Rainbow

The first of its kind, this career box set covers the entire Polydor career of Rainbow, featuring rare and unheard tracks as well as fan favourites as well as the band in concert at Monsters of Rock in 1980, compiled by Blackmore expert Andy Francis it presents the story of the band though words, pictures and music. The extensive booklet features many rare photos (by Ross Halfin) as well as memorabilia, picture covers and the story of the band…

Rainbow Serpent are one of the best Electronic Music bands to emerge from Germany having a rare talent for infectious sequences and sublime melodies. At one moment they can produce tracks overflowing with the joy of life and then in the next turn their hands to growling menacing stuff. Frank Specht is one half of the awesome Rainbow Serpent and as with Gerd Wienekamp's (the other half of Rainbow Serpent) album 'Der Laborant - Kontakt' what we get is a mixture of very recognisable Serpent characteristics as well as a different angle identifying the individuality of each member.

First ever 'live' album release for the Scottish soul-rock singer, recorded in London at the Rainbow in 1974.12 tracks including 'Coming on Strong', 'Wishing Well' & 'Penicillin Blues'.

The Best of Rainbow compiles 16 of the best tracks from Rainbow's first seven studio albums, wisely avoiding 1977's live On Stage release. The first two tracks from their debut album, 1975's Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, showcases the instant bond that was formed between Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio, especially on "Man on the Silver Mountain." Blackmore changed the band for the following year's Rainbow Rising, with Jimmy Bain replacing bass player Craig Gruber, and Cozy Powell taking percussion duties away from Gary Driscoll. Adding keyboard player Tony Carey helped tracks like "Starstruck" and the lengthy "Stargazer" to sound a little more dimensional and fluent than the group's first effort.