The death of Ronnie James Dio hit all of us in the metal community hard. Even at 67 years of age the man was a figurehead for traditional heavy metal and responsible for many wonderful songs with several of the greatest bands of all time. And these are no ordinary bands, but ones populated by some of the finest musicians of their generation, who strove to push back boundaries of heavy music.
Indeed, we are blessed by the fact that Dio has left behind an extensive musical legacy, beginning in 1957 with The Vegas Kings and ending in 2009 with the release of the Heaven And Hell record "The Devil You Know".
It's one of the longest and most vital careers in the history of rock music and we at RevelationZ have decided to pay testament to his career by detailing our collective top 20 songs throughout Dio's musical life.
These are but a small collection of the amazing songs he has had a hand in creating and there are many that we left out that we wish we had the chance to include. If any of your favourites are missing then please comment and tell us what the man's music meant to you.
(Note from Alanna "And this list is just WRONG without "Catch the Rainbow" on it.")
20. Heaven And Hell - Bible Black
We begin this list with something from Dio's most recent (and sadly last) record with the Mob Rules era Sabbath line up.
Bible Black is a phrase that Dio had floating round his brain for years and he puts it to good use on the finest moment on The Devil You Know record.
Its beginning section in particular is simply wonderful. A gentle passage overlaid with an elegant solo from Iommi and heart rendering vocals from Ronnie. I actually still find this section pretty difficult to listen to since his untimely death.
Alanna:
The might, majesty and fantastic imagery from "Heaven and Hell" found a rebirth before the shining star that was Dio faded away into the night. What an amazing song and one that makes you grieve over Dio's untimely and sudden death, as we will never see a follow up to this record, which certainly had its tremendous moments. "Bible Black" has this insanely colourful good/evil imagery that comes through so starkly by the emotional layers of Ronnie's voice. Choosing a recent song to grace a very difficult top 20 could be a controversial issue, but when it is a song like this - so well done, thought-out and would have slotted into any of the previous three Dio/Black Sabbath collaborations - there is no question at all whether it belongs here or not. Also of note is the clever cliff notes of the song offered up at the end. In summary... Dio lays it all on the line right at the end, just in case you missed something.
19. Black Sabbath - Country Girl
Many people may raise their eyebrows at this songs inclusion but it's here on the personal behest of myself. It's such an oddball in the Sabbath collection, riding as it does on at rather atypical stomping riff, which doesn't really compare to anything Dio-era Sabbath produced.
However as special as the music is, it's the lyrics that intrigue me. Dio pleads with us never to fall in love with a demonic girl from the countryside that will "snatch your soul away".
My favourite section is the gorgeous "In dreams I think of you" passage that suggests the songs protagonist, despite his warnings to the contrary is still very much under the spell of his own country girl.
Alanna:
This song has such a memorable driving metallic rhythm and lyrics straight up from the otherworld. Dio's delivery is like a punch to the stomach, being a caution and a warning. Makes you wonder who fell into passion with a country girl and what demon spawn she came from to inspire such a tale of evil love. "Mob Rules" was a rawer album than "Heaven and Hell" but also pulled some nice touches as the ethereal filligree here proves by example.
18. Dio - Night People
Craig Goldy picked up the mantel of Dio guitarist in the wake of Vivian Campbell's departure and showed he knew a thing or two about playing heavy metal guitar, with this scorching opener to the Dream Evil record.
It's another paean to the joys of the night and is breathtaking in its straight-ahead approach. Questioning lyrics and mysterious promises await the listener, I for one am hooked on these kinds of lyrics and Dio's in particular are always worth paying attention to.
Alanna:
Hooked at "Poetry and passion", this is a loving ode to the darkness.
17. Rainbow - A Light In The Black
How do you both follow up such a majestic track as Stargazer and end a record full of such tremendous music? That's was the problem that Rainbow faced with their Rising album.
The solution was genius in its simplicity, a direct sequel to the track that preceded it. Continuing the story that was outlined in Stargazer, this track follows our main character on his journey back to his homeland. Cozy Powell yet again shines on this one with a magical show of skill behind the kit. A perfect end to a pretty much perfect album.
Alanna:
Combined with the first half of this gothic metal story "Stargazer", they make one of the most epic stories in metal history. The sequel lessens darkness somewhat that pulsed behind the ominous tones of "Stargazer", but kicks up the intensity to pulse pounding levels. The track hammers out at the speed of light as told by one of the slaves that was working on the tower, voicing the confusion over the miracle that has just taken place. I would personally say this is more of a Carey/Powell showcase, as the keys are simply everywhere and the drumming is amazing, but it is still Dio's vocal performance that gives the song such spirit.
