UFO - Chrysalis Years: 1973-1979 CD

Chrysalis Years: 1973-1979 buy CD music As the drums kick into the fierce opener "Tarot Woman," it's obvious that RISING delivers directly to your door. It is the band's second release, and a vast improvement over RICHIE BLACKMORE'S RAINBOW. With a revamped lineup that sounds like it had been touring together for years, the album takes no prisoners. "Starstruck" is a classic groove reminiscent of guitarist Blackmore's ex-band Deep Purple. Blackmore replaced everyone from the first album's lineup except vocalist Ronnie Dio with Jimmy Bain (bass), Tony Carey (keyboards), and Cozy Powell (drums). Dio shows what he's got with a stellar performance on "Do You Close Your Eyes." "Stargazer" is the band's "Kashmir," an epic eight-minute track that could stand as its signature song. "A Light in the Black" features the skin bashing of the late, great Mr. Powell. RISING is a must-have for any fan of Dio, Blackmore, or classic metal. Five musicians came together for a one-shot moment that won't be duplicated. The album is magic. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Personnel: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Munich Philharmonic Orchestra (strings, horns); Tony Carey (keyboards); Cozy Powell (drums). Recording information: 02/1976. Arrangers: Ritchie ...

Chrysalis Years: 1973-1979 album for sale Released in 1978, LONG LIVE was the final Ronnie James Dio-fronted release by Rainbow. Dio would go on to front Black Sabbath, while guitarist Richie Blackmore would reunite with Deep Purple. The album caps off a string of tremendous releases from one of the strongest branches on the heavy-metal family tree. The title track is a fan favorite and one of the strongest tunes from this era--a heavy rock tune written for arenas. "Lady of the Lake" is a solid number featuring haunting background vocals. "L.A. Connection" features the piano tinglings of keyboardist David Stone. "Gates of Babylon" is a mammoth track featuring the Bavarian String Ensemble, as synthesizer and strings combine for a symphonic big-rock sound. Another standout is "Kill the King," a speedy, full force tune with Mr. Blackmore doing what he does best. Blackmore opens the thunderous "The Shed (Subtle)" with a fluid, effects-laden bluesy solo. "Rainbow Eyes" is a seven-minute epic that features a string quartet, flute, and Dio's euphonic balladry. LONG LIVE, while not the masterwork that is RAINBOW RISING, is a strong album that ends the Dio era on a high note. All tracks have been digitally remastered. Rainbow includes: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Cozy Powell (drums).

Chrysalis Years: 1973-1979 CD music A devastating head-on collision between American and British rock influences -- a true supergroup that delivers a titanic rock experience greater than the sum of its supremely talented parts. The brainchild of producer Kevin Shirley, the band combines the rock lineage and forces of legendary frontman and bass guitarist Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Trapeze), master blues-rock guitarist Joe Bonamassa, powerhouse drummer Jason Bonham (Led Zeppelin, Foreigner) and keyboardist Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Billy Idol, Alice Cooper). Named after the industrial area in Britain where both Hughes and Bonham were born and raised, Recording information: Germano Studios, NY; Shangri-La Studios, Mailbu, CA; The Cave, Malibu, CA. Editor: Brett Diaz. Illustrator: Dennis Friel. Photographers: Christie Goodwin; Marty Temme; Rick Gould; Chris Callaway. Supergroup fever: catch it! 2009 was an especially kind year for these ego-busting entities, spawning Them Crooked Vultures (Josh Homme, John Paul Jones, Dave Grohl) and Chickenfoot (Sammy Hagar, Joe Satriani, Michael Anthony, and Chad Smith) in the hard rock category alone. So it was no surprise when 2010 brought us Black Country Communion (courtesy of mega-producer and matchmaker to the stars, Kevin Shirley), which blended the legendary talents of bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, guitarist Joe Bonamassa, drummer Jason Bonham, and keyboardist Derek Sherinian. Not surprisingly, the quartet's eponymous debut album was generally drooled over upon delivery, but for once, the media hype was largely justified by the music, which successfully set out to modernize the vintage Deep Purple template on the strength of former Mark III member Hughes' signature power-soul voice and the necessary Hammond organ sound replicated here by Sherinian. OK, so listeners who were unaware of bluesman Bonamassa's longtime affinity for `70s rock dinosaurs of Purple's ilk (look up his debut album for a devastating cover of Jethro Tull's "A New Day Yesterday") couldn't have known how well suited he too was to the task at hand; but it goes without saying that Bonham's unimpeachable classic rock DNA would provide a perfect foundation for all this. So with all of the ingredients set, the only thing that could possibly derail this coal-burning iron horse of a band was that all-too-common supergroup affliction: no songs -- never mind enough chemistry -- for the whole to equal the sum of its parts. But Black Country Communion actually delivers the goods for much of this album, including the infectious one-two punch of "Black Country" (a threat) and "One Last Soul" (a promise), the believably desperate "Down Again" (featuring a hair-raising vocal from Hughes), and the best of many epics, "Song of Yesterday," which contrasts a soft instrumental touch against Led Zeppelin-sized bombast. Elsewhere, a cover of Trapeze's "Medusa" brings it all back to the beginning for Hughes; the overcast mid-section of "The Revolution in Me" gives Sherinian some room to roam; and Bonamassa's solos show equal doses of tasteful restraint ("The Great Divide") and boastful abandon ("Beggerman") throughout, leaving just a few songs lost in the shuffle (even though the out-of-sorts, AC/DC-gone-Sunset Strip of "Sista Jane" is impossible to ignore). In short, to the relief of fans of all four participants, Black Country Communion's debut takes the dread out of the supergroup equation, at least until 2011 mints the next strain of virulent celebrity get-togethers, once again testing the wisdom behind this recurring phenomenon. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia Personnel: Joe Bonamassa (vocals, guitar); Patrick D'Arcy (whistle, Uilleann pipe); Derek Sherinian (keyboards); Jason Bonham (drums). Audio Mixer: Kevin Shirley.

