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Artist: DIO Title: Sacred Heart-The Video (1986/2004) Genre: Rock-Metal Format: DVD [ 60 MIN.; COLOR; NOT RATED] Release Date: Mar 23, 2004 Label: Rhino Records-http://www.rhino.com Website: http://www.ronniejamesdio.com It was not too long ago that I criticized Ronnie James Dio for not developing and furthering his music, even though he has enjoyed a long and successful career. I got a dose of reality after listening to him talk about his career on the Sacred Heart DVD. Dio spoke of how the fans have always wanted the same thing from him and his bands, they expect a certain sound and show, and he gives it to them. It is as simple as that so I cannot fault the man for wanting to keep his fans happy, its also smart business. A performance in 1986 at the Spectrum in Philadelphia from the Sacred Heart tour captures Dio and his band in high gear. They were tearin’ it up on this magical night and the crowd loved every minute of it. Fortunately, the show was captured for all of us old head bangers (and young) to enjoy nearly 20 years later. This was Dio in his prime. With a successful stint with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow and a few solo albums under his belt, the man was a seasoned pro and he exuded confidence in each performance during this concert. While his band was in accord with his every move, the audience fell right into the palm of his hand. The quality of the video is quite good considering it was prior to all of the advances in technology from the ‘90s and beyond. It is a shame it only lasted 60 minutes. Regardless of wanting more, it was a solid 60 minutes of rock ‘n’ roll bliss with one of the major figures in rock music history Ronnie James Dio. It does not get much better. The lights, props and all-around stage show were terrific and in addition to all of that, a good interview with Dio and his guitar player Craig Goldy made for a nearly complete audiovisual experience. This one is a real keeper. © Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck-http://www.muzikreviews.com March 27, 2004 Rating-8/10 Dio’s Band: Craig Goldy-Guitar, Claude Schnell-Keyboards Jimmy Bain-Bass Vinny Appice-Drums 1. Draco Ignis 2. King Of Rock And Roll 3. Time To Burn 4. The Last In Line/Holy Diver 5. Heaven And Hell 6. Sacred Heart 7. Rock 'N' Roll Children 8. Long Live Rock 'N' Roll 9. Man On The Silver Mountain 10. Rock 'N' Roll Children (Reprise) 11. Rainbow In The Dark 12. Hungry For Heaven
Artist: Ronnie James Dio Title: Stand Up And Shout-The Anthology (2 CDs) Genre: Rock/Heavy Metal, Hard Label: Rhino/Warner Bros. Records-www.rhino.com Website: www.ronniejamesdio.com Let me tell you a tale about demons and wizards, black magic, heaven and hell, worlds with no light, and shadows lurking around ever corner that are deceptions waiting to haunt you and steal your soul away. These are the images transformed into the reality of music found on the strange highways inside the mind of heavy metal icon Ronnie James Dio. Stand Up and Shout-The Anthology is an incisive two disc set documenting one of the most successful careers in the history of metal and hard rock music. One of the things that always intrigued me was the image Dio projected. He was all theatrics. He effectively used wailing hard rock guitars that pounded away with no mercy while belting out grim and dark lyrics with a devilish grin that said all the while he was doing it…I am having the time of my life. If you turn the name Dio upside down and look at it from left to right, it spells Devil in an inconspicuous way using the curves and elegance of lettering from days long past. How many of you that would consider yourself fans knew this? The disturbing cover art has images writhing in painful ecstasy under the watchful eye of the king of darkness, who seems to be in his splendor. It all gives ample evidence that the music will take you to a land of macabre creatures. The subject matter of the songs does not lend itself to thoughts of romantic interludes by any means, but Dio was able to make all of his intrepid darkness and images desirable