16. Dio - Rock 'n' Roll Children
Sacred Heart marked the last time Dio would work with the talented Vivian Campbell and unfortunately as a whole it doesn't reach the heights of their previous collaborations.
It does however have moments of majesty like this track. Telling the tale of two run away teenage rebels to Campbell's chugging rhythms and Claude Schnell's trademark keyboards works perfectly and the song has rightly been remembered as a Dio classic.
Alanna:
Some songs just conjure magic, in their mystical, unique ways. They run through the blood like fire, and spark and sizzle in the darkest areas of your heart. This is one of them. When Dio sings this, we all become his rock n roll children.
15. Black Sabbath - I
Dehumanizer is a one heavy record and it doesn't get much more weighty than its finest moment I.Iommi's Zeppelin inspired riff is all but unstoppable in its pursuit of metal perfection. In fact, it rivals Sabbath's Ozzy era classic Children Of The Grave as one of his most powerful riffs ever.
A lesser vocalist would perhaps struggle to match the riffs on display here but Dio shines though in malevolent fashion. In fact I don't think I've ever heard him put in as wicked (in the true sense of the word) a vocal line as he does here.
Alanna:
A powerful thunderclap of a metal anthem that has guitars that growl as menacingly as RJD's vocal performance. There is a bitter anger quality to his voice here that was rarely heard on record, thus making the track stand out even more so. "Dehumanizer" was a heavier, doomier disc than what we had heard RJD on up until this point, but the epic overtones and driving emotion give "I" a life of its own.
14. Rainbow - Kill The King
Rainbow helped invent speed metal on their previous record Rising and give the genre another powerful shot in the arm with this stunning song from Long Live Rock And Roll.
Cozy Powell and Bob Daisley's potent rhythm section propel the song forwards at great speed and David Stone and Richie Blackmore's keyboard and guitar attack is a joy to hear.
As for Dio, he commands the song with ease and in its defining moment cries "Fly like the rainbow!" which to me is Dio's lyricism at it's finest. Obtuse yet somehow powerfully meaningful at the same time.
Alanna:
The opener for so many live shows, "Kill the King" is no frills heavy metal with such a fierce desire to lop off a certain someone's head. The guitars are like guillotines and the rhythm section races alongside to the finish, as the song tries to outrace death itself, to be present for the glorious conclusion. A wicked call to arms for regicide, the fevered voice of RJD cutting through the music like a sword slicing effortlessly through flesh. Impressive aggression and no apologies made, another fabulous precursor to the speed metal explosion, and a song that has been covered a multitude of times, proving its longevity, influence and popularity.
13. Dio - Stand Up And Shout
Stand Up And Shout is one of the greatest opening tracks to have ever graced a metal album. It cries out for people to take control of their destiny in such powerful fashion that you cant help being swept away on a tide of emotion whenever you hear it. Its frantic pace means its over in little more than three minutes but it's message stays with you forever.
Alanna:
Undeniable power in its cry that brings the metal population together with its power uncompromising drive. A fist pumping, head-banging opener that is a compact swift ride of metallic glory.
12. Black Sabbath - Falling Off The Edge Of The World
Five minutes of sheer brilliance from Dio's second Sabbath album. Sometimes viewed as the slightly weaker, younger brother to Heaven And Hell, tracks like this prove otherwise.
It's beautiful beginning fades into an ominous doom laden riff before the song picks up speed with a rocked up riff that demands attention. Yet another glorious mini-epic from the second golden era of Sabbath.
Alanna:
Iommi's main rhythm riff is hypnotic, mesmerizing the listener with this contained malevolence. He spent some time reading the book of Blackmore to nail The Man in Black's subtlety like that. Dio's voice is a sheer force of reckoning here in this compact grandiose piece that adds a touch of grandeur charm to the "Mob Rules" album.
11. Rainbow - Man On The Silver Mountain
Richie Blackmore had been keeping tabs on Ronnie during the frontman's time in Elf and when Blackmore split from Deep Purple to form Rainbow, he knew Dio would be perfect for the band. This track, the first song on their first record together proves him more right than he could ever have imagined.
Blackmore's blues influenced riff is one of the most recognisable he has ever written and Dio's performance is superb. Best moment of the track has to be Richie' spine-tingling fret work during the chorus of "Come down with fire, And lift my spirit higher"
Alanna:
The song that would further define Rainbow's music through the 1970s, this is as classic as it comes. A heavy metal track that takes a medieval twist into progressive territory and just builds upon it with grace and majesty. Blackmore's guitar solo is a tremendous coupe for the song, and Dio's performance is absolutely inspirational. There are live versions out there that eclipse the studio one by far, offering a further vision than the album recording. However there is something compactly perfect about the original, and a spark that makes it glow ever so brighter than their contemporaries. Few of which didn't even dream of coming close to something this grandiose and musically sophisticated in 1975.
