1585 - Rainbow Death Alley Driver 1982

Possibly Rainbow's most commercial album, "Straight Between the Eyes" is a collection of average hard rock songs. It contains some stunning straight hard rock moments and sparkling guitar work from Ritchie throughout, and great vocals from Joe Lynn Turner. 
Death Alley Driver thrives on an accelerator jammed near the floor. Blackmore lets loose with a stirring one minute solo to prove that the soul is still there when the imagination allows, before giving way to Rosenthal, who enjoys his own moment of keyboard glory.

1535 - Rainbow Lady Of The Lake 1978

Rainbow were already one of the most inventive heavy metal bands by 1978,and "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" was the definitive culmination of their pioneer sound. "Lady Of The Lake´s plodding riff is very heavy-sounding and the chorus memorable. Enjoy Dio’s catchy lyrics and immaculately developed choruses, including charming melody plus Ritchie’s smooth, effective Guitar solo.

1183 - Rainbow Stone Cold 1982

"Difficult To Cure" was definitely Rainbow's hand at radio-friendly pop rock, adding more fluff to the mix and also seeing crooner Joe Lynn Turner join the fold, to replace Graham Bonnett. Enter "Straight Between The Eyes", a harder rocking, more guitar based album, just like the good ol' days. Yes, it still has some of those commercial elements, but it now has some extra kick to it, thanks to Ritchie's riffs.
"Stone Cold" became instantly a classic and one of the most popular hits Rainbow ever released. It's an amazing melodic metal song.

816 - Rainbow Starstruck 1976

"Starstruck" opens with one of Blackmore's most catchy riffs. This is easily the most Deep Purple-ish of the tracks on the album "Rising", with organ and vocals that could have come compliments of Jon Lord and Ian Gillan respectively.
Even when Dio departed the band to do a stint fronting Black Sabbath, Blackmore would take the group down a more commercial road, before the guitarist returned to Deep Purple. But all that was in the future, at the time it was released, "Rising" was an unconditional triumph.

762 - Rainbow Man on the Silver Mountain 1975

When Ritchie Blackmore grew tired of the increasing amount of funk being put into Deep Purple he decided to record a solo album. "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" remains one of the best albums of the mid seventies and put Blackmore back on track, and pushed Ronnie James Dio into the limelight for the first time on the big stage. The opening track 'Man on the Silver Mountain' boasted an instantly recognisable riff and remained a live favourite throughout the Dio years. It remains one of Blackmore's best compositions.

499 - Rainbow Kill the King 1978

Rainbow were a hard rock and heavy metal band formed by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore in 1975. "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" is the third studio album released by Rainbow, released in 1978. Although Bob Daisley & David Stone are listed on the album credits for their contributions they joined the band part way through the recording sessions and only appear on a couple of tracks. (Stone part wrote "Gates of Babylon" but was never credited). Blackmore played most of the bass parts himself for the album. "Kill the King" was already a staple part of the tour setlists, opening Rainbow concerts since mid-1976. It first appeared on the live album "On Stage" in 1977.

369 - Rainbow All night long 1979

With the addition of keyboard player Don Airey, bass player Roger Glover and "cool'n'snappy dude" singer Graham Bonnet the band achieved a more AOR sound. "All night long" is the classier track. The song has a wonderful melody inviting a superb vocal performance by Bonnet.

338 - Rainbow Gates of Babylon 1978

Originally released in 1978,this was Rainbow's third studio lp and final work with vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Two new members are present here, keyboardist David Stone and bassist Bob Daisley. This effort was produced by Martin Birch. "Gates of Babylon" is the epic of the album. Blackmore's riff is amazing, the keyboard intro is great, together with Powell´s mastery on drums. Dio's vocal performance remains one of his best ever aswell.

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.

117 - Rainbow I Surrender 1981

In 1974, after Deep Purple had released “Stormbringer”, Ritchie Blackmore had become disillusioned with the funk/soul elements that were being introduced by David Coverdale and Glenn Hughes, and also wanted to express his ideas that were being suppressed in Deep Purple. He went into the studio with an American band, Elf, which were to act only as a session band. Rainbow’s debut was actually recorded whilst Ritchie was still a member of Deep Purple! This took place just before Deep Purple’s European tour to support “Stormbringer”. Blackmore instantly struck up a strong working relationship with the lead vocalist of Elf, Ronnie James Dio. Their shared interests in both medieval and hard rock music would build the foundations for “Ritchie Blackmore´s Rainbow”, in which Blackmore and Dio shared all the songwriting credits.
By January 1979, Ronnie James Dio decided to leave in order to join Black Sabbath, with whom he remained until 1982 (he would then leave to form his own band, called simply Dio). Suddenly, without his main songwriting partner, Blackmore recruited his old friend, bassist Roger Glover, who used to play with Deep Purple. Glover would also help with the songwriting and production. Keyboardist Don Airey (from Colosseum II) and new vocalist Graham Bonnet were brought in to complete the new line–up. This new line–up resulted in the band moving in a more straightforward rock direction with a more commercial feel to their overall sound. They had two top ten hits with “Since You Been Gone” and “All Night Long”.
After almost two years of relentless touring, Blackmore unpredictably decided he wanted Rainbow to move into a more melodic direction. Joe Lynn Turner was recruited as the new lead vocalist, bringing more of a ”radio friendly” sound to the band. After five years behind the drums, Cozy Powell also decided to leave. He was replaced by Bobby Rondinelli.
The 1981 album, “Difficult To Cure”, brought them their biggest hit single to date, “I Surrender”. Rainbow suddenly found they were attracting a new audience as they moved into a more mainstream/AOR/Rock direction.

47 - Rainbow Long Live Rock 'n' Roll 1978

You can listen here to the anthemic punch of this track featuring one of Dio’s best vocal performances, in the third and last Blackmore/Dio Rainbow album, a great album through and through, as its influence can be felt in scores of metal records that followed, everything from thrash to power metal to hard rock. Last one for this line-up, most of the band departing after this to various places, and Blackmore forming a second more commercial Rainbow.