DIO - Dream Evil 12" Vinyl LP Album

- DIO's 1987 Metal Epic: A Spellbinding Fusion of Power, Mysticism & Thunderous Riff

A surreal painting of a child sleeping in a dimly lit bedroom while nightmarish creatures emerge from the bed and shadows. A menacing armored demon with glowing orange eyes watches through a gothic arched window, backlit by a full moon. The room is scattered with eerie details, including an open book, a crystal orb, and crawling creatures.

Hey there, metalheads! Ever felt the pull of the dark side, the thrill of a riff that sends shivers down your spine? Then crank up Dio's "Dream Evil" and let the nightmare begin! This 1987 gem showcases the master himself, Ronnie James Dio, alongside the thunderous rhythm section of Vinny Appice and Jimmy Bain. It's heavy metal with a touch of the mystical, a journey into a world where dreams and darkness collide.

Setting the Stage: Heavy Metal in the Late 80s
Album Description:

Picture this: it's 1987. Hairspray and spandex are in full effect. Glam metal rules the airwaves, but a darker, more visceral force is brewing beneath the surface. Dio, having already blazed a trail with Rainbow and Black Sabbath, is ready to reclaim his throne as the king of heavy metal. "Dream Evil" is his battle cry, a defiant roar against the tide of commercialism.

Musical Exploration: A Fusion of Power and Melody

This album isn't just a collection of headbanging anthems. It's a testament to Dio's mastery of songwriting, his ability to blend thunderous riffs with soaring vocals and intricate melodies. From the opening salvo of "Night People" to the epic closer "When a Woman Cries", "Dream Evil" is a rollercoaster ride of emotions, a sonic journey that will leave you breathless.

Genre-Bending: Not Just Heavy Metal

Sure, this is heavy metal through and through, but Dio wasn't afraid to push the boundaries. There are hints of prog rock in the sprawling "All the Fools Sailed Away", a touch of blues in the soulful "I Could Have Been a Dreamer", and even a dash of gothic darkness in the haunting "Faces in the Window". This is an album that defies easy categorization, a testament to Dio's restless creativity.

Controversies: A Change in Sound

Some die-hard fans cried foul, claiming "Dream Evil" was too polished, too commercial compared to Dio's earlier work. But let's be real, folks. This is still a heavy metal album, just one with a slightly more refined edge. Dio wasn't afraid to evolve, to experiment with new sounds and textures. And that's what makes "Dream Evil" so damn exciting.

The Dream Team: Production and Personnel

Behind every great album is a team of talented individuals, and "Dream Evil" is no exception. The legendary Vinny Appice (formerly of Black Sabbath) pounds the skins with relentless fury, while Jimmy Bain (also ex-Rainbow) lays down a thunderous bass foundation. Craig Goldy's guitar work is a revelation, a perfect blend of technical virtuosity and raw emotion. And of course, there's Dio himself, his voice a force of nature, capable of both spine-tingling screams and heart-wrenching ballads.

Recording Studio: Capturing the Magic

"Dream Evil" was recorded at the iconic Sound City Studios in Los Angeles, a place where countless rock and metal legends have made history. The album's production is crisp and powerful, capturing the raw energy of the band's live performances while adding a layer of studio polish.

Conclusion: A Metal Masterpiece

"Dream Evil" might not be Dio's most iconic album, but it's a damn fine one. It's a testament to his enduring legacy, his ability to evolve and innovate while staying true to his heavy metal roots. So crank it up, let the music wash over you, and experience the power of Dio's "Dream Evil".

Music Genre:

Heavy Metal Hard Rock 

Album Production information:

Produced by Ronnie James Dio

  • Ronnie James DIO – Vocals

    DIO is straight-up one of my all-time favorite hard rock and heavy metal singers. I clock him as a once-in-a-generation voice: pure power, ridiculous control, and that storyteller energy that makes metal feel like a myth you can actually hold in your hands

    I always track his timeline like chapters I keep re-reading: Elf (1967–1975) where he sharpened the blues-rock grit, Rainbow (1975–1979) where the fantasy thunder really took off, Black Sabbath (1979–1982, 1991–1992) where he helped reboot the doom machine, Dio (1982–2010) where he built his own kingdom, and Heaven & Hell (2006–2010) where the classics came roaring back live.