in some weird way. There have been few like him since he broke out in the ‘70s. As he started coming into his own while working with Blackmore, he was beginning to find himself and the true authority of his voice, and by the time he stepped in as lead singer for Black Sabbath he was a legitimate heavy metal idol. As his experience grew so did his confidence and then a solo career was ready to take flight. His career blossomed as a solo act and now we can look back from the beginning to where he is in present day by listening to this wide-ranging collection. You will find that this music is some of the most thunderous heavy metal crunch you will ever have the gratification of feasting your ears upon. Oh yes Ronnie James rocked, and he is still at it to this very day. He must have found the fountain of youth somewhere along the long road he has traveled, or maybe he sold his soul for rock ‘n’ roll! The imagination can run wild while absorbing every word and musical note found on these two discs of metallic mania. When you listen to the tracks from Elf (“Hoochie Koochie Lady” & “Carolina County Ball”), which were blues honky-tonk rock, it pales in comparison to the power and strength of the molten metal that Dio’s voice would embrace in the future. Rainbow (“Man on the Silver Mountain” & “Lady Starstruck”) and Black Sabbath (“Heaven and Hell” & “Neon Knights”) were stopovers before his solo career (“Rainbow in the Dark”, “Holy Diver,” “Lock up the Wolves” and “The Last in Line”) began. Paying his dues with established rock bands would prove to be time well spent, as his solo career was successful right from the beginning. Dio was indeed our “Rainbow in the Dark” for many years and rock music now has a richer and more interesting history because of his work. Do not be the “Last in Line” to pick this up, and keep in mind…one persons hell is another’s heaven, and of course it is just the opposite on the other side of the mirror. Just listen to this music and you will see reflections from both sides. ©"Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck June 5, 2003 CD 1 1. Hoochie Koochie Lady (Elf) - 5:34 2. I'm Coming Back to You (Elf) - 3:28 3. Carolina County Ball (Elf) - 4:47 4. Man on the the Silver Mountain (Rainbow) - 4:39 5. Starstruck (Rainbow) - 4:07 6. Long Live Rock 'N' Roll (Rainbow) - 4:21 7. Neon Knights (Black Sabbath) - 3:53 8. Children of the Sea (Black Sabbath) - 5:34 9. Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath) - 6:58 10.Turn Up the Light (Black Sabbath) - 3:42 11.The Sign of the Southern Cross (Black Sabbath) - 7:45 12. The Mob Rules (Black Sabbath) - 3:15 13. Computer God (Black Sabbath) - 6:12 14. Voodoo (live) (Black Sabbath) - 5:30 15. Sacred Heart (live) (Dio) - 6:28 CD 2 16. Stand Up and Shout (Dio) - 3:18 17. Holy Diver (Dio) - 5:51 18. Don't Talk to Strangers (Dio) - 4:55 19. Straight Through the Heart (Dio) - 4:34 20. Rainbow in the Dark (Dio) - 4:16 21. We Rock (Dio) - 4:35 22. The Last in Line (Dio) - 5:45 23. Egypt (The Chains Are On) (Dio) - 7:01 24. King of Rock and Roll (Dio) - 3:51 25. Hungry for Heaven (Dio) - 4:12 26. Dream Evil (Dio) - 4:24 27. All the Fools Sailed Away (Dio / Mitchell Singing Boys) - 7:13 28. Lock Up the Wolves (Dio) - 8:33 29. Strange Highways (Dio) - 6:52 Rating- 5 pentagrams!! Performers: Henry Lowther - Trumpet Ritchie Blackmore - Bass, Guitar, Producer Tony Carey - Keyboards Craig Goldy - Guitar Vinny Appice - Drums Jimmy Bain - Bass, Keyboards Geezer Butler - Bass, Producer Vivian Campbell - Guitar Bob Daisley - Bass Gary Driscoll - Percussion, Drums Steve Edwards - Guitar David Feinstein - Guitar Craig Gruber - Bass Tony Iommi - Guitar, Producer Jens Johansson - Keyboards Mitchell Singing Boys - Choir, Chorus Cozy Powell - Drums Chris Pyne - Trombone Claude Schnell - Keyboards Micky Lee Soule - Organ, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals, Clavinet, Mellotron Barry St. John - Vocals (bckgr) Liza Strike - Vocals (bckgr) Ray Swinfield - Clarinet Simon Wright - Drums Teddy Cook - Bass Rowan Robertson - Guitar Billy Ward - Drums
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