing the lights overboard while on a Japan tour and that was the end of it. Quite a shame.

On to the DVD. This show is bittersweet. This is perhaps the best lineup of the band and thank God there is a record of it. Because of Blackmore's dictorial way of doing things, he kept dismissing band members. When Dio left, I think it was done at that point. What Rainbow released in the 80's was more pop. The medieval / english themes in the early records were distinct.

The disturbing area of the DVD comes at the end when Blackmore destroys a black Stratocaster. He comes awefully close to hitting the audience as he swings the guitar by the strings still attached. I thought that was careless of him, but it was interesting to watch. There appears to be too much focal point on Blackmore. In my opinion, he was ok, not a great guitarist. Also, he had literally no eye contact with the audience. One could see the control he had over the band while they waited for his endless guitar interludes to end. He used hand signals to keep the band in check.

Overall a good DVD. The audio commentary is excellent, and the two interviews were good as well. The only drawback is the lack of interview material from Blackmore. Strange. One can only wonder why he did not participate, of why the production staff failed to contact him?