Tag Archives: Ronnie James Dio

Elf: Same

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In August 1972, “Purple Records” label released the self-titled, debut Elf album. It was recorded April – July 1972, and was produced by Roger Glover and Ian Paice.

Personnel:

  • Ronald Padavona (Ronnie James Dio) – vocals, bass guitar
  • David Feinstein- guitar
  • Mickey Lee Soule- piano, organ
  • Gary Driscoll- drums

Track listing:

All tracks by Gary Driscoll, Mickey Lee Soule, David Feinstein and Ronald Padavona.

  1. Hoochie Koochie Lady
  2. First Avenue
  3. Never More
  4. I’m Coming Back for You
  5. Sit Down Honey (Everything Will Be Alright)
  6. Dixie Lee Junction
  7. Love Me Like a Woman
  8. Gambler, Gambler

Elf: Trying To Burn The Sun

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In June 1975, “MGM” label released “Trying to Burn the Sun”, the third and the final Elf album. It was recorded in 1975, and was produced by Roger Glover.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals
  • Steve Edwards – lead guitar
  • Mickey Lee Soule – keyboards, rhythm guitar
  • Craig Gruber – bass guitar
  • Gary Driscoll – drums
  • Mark Nauseef – percussion
  • Helen Chappelle, Barry St. John, Liza Strike – additional vocals
  • MountainFjord Orchestra – strings

Track listing:

All tracks  Ronnie James by Dio and Mickey Lee Soule.

  1. Black Swampy Water
  2. Prentice Wood
  3. When She Smiles
  4. Good Time Music
  5. Liberty Road
  6. Shotgun Boogie
  7. Wonderworld
  8. Streetwalker

Elf: Carolina County Ball

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In April 1974, “MGM” label released “Carolina County Ball”, the second Elf album. It was recorded January-March, at “The Manor Studio” and was produced by Roger Glover.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals
  • Steve Edwards – guitar
  • Mickey Lee Soule – keyboards
  • Craig Gruber – bass
  • Gary Driscoll – drums
  • Henry Lowther – trumpet
  • Chris Pyne – trombone
  • Ray Swinfield – clarinet
  • Mountain Fjord, M.D., & Martyn Ford – strings
  • Roger Glover – string arrangements
  • The Manor Chorus – vocals
  • Helen Chappell, Liza Strike, & Barry St. John – backing vocals
  • Simon Heyworth – recording
  • Lou (Conway) Austin – recording
  • Fin Costello – photography

Track listing:

All tracks written by Ronnie James Dio and Mickey Lee Soule.

  1. Carolina County Ball
  2. A. 59
  3. Ain’t It All Amusing
  4. Happy
  5. Annie New Orleans
  6. Rocking Chair Rock’n’Roll Blues
  7. Rainbow
  8. Do the Same Thing
  9. Blanche

Rainbow: Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow

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Rainbow_-_Ritchie_Blackmore's_Rainbow

On August 4, 1975, “Oyster” label released “Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow”, the first  Rainbow album. It was recorded February – March 1975, at “Musicland Studios” in Munich, and was produced by Ritchie Blackmore, Martin Birch and Ronnie James Dio.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio – lead vocals
  • Ritchie Blackmore – guitar
  • Micky Lee Soule – piano, mellotron, clavinet, organ
  • Craig Gruber– bass
  • Gary Driscoll – drums
  • Shoshana – backing vocals
  • Martin Birch – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio except where noted

  1. Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow
  2. Self Portrait
  3. Black Sheep of the Family – Steve Hammond
  4. Catch the Rainbow
  5. Snake Charmer
  6. Temple of the King
  7. If You Don’t Like Rock ‘n’ Roll
  8. Sixteenth Century Greensleeves
  9. Still I’m Sad – Paul Samwell-Smith, Jim McCarty

Rainbow: Rising

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Rainbow Rising

On May 17, 1976, “Oyster/Polydor” label released “Rising”, the second Rainbow studio album. It was recorded in February 1976, at “Musicland Studios” in Munich, and was produced by Martin Birch. “Kerrang” magazine voted “Rising” the greatest heavy metal album of all time.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio– vocals
  • Ritchie Blackmore– guitar
  • Tony Carey– keyboards, orchestron
  • Jimmy Bain– bass
  • Cozy Powell– drums
  • Munich Philharmonic Orchestra– strings, horn
  • Fritz Sonnleitner – concert master
  • Rainer Pietsch – conductor
  • Martin Birch – mixing

Track listing:

All tracks by Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio.

  1. Tarot Woman
  2. Run With the Wolf
  3. Starstruck
  4. Do You Close Your Eyes
  5. Stargazer
  6. A Light in the Black

Black Sabbath: Heaven And Hell

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Black_Sabbath_Heaven_and_Hell

On April 25, 1980, “Vertigo” label released “Heaven and Hell”, the ninth Black Sabath studio album.It was recorded October 1979 – January 1980, at “Criteria Recording Studios: in Miami, and “Studio Farber” in Paris, and was produced by Martin Birch.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio– lead vocals
  • Tony Iommi– guitar
  • Geezer Butler– bass guitar
  • Bill Ward– drums, percussion
  • Geoff Nicholls– keyboards
  • Martin Birch – engineer
  • Joe “C” Foglia – engineer assistant
  • Lynn Curlee – cover art (Smoking Angels)
  • Harry Carmean – back cover illustration
  • Richard Seireeni – art direction

Track listing:

All music by Geezer Butler, Ronnie James Dio, Tony Iommi, and Bill Ward; all lyrics by Ronnie James Dio.

  1. Neon Knights
  2. Children of the Sea
  3. Lady Evil
  4. Heaven and Hell
  5. Wishing Well
  6. Die Young
  7. Walk Away
  8. Lonely is the Word

Rainbow: Long Live Rock’n’Roll

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Rainbow- long live rocknroll

On April 9, 1978, “Polydor” label released “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll”, the third Rainbow studio album. It was recorded at “The Strawberry Studio” in Château d’Hérouville, France, May–July & December 1977, and was produced by Martin Birch. This was band’s last album to feature original lead vocalist Ronnie James Dio.

Personnel:

  • Ronnie James Dio– lead vocals
  • Ritchie Blackmore– guitars, bass
  • Bob Daisley– bass
  • David Stone– keyboards, piano outro
  • Cozy Powell– drums, percussion
  • Tony Carey– keyboards
  • Rudi Risavy –flute
  • Bavarian String Ensemble conducted by Rainer Pietsch
  • Ferenc Kiss, Nico Nicolic –violin
  • Ottmar Machan -viola
  • Karl Heinz Feit –cello
  • Martin Birch– engineer
  • Max Hecker – classical instruments recording engineer
  • Bruce Payne – direction

Track listing:

All lyrics by Ronnie James Dio, all music by Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio, except where noted.

  1. “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll
  2. Lady of the lake
  3. A, Connection
  4. Gates of Babylon
  5. Kill the King – Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Cozy Powell
  6. The Shed – Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Cozy Powell
  7. Sensitive to Light
  8. Rainbow Eyes