    Ronnie James Dio, I don’t just hear a singer here — I hear a frontman who could make a chorus feel like a battle standard and a quiet line feel like a warning whispered in a cathedral. When he lit the fuse in Rainbow on “Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow” and especially “Rising” (yeah, that one), it was all high drama and sharpened melody. When he walked into Black Sabbath and dropped “ Heaven and Hell ” and “Mob Rules,” he didn’t “replace” anyone — he gave the band a whole second spine. And when he planted the flag with Dio on “Holy Diver” and “The Last in Line” (and later “Sacred Heart” for the big-chorus arena punch), the signature stayed the same: massive hooks, bigger conviction, and that unmistakable “this matters” intensity that makes you sit up like the record just called your name. Ronnie James Dio Wiki

    • Angelo Arcuri - Producer, Sound Engineer

    Allen Abrahamson - Sound Engineer

    Charlie Brocco - Sound Engineer

    Tom Biener - Sound Engineer

    Recorded at Village Recorder, Los Angeles, CA

    Mixed at Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA

    Mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound

  • George Marino – Mastering Engineer

    When my site brain goes full 1980s metal mode, his name keeps showing up like a hidden signature in the dead wax.

    George Marino is one of those behind-the-glass legends who made heavy music feel larger than the room it was playing in. Before the mastering console became his throne, he was a Bronx guitarist doing the NYC band grind in the 1960s with groups like The Chancellors and The New Sounds Ltd. Then he went pro for real: starting at Capitol Studios in New York (1967), and eventually becoming a long-running force at Sterling Sound (from 1973 onward). For a collector like me—living in that sweet spot where 1980s heavy metal, hard rock, and a dash of prog-minded ambition collide—Marino’s credits read like a stack of essential sleeves: Holy Diver (Dio), Tooth and Nail (Dokken), Stay Hard (Raven), Master of Puppets (Metallica), Somewhere in Time (Iron Maiden), Among the Living (Anthrax), Appetite for Destruction (Guns N’ Roses), Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi), and Blow Up Your Video (AC/DC). That’s the kind of resume that doesn’t just “master” records—it weaponizes them, but with taste. George Marino Wiki

    • Gene Kirkland - Photography

    Gene Kirkland has been taking photos for music albums covers (during the 1980s) mainly for DIO, but also for Megadeth and Sanctuary.

    Janet Levinson - Art Direction

    Margo Chase - Hand Lettering

    Steve Huston - Illustration

    Wendy Dio - Cover Concept

    Record Label & Catalognr:

    Vertigo 832 530

    Album Packaging:

    This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, and photos of Ronnie James Dio and his band.  

    Media Format:

    12" Vinyl LP Record

    Year & Country:

    1987 Made in Holland
    Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: DIO - Dream Evil
      Band-members, Musicians and Performers
    • Ronnie James Dio (1943-2010) - Vocals
    • Ronnie James DIO – Vocals

      DIO is straight-up one of my all-time favorite hard rock and heavy metal singers. I clock him as a once-in-a-generation voice: pure power, ridiculous control, and that storyteller energy that makes metal feel like a myth you can actually hold in your hands

      I always track his timeline like chapters I keep re-reading: Elf (1967–1975) where he sharpened the blues-rock grit, Rainbow (1975–1979) where the fantasy thunder really took off, Black Sabbath (1979–1982, 1991–1992) where he helped reboot the doom machine, Dio (1982–2010) where he built his own kingdom, and Heaven & Hell (2006–2010) where the classics came roaring back live.

      Ronnie James Dio, I don’t just hear a singer here — I hear a frontman who could make a chorus feel like a battle standard and a quiet line feel like a warning whispered in a cathedral. When he lit the fuse in Rainbow on “Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow” and especially “Rising” (yeah, that one), it was all high drama and sharpened melody. When he walked into Black Sabbath and dropped “ Heaven and Hell ” and “Mob Rules,” he didn’t “replace” anyone — he gave the band a whole second spine. And when he planted the flag with Dio on “Holy Diver” and “The Last in Line” (and later “Sacred Heart” for the big-chorus arena punch), the signature stayed the same: massive hooks, bigger conviction, and that unmistakable “this matters” intensity that makes you sit up like the record just called your name. Ronnie James Dio Wiki

      •  

    • Claude Schnell - Keyboards
    • Craig Goldy - Guitars
    • Jimmy Bain (1947-2016) - Bass, Keyboards
    • Jimmy Bain – Bass

      Jimmy Bain is one of those bass players I call “quietly essential”: he doesn’t steal the spotlight, he just makes the whole thing hit harder and feel bigger. His lines have that no-nonsense weight that lets the guitars fly and the vocals preach without the bottom end turning to soup.