10. Black Sabbath - Die Young
A first time listener would never guess that the spacey, almost prog sounding intro would lead into one the fastest, hardest hitting tracks that Dio ever recorded with Sabbath but how wrong we were!
Dio sounds like a man possessed on this one and lays down his vocal lines with a great intensity that will amaze on every listen.
Alanna:
Breakneck speed at a devil may care attitude. The keyboards are strange and beautiful, as something from an out of body experience. Iommi was a man inspired, as the furious guitar work comes whipping six string insanity around every bend. The power chord riff that drives the song is wonderfully catchy and Ronnie's vocals fit the whirlwind pacing to flamboyant perfection.
9. Black Sabbath - Children Of The Sea
This song is unconditional proof of how Ozzy's departure and Dio's arrival freed the bands three musicians from prior constraints and allowed them to spread their wings.
I get goosebumps whenever I hear those words "In the misty morning, On the edge of time" and prepare to set off on a journey with those lost children. Yet again Iommi's guitar work is inspired throughout and I would class it as one of his finest works.
Alanna:
Pure class and heavy metal sophistication, with a haunted theatrical elegance in its opening moments. Geezer Butler's bass is as fluid as the shifting sea. Dio's vocals elevate this slower tempo, mystical sounding track into something truly special. The verses are haunting, whether Ronnie's voice is drifting like mist on that morning or thundering warnings like a vengeful god. Classics such as this and the title track made "Heaven and Hell" a surprisingly fresh album that has enjoyed being caught in a timeless stasus for nearly thirty years now. Bands are still trying to equal this level of musicianship, songwriting and performance and are still not in danger of eclipsing it, even after all this time.
8. Dio - The Last In Line
Another track close to my heart, a touching opening section leads you into a false sense of security before the song kicks in with a heavy bottom end and crashing chords (Just how good is Jimmy Bain's bass in this one?). It's a perfectly constructed song, with Claude Schnells sometimes neglected keyboards playing an important part and Dio being absolutely on fire in his vocal delivery.
Alanna:
A mind blowing main synth line brings you to your knees. There is really nothing else like it, as "Last in Line" seems to meld the worlds of "Gates of Babylon", "Holy Diver" and "Rainbow in the Dark" together for an epic, incredible fusion. The heart stopper for me was the opening line that cracks across the ambience like bolt from the sky. The soft feathery opening is exploded into metallic majesty with the roaring cry of "HOOOME!!!" It cranks, crunches and turns into a delirious fantasy right afterward
7. Dio - We Rock
A song of absolute defiance from a man small in physical stature but massive of heart and soul. I doubt there will be many metal fans out there that haven't taken the track's message along with it's galloping rhythms and lightning quick drum fills to heart. To be honest I don't think I can sum this one up any better than by quoting the man himself:
"But we'll sail on, sing a song, carry on, Cause we rock!"
Alanna:
This and "Stand Up and Shout" are two sides of the same coin to me, and it is difficult picking one over the other. Setup and created to be crowd pleasers that bring sanity to the heavy metal chaos.
6. Rainbow - Temple Of The King
Like many of Dio's songs Temple of The King has an almost tangible mystical atmosphere to it. Richie Blackmore's classical, subdued guitar lines allow for Ronnie to spin a tale of intrigue and mystery. Both the music and vocal delivery are beautifully arranged, with the bass line gently urging the song along as the young man goes to meet the old king. This was the first real hint of the epic direction Rainbow would take on later albums.
Alanna:
Describing this is like talking about magic. It just happens, it is in the air and it sucks up your soul in the process. This is one of Rainbow's finest moments and one of the greatest songs ever put to record. It is a medieval bard's song, a storyteller's passion that paints worlds so vividly you can easily visualize the ringing of the great black bell. And just as starkly the other world changing events that happened on that one faithful day in the year of the fox. No one can sing this like Dio did, the subtleties his voice brought out in the music gave life to the story, and weight to the events occuring within. Ritchie Blackmore's acoustic guitars were sheer perfection and then the wistful solo that flickers like a fading fire from another world, another time... the results are breathtaking.
5. Dio - Don't Talk To Strangers
A personal favourite of mine, this song will always remind me of the first time I saw Dio live, at the Sweden Rock Festival in 2005. It was the highlight of what was a magical gig, the feeling I got when the arpeggio guitar part began and Dio hit each and every of those wonderful notes so easily for a man of his age is indescribable
The best part of the song for me is when, during the breathtaking solo section, Dio screams "No, no don't let them inside your mind, protect your soul!" then the song begins to slow down gradually before kicking back in again. Simply amazing.
