223 - Rainbow Stargazer 1976

Rainbow's second album, "Rising", released not even one year after their debut, is widely considered as one of the masterpieces of hard rock. A dream-team of musicians such as incomparable guitar wizard Ritchie Blackmore, diminutive yet iron-lunged vocalist Ronnie James Dio, powerhouse drummer Cozy Powell (RIP - one of the saddest losses for the rock world), keyboard player Tony Carey, and bassist Jimmy Bain (later to join RJ Dio's eponymous band, with which he plays to this day) created tracks such as this "Stargazer", a staggering tour de force sprinkled with dazzling guitar work by the Man in Black himself, and a stellar vocal performance by RJ Dio.