Rainbow's 'Rising' isn't just an album; it's a sonic hurricane, a musical maelstrom that redefines hard rock. Blackmore's guitar riffs are lightning bolts, Dio's vocals a force of nature. #vinylrecords

Rainbow Rising: The Storm that Shook the Hard Rock World

Album Description:

In the smoke-filled, beer-soaked haze of the mid-70s hard rock scene, where giants like Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple reigned supreme, a new contender burst forth with a thunderous roar: Rainbow's "Rising." This wasn't just another album; it was a sonic hurricane, a musical maelstrom that redefined the genre and left an indelible mark on rock history.

1976 was a year of upheaval and change. The flower power dreams of the 60s had withered, and the world was grappling with economic turmoil and social unrest. But amidst the chaos, rock music remained a beacon of rebellion and release. Rainbow, led by the enigmatic guitar virtuoso Ritchie Blackmore, tapped into this zeitgeist, channeling the raw energy and angst of the times into a sonic explosion.

"Rising" wasn't just a collection of songs; it was a musical journey, a concept album that explored themes of mythology, fantasy, and the human condition. Blackmore, fresh from his departure from Deep Purple, assembled a powerhouse lineup: the soaring vocals of Ronnie James Dio, the thunderous bass of Jimmy Bain, the intricate keyboards of Tony Carey, and the relentless drumming of Cozy Powell. This wasn't a band; it was a musical force of nature.

The album's opening track, "Tarot Woman," sets the tone with its ominous, swirling keyboards and Dio's dramatic vocals. Blackmore's guitar riffs are like lightning bolts, electrifying the song with their sheer power and precision. "Run with the Wolf" is a hard-driving rocker, a call to arms for the disaffected youth of the 70s. Dio's lyrics are both poetic and visceral, painting vivid images of rebellion and freedom.

The centerpiece of "Rising" is the epic "Stargazer." This 8-minute opus is a musical odyssey, a journey through the cosmos fueled by Blackmore's soaring guitar solos and Dio's operatic vocals. It's a testament to the band's ambition and their willingness to push the boundaries of hard rock. "A Light in the Black" is a relentless instrumental showcase, a dizzying display of virtuosity that leaves the listener breathless.

"Rising" wasn't without its controversies. Some critics accused the band of being overly theatrical and bombastic. But that was precisely the point. Rainbow wasn't interested in subtlety or restraint. They were about excess, about pushing the limits of rock music to the breaking point. And in doing so, they created an album that was both exhilarating and unforgettable.

Produced by Martin Birch, known for his work with Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, and recorded at Musicland Studios in Munich, "Rising" is a sonic masterpiece. The album's sound is rich and layered, with each instrument given its own space to shine. Blackmore's guitar tone is particularly impressive, a perfect balance of power and clarity.

"Rising" wasn't just a commercial success; it was a critical triumph, hailed as one of the greatest hard rock albums of all time. It cemented Rainbow's place in rock history and inspired countless musicians to pick up their instruments and chase their dreams.

Music Genre:

English Heavy Metal / Hard Rock

Album Production information:

The album: "RAINBOW - Rising FOC Gatefold" was produced by: Martin Birch

Martin Birch – Producer, Sound Engineer

Treat Martin Birch like the invisible band member: you don’t see him on the sleeve, but you sure hear him in the punch, the bite, and that “turn it up” clarity. His run is legendary—starting as an engineer in the late 1960s, sharpening the sound with Deep Purple in the early 1970s, helping Rainbow hit that dramatic hard-rock stride in the mid-to-late 1970s, powering the Dio-era Black Sabbath in 1980–1981, then basically going exclusive with Iron Maiden from 1981 to 1992 before he bowed out. Read more...

Martin Birch, to my ears, is the guy who made heavy records feel both massive and surgical—tight low end, bright attack, and a midrange that cuts like fresh steel without turning into ear-pain. He built long relationships instead of quick drive-bys: Deep Purple, Rainbow, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, and then that famous Iron Maiden stretch from "Killers" (1981) through "Fear of the Dark" (1992), after which he retired. That’s not just a resume, that’s a whole era with his fingerprints on it.

Martin Birch Wiki

This album was recorded at: Musicland Studios, 1976

Album cover painting: Ken Kelly

Ken Kelly – Cover Artist

Album-cover painter who made fantasy-metal look like it could bench-press your stereo. Read more...

Ken Kelly, I file him under “artists who make a record sound louder before the needle even drops.” In the mid-to-late 1970s, his dramatic, high-contrast fantasy style landed on major sleeves for Rainbow (the Rising / Long Live Rock 'n' Roll era) and KISS (including the Destroyer and Love Gun period), and in the 1980s he went full heroic myth-making again with Manowar releases like Fighting the World and Kings of Metal. His iconic cover paintings for bands like KISS, Manowar, and Rainbow are basically visual volume knobs—turn them and everything gets bigger.

