Rainbow On Stage - Classic Album Review : Ritchie Blackmore, Dio, Powell, Carey, Bain 

I think Stages is one of the great under-appreciated double-live albums of the 1970s. Nice to see it getting some love here! ❤

I bought it in 1979 when I was 14years old, for £8.75 (which was expensive) and was short of the money but the lady behind the counter let me buy it as I said I would come back with the rest of the money. I went back with the money the same day and she let me off as she told me I was honest to come back. I love the album which I still have.

Phil, one of the last times a tear came to my eye while listening to music was when hearing the second guitar solo during catch the Rainbow. Great review, this is an amazing live recording. Ritchie is my favorite and met him twice.

The Live versions of Mistreated and Catch The Rainbow are worth the money alone. Dio’s vocals on both tracks are superb. The purity and subtly of his vocals on Catch The Rainbow are what sets Dio apart from other Heavy rock/metal singers. The only thing about Mistreated that I thought Blackmore never topped live compared to the studio version from Burn, was his outro solo. The original solo is so melodic and builds with a tension that I don’t think he ever bettered in a live performance. Blackmores playing on CTR though, as you say, is spellbinding. It’s a great album.

One of the must have live albums when I began collecting in the late 70's. Dio's voice made for a great listen all by itself.

Just an incredible album. Rainbow live is on a different level.

Catch The Rainbow is just perfect on this album. Kill The King was my entry point into Rainbow back in 77. Astonishing song. Play it every week still

I saw Rainbow at Concert .Hall, Stockholm Sweden September 20. 1976 and September 25 1977. They were fantastic. Yes 1976 included Stargazer. This shows memmories for lives. My On Stage is US vinyl bought when released

When I want to introduce someone to Rainbow who has never heard them before, but knows of Deep Purple or maybe has heard the Russ Ballard hits on the radio, one of my go-to tracks is Catch the Rainbow from this album. The dynamics on that song are incredible. Dio was at the top of his game - one of his finest performances. Ritchie demonstrated both his gentle and his blazing side. The band was rocking. Beautiful recording. I have a number of live recordings of the band across the years and of the various incarnations, but I think this album is the definitive live recording for me, even though it is obviously missing a few of their classic tracks from this line-up.

Brilliant!!!

Glad to hear you recognize this version of “Still I’m Sad” as ‘rock perfection’, as it absolutely is!!

The best....Rainbow..Live vinil..👍.

Oh dear. Your review has just brought back my own emotions and thoughts of 40+ years ago! Cheers Phil!

I always wished it was a bit longer, but a mandatory classic nonetheless. 🎸

My fav live album of all time. Absolute perfection.

Album much loved by Brazilian rockers too! mandatory in the collection!👍😍👍

This looks amazing. When I see this I am reminded of Live & Dangerous by Thin Lizzy . Rainbow could do a stunning live set with this material . I can see it in my head . A big live set box set of this set . Excellent. Message to Richie , I'd pay for that for sure .

Ciao Phil...ti faccio i complimenti per come descrivi in maniera favolistica i Grandi Album della Musica, indipendentemente dal genere...Detto questo ti dico che amo Blackmore in tutte le sue dimensioni...Ho avuto modo di vederlo Live nel 1987 a Roma con i Purple e nel 1997 ad Hannover con I Blackmore's Night...In questa occasione suono' quasi tutto "Shadow of the Moon" e alcuni brani del successivo Album "Under the Violet Moon"....Come Bis ,oltre ad alcuni classici dei Purple e dei Rainbow, di questo meraviglioso album fece "Still i'm Sad ,"The man on the silver Mountain" e "Sixteenth century greensleeves"...LONG LIVE ROCK N' ROLL PHIL❤

Brilliant show!!!!!!

Bought it 1983 but unfortunately I don't have my vinyls anymore. Its a great album.

1976 Liverpool Empire. A stunning live performance by Rainbow. One of the best concerts I have ever been to (and the rainbow actually worked). Thanks, Phil, for bringing back some wonderful memories

KILLER album!!! I have the double vinyl. Best lineup. Blackmore rules forever!