Chrysalis Years: 1973-1979 songs Some things are immune to trends, and Ronnie James Dio's golden voice is one of them. The alleged inventor of the devil-horns symbol (as it pertains to metal) had a memorable stint as the singer of Black Sabbath after St. Ozzy's departure, leaving behind two classic albums in MOB RULES and HEAVEN AND HELL. Though the rest of Sabbath has mainly focused on working with Ozzy in the 2000s, a 2007 tour with Dio whetted their appetites for a fresh collaboration as Heaven & Hell. The result, THE DEVIL YOU KNOW, stands proudly beside the band's prime material. Like anything associated with Dio, the music is unapologetically operatic, with almost every song clocking in at around or over five minutes. The singer wails his tales of darkness and mystical evil over Tony Iommi's trademark doom-inflected chords, heavy as a marble tomb and churning like a witch's cauldron. Recording information: Rockfield Studios, Monmouth, Wales. Photographer: Chapman Baehler. Personnel: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Tony Iommi (guitar); Vinny Appice (drums). Audio Mixer: Wyn Davis.

Chrysalis Years: 1973-1979 album for sale PARANOID proved to be Black Sabbath's most focused, consistent, and successful record. Leaving behind the amorphous, extended jams of their debut for focused songs and a more structured sound, Black Sabbath virtually wrote the book on heavy metal with the ominous, unforgettable riffs, thunderous rhythms, and dark themes on this release. There are some up-tempo rockers, the famous title track for one, but for the most part PARANOID oozes along like a bad dream, as on the slinky, creepy opener, "War Pigs," or the lumbering thud of "Iron Man" (which boasts one of the most indelible electric guitar riffs in rock history). 2009 digitally remastered and expanded deluxe three CD edition of the classic sophomore album from the Heavy Metal kingpins led by Ozzy Osbourne. Originally released in 1970, Paranoid still stands as an important milestone in the history of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. This ultimate edition features a beautifully remastered version of the album, an alternate version of the album including instrumental mixes, alternate recordings and more plus A bonus DVD 5.1 audio mix of the album. Majestic Metal, indeed. Sanctuary. The album's title is apt: PARANOID is filled with an edgy aggression and lyrics about war, insanity, death, and destruction. Ozzy Osbourne's flat, affectless voice merges perfectly with Tony Iommi's fuzzed-out, sledgehammer power chords and the bruising bass and drum lines to create an intense, freaky, horror-show universe. There are elements of blues-rock and psychedelia (the floating "Planet Caravan," in particular), but Black Sabbath basically invents here what would become one of the most popular genres of music in the latter 20th century and beyond. Even after the millions of heavy metal albums that have followed in its wake, PARANOID stands as an all-time classic.

Chrysalis Years: 1973-1979 CD music This five-disc set collects all of the post-Michael Schenker albums that the British hard rock outfit released for the Chrysalis label in the 1980s, including No Place to Run (1980), The Wild, the Willing and the Innocent (1981), Mechanix (1982), Making Contact (1983), and Misdemeanor (1986). Like its 1973-1979 sibling, each disc on The Chrysalis Years (1980-1986) is stocked with live recordings, rare tracks, alternate takes, single edits, and extensive liner notes, making it a must-have for longtime fans. ~ James Christopher Monger UK five CD set from the British Hard Rock legends, The Chrysalis Years (1980-1986) collects together all of the post-Schenker albums UFO recorded for Chrysalis in the 1980s plus a plethora of rare tracks including live recordings, single edits and much more. Includes the albums No Place To Run, The Wild, The Willing And The Innocent, Mechanix, Making Contact and Misdemeanor. EMI. Recording information: Air Studios, London (02/04/1980); Air Studios, Montserrat (02/04/1980); Hammersmith Odeon, London (02/04/1980); Maison Rouge, London (02/04/1980); Mountain Studios, Switzerland (02/04/1980); Scorpio Sound, London (02/04/1980); The Manor Studios, Oxfordshire (02/04/1980); The Town House, London (02/04/1980); White House, London (02/04/1980); Wisseloord Studios, Holland (02/04/1980); Air Studios, London (04/15/1983); Air Studios, Montserrat (04/15/1983); Hammersmith Odeon, London (04/15/1983); Maison Rouge, London (04/15/1983); Mountain Studios, Switzerland (04/15/1983); Scorpio Sound, London (04/15/1983); The Manor Studios, Oxfordshire (04/15/1983); The Town House, London (04/15/1983); White House, London (04/15/1983); Wisseloord Studios, Holland (04/15/1983). Illustrators: David Juniper; Alan Adler. Photographers: Hipgnosis; Ross Halfin; Colin Chambers; Storm Thorgerson; Tony Mottram; Marcia Resnick. Personnel: Phil Mogg (vocals); Paul Chapman (guitar); Andy Parker (drums). Liner Note Author: Hugh Gilmour.