Rainbow's fifth studio album, "Difficult to Cure" (1981), marked a pivotal moment in the band's evolution. Led by Ritchie Blackmore and featuring Joe Lynn Turner, the album blended hard rock with classical influences, notably incorporating Beethoven's "Ninth Symphony." The result was a musical masterpiece that showcased the band's virtuosity and left an indelible mark on the rock genre.
Album Description & Collectors information: Rainbow's "Difficult to Cure" was released in 1981 and is widely regarded as one of the band's most successful albums. It was the first album to feature Joe Lynn Turner as the lead vocalist, replacing Ronnie James Dio, who had left the band to pursue a solo career. The album features a mix of hard rock and progressive rock with classical influences, and it includes several notable tracks, including the title track "Difficult to Cure," a reworking of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, and the hit single "I Surrender." The album also features the talents of keyboardist Don Airey, who had previously worked with bands such as Ozzy Osbourne and Deep Purple. The album was released in Germany on 12" vinyl LP and was produced by the band's guitarist, Ritchie Blackmore, and sound engineer Louis Austin. The album cover features an illustration of a dragon with its tongue sticking out, created by artist Jeff Cummins. Critics praised the album for its musical diversity and technical prowess, with many noting the band's ability to seamlessly blend different genres of music. The album also helped to solidify Rainbow's place in the hard rock scene of the 1980s and helped to further establish the careers of Blackmore and Turner. This album "RAINBOW - Difficult to Cure" includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by and artwork/photos |
Music Genre: British Hard Rock |
Album Production information: The album: "RAINBOW - Difficult to Cure" was produced by: Roger Glocer Sound/Recording Engineer(s): Flemming Rasmussen This album was recorded at: Sweet Silence Studios, Copenhagen Mastered at Sterling Sound, New York City by Greg Colvy Album cover design and photos Hipgnosis Hipgnosis was an English art group founded in 1968 by Storm Thorgerson, Aubrey Powell, and Peter Christopherson. The group was known for their innovative and creative album covers, which became iconic in the music industry. Hipgnosis worked with some of the most influential musicians of their time, including Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Yes. The group's name, "Hipgnosis," was a play on the words "hypnosis" and "hip." They believed that their art had the power to hypnotize people and transport them to another world, which was reflected in their album covers. The group's style was surreal and often incorporated elements of fantasy, science fiction, and the occult. Their designs were highly detailed and often required extensive planning and preparation. One of the group's most famous album covers was for Pink Floyd's "The Dark Side of the Moon." The cover featured a prism refracting light into a rainbow, which became one of the most recognizable images in rock history. The design was so successful that it became synonymous with the band and their music. Another iconic design was for Led Zeppelin's "Houses of the Holy," which featured a group of naked children climbing on a rock formation. The image was highly controversial but helped to solidify the band's rebellious image. Hipgnosis also worked with a number of other influential musicians, including Peter Gabriel, Black Sabbath, and Genesis. They designed the cover for Peter Gabriel's first solo album, which featured a photograph of Gabriel wearing a mask with only his eyes visible. The image became another iconic design and was later referenced in Gabriel's music video for "Sledgehammer." The group's success continued into the 1980s, with designs for bands such as Scorpions and Styx. However, the rise of digital technology and the decline of album sales led to the group's decline. Hipgnosis disbanded in 1983, but their legacy lives on in the countless album covers they created. Hipgnosis was not just an art group, but a collective of artists who had a significant impact on the music industry. Their innovative designs helped to define the visual style of rock music in the 1970s and 1980s. Their work was not just a complement to the music, but an essential part of the overall experience. They created a world that fans could enter into and lose themselves in, just like the music they were listening to. Here is a web-page with a gallery of album covers created by Hipgnosis Flemming Rasmussen a Danish music producer and engineer who has been active in the industry since the early 1980s. He is best known for his work with the heavy metal band Metallica, for which he produced and engineered several albums including "Ride the Lightning" (1984) and "Master of Puppets" (1986). Rasmussen got his start in the music industry as an engineer and producer at the legendary Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark. He went on to work with several other prominent bands and artists, including Blind Guardian, Morbid Angel, and Rainbow. In addition to his work with Metallica, Rasmussen is also known for his collaborations with other heavy metal and rock bands, such as Savatage, Mercyful Fate, and The Scorchers. He has received recognition for his contributions to the music industry and is considered to be one of the top producers and engineers in the heavy metal genre. Overall, Flemming Rasmussen is a talented and experienced music producer and engineer who has made a significant impact on the heavy metal genre through his work with some of the biggest and most influential bands in the history of the genre. SWEET SILENCE STUDIO is a Danish music recording music in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is owned by Freddy Hansson and Flemming Rasmussen (producer of Metallica albums). |
Record Label Information: 2391 506 |
Media Format: 12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone RecordTotal Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram |
Year & Country: 1981 Made in Germany |
Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: RAINBOW - Difficult to Cure |
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Complete Track-listing of the album "RAINBOW - Difficult to Cure" |
The detailed tracklist of this record "RAINBOW - Difficult to Cure" is:
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High Quality Photo of Album Front Cover "RAINBOW - Difficult to Cure" |
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Note: The photos on this page are of the actual album. Slight differences in color may exist due to the use of the camera's flash. Images can be zoomed in/out ( eg pinch with your fingers on a tablet or smartphone ). |
Rainbow is a British hard rock band that was formed in 1975 by the former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore. The band has gone through several line-up changes, and their sound has evolved over the years, but their music has always been characterized by Blackmore's virtuoso guitar playing and a blend of hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock. This page will provide a brief history of Rainbow, explore the band's music, and discuss their impact on the world of hard rock.
Rainbow was formed in 1975 by Ritchie Blackmore after he left Deep Purple. The original line-up of the band consisted of Ronnie James Dio on vocals, Craig Gruber on bass, Gary Driscoll on drums, and Micky Lee Soule on keyboards. This line-up recorded the band's debut album, "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow," which was released in 1975. The album was a critical and commercial success, and it established Rainbow as one of the leading hard rock bands of the 1970s.
Over the years, Rainbow went through several line-up changes. Ronnie James Dio left the band in 1979 to join Black Sabbath, and he was replaced by Graham Bonnet. Bonnet sang on the band's third album, "Down to Earth," which was released in 1979 and featured the hit single "Since You've Been Gone." The band's next album, "Difficult to Cure," was released in 1981 and featured a new lead singer, Joe Lynn Turner. This line-up recorded three more albums, including "Straight Between the Eyes," "Bent Out of Shape," and "Stranger in Us All."
Rainbow disbanded in 1997, but Ritchie Blackmore re-formed the band in 2015 for a series of concerts in Europe. The new line-up of the band featured vocalist Ronnie Romero and keyboardist Jens Johansson, among others.
Rainbow's music is characterized by Ritchie Blackmore's virtuoso guitar playing, which combines elements of classical music with hard rock and heavy metal. The band's early albums, such as "Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow" and "Rainbow Rising," are considered to be classic examples of the hard rock and heavy metal genres. These albums featured epic, riff-heavy songs with soaring vocals from Ronnie James Dio.
As the band's sound evolved, Rainbow began to incorporate more progressive rock elements into their music. The album "Difficult to Cure" featured a cover of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, and the band's later albums featured more complex song structures and instrumental passages.
Rainbow is considered to be one of the most influential hard rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s. Their music has inspired countless other bands in the hard rock and heavy metal genres, and their influence can be heard in the work of bands such as Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Dream Theater.
Ritchie Blackmore's virtuoso guitar playing has also had a significant impact on the world of rock music. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest guitarists of all time, and his influence can be heard in the work of countless other guitarists.