Alanna:
The soft whispered vocals, strange, beautiful and ethereal, bring caution on a wicked wind. A warning of the dangers of strangers and to never write in starlight, because those words may become real. The vocals become fierce, terrifying as they plead out the doom that can come from not obeying their warning. Riffs thunder, guitar solo shreds and another piece of magic is made on that "Holy Diver" night.
4. Dio - Holy Diver
Dio was known for his ambiguous lyrical style, and this song couldn't highlight it better. Who or what is the Holy Diver? Is it the Devil creature on the front cover of the album? Is it the Priest who is being drowned? Ronnie was never one to let on.
But in many ways its better this way, draw you on conclusions but don't forget to marvel at the superb guitar work of Vivian Campbell as you ponder it.
Alanna:
Whether an anti-drug song (the dangers of being lost on a coke high) or one that is full of strange symbolism where tiger's stripes are made of dirt, it doesn't really matter. The song was one of the pinnacles of Dio's career, with its pompous verses and blood pounding chorus. Appice's lovely drum fills, the dazzling guitar solo from Campbell that gets bonus points for being instantly recognizable, and of course the commanding presence of Dio spinning his lyrical yarn over the top is what makes this a timeless classic. It requires a minute and twenty seconds of patience as the moody keyboard intro is allowed to catch wing but after that it is all cruch and majestic fire. Engaging and just damn cool.
3. Dio - Rainbow In The Dark
One of Ronnie's most famous songs, taken from one of the most hallowed metal albums of all time. An anthem and rallying call for his legions of fans, it was an ever present in the man's live set and was always guaranteed to get an ecstatic reaction from the crowd.
It's impossible pinpoint why, but when he would tell the crowd that "You're all my rainbows in the dark" at the songs close, it didn't feel like showmanship, it felt like it really mattered.
Alanna:
Dio's gift was being able to tweak with the imagination, and the very impossibility of a rainbow in the dark was one that sparked. The pulse throbbing synthesizer steals the deal and his fervert singing is the icing on the cake. It was an instant song that ignites the second it begins and keeps crackling til the very end. When you think of music that has a bit of magic, this song is always in the forefront.
2. Black Sabbath - Heaven And Hell
This is a song so important that not only did it help reinvigorate Black Sabbath's flagging career in the 70's but was also considered good enough to name the band after for their reunion in 2006.
Tony Iommi's scything riffing is perfectly held in check by Geezer Butler and Bill Ward's air tight backing and when the song gathers momentum with the two note bass line and Iommi's screaming guitar, it's one of the most exciting moments in metal. Indeed this section, like the entire song contains some of Dio's most poetic and meaningful lyrics. A song with passion and feeling that extends far beyond its running time and a classic in every sense of the word.
Alanna:
There are no words that can truly describe this song. It is something that needs to be experienced at least once in your lifetime. The classic riffs, instantly combusting and swarming over your mind... the vocals that bring the lyrics screaming into life with such conviction. The song drills a hole in your heart and fills it with an incredible sense of urgency, of grabbing life and opening your eyes to the fools surrounding. A new vision, a new hope, and a lust for life. "Life is like a carousel, spinning fast you have to ride it well..."
1. Rainbow - Stargazer
In a musical career as long and glittering as Ronnie James Dio had, the song to claim the top spot would have to be very, very special indeed. In our minds, Stargazer is not only the greatest song that he helped create but also quite frankly one of the most important, moving musical pieces ever written in the history of our beloved genre.
Dio's gift was taking a subject that is essentially ludicrous, in this case a Wizard enslaving people to build a gigantic tower of stone so that he can fly to the stars, and injecting the subject matter with such passion and believability that you surrender completely to him and are taken away on a magical journey.
While the greatest of fantasy writers may spend 1000+ pages describing such a plot, Ronnie is able to weave it in eight minutes and twenty three seconds with just a handful of verses and a one hard-hitting chorus.
Obviously the stellar musicians involved in creating the backdrop for the tale deserve massive plaudits (Thanks Richie, Jimmy, Cozy and Tony) but it's Dio that steals the show. I don't think anyone who has heard him cry out "I see a rainbow rising, Look there, on the horizon" in the song's magnificent end section could disagree.
Alanna:
Pristine perfection in a song that not only broke ground, but invented a good deal of it too. How many bands borrowed their inspiration heavily from this one track? From the early stirrings of modern power metal to the twisted sweeping tales from the progressive metal side, so many bands and musicians owe their soul to "Stargazer". Poetic and dramatic, Dio's vocal attack hammers the emotions home. The misery, the torment, that horrorfying moment frozen beyond hope when the wizard meets his unmagical doom thus freeing the enslaved. The story is shocked into fantastic life by the voice and given atmosphere by the musicians, including Blackmore who's mastery over the guitar is always shown in knowing just the right amount of electric six string to give the song.
|
|