A fantastic blast from the past. Very nice review Phil👍 now I’m playing that album. Thank you for the reminder Cheers from Houston 🇺🇸✌️

Hi Phil, liked this episode featuring Rainbow. It misses 3 tracks Tarot Woman, Stargazer and A Light in the Black. With the addition of these 3 tracks this album would have been the benchmark of live albums. Ritchie's playing is on another level his ability to be gentle and aggressive in the same song is wonderful. Hopefully one day we will tlget the opportunity to hear the full Japanese set lists. Keep rocking.

Fantastic Phil! I first got On Stage in early 1981 (aged 12) on cassette, as the vinyl was more expensive. Loved it then and still do now. I was unaware that the tracklisting didn’t reflect the running order of the live show, or that it was heavily edited. When I got Live In Germany in 1990 my eyes and more specifically ears were well and truly opened. Pure genius

my favorite guitar player and singer!

Great in depth review Phil❤ Probably the last period of Ritchie playing free of commercial thinking - that big light up Rainbow was costing a fortune and then somebody goes and gives him a Russ Ballard album! 😃

Oh yes, a 3 cd version of Rainbow On Stage, bring it on. I'll buy it immediately. I've also read somewhere that Cozy Powells drum solo ended up on the cutting room floor. What a shame. Maybe they have it now.

This is the first album I bought with my pocket money, in general department store in my town. Had some doubts as it was a) a live album and b) a double album of a band I had no clue of. I was amazed and I still love this record. Having listened the show to the end, I can say, simple reason I did not miss Stargazer or Light in the black on original On stage was that I did not know first two albums and songs. That helped a lot to love album more 😅

Great review. You were absolutely right about Tony Carey (great keyboard sound) and his attempt to maintain equilibrium with Blackmore's guitar.I saw Rainbow in Bristol, UK in August 1976 and the memory has stayed with me to this day. Ronnie James Dio was such a powerful vocalist. Then I had tickets for the Cardiff Castle gig in September but unfortunately the specially built 35 ft rainbow that went from side to side over the stage would not fit-so Ritchie cancelled the gig. At least I had seen the band in their heyday.

I was twelve years old , and it was my First Record together with Deep purple’s Made in Japan…These two live Albums are still my favourites of the Greatest musicianship of my all Time Heroes…Great Review Thank you for this… Cozy, Ian paice, jon lord, Tony Carey, Don airey, dio, gillan, coverdale, Hughes 0:28 , blackmore, glover, …These are the ones to show the Rest of the world How it Works… Wonderful!,,

This is a story of live rock music (told here by you Phil) that should receive some kind of RU-vid award, because after watching how you dive into this amazing live album and all its aspects of what could make it even more great - if more vinyl and CD discs would be added - with those three previously missing songs (including "Do You Close Your Eyes") - it is something all who loves classic rock should agree on as a must-do project for the record company during 2024, or into next year. In 2025 it will also be 50 years since the debut studio album by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. Something to truly celebrate!!! ⭐

I bought this album on cassette as a spotty faced 13 year old in 1982 and it rocked my world!! Probably the most played album in my collection! Cheers Phil!

Thank you for the in-depth dive into Rainbow On Stage. Reading elsewhere in the comments about the fire Universal had at their vaults. I would like to see the album get an upgrade with the extra material you spoke about. Some fans in the DPAS magazines referred to Cozy’s drums,sounding like they were “slipping into a swamp”.With technology nowadays perhaps a better audio can be achieved on a remix? I have always struggled with ‘Mistreated’ from On Stage, for the reasons your friends flagged up at the time. However for me,the Munich ‘77 version is better.The way RJD vocals come back in after R.B’s solo, is totally off the clock! I do have the ‘Live In Germany’ set issued in 1990, so I have mixed and matched over many years.I miss Tony Carey’s harmony lines from the LLRNR version of ‘Kill The King’.David Stone curiously didn’t replicate them! From what you said,when Martin Birch (?) compiled ‘On Stage’,it echoed a similar (dropped bits in from other performances..) a process which was rolled out on Deep Purple’s posthumous release ‘Made In Europe’. RJD spoke highly of ‘On Stage’ on that infamous Tour Bus interview from 1994,as being a honest live album. Ultimately I wouldn’t be without ‘On Stage’. P.S still hoping that the tapes can be located,so Rainbow’s debut can get a remix.

