On May 17, 1976, Rainbow released their second studio album, Rising . Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore 's first epic after leaving Deep Purple not only raised the bar for technical skill in rock, but also laid the groundwork for what would later become known as power metal.
With the powerful voice of Ronnie James Dio and the debut of a new lineup led by drummer Cozy Powell, Blackmore created a work that would forever change both the musical and lyrical aesthetics within heavy metal music.
Check out 6 interesting facts about the album that is celebrating its 50th anniversary
Mass layoffs before filming begins
After the release of the band's debut album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, in 1975, Blackmore – known for his perfectionism – was dissatisfied with how the band sounded live. To resolve this, the musician opted to fire almost all the members except Dio: bassist Craig Gruber, keyboardist Mickey Lee Soule , and drummer Gary Driscoll. To replace them, the guitarist recruited bassist Jimmy Bain, keyboardist Tony Carey , and the legendary drummer Cozy Powell, forming the classic and iconic lineup that would record Rising.
Origin of the iconic Rainbow cover
The cover, which depicts a mechanical hand grasping a rainbow over a mountainous and mystical landscape, went on to dictate the visual standard for epic metal from then on and was commissioned from acclaimed American fantasy illustrator Ken Kelly, who passed away at the age of 76 in 2022.
It should also be noted that 1976 was a historic year for the artist: in addition to creating the cover for Rising , he also designed the artwork for KISS 's album Destroyer in the same year . In the following years, Kelly would become world-famous in the industry for being the official cover artist for Manowar .
The orchestra of “Stargazer”
Often cited as the greatest song ever recorded by Rainbow, “Stargazer” features lyrics about slaves building a stone tower for a wizard. To achieve the grandeur of Blackmore and Dio's composition, the band refused to use synthesizers and hired real musicians from the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra. With string and horn arrangements conducted by maestro Rainer Pietsch, the group definitively fused the elegance of classical music with the fury of metal.
The connection between “Stargazer” and “A Light in the Black”
Even with only six tracks, the album's final two songs form a unique story that cemented Ronnie James Dio as one of the genre's greatest lyricists. While "Stargazer" narrates the construction of the tower and the wizard's fatal fall, the closing track "A Light in the Black" acts as a direct continuation, dealing with slaves who, finally free, feel confused and lost without a purpose or anyone to follow. This connection shows that, beyond sound, metal would come to be used as a storyteller of epic and historical sagas.
'Rising' and its short duration
Despite its epic grandeur and the feeling that the listener is in the midst of a journey, Rising has a short total duration: only 33 minutes and 28 seconds. In the second half of the 1970s, it was already possible to release longer vinyl records, but the band deliberately designed the album's structure as a protest against the commercial demands for releasing short songs.
To prove this point, the B-side of the original vinyl contained only two tracks: “Stargazer” and “A Light in the Black.” Both exceed eight minutes in length and feature long instrumental solos, tempo changes, and fantasy narratives.
"Greatest album of all time" in the 1980s
Although albums by bands like Black Sabbath, Judas Priest , andIron Maiden often feature on lists of great metal releases, the impact of Rising exceeded expectations at the time of its release.
On October 4, 1981, in the newly released issue No. 4 of the renowned British magazine Kerrang!,the first major reader poll was held to elect the greatest heavy metal album of all time. The absolute first place did not go to any of the previously mentioned groups, but rather to Rising, surpassing names like AC/DC, Led Zeppelin , and Saxon.
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