      Jimmy Bain, for me, is a perfect example of how a great bassist can be both glue and engine at the same time—solid timing, fat tone, and just enough bite to keep things from getting polite. Timeline-wise, I always track him from Harlot (early 1970s) into Rainbow (1975–1977), then a long stretch with Dio (1982–1989, plus later returns like 1993–1994 and 2004), with plenty of side quests in between—most famously with Vivian Campbell’s band Riverdogs (1990–1993). Jimmy Bain Wiki

    • Vinny Appice - Drums
      Vinny Appice is a powerhouse drummer known for his thunderous and precise playing. Born in 1957, he gained fame with Black Sabbath, debuting on "Heaven and Hell" alongside Ronnie James Dio. He later joined Dio’s band, contributing to iconic albums like "Holy Diver" and "The Last in Line2. His influence on heavy metal drumming remains legendary. Learn more
    Complete Track Listing of: DIO Dream Evil

    The Song/tracks on "DIO Dream Evil" are

      Side One:
    • Night People
    • Dream Evil
    • Sunset Superman
    • All the Fools Sailed
      Side Two:
    • Naked in the Rain
    • Overlove
    • I Could have been a Dreamer
    • Faces in the Window
    • When a Woman Cries

    DIO Dream Evil Album Photo Gallery:

    Album Front Cover Photo
    A surreal painting of a child sleeping in a dimly lit bedroom while nightmarish creatures emerge from the bed and shadows. A menacing armored demon with glowing orange eyes watches through a gothic arched window, backlit by a full moon. The room is scattered with eerie details, including an open book, a crystal orb, and crawling creatures.

    High-Resolution Photo Album Front Cover of DIO Dream Evil

    This haunting artwork depicts a surreal nightmarish scene. A young child with curly hair sleeps peacefully in a bed with a pink quilted blanket, unaware of the eerie surroundings.

    Dark creatures with clawed hands, serpent-like tails, and insect-like limbs creep from beneath the bed and the shadows, hinting at a supernatural presence. A ghostly female figure with greenish skin and wild flowing hair appears to be floating nearby, reaching outward as if emerging from the dream itself.

    Through a gothic arched window, a towering armored demon with glowing orange eyes stands menacingly, arms crossed, backlit by the full moon. The contrast of light and shadow creates a dramatic and ominous effect.

    The foreground contains unsettling details—a glowing crystal orb, an open book with red-edged pages, black spiders crawling across the floor, and clawed hands reaching out from under the bed.

    The mix of deep blues and purples in the shadows against the warm golden moonlight and soft pink bedding creates a striking contrast. The artwork embodies the theme of *Dream Evil*, blending dreams and nightmares into a chilling visual experience.

    Album Back Cover Photo
    A dark and atmospheric back cover of DIO Dream Evil featuring an open gothic doorway glowing with eerie orange light, mist swirling around the entrance. A shadowy figure looms beyond the doorway. A glowing chest, a small teddy bear, and a sinister clown doll sit on the floor. Gothic arched windows cast an ominous glow, with lyrics printed in the scene.

    High-Resolution Photo Album Back Cover of DIO Dream Evil

    The back cover of *DIO Dream Evil* presents an eerie and foreboding atmosphere. Dominating the scene is a large, open gothic doorway emitting a fiery orange glow. Mist-like tendrils swirl through the entrance, adding a supernatural feel. A shadowy figure stands within the doorway, barely visible, shrouded in mystery.

    To the right, gothic arched windows cast an ominous light, reinforcing the haunting mood. The printed lyrics of a verse from the album appear in white text, subtly blending into the scene, adding to the dreamlike and mysterious quality.

    In the foreground, a glowing chest sits open, as if containing an ethereal energy or hidden magic. Nearby, a small teddy bear sits motionless, juxtaposing innocence with the darker theme. Adding to the unsettling imagery, a sinister clown doll grips two daggers, its expression frozen in a disturbing grin, hinting at the themes of nightmares and hidden fears that run through the album.

    Below, the tracklist is printed in a straightforward, bold font, dividing the songs into Side One and Side Two. Production credits, including *Ronnie James Dio* as producer, and acknowledgments such as "In Remembrance" for Mary Appice and John Downing, are also present.

