Demon/Edsel [Release date 27.11.26]

Earlier this year Demon did a wonderful job with the Rainbow box Temple Of The King, taking in Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow’s first two album from 1975 and 1976, bonus tracks, and the three live in Germany 1976 sets (each over 2 CDs), totalling 9 CDs. Those three live sets have since been issued on triple viny, first time in analogue format and how wonderful they sounded.

Now, the material from the rarities disc gets a limited vinyl release. Completists and audiophiles will appreciate.

First a technical note; many of the tracks are rare edits from various parts of the world, and some of those being mono. Even the stereo edits have a place, as they can be more succinct. A different listening experience, or sacrilege, it’s personal.

So, mono, so what? (And they are not different takes, as I’ve seen mentioned, it’s a mix). With a stereo mix, there is instrument separation horizontally; left, right and central. Mono mixes are often put onto 7” singles intended for radio airplay, thus the separation is done by depth, volume, so you get front to back layering. So some instruments are given a bit more punch. In many of these cases, that’s Blackmore’s guitar. And with compression and a heavier bass EQ, which can change how the rhythm section comes over. And being mixed separately to the stereo mix, it’s not just “2 channels down to 1” job, there’s the potential for alternate individual instrument fade in/fade out. Minor to some, important to others. And yes it is very worthwhile.

Opening up the package, a solid feel to the gatefold sleeve, and a solid feel to the vinyl, one yellow, one red. It feels as good as it looks, we’re off to an excellent start.

The tracks are -

Side One

1. Man On The Silver Mountain (Mono Edit)

2. Temple Of The King (Bolivian Mono Mix)

3. Man On The Silver Mountain (Stereo Edit)

Side Two

4. Tarot Woman (Rough Mix)

5. Run With The Wolf (Rough Mix)

6. Starstruck (Rough Mix)

Side Three

7. Do You Close Your Eyes (Rough Mix)

8. Stargazer (Rough Mix)

9. A Light In The Black (Rough Mix)

Side Four

10. Stargazer (Pirate Sound Tour Rehearsal)

11. Starstruck (Mono Edit)

12. Starstruck (Stereo Edit)

The album gets off to a cracking start with the classic Man On The Silver Mountain US mono edit, mixed for AM radio and the vocals cut through nicely. And the Bolivian mix of Temple Of The King, yes it was issued as a single in Bolivia, and it does lack the width of the album version.

Then there’s Silver Mountain (again), a stereo edit issued commercially in the US, a little shorter. Tarot Woman, the classic opener to the Rainbow Rising LP, is here in rough mix form (1976 Music Land mix, these rough mixes and more were added to the long since deleted 2CD of the album) makes more of Cozy Powell’s drums and Tony Carey’s synth is more prominent. Then on the rough mix of Run With The Wolf the bass is clearer.

The fills on the rough mix of Starstruck are different, a standout, but on the other hand it loses the stereo panning on the subsequent mono edit.

The two absolute standout tracks are the rough mixes of Stargazer and A Light In The Black, especially the guitar/keyboard solo on the latter; Blackmore, Dio, Powell, Bain and Carey at their absolute best. A masterclass.

Historically important, well, vital really, but the only difficult listen, is the tour rehearsal of Stargazer; bootleg quality and muddy.

While the tracks are available on the Temple Of The King, this is a wonderful package and are the first time on vinyl (even the Bolivian edit – I think it’s fair to say that’s not most collections here). And true to Demon form, the reproduction in vinyl is first class. Where the mixes allow, there’s depth, warmth, chemistry. While the tracks from the band’s 1975 debut are superb, it’s the magic of Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie Dio, Cozy Powell, Jimmy Bain and Tony Carey that took rock music to a whole new level in 1976. A great sound, a great band, gatefold sleeve and inner sleeves, what’s not to love? ******

Review by Joe Geesin

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 12 October 2026

TAKIDA – Lion’s Den (Drongo Records)
SCARDUST – Symphony (Frontiers)
ANBERLIN – Gravity (Rude Records/Equal Vision Records)
MISSING TOYS – Lifeline (Pride & Joy Music)
SWEET GORILLA – It’s Your Life (5000 Records)
ROYAL BLOOD – Dead Company (Warner Records)

Featured Albums w/c 12 October 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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