Product Description
2009 two CD anthology from the classic British rockers formed by guitar hero Ritchie Blackmore. This double disc set spans almost the entire career of Rainbow and is a celebration of all that was great and then greater still with the Anglo-American Heavy Rock giant. From their first incarnation with vocalist Ronnie James Dio whose fantasy sword n' sorcery lyrics shaped the early image of the band and whose significant presence takes-up the entire first disc, through to the chart scaling heights enjoyed with the Graham Bonnet line-up and the likes of 'Since You Been Gone' and then finally ending with the smooth-throated delivery and U.S. AOR styling's brought by Joe Lynn Turner, all the hits and more are crammed into this attractive package. With a nod also to Blackmore's curious sense of humor and the addition of tracks such as, 'Snowman' and a previously unreleased live rendition of 'Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow' from 1980's Monsters Of Rock Festival, this release stands-out significantly from previous hits collections in both content and execution. Complete with a picture booklet containing extensive sleevenotes from Jerry Bloom, and a 16-page booklet chronicling the career of Rainbow with a complete album discography and comprehensive personnel chart. Universal.

CD1:
1. Sixteenth Century Greensleeves
2. The Temple Of The King
3. Man On The Silver Mountain
4. Still I'm Sad
5. Tarot Woman
6. A Light In The Black
7. Stargazer
8. Catch The Rainbow
9. Intro: Over The Rainbow / Kill The King - Live
10. Gates Of Babylon
11. Lady Of The Lake
12. L.A. Connection

CD2:
1. Eyes Of The World
2. Since You've Been Gone - Album Version
3. Lost In Hollywood
4. Weiss Heim
5. Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Live from Donnington
6. I Surrender - Album Version
7. Vielleicht Das Nachster Mal
8. Jealous Lover
9. Stone Cold - Album Version
10. Death Alley Driver
11. Eyes Of Fire
12. Can't Let You Go - Album Version
13. Street Of Dreams - Album Version
14. Snowman
15. Stranded - Live at St. David's Hall, Cardiff, 1983
16. All Night Long - Live at David's Hall, Cardiff, 1983

Amazon USA:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00280J1GO/?tag=imwan-20

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00280J1GO/?tag=imwan-21

No Starstruck. I'm out.

Money, Money, Money Grab.

Something more interesting is "coming soon:"(according to Universal Music's advertisement in the recent issue of "Record Collector"): Deluxe 2-CD editions of "Rainbow Rising" & "Down to Earth".

Odd comp, but a worthy one for the rare tracks. I have everything this band ever recorded and plenty of ones that were of a boot nature, and I just saw the great Over The Rainbow show this summer. I also saw the real Rainbow live and they were awesome. Absolutely love this band and Blackmore.
Some rare tracks here for sure:

Weiss Heim
Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow - Live from Donnington
Vielleicht Das Nachster Mal
Jealous Lover
Stranded - Live at St. David's Hall, Cardiff, 1983
All Night Long - Live at David's Hall, Cardiff, 1983

Anyone who is a fan would be wise not to dismiss this comp. "Jealous Lover" was a big radio hit here in the States and is from the US only EP of the same name from 1981. The track does appear on the excellent comp The Very Best Of Rainbow from 1997.
You also get the b-sides "Weiss Heim" and "Vielleicht Das Nachster Mal" as well as the live Donnington track and the 2 live cuts from the killer radio show in 1983 I have.
Some odd choices and omissions on the classic cuts, but "Snowman" is a beautiful, haunting piece of music and is a kick-ass choice for people to hear. Don't really need the overlong live cut of "Catch The Rainbow" from On Stage, but what the hell? Could've easily put 3 other songs on there, but this is a pretty cool collection.
I am beyond excited at the prospect of 2 disc remasters, and I can say the previous Polydor/Universal remasters from 1999 were first class-nobody can tell me they were too loud or bright-they were very understated and not loud in the least! Holy crap- a double disc Rising remaster? That's the best album in Hard Rock history IMO and I've been dreaming of such a thing! Yeah!
Even if the new remasters are loud, who gives a damn? Rainbow were loud! Long Live Rock And Roll after all!

"Jealous Lover" and "Weiss Heim" are also on the 2003 2 disc "Catch The Rainbow" anthology.

It figures. I bought Rising a couple of years ago. Oh well, it's good enough having the original album.

I don't need any more live Dio.

I'm also in denial.

A Down to Earth 2 disc remaster would be right in my wheelhouse. Perhaps some live stuff on there from the Graham Bonnet era. Bring it on!

Yeah, I know, that's just an expanded version of The Very Best Of Rainbow, but you are correct.
As for the live cuts from 1983, that was an incredible show-I still remember recording that off the radio shortly after I saw the band live in 1983. Why not release the whole thing, or will it be added to a two disc Bent Out Of Shape remaster?
In any case, the prospect of double disc Rainbow remasters is awesome, I just hope it's the whole catalogue and not just Rising and Down To Earth which have nothing to do with each other musically, though both are great.

No "Long Live Rock And Roll" or Power" ?. I do like the rare stuff and "Lady Of The Lake" and I agree with Billy T , I'd love to see some live Bonnet era stuff . I never saw the with Dio but I did see them with Bonnet and Turner and the show with Bonnet was by far the better of the two.
I'll buy it .

This thread got me to to pull out Catch A Rainbow - have not listened to in some time - and as a bonus, I found my copy of Neil Young's Living With War...

Phil...when are these 2 coming out? THAT would be great to have...

Both are on Final Vinyl also.

Since the remasters aren't due until February, I picked this up for 9.99 and it was worth it even though I own all the albums and this is one of my favorite bands ever.
It's got some classics, some obscurities and some rarities. The live cuts are great to hear again (hope the Cardiff 1983 show which I still have on audio cassette somewhere from an FM broadcast ends up on the bent Out Of Shape remaster).
An odd mix of tracks, but man, the remastering sounds truly lovely. I hear some things I've never noticed on certain tracks and I don't find these too loud or compressed in any way.
I'm really glad I got this and I can play this for a few months until the remasters (hopefully) apear. I recommend this to a diehard or casual fan. To me this is sonic quality and musical excellence!