Originally issued in November of 1981 as a double LP compilation, the sixteen-song The Best of Rainbow features several of the greatest songs from the first five studio albums recorded by moody Ritchie Blackmore and his ever-changing supporting cast in Rainbow. The anthology peaked at number 14 in the U.K., and The Best of Rainbow was subsequently reissued in 1993 as a twin CD set.
This album was released in 2001, and includes rare tracks and demo versions. Chris Rainbow , also known as Christopher Rainbow, was a Scottish rock singer and musician who had two hit songs, "Give Me What I Cry For" and "Solid State Brain" in the 1970s.