Love that Live album. Great review Phil!😊

Great video Phil. Can't really decide what my favourite line up of rainbow was? cheers Andy.

A fabulous video Phil, very compelling. Let's hope that one day we'll get the triple disc cd that we've all been waiting for.

Wonderful review Phil. Funnily enough, I never really got into Rainbow. I was full in on Deep Purple, saw them live but when Richie left I didnt follow him over to Rainbow !! Funny eh? Funnily enough. when I first met my wife, she had a small record collection and one of the albums was Rainbow Rising. Now that really impressed me lolol. Cya Doug

Excellenté! Can’t wait for that boxset now! 🤘😎🤘

Thanks for this review Phil. I didn't know about those german 1976 tour double CDs. I've listened to them on RU-vid. Mind blowing.

This was my favorite live album for a while back in the 90's. Then I heard Deep Purple Made in Japan. I'm 46 so I didn't get into these albums till late. I would discover something and then go backwards in time.

Never knew that single existed.Loved On Stage from day one but of course it had its shortcomings which you have mentioned.Stargazer being omitted was inexcusable.I remember not long after its release here in Oz it was in the cut out bins along with Live and Dangerous for two or three dollars,this was when I picked them up.At about this time Rainbow did a tour here and at one of these gigs they played for less than hour and the audience rioted throwing chairs ,etc.All this didn’t go down well.But still I preferred On Stage to slogging out the marathon of Song Remains the Same.

Love it, saw Rainbow in 1976. Bought the album, played it a lot. Pitty Stargazer is missing on this album, but still great.

Loved this Phil! 🙌🙏👏

You are fantastic with your videos ! thank you, waiting for more :)

Phil, New for me, again !! Good morning from the U.S.A.

Great review Phil, be amazing to get a box set of this material.The 10 Japanese shows in December are for me the high point of Ritchies career, all are widely available on You Tube via the original Mr Peach recordings cant see why universal cant use these recordings?

Totally enjoyed that thank you.

not just i learning about the music i love but i learn how English language should be spoken and you speak beautifully, i learned a lot. thank you, sorry for my English though,cheers..

Saw 1976 Liverpool Empire, Stretch as support then at Donnington amazing. 🤘🤘💯💯

Just to be sure On Stage had a running time of 64 minutes - still short but not as short as Phil's claim of 50 minutes!!! BTW the 3 2CD sets from Germany were initially released in Japan as a 6CD box set superb packaging as only the Japanese can do! A deluxe set ala Live And Dangerous or Strangers In The night would be an instant buy. One of the greatest live albums of all time :-)

My Dad bought me this album for my 17th birthday in 1977 He passed a couple of years later so has an emotional attach.ent to this album!

One great live album One song i miss one this album Phil Stargazer But this album it`s still very good Classic Live album

This was such an important album for me, the package, the music etc. a couple of extra songs and it would have been a classic.

Think I’ll be picking up a copy .. had long live rock and roll way back in the day but didn’t get much further … but I’m on a bit of a rock /metal phase at the moment…will pick this up and Made In Japan … Keep well Phil 👍

Always loved this one. Got to be honest it was more about Ritchie than Ronnie at this time which wasn't a problem 💯💯🤘🤘

Came across your channel when I saw this review and have subscribed. Great review of this seminal album, one of my favourites for over 40 years and, even though I’ve got newer versions, still play my original copy. This video brought back some great memories, thanks 👍

I have played this album as much as Made in Japan, it is awesome and spellbinding. I know every note, click, word, drum beat. We need to get a petition going to release the Munich 1976 show from the Abbey Road archive.

Brought this from good old Reddingtons back in the day - always felt the lack of Stargazer was so disappointing that I’ve never really given it the love it might deserve- so a fresh listen required me thinks

That Cozy fill on CTR is awesome. I can't help but flail about on my air drum kit when I'm listening to it.