Ken Kelly Wiki

Album cover photography: Fin Costello

Fin Costello, a celebrated rock and metal photographer, is known for his iconic images of legendary bands like Deep Purple, Rainbow, and Ozzy Osbourne. With a career spanning decades, his work has graced album covers and magazines, capturing the energy and essence of rock history. Discover more about his incredible legacy at Fin Costello Biography.

Record Label & Catalognr:

Oyster 2391 224

Album Packaging:

Gatefold/FOC (Fold Open Cover) Album Cover Design with artwork / photos on the inside cover pages

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 280 gram

Year & Country:

1976 Made in Germany

Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: RAINBOW - Rising FOC Gatefold

Jimmy Bain
Jimmy Bain – Bass
Jimmy Bain is one of those bass players I call “quietly essential”: he doesn’t steal the spotlight, he just makes the whole thing hit harder and feel bigger. His lines have that no-nonsense weight that lets the guitars fly and the vocals preach without the bottom end turning to soup. Read more...
Jimmy Bain, for me, is a perfect example of how a great bassist can be both glue and engine at the same time—solid timing, fat tone, and just enough bite to keep things from getting polite. Timeline-wise, I always track him from Harlot (early 1970s) into Rainbow (1975–1977), then a long stretch with Dio (1982–1989, plus later returns like 1993–1994 and 2004), with plenty of side quests in between—most famously with Vivian Campbell’s band Riverdogs (1990–1993). Jimmy Bain Wiki
Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
Ritchie Blackmore – Guitarist, Songwriter
The guy who made the guitar sound both medieval and radioactive, often in the same solo. Read more...
Ritchie Blackmore is the sort of name I see on a sleeve and instantly expect sparks: born Richard Hugh Blackmore (1945), he’s an English guitarist who helped hard-rock riffing grow teeth and then politely refused to stop. His era-stamps are basically whole chapters of rock history: Deep Purple (1968–1975, 1984–1993), where the riffs got louder, sharper, and more dramatic; Rainbow (1975–1984, 1993–1997), where he leaned into melody and fantasy like it was a weapon; and Blackmore’s Night (1997–present), where the electric storm calms down into Renaissance-folk textures without losing that unmistakable Blackmore touch. I love that arc: from amp-stacks and arena thunder to lutes-and-candles vibes, like he just swapped dragons for different dragons.
Ritchie Blackmore Wiki
Tony Carey - keyboards
Tony Carey (Full-name: Anthony Lawrence Carey was born in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County, California, United States on 16 Oct 1953.

During 1976 Carey's work on the album included the keyboard introduction to the opening track "Tarot Woman", and an extended keyboard solo on "A Light in the Black", the last cut on the album in "Rising", Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow . He was 22 years old at that point. During 1977 he works as a keyboards in "On Stage", Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow . He was 23 years old at that point. His occupation is Keyboard player.
Ronnie James Dio - Vocals
Ronnie James DIO – Vocals
I clock Dio as one of those once-in-a-generation voices: pure power, crazy control, and a storyteller vibe that turns metal into a myth. I always track his timeline like chapters I keep re-reading: Elf (1967–1975) where he sharpened the blues-rock grit, Rainbow (1975–1979) where the fantasy thunder really took off, Black Sabbath (1979–1982, 1991–1992) where he helped reboot the doom machine, Dio (1982–2010) where he built his own kingdom, and Heaven & Hell (2006–2010) where the classics came roaring back live. Read more...
Ronnie James Dio, I don’t just hear a singer here — I hear a frontman who could make a chorus feel like a battle standard and a quiet line feel like a warning whispered in a cathedral. Whether he’s riding Rainbow’s hard-rock drama, giving Black Sabbath a second life, or planting the flag with Dio, the guy’s signature is the same: huge hooks, bigger conviction, and that unmistakable “this matters” intensity. Ronnie James Dio Wiki
Cozy Powell - Drums
Cozy Powell – Drums
Cozy Powell is the kind of drummer I file under “human avalanche”: big hands, bigger feel, and a groove that hits like a freight train in leather pants. Read more...
Cozy Powell, for me, is the textbook example of “power that still swings”—he can be thunderous without turning stiff, flashy without turning messy, and he always leaves space for the riff to breathe. When I hear him, I hear commitment: the snare cracks, the toms roll like incoming weather, and the whole band suddenly sounds like it got upgraded to arena mode. Timeline-wise, I always map his career in loud chapters—The Jeff Beck Group (1970–1972), Rainbow (1975–1980), Michael Schenker Group (1980–1982), Whitesnake (1982–1985), Emerson, Lake & Powell (1985–1986), Black Sabbath (1988–1991, 1994–1995), and the Brian May Band (1991–1992, 1993–1994, 1998).
Cozy Powell Wiki