Album Description:
Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow is an iconic band that left an indelible mark on the world of heavy metal. Their second studio album, "Rising", released in 1976, stands as a testament to their musical prowess and creativity. With Ritchie Blackmore at the helm, Rainbow assembled a powerhouse lineup that included the extraordinary vocal talents of Ronnie James Dio, along with Tony Carey on keyboards and Cozy Powell on drums. This formidable combination of musicians created an album that would go on to be hailed as one of the greatest in Rainbow's storied career.
"Rising" is a masterclass in heavy metal, showcasing Ritchie Blackmore's virtuoso guitar skills and his ability to craft powerful, memorable riffs. From the opening track, "Tarot Woman", the album immediately grabs the listener's attention with its thunderous guitar-driven sound. Blackmore's playing is at its peak, effortlessly blending intricate melodies with crushing power chords, displaying his unique ability to create both intricate and aggressive guitar work.
One of the defining aspects of "Rising" is the keyboard wizardry of Tony Carey. His contributions add depth and texture to the album, complementing Blackmore's guitar work perfectly. Whether it's the haunting melodies of "Stargazer" or the driving energy of "A Light in the Black", Carey's keyboard skills elevate the music to another level, creating an atmospheric backdrop that enhances the overall sonic experience.
The rhythm section of "Rising" is equally impressive, with Cozy Powell's thunderous drumming providing a solid foundation for the album's heavy sound. Powell's precise and powerful drumming style is showcased brilliantly on tracks like "Run with the Wolf" and "Do You Close Your Eyes", where he drives the songs forward with relentless energy and precision.
Recorded in Munich in less than a month, "Rising" possesses a raw and organic quality that sets it apart from other albums of the era. The band opted for minimal overdubs, allowing the songs to maintain their live energy and intensity. This approach gives the album a certain authenticity and captures the essence of Rainbow's dynamic live performances.
The production of "Rising" was overseen by the legendary Martin Birch, renowned for his work with Deep Purple and other iconic rock acts. Birch's expertise ensured that the album had a polished and powerful sound while still retaining the raw energy of the band's performance.
"Rising" has become a landmark album in the history of heavy metal. Its influence can be heard in the work of countless bands that followed in Rainbow's footsteps. The album's impact and lasting appeal are a testament to the exceptional musicianship and songwriting prowess of Ritchie Blackmore and his bandmates.
In recognition of its enduring popularity, the "Rising" album is now being released on a 12" vinyl LP format in Austria. This special edition allows fans to experience the album in all its analog glory, with the warmth and richness that only vinyl can provide. It's a chance to rediscover the timeless classics such as "Starstruck", "Do You Close Your Eyes", and the epic masterpiece "Stargazer" in a format that pays homage to the album's original release.
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Music Genre:
70s Hard Rock Heavy Metal
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Album Production Information:
The album: "Rising" was produced by: Martin Birch
Martin Birch – Producer, Sound EngineerTreat 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.
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Record Label & Catalognr:
Oyster 2391 224 / DP (O) Limitied
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Packaging:
Gatefold/FOC (Fold Open Cover) Album Cover Design with / photos Rainbow's band incl (Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore) on the inside cover pages.
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Media Format:
12" Vinyl Full-Length Stereo Long-Play Gramophone Record
Album weight: 280 gram
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Year & Country:
1976 Made in Austria
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Band Members and Musicians on: Ritchies Blackmore Rainbow Rising FOC
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Band-members, Musicians and Performers
- 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.
- 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
- 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).
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