The best live album in history. That's all that can be said. Nothing beats it. I saw them in Cardiff on the Tour........but I don't think anything was recorded there.... the line up was the best aswell.....

This is a humdinger of an album, I remember seeing a advert in Sounds mag advertising this album, I bought the album that week, a had this record before the first Rainbow one, all I had was Rising which is the best Rainbow LP in fact one of the best rock albums of all time. Anyhow got the LP and put it on full volume, first track was Kill the King after the famous Toto guess were not in Kansas any more then a crack of the snare from Cozy then off we go , WTF is this where is this from is it on the first LP certainly not on the Rising, but talk about a manic opener brutal, stand out tracks are Catch the Rainbow on of the best rock vocal you will ever hear. Sill I'm Sad is the closer fantastic number, Cozy Powell sounds like a fright train, Blackmore is at his best Dio is at his prime, and the other guys play well they have to this is Blackmore's band. In November of 1977 Rainbow came to my hometown Cardiff, it was the old Capitol Theater a Victorian cinema holding 2,000 people I was ten feet away from the huge PA tower massive bass bins mid range and those flared horns. Everybody got out of their seats as the light dimmed, the Wizard Of Oz intro played then like a huge wave of sound walloped you, Cozy's drums were thumping my chest like a sledgehammer, the intro went on for a age then into Kill the King out walked the small figure of RJD great singer and great front man. The set was the same as onstage but they played Long live Rock and Roll and closed with Do You Close your Eyes and the Cozy drum solo playing along to the 1812 overture which blinded you at the end with the flashbombs, there were two new members in Bob Daisley bass and Davis Stone keyboards, it remains my top 3 concert in 45 years.

It made absolutely no sense whatsover to not have Stargazer....it was played at all 3 of the Deutschland Tournee shows....on top of that....the DVD and cd of the Munich show doesn't have it either....why officially release live material that omits their best material....again...in Japan they were playing Stargazer and Light in the Black and yet they have a bonus Osaka show that doesn't have it..who made these decisions....? ...to not fit the anthem Stargazer ....certainly one of Dio's all time signature tunes......I just recently obtained a mint copy of Deutschland Tournee ....3 double disc shows....it wasn't cheap but to me it's worth it's weight in gold....thank you for the review

Great video, I was having trouble listening to the end though because your descriptions kept reminding me how great these live tracks were and I wanted to listen to them.

The Deluxe version with Osaka features a DIFFERENT Catch the Rainbow than On Stage Phil. It's 16th Century Greensleeves which is replicated. Great review tho'. I agree, Mistreated and Catch the Rainbow are incredible (Mistreated from Cologne) The On Stage version of CTR is my personal favourite of anything I have by Blackmore (i.e. most of his stuff) IMO Blackmore at his absolute peak in '76. I wore my ears out listening to this upon it's release having received it for my Birthday a couple of days later. Although the fantastic German shows are a more authentic representation On Stage still holds a special in my heart. Saw them twice in '77, they were great but '76 is the top of the (Silver) mountain. Thanks Phil, keep up the great work. P S. I'm well up for a deluxe updated version!!

Love this album. A shame it was never released as a complete show and 76 dvd. What a line up the best Rainbow line up with Bain & Carey. Remastered dvd didnt include stargazer & still Im sad as apparently masters were lost 🤦

I would love to have a versie with 3 cd’s. Rainbow was my first big band I saw live 1977

Managed to get a copy along with a greatest hits and down to earth album for £8 on eBay today so I am feeling quite pleased with myself.

Never saw that first version of the lp with the inner sleeve pics

Dio for me was the best rock and metal singer ever, I was fortunate to see him live on several occasions , he not only could sing just about everything but the emotion and drama he put into each and every song was unparalleled iMO.

Great review Phil, thoroughly enjoyed!

It's a great album Catch the Rainbow is one of Ritchies best. Phil have you done a show with Pete on Deep Purple Made in Europe, the original cd was woefully short but again came from the best tracks off 3 live albums. 👍

Excellent video, thank you. I bought the vinyl version, which was a disappointment, as you said, no Stargazer, whilst having edited songs etc. I would be listening to Tommy Vance Friday Rock Show on the radio in early 80's, with every year listening to his countdown for the all-time chart, with classics such as Stargazer, and yet that song was not on the live On Stage album! Fortunately, the later advent of CD's allowed for better representation of Rainbow and their concerts from 1976. Whilst struggling for official full concert release, then we are left with "bootlegs" such as Rising In Hiroshima, which is on RU-vid.

