Long Live Rock 'n' Roll

1. Long Live Rock 'N' Roll

2. Lady of the Lake

3. L.A. Connection

4. Gates of Babylon

5. Kill the King

6. Shed (Subtle)

7. Sensitive to Light

8. Rainbow Eyes

Long Live Rock 'n' Roll,Rainbow,Polygram Records,Hard Rock,Heavy Metal,Pop,Popular Music,Rock

Average customer rating:

Dio's swansong, Long Live Rock 'n' Roll indeed

Medieval Rock in Renaissance times...

Not Rising but still good...

Yes long live rock n roll because it's dying!

Long Live, indeed...

Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
Rainbow
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Rising

Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

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ASIN: B00000IMTH
Release Date: 1999-04-27

Tracks:

Long Live Rock 'N' Roll
Lady Of The Lake
L.A. Connection
Gates Of Babylon
Kill The King
The Shed (Subtle)
Sensitive To Light
Rainbow Eyes

Customer Reviews:

Dio's swansong, Long Live Rock 'n' Roll indeed .......2007-07-18

When anyone looks back at the time Ronnie James Dio sang with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, the album Rising is the one mentioned as the masterpiece. I have to admit that the 6 track album or CD is definitely on my top 100 list, but the group's follow-up effort, Long Live Rock `n' Roll is a very good to great album in its own way. The opening title track announces what is in store and the following songs with Blackmore's riffing, Cozy Powell's imaginative drum beats and of course Dio's vocals just drive home the 8 songs contained within this release home. The Gates of Babylon happens to be my favorite track with the moody and atmospheric keyboard opening to the memorable guitar riffs throughout. Hell, even Yngwie Malmsteen covered this song a few years back. Kill the King was the opening song for oh so many Rainbow shows, even though the opening guitar riff sounds very much like an early Rush riff. Great song though and always announced the band with power and might. The album closer, Rainbow Eyes is just a Dio vocal with orchestral backup, kind of the direction of Blackmore's Night has gone 3 decades later. The song does take some getting used and I have to admit that I usually skip it after the onslaught of the other guitar/drum heavy tracks. Check out a few snippets of the songs online and I am sure that you will want to here each one in their entirety! I recommend this album highly and this will add to the ever increasing back catalogue of Ronnie James Dio's career.

Medieval Rock in Renaissance times..........2007-05-28

What an odd album to put out at the height of disco and punk and the dawn of New Wave; a classic hard rock album with Camelot-like themes. The title track frankly has not aged well but was probably one of the more timely tracks, as it has a sort of boogie arena rock feel to it. The rest the album though has many great moments, continuing on in the mode set by "Rising"; solid hard rock that sits somewhere between "Who Do We Think We Are" Deep Purple and "Physical Graffitti" Led Zeppelin, but with medieval themes. Wildly unfashionable at the time I am sure. But that makes it that much more endearing, as perhaps it was ahead of the game, foreshadowing the NWONHM wave that came only a year or two after. Fans of Dio , Purple and Rainbow must have this record. On it's own merits it is really a great album. "Kill The King" abosolutely rocks. And I always thought Blackmore was brave to use such a relatively clean tone playing the riffs he did. I think you have to be a guitar player to appreciate the less saturated metal tones that sound so powerful but ultimately generic. This record has class and some truly memorable songs.

Not Rising but still good..........2007-05-11

Rainbow's third album, 1978's Long Live Rock'n'Roll, would be the last to feature original singer Ronnie James Dio. Guitarist and bandleader Ritchie Blackmore's penchant for constantly replacing band members for no good reason and sudden desire to take Rainbow in a more pop-rock direction would soon drive Dio from the group.

A couple of lineup changes took place just prior to the recording of this album. Keyboardist Tony Carey and bassist Jimmy Bain were both ousted, and Rainbow went into the studio without permanent repacements. David Stone was eventually called in to take over the keyboard duties, but how much of the album he actually played on is unclear. What is clear is that none of the keyboard playing on this album is comparable to the stellar work that Carey did on Rainbow's second album, Rising. Bassist Bob Daisley was brought in but only played on a couple of tracks, most of the bass on the album having already been played (very well) by Ritchie Blackmore. Drummer Cozy Powell plays every bit as powerfully as he did on Rising, and both Blackmore and Dio deliver the goods with their customary aplomb. Martin Birch is once again the producer, although this album is recorded in a rawer fashion than Rising, probably on purpose.

