Rainbow Songs Ranked
Rainbow (also known as Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow or Blackmore’s Rainbow) is a British rock band, formed in 1975 by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. They were originally established with Ronnie James Dio’s American rock band Elf, but after their self-titled debut album, Blackmore fired the backing members and continued with Dio. Rainbow recorded two more studio albums with Dio—Rising (1976) and Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll (1978)—before he left the band to join Black Sabbath in 1979.
Rainbow’s early work primarily featured mystical lyrics with a neoclassical metal style, then went in a more pop-rock oriented direction following Dio’s departure from the group. Three British musicians joined in 1979—singer Graham Bonnet, keyboardist Don Airey and then-former Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover—and this line-up gave the band their commercial breakthrough with the single “Since You Been Gone” from their fourth studio album Down to Earth. The band continued their success in the early 1980s with their next three albums Difficult to Cure (1981), Straight Between the Eyes (1982), and Bent Out of Shape (1983). After breaking up in 1984, Blackmore reformed Rainbow in 1993 with a new lineup, which recorded their eighth and last studio album to date Stranger in Us All (1995). Blackmore’s change in direction, from rock to Renaissance and medieval-influenced music, led to Rainbow’s second dissolution in 1997. He revived the band once again in 2015, and they still perform live occasionally. Rainbow was ranked No. 90 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock. The band has sold over 28 million records worldwide. Here are all of Rainbow’s songs ranked.
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20. Jealous Lover (The Very Best of Rainbow, 1997)
“The amazing keyboard intro to one of the best albums of all time, followed by a catchy riff and awesome lyrics and one hell of an underrated guitar solo.”
19. Can’t Let You Go (Bent Out of Shape, 1983)
“This is the first symphonic power metal song – no symphonic orchestra but symphonic vibe from start to finish. Amazing epic song”
18. All Night Long (Down to Earth, 1979)
“It’s a beautiful song and people should vote for it because this song must be in the top ten. This song is a pure classic from a pure band, and Ritchie Blackmore rules!”
17. Lost in Hollywood (Down to Earth, 1979)
“‘Lost in Hollywood’ another pre-cursor to American success but on Rainbow’s own terms where luddites get to unbutton their flies. Somewhat clichéd to say, but the gloss did start to cover over the substance from here onwards.”
See more: Rainbow Albums Ranked
16. Run with the Wolf (Rising, 1976)
“With the moody Blackmore revamping the Rainbow ranks following the group’s debut recording from the previous year, only the diminutive Dio was retained. Wise choice! In addition to Dio, producer Martin Birch was also along for the one-month recording ride in Munich, during February of ’76. Stellar choice, again.”
15. Stone Cold (Straight Between the Eyes, 1982)
“I can’t explain it but this is my second favorite Rainbow song. The guitar solo is brief but powerful, and the song is sung in a way that strikes me. I suppose you have to have lost a relationship to know.”
14. Lady of the Lake (Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll, 1978)
“The beginning of the song is so powerful. I play it every time I roll my funny car out of the trailer at the drag strip! “POWER METAL””
13. Since You Been Gone (Down to Earth, 1979)
“Great song, one of the 6 best by Rainbow in my opinion, especially good chorus and catchy guitar riff and keyboards. Definitely the best song not by Dio era Rainbow. I love it, makes me sing along every time I’m listening!”
12. Starstruck (Rising, 2004)
“Such a groovy funky song. It just makes you want to move and shake. One of the best off ‘Rising'”
11. L.A. Connection (Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll, 1978)
“It sounds like Ronnie James solo stuff it has a great guitar riff some of reminds me of Vivian Campbell days.”
10. Street of Dreams (Bent Out of Shape, 1983)
“Incredible song and the list itself is really good. Very romantic song. Impressive Dio’s ability to keep the tones at the end of the lines. One of my favorites.
9. Long Live Rock ‘N Roll (Long Live Rock ‘N Roll, 1978)
“Love this one. Especially singing by dio and the great riffs that are in there. Also love starstruck and the 1977 munich edition of man on a silver mountain. Great rock band with all top of their league musicians!”
8. Kill the King (On Stage, 1977)
“One of the best song in the history of rock should be 1st at least 2nd this solo rules and the last of the song is a masterpiece Dio sang his ass off. The heart and soul of rainbow in my opinion. the greatest singer ever with the greatest band ever.”
7. Rainbow Eyes (Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll, 1978)
“This melody from Ritchie is so beautiful and unique that is almost transcendental. It’s like a music message from the center of the Universe. And Dio earned the nickname Mr. Golden Voice for a reason.”
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6. A Light in the Black (Rising, 1976)
“Seriously, Rainbow Eyes or any of the songs above for that matter, better than A Light in the Black? If you think so then you need your hearing tested. This song has no equal on Rising or any Rainbow album.”
5. Man on the Silver Mountain (Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, 1975)
“Man On The Silver Mountain” was the song that announced Ritchie Blackmore’s new venture after leaving Deep Purple in 1975. The marriage between Blackmore’s riffing and subtle medieval-influenced licks and Ronnie James Dio’s mystical lyrics is unbeatable, and here they have created a great, commercial rock track that received a lot of airplay on release.”
4. Catch the Rainbow (Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, 1975)
“Pure romance! Something to dream. Shows the variety of the band. I heard this song since I was a child.This is such a powerful meaning and melodic song!”
3. Gates of Babylon (Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll, 1978)
“Simply a great piece of art..the first time I heard it, got fkn stunned..my favorite Rainbow song, along with Stargazer..but this, in my opinion, is a little bit more spectacular”
2. The Temple of the King (Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, 1975)
“Just a perfect song. One of the very less perfect song in the world. Makes me go emotional, don’t know why. Love it!”
1. Stargazer (Memories In Rock: Live In Germany, 2016)
“This song is so very good not just because of Dio and Blackmore’s solo, but especially because of Powell’s Drum intro and his drum over all. so this song should be dedicated to him first. not Dio or Blackmore because we all know that both always the front ones in the band.”