Another excellent Rainbow video. As with Made in Europe and Last Concert in Japan, the track-listing, editing, and sequence didn't seem unusual in '77, because I was 16 and a newish Purple fan. All I heard was incredible music which was, at times, even heavier than Purple (after In Rock). The confusion lay in the fact that Jimmy Bain looked like Glenn Hughes, Tony Carey like Tommy Bolin! Geoff Barton's Sounds review of On Stage was a classic: "This could even be a step above Made in Japan. Shit! Now I'll get angry letters." The fact that a writer could include the Sh**-word made you feel grown-up.😄 Kill the King must be where a certain style of thrash metal started. Motorhead's Ace of Spades came slightly later, as did Gillan's Secret of the Dance / Unchain Your Brain. The way Dio sounded lucid and melodic in such a fast song was incredible, and Cozy Powell's drumming was world-class. Loved Medley at once as well. MotSM is an unbeat, happy song. The fast guitar solo was very exciting (hadn't heard Made in Europe yet). and Blues had a certain atmosphere, with something of the London Underground about it. Your description of Mistreated is spot-on. The mystical middle solo, with Bain and Carey's accompaniment, still makes me think of walking in the countryside at night. Noticed that Dio's "Whoa, oh, oh-oh" improv at the end worked so well that Ronnie Romero would reproduce it in recent years as if it was part of the song. Sorry, this is very long, but a quick reference to a funny coincidence. I did some recording at a studio, Yellow Shark in Cheltenham, around 2006. Before my booking, I read that those three German '76 double CDs were mastered and mixed there! I talked to the engineer (Gareth?) about the job, which was very interesting. Cheers!

I remember trading. 2112 for this album back in 78 I was 12 not a rush fan at the moment I was into Thin Lizzy Rainbow. U F O. Judas priest

I really enjoy this album! I know it gets some criticism, but I think it sounds great.

UMIST Manchester Saturday night students Hard Rock disco 8.00pm till 11.00 pm no late night opening lol Opening track Rainbow- Stargazer or Ted Nugent-Stranglehold. Last orders at the bar Genesis, Yes . Then finale Robin Trower, UFO etc Happy memories

Got the Japanese lp with obi and booklet and the deluxe cd edition.

Fantastic review Phil

Top video again Phil. I love both the On Stage and German releases...the German one is very raw..but Stargazer kills it for me.

Yes very much more well album but the recordings are from 1976 tours live star gaizer live in Germany was the best of rainbow with Jimmy bane and Tony Carey but the 4 line up was the best Dio voice was more powerful and Bob dazeily on bass was faster and louder and David stone on keys was as well top and Ritchie blackmore was louder and faster cozy Powell as well was best too bad they didn't do star gaizer live it would of been awesome

Don't believe what Universal say. In 2008 there was a massive fire at their vaults in California. Among them were identical backup tapes stored in the same building. About 550,000 songs were lost with much material never released. This included loads of tapes by some of the biggest artists in the world.

Dio blows Coverdale away on Mistreated IMO, no disrespect to David

There’s a great live version of 1976 Light in the Black on RU-vid.

One of the greatest openings to a live album ever, but, for me, it all goes downhill after that. Stopping a thunderous Man On The Silver Mountain half way through to go into a slow blues passage, really annoyed me. Thankfully an edited version is available. It could have been so much better

One live album which seems to be overlooked is Whitesnakes live in the heart of the city. Coverdale and the band at their best. Mistreated is a blues song and no matter how good Dio is he ain't no blues singer. The Whitesnake version is in my humble opinion the best with a great solo from Bernie, RIP!

I was given the double vinyl by a friend who, like almost everyone, was "getting rid" of vinyl in the 90's. I was very disappointed in the overall quality of the sound / mix / production (whatever) and only played it once. Pity, coz the performances were great. (I feel the same way about the triple, Yessongs) Maybe I just have a poor / low budget pressing. I guess I'll have to check it out again on another format.