Despite the internal problems Rainbow managed to turn in a killer album. While lacking the sheer brilliance of Rising this album has the advantage of being the hardest rocking piece of work in the Rainbow catalog. It kicks like an angry mule, yet still retains flashes of the subtley of their previous efforts. It's not as progressive or experimental as the first two albums and seems to focus more on straight-ahead hard rock. Some great tracks include the Zeppelin-esque "Lady Of The Lake", the fast-paced concert opener "Kill The King", and the plaintive ballad "Rainbow Eyes". Then there's the mighty "Gates Of Babylon", an eastern-tinged epic that ranks right up there with Rainbow's best. Most of the other tunes are quite enjoyable as well, if not on the same level as the ones I've mentioned. However the title track, which provided the band with a minor hit, seems forced and generic to my ears.

Of the first three Rainbow albums this is my least favorite, but for all that it's still a great album. After this Ritchie Blackmore threw out everybody except Cozy Powell and formed a new lineup that produced generic mainstream pop-rock. Get this album; it's full of great music and well worth the price.

Yes long live rock n roll because it's dying!.......2007-03-13

Rainbow's 3rd album with Dio is a classic!
It's ashame at the time critics and fans
didn't realize it! I've always loved this
album but Rising was my favorite but I'm
loving this one again! The title track as
well as Kill the King, The Shed are just
killers and the awesome Rainbow eyes is
just the greatest slow song ever written.
They don't make rock n roll like this anymore
and I feel sorry for kids today that never
will hear great bands like this!

Long Live, indeed..........2007-02-13

This, my friends, is without a doubt, my favorite Rainbow album and one of my top-ten records EVER! It was the first Rainbow album I got, and I picked it randomly after reading for sooooo many years about this great band where Dio and Blackmore teamed before Ronnie joined Sabbath. Being a MAJOR Dio-era Sabbath fan, I was intrigued, and finally I caved in. Of course, I had to order the damn thing because record stores in my country wouldn't carry anything but mainstream acts at the time. So without ever hearing a single note of the band's music, I ordered "Long Live Rock n' Roll". A few weeks later, after finally getting my hands on it and listening to it, I was speechless: IT IS SO AWESOME! Recorded in Munich at different times during 1977, the album features in addition to Ritchie Blackmore on guitars and Ronnie James Dio on vocals, the inimitable talents of Cozy Powell on drums. The lineup was completed by keyboardist Dave Stone and bassist Bob Daisley (who only played on a few songs) and while neither one has earned too much praise or many accolades for their contributions, the fact remains that without them the album wouldn't have been completed at all.

The title track is simply great, you can definitely tell that Blackmore is the one playing, but it doesn't sound like Deep Purple at all, which was a big surprise for me, as I am also a big Purple fan. Dio is simply monstrous, and at the risk of having my life threatened by some diehards, I believe he sings even better than he would eventually do on "Heaven and Hell". It's heavy, yet catchy and melodic; "Lady of the lake" conjures up images of Knights, dungeons, dragons and magic that would become a Dio trademark and a primordial element of Euro-metal for decades to come (to this day, actually...) and rocks big time with some terrific slide guitar from Ritchie; "LA Connection" is another gem, slower than the previous tunes, but very intense and heavy; "Gates of Babylon" needs no further comment: simply put, a masterpiece, from the keyboard intro through its powerful lyrics to its awe inspiring guitar work; "Kill the King" is fast and furious, yet catchy and melodic, a true classic and one of my favorite songs ever. Unlikely as it might seem, I think that the studio version is even MORE potent than the live versions of the song that are avaible, a rare occurence when talking about this band, which was absolutely killer onstage. At this point I'm compelled to state the obvious: hearing this album and this song in particular you understand perfectly where Iron Maiden got their inspiration. Don't believe me? Well, just so you know, Steve Harris is a MAJOR Rainbow fan (he has said so on more than one occasion); "The Shed" builds up nice and slow and then it slams you in the face, driven by the power of the great, late Cozy Powell. "Sensitive to Light" is probably the only song that sounds a little out of place, sounding a little reminiscent to "If you don't like rock n' roll" from their debut album, but ultimately it's a great track too. And last but certainly not least, "Rainbow Eyes" is all subtlety, all fragility, all intensity and passion in one, without a doubt, the best Rainbow ballad (sorry Joe Lynn Turner freaks), built upon a beautiful guitar melody which is emphasized by a string and flute ensemble that is simply gorgeous.

