Purple Pyramid/Cleopatra Records [Release date 20.05.16]
At the end of every Rainbow there is a pot of gold. This is surely what labels must be thinking as Ritchie Blackmore plays his Strat in anger (allegedly) this summer. Following the release of Joe Lynn Turner’s 1985 gig in Boston, presumably from the same source (local FM Radio) comes a gig featuring the JLT-era Rainbow band going through their paces on the ‘Difficult To Cure’ tour.
This era of live Rainbow is not particularly well documented on album, so ‘Boston 1981′ is something of a discovery and it’s all above aboard too, licensed from the ‘Man In Black’ himself.
When we chatted with JLT about the summer gigs it was evidently clear that he thought there may be a good chance that Blackmore could reform some of the original members and the whole thing take on more of a reunion. As it happens, we now have to console ourselves with what might have been and this historical document provides some consolation.
Graham Bonnet and Cozy Powell had left the band in 1980 and in came Joe Lynn Turner – not least for his lyrical skills – and Bobby Rondinelli. On keyboards was Don Airey and bass, Roger Glover.
The album features a mix of the new album, including the hit singles ‘I Surrender’ and ‘Can’t Happen Here’, and the usual on-stage classics including ‘Man On The Silver Mountain’ and ‘Catch The Rainbow’ the latter an extended vehicle for Blackmore (although a deadringer for Hendrix’s ‘Little Wing’) before morphing into ’16th Century Greensleeves’.
‘Difficult To Cure’ followed the band’s previous offering – ‘Down To Earth’ – in spawning a more commercial approach whilst ‘Spotlight Kid’ is straight out of the Deep Purple songbook. JLT is on sparkling form throughout and Don Airey’s keyboards are nicely up in the mix. Sadly Airey had gone by the time of the following album and after ‘Straight Between The Eyes’ the whole plot started to unravel and the band was disbanded by 1984 (although reviving a decade later).
But for a moment in May 1981 Rainbow were firing on all cylinders and this album perfectly captures the start of a particularly productive, and commercially successful, era for the band. Oh, and yes there’s a great version of ‘Smoke On The Water’. ****
Review by David Randall
David Randall presents ‘Assume The Position’ on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio every Sunday at 22:00 GMT.
Album review (Monsters Of Rock, Live At Donington 1980)
Joe Lynn Turner interview/feature
Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK
Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.
Next session: Sunday 19 January
Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio
David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.
UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.
How to Listen Live?
Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)
Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”
Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.
More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com
Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024
In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections
Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024
09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)
PDF - you can delete unwanted sections