That picture of Tony Carey with the samoyed led me to eventually buy one myself. Terribly disobedient dogs!

I still have my original vinyl copy of this album. It wasn't one I purchased immediately, in fact I agonised over it for quite some time, because it was more expensively priced than even a normal double album. The when I finally got it, to discover it was so short, was a bit of a disappointment. Until I played it, and then the magic residing in those grooves took it immediately to near the pinnacle of anything I'd ever heard. I think Dio's voice was at its best here, arguably the finest collection of rock vocals ever assembled. That said, I still prefer David Coverdale's more authentically bluesy take on Mistreated. It's his song and Dio can't touch it. But it's Blackmore's band and Blackmore's album. There is no other guitar player I would listen to contemplatively noodle in the way Rainbow allows Blackmore to do. He can coax the subtlest nuances from his strings in a way no other guitarist I've heard can match. I still think he is under-appreciated for the delicacy and sensitivity he brings to his playing. He also gets a lot of unfair criticism for his jettisoning of Dio and for changing the musical direction of the band. As 10cc put it: "Art for art's sake, money for god's sake."

I think if Dio have stayed with Rainbow, they could have be the New Led Zeppelin!! But i love Black Sabbath and love Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules!! Rainbow Rising, Heaven and Hell, Holy Diver!!! The Master!! DIO!!!🤟🤘🏿🤟🤘🏿🤟🤘🏿🤟🤘🏿🤟🤘🏿🤟🤘🏿🤟🤘🏿….. 17:57

Dio's vocals blow Coverdale's both in the studio or live out the window. When he holds that high note after the guitar solo it always makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Could've done with 'Do You Close Your Eyes' which is the weakest song on 'Rising.'

When I first listened to *On Stage* in '79 with 13 years of age, I was fascinated. The album was recorded on tape from vinyl and borrowed from a teacher. The version of *Mistreated* might still be one of my fav songs ever. By the way Martin Popoff hates the album and the song! This is what I call s t r a n g e.

I like how you changed your backdrop to fit the band under discussion. I have been listening to this and other Rainbow albums for more than 40 years. I love the Dio era of Rainbow. But...to be honest, as good as it is...more than classic UFO or Thin Lizzy it's getting a bit dated, a bit stale. It's very much of its time. I still like it but it's more the memories about it I really love. 3 of the band and producer Martin Birch have meanwhile left us.

An excellent live album, personally I prefer Live in Munich 1977 by a hair.

On Stage is great but Live in Germany is better IMO. There are a lot of versions of a very similar set from the era out there but frustratingly, they often didn't play or include on the releases, some of the best songs from the time. I don't think they ever played Tarot Woman or Run With the Wolf and often didn't play Stargazer. The studio version of Man On the Silver Mountain is also superior to the live versions which were always played too fast and lost the cool slink of the song IMO. Still great though!!

I know that Martin's not a huge fan of it, but to me this is peak Dio-era Rainbow. This band was so much better live than in the studio.

This always seemed like a collection of live tracks more than a 'concert'. It doesn't flow at all. Those German concerts are far better, you get the true Live Rainbow experience... Someone needs to have a word in Ritchie's ear... Us Rainbow fans would lap up a super deluxe edition of the album... like the Hawkwind, UFO & Thin Lizzy LIVE releases

CTR on Osaka (disc2) is definitely different to CTR on stage (disc1) 16c greensleeves is the same

___Very good album, but could be MUCH better. ____It is unacceptable that, it was recorded during the Rising album tour and does not have Stargazer, Tarot Woman and A Light in the Black. ___Instead, there are Mistreated and Still I'm Sad - two non Rainbow songs.

This is one live album that *definitely* needs the "Live And Dangerous" / "Strangers In The Night" expansion treatment. I remember being in complete agreement with Pete Pardo on Sea of Tranquility recently when he said that this is a great album that could have been so much better with a few different tracks on it and definitely more from "Rising". I do wonder what tracks were left off and are stuck in a vault somewhere...