Too bad that this record would prove to be the last release from the Dio-era, as Blackmore would (once again!!!) change his mind about the musical direction he wanted for the band shortly after the completion of the supporting tour. While I might agree with most Rainbow diehards and scholars that "Rising" is probably their best album (it was in fact the last one I got from the Dio-era), this is the one that ultimately had the biggest impact on me and the one which will always hold the fondest musical memories for me. If you're new to Rainbow (Dio-era or otherwise), I suggest that you start your collection with either this or the debut album before digging into "Rising", which is far more complex and quite a bit harder to absorb at first. This should allow you to enter a comfort zone and gradually dig in deeper. This record is a masterpiece and no fan of 70's hard rock should do without it. Forgive me for the play on words, but it's too bad that this incarnation of the band didn't, in fact, "live long..."

Average customer rating:

The best!
The Very Best of Rainbow
THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST HARD ROCK ALBUMS EVER
A "must have" for Dio and Blackmore fans
Blackmore provides the lightning, Dio the thunder

Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
Rainbow
Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow
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Rising

ASIN: B000001FDA
Release Date: 1988-01-01

Tracks:

Long Live Rock 'N' Roll
Lady Of The Lake
L.A. Connection
Gates Of Babylon
Kill The King
The Shed (Subtle)
Sensitive To Light
Rainbow Eyes

Customer Reviews:

The best!.......1999-08-19

This is one of the best hard-rock recordings of all times. Just that. Period.

The Very Best of Rainbow.......1998-09-23

Long Live Rock'n'Roll is surely the best Rainbow's album and pehaps one of the best that I ever heard. If you'd liked the Dio's Rainbow era, you'll really love it!

THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST HARD ROCK ALBUMS EVER.......1998-08-24

Long Live Rock 'N Roll is proof of the fact that Blackmore hasn't lost his touch when it come to playing the guitar. Ronnie James Dio's supercharged vocals complement his playing very well. Together they are a killer songwriting duo and along with the rest of the band's rhythm section, this is one album that is a must-have for all classic hard rock fans.

A "must have" for Dio and Blackmore fans.......1998-07-19

This album is a hard rock/metal classic. This is Rainbow's best album with Dio in that the songs have no fat. Dio's performance is extraordinary -- his prime. And the material is very, very strong; there isn't a bad track. Good songwriting, very good musicianship, and it rocks hard. Definitely one to turn up to 11. If you like Richie Blackmore's classical hard rock genre, you probably already have this one... but it you don't, purchase it immediately.

Blackmore provides the lightning, Dio the thunder.......1997-03-29

This easily ranks up there with the best of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin (not to mention Deep Purple) as a "hard rock" classic. The problem is, it came about five years too late, or five years too early. Although commercial success eluded this work (perhaps due to timing), the Blackmore/Dio coupling was never more magic. The anthemic title track "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" is the work's philosophy statement, and the band proceeds to shred the metal-thunder terrain. Standout tracks include (the vaguely Middle-Eastern sounding) "Gates of Babylon" and speed metal thrasher "Kill the King." There is not a weak track on this CD. END

Average customer rating:

Their finest hour

Long Live Rock 'n' Roll
Rainbow
Manufacturer: Polydor
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005S772
Release Date: 2006-10-03

Tracks:

Long Live Rock 'N' Roll
Lady of the Lake
L.A. Connection
Gates of Babylon
Kill the King
Shed (Subtle)
Sensitive to Light
Rainbow Eyes

Album Description

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. Universal. 2006.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork.

Customer Reviews:

Their finest hour.......2003-12-10

Long Live Rock 'N' Roll (1978.) Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow's third studio album, and the final one to feature Ronnie James Dio on lead vocals.

All right, people. Before I actually begin the review, I should probably make something clear. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that this album is the best Ritchie Blackmore album, the best Ronnie James Dio album, and the best Rainbow album. Yes, I feel it's even better than Machine Head, Heaven And Hell, Holy Diver, and Rainbow Rising - all of which are masterpieces in their own right. All right, enough rambling - let's get on with the review!

Long Live Rock 'N' Roll, Rainbow's third studio album, was released in 1978. This would be the end of an era, since it was the final release by Rainbow to feature the legendary Ronnie James Dio on vocals, and one of Blackmore's last true moments of greatness until 1984, when he temporarily reunited with Deep Purple. The line-up for Rainbow was never a stable one, with Ritchie Blackmore being the one constant. The bass player on this album plays only on this album. Who is it, you ask? None other than future Ozzy Osbourne band bass player Bob Daisley! And yes, he's the one that recently sued Ozzy (read my Ozzy reviews if you want more information on this.) Long Live Rock 'N' Roll proved to be an all time high for Blackmore and Dio, though some would beg to differ. Let's break this masterpiece down, track by track, so we can see why it is my favorite album of all time - from a collection of over four hundred compact discs.

