Although this album a hit, it still wasn’t enough for Rainbow and Blackmore. And after 83’s ‘Bent Out Of Shape’ he called it a day. Rainbow Mk 2 reformed in the mid 90’s.
Written by: Dangerzone
ARTIST: Rainbow
ALBUM: Straight Between The Eyes
LABEL: Polydor (UK), Mercury (USA)
SERIAL: POLD-5056 (UK), SRM-1-1041 (USA)
YEAR: 1982
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: England, USA
LINEUP: Ritchie Blackmore – guitars * Joe Lynn Turner – vocals * Roger Glover – bass * Bobby Rondinelli – drums * David Rosenthal – keyboards
TRACK LISTING: 01 Death Alley Driver * 02 Stone Cold * 03 Bring On The Night (Dream Chaser) * 04 Tite Squeeze * 05 Tearin’ Out My Heart * 06 Power * 07 Miss Mistreated * 08 Rock Fever * 09 Eyes Of Fire
WEBLINKS: Wikipedia Page
Rainbow Background
With Rainbow’s sound now fully fledged melodic hard rock, chart action was more than forthcoming. While they were regular top five contenders in Britain since Dio‘s days, the USA was Blackmore’s major target.
81’s ‘Difficult To Cure’ had hit no.50 on the strength of major single ‘I Surrender’. But it was Turner’s classy vocals and a smoother AOR sound which paid dividends for Rainbow. For this album Don Airey had been replaced by David Rosenthal, continuing the constant musical chairs played by Blackmore.
The album hit the US top 30, this time on the back of single ‘Stone Cold’ which went top forty. In Britain results were similar. A top forty single and no 3 album placing justifying Blackmore’s decision to alter the sound.
The Songs
Rainbow could still rough it up and ‘Death Alley Driver’ falls between hard rock and metal. It’s fast with metallic riffs but still very clean. Rosenthal contributes a mean synth solo and backed by typical Blackmore soloing. It could have been a good latter day Purple cut.
‘Tite Squeeze’ goes for the raunchy riffing approach, slower based hard rock but with a flat chorus. A case of trying too hard perhaps?
‘Tearin’ Out My Heart’ alternates between ballad and rock instances and sounds remarkably like Ian Gillan material of the era. Turner even does his best Gillan impersonation.
‘Power’ is a well remembered cut, a positively themed rocker with shit-hot riffs and chorus. Rondinelli thumps his kit and there are some nice melodic twists within.
‘Miss Mistreated’ opens with standard 1982 synth flurry and never lets up. Terrific AOR with a slew of atmosphere in the playing.
‘Rock Fever’ is another monumental anthem, guaranteed with such a title. Good bass line from Glover, best chorus on the album, a winner.
In Summary
‘Straight Between The Eyes’ success is achieved by the balance of easier AOR numbers with heavier hard rock. This approach would’ve pleased long time fans.
Many hankered for the older fantasy metal style of Dio. But the standard of rock perfection starting with Graham Bonnet in 1979 had reached it’s peak here.
Although this album a hit, it still wasn’t enough for Rainbow and Blackmore. And after 83’s ‘Bent Out Of Shape’ he called it a day. Rainbow Mk 2 reformed in the mid 90’s.
Amazingly, latterday Purple had none of the melody or bite of Rainbow. Or any of the Purple offshoots like Whitesnake or Gillan. If Blackmore had cut this as a Purple album it would have been huge.
As Rainbow however, it didn’t quite reach Purple’s levels, sales or critically wise, something very undeserved. With this in mind maybe not a great idea to have Turner replace Gillan in Purple back in 1990.
Rainbow on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
