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The departure of Ronnie James Dio gave Ritchie Blackmore a chance to reinvent Rainbow, which he does to a certain extent on Down to Earth. Adding former Deep Purple colleague Roger Glover as bassist and Graham Bonnet as vocalist, Blackmore tones down some of the excess of the Dio years, particularly in terms of fantastical lyrics, and turns to straight-ahead hard rock, only occasionally adorned by prominent synthesizers. In general, their material is fairly solid, and "Since You Been Gone" easily ranks among the band's best songs, but overall the record is a little generic and sounds very much of its time -- namely, the late '70s, when album rock still ruled the arenas. Nevertheless, Rainbow has a distinct idea, primarily through the guitar artistry and mystical sensibility of Ritchie Blackmore. He sounds invigorated on the album, turning in muscular performances and strong solos on each cut; clearly, the reunion has revitalized him. Unfortunately, Bonnet tends to oversell his vocals, screaming a little bit too often, but he doesn't distract from the fact that Blackmore, Glover, and drummer Cozy Powell turn Down to Earth into a fine hard rock platter. It might not offer anything unique, but it delivers the goods.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Russ Ballard, ComposerLyricist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rainbow, MainArtist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Producer, Guitar, Executive Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Cozy Powell, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Don Airey, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Graham Bonnet, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1986 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Lynn Turner, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Roger Glover, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Joe Lynn Turner, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Russ Ballard, ComposerLyricist - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Lynn Turner, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Lynn Turner, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Cozy Powell, ComposerLyricist - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Lynn Turner, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Gary Edwards, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Ritchie Blackmore, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Roger Glover, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Lynn Turner, Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Cozy Powell, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - David Rosenthal, Keyboards, AssociatedPerformer - Rainbow, MainArtist - Leigh Mantle, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Chuck Burgh, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Doctor Michael Palmer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2010 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
The departure of Ronnie James Dio gave Ritchie Blackmore a chance to reinvent Rainbow, which he does to a certain extent on Down to Earth. Adding former Deep Purple colleague Roger Glover as bassist and Graham Bonnet as vocalist, Blackmore tones down some of the excess of the Dio years, particularly in terms of fantastical lyrics, and turns to straight-ahead hard rock, only occasionally adorned by prominent synthesizers. In general, their material is fairly solid, and "Since You Been Gone" easily ranks among the band's best songs, but overall the record is a little generic and sounds very much of its time -- namely, the late '70s, when album rock still ruled the arenas. Nevertheless, Rainbow has a distinct idea, primarily through the guitar artistry and mystical sensibility of Ritchie Blackmore. He sounds invigorated on the album, turning in muscular performances and strong solos on each cut; clearly, the reunion has revitalized him. Unfortunately, Bonnet tends to oversell his vocals, screaming a little bit too often, but he doesn't distract from the fact that Blackmore, Glover, and drummer Cozy Powell turn Down to Earth into a fine hard rock platter. It might not offer anything unique, but it delivers the goods.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 22 track(s)
- Total length: 01:45:17
- Main artists: Rainbow
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Polydor
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2011 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 2011 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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