Long Live Rock 'N' Roll - The album kicks off with the title track. This was Rainbow's first album to feature a title track, and it's an excellent one. It's a shame this song never got the proper credit - it should have gone on to become a legendary rock anthem. Oh well, the song's still damn good.

Lady Of The Lake - Remember how I said this was my all-time favorite album from Rainbow, Blackmore, and/or Dio? Well, this is my favorite track on the album, making my favorite song of all time from all three of these three respective artists. Here the band goes for an ultra-melodic rock assault on the senses, which speaks of the devil being personified as a woman. The fact that this song is so underrated just makes my head spin...

L.A. Connection - The third track on the album is more of a straight-up kind of rock and roll song thant the last two. The lyrics here are excellent - as is everything else about this song. In a way, this song serves as a premonition to Dio's solo career - no less than one track on his Holy Diver album bore a striking resemblance to this one!

Gates Of Babylon - No matter how many reviews for this album you read, you're always going to hear praise about this song. And why the hell not? For this track, the band uses keyboard effects that simulate an "eastern world" sound. Combine that with an ultra-heavy yet ultra-melodic sound and Dio's unbeatable vocals, and what do you get? A MASTERPIECE. This is my second favorite song on the album, being outdone only slightly by Lady Of The Lake.

Kill The King - Although Rainbow actually premiered this song on their recent live release known as On Stage, this was the first time it was done in the studio. Here the band serves up an excellent mixture of power rock and heavy metal that stands as solid proof that heavy metal DID exist before the eighties! Blackmore's unrivaled guitar superiority makes this song another one of the masterpieces that composes one hell of an album.

The Shed (Subtle) - Before I start reviewing this track, I need to clear up that I have NO IDEA where they got that title. With this track the band gives us a mid-fast hard rocker with a slightly more "raw" sound than the other tracks featured here. Once again, we have been blessed.

Sensitive To Light - This is one of the most interesting tracks on the album because, while it is obviously a straight-up power rocker, Dio's vocal style hints back at the work he did in Elf (listen to L.A. 59 on that band's Carolina County Ball album, and you'll notice a striking resemblance.) It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that this fusion of styles only makes this track better.

Rainbow Eyes - You may have notice something so far in my reviews of the album tracks - there haven't been any ballads! That is, until the very end. You may be thinking something like "I'm a metalhead! I hate ballads! There's no way I could like this track!" Well, you poor, demented soul, I've got news for you. This is a GOOD ballad. It's the slowest and softest track on the album (and arguably of Blackmore and Dio's careers), and even has a hint of a medieval sound (Blackmore was fascinated by music from this time period, and several years later his obsession with it would destroy his musical career (at least in my eyes.)) It may sound odd going from so many hard and heavy tracks to a soft one, but this one closes the album nicely, and gives it a nice, "finished" feeling.

A number of reviewers have mentioned a problem with this recording - the sound quality just isn't as up to par as it is on the other Rainbow remasters. That's a real shame, I was hoping they'd take advantage of this remasters series and use it to clean up the shoddy production. Oh well, that doesn't change my feelings about this album's greatness one bit.

Long Live Rock 'N' Roll is a very appropriate title for this masterpiece, since it's one of the greatest rock and roll albums ever recorded. If I could give this album an infinite number of stars, I would certainly do so, but Amazon only lets you give as high as five stars - so that's my rating. If you're a fan of classic rock, hard rock, heavy metal, power rock, or just a fan of Blackmore or Dio, DO NOT PASS THIS ALBUM BY. Maybe you won't agree with my calling this the greatest Blackmore/Rainbow/Dio album ever, but if you like any of these artists, you'll agree with one thing - it's more than worthy of a five-star rating.

Long Live Rock N Roll
Average customer rating:
Long Live Rock N Roll
Chuck Berry
Manufacturer: Solo
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00008LNYQ
Release Date: 2004-10-27

Long Live Rock N Roll
Average customer rating:
Long Live Rock N Roll
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Spv Germany
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000025QCE
Release Date: 1997-12-01

Long Live Rock N Roll
Average customer rating:
Long Live Rock N Roll
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Fatb
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0000083JN
Release Date: 1994-04-17