    The back cover perfectly complements the front artwork, maintaining the album's theme of blurred reality, nightmares, and the unknown. Its haunting elements serve as a visual extension of *Dream Evil’s* dark, melodic storytelling.

    First Photo Of Custom Inner Sleeve
    The first custom inner sleeve of DIO Dream Evil featuring a black and white band photo with a purple tint. The five members stand in a confident pose with signature 1980s rock hairstyles and outfits. The right side of the sleeve includes detailed production credits, acknowledgments, and a fan club invitation.

    High-Resolution Photo of the Original Custom Inner Sleeve (OIS) #1 of DIO Dream Evil

    The first inner sleeve of *DIO Dream Evil* features a striking black-and-white photograph of the band, tinted in purple. The five members, dressed in classic 1980s rock and metal attire, stand together in a powerful pose. Their signature voluminous hairstyles and intense expressions reflect the era’s visual aesthetic.

    On the right side of the sleeve, a large block of text provides detailed production credits, including the names of producers, engineers, photographers, and other key contributors to the album’s creation. The section also contains special acknowledgments, thanking individuals who played a role in supporting the band and its production process.

    At the bottom, a message invites fans to join the official *DIO Fan Club*. The invitation includes a mailing address in Tarzana, California, where fans could request additional merchandise and exclusive items related to the band.

    This inner sleeve serves as both a visual and informational element of the album, giving fans insight into the creative minds behind *Dream Evil* while reinforcing the band’s image and connection with its audience.

    Second Photo Of Custom Inner Sleeve
    Second custom inner sleeve of DIO Dream Evil featuring the lyrics to 'All the Fools Sailed Away' in a structured format. The text is black on a white background, with an ornate, purple gothic-styled letter 'A' decorated with intricate swirling patterns on the left side.

    High-Resolution Photo of the Original Custom Inner Sleeve (OIS) #2 of DIO Dream Evil

    This second inner sleeve of *DIO Dream Evil* features a minimalist yet elegant design, primarily displaying the lyrics to *All the Fools Sailed Away*. The text is printed in a classic, serif font in black, structured neatly in multiple stanzas.

    A standout feature of this sleeve is the large, ornate purple letter *A* at the beginning of the lyrics. The letter is intricately designed with gothic influences, featuring sharp, angular patterns that resemble medieval calligraphy, blended with flowing, curved flourishes that extend outward. The purple hue adds a mystical and regal touch, enhancing the visual impact.

    The background is stark white, ensuring a clean and readable presentation of the song’s lyrics. This contrast between the black text and the white space emphasizes clarity while allowing the decorative elements to stand out.

    The overall layout maintains a refined and sophisticated aesthetic, balancing the lyrical content with visual artistry, staying true to the thematic and stylistic elements of *Dream Evil*.

    Close up of Side One record's label
    Close-up of Side One label of DIO Dream Evil LP, featuring a space-themed design with futuristic UFOs in the sky. The label includes the album title, tracklist, production credits, and Vertigo logo, with text such as 'Made in Holland,' catalog number 832 530-1, and producer credit to Ronnie James Dio.

    High-Resolution Close-Up Photo of the LP Record Label

    This close-up of Side One of the *DIO Dream Evil* LP showcases the record’s label, which features a visually striking space-themed design. The label art depicts a cosmic landscape with futuristic UFOs hovering above a glowing, distant planet, surrounded by stars. This vibrant background gives the album a sci-fi aesthetic, reinforcing the themes of fantasy and mystery that *Dream Evil* embodies.

    The label contains essential album details, including the title *Dream Evil* prominently displayed below the record’s center hole. The tracklist for Side One is printed below, listing songs such as *Night People*, *Dream Evil*, *Sunset Superman*, and *All the Fools Sailed Away*, along with their respective durations and songwriting credits.

    Several key identifiers are present on the label. The catalog number *832 530-1* is printed in bold, indicating this pressing’s edition. The phrase *Made in Holland* appears below the *Stereo 33⅓* marking, specifying the record's origin and playback speed. Additionally, production credits confirm that the album was produced by *Ronnie James Dio*, with a copyright notice from 1987 for Phonogram and Music B.V.

    In the lower section, the iconic *Vertigo* logo is displayed, representing the record label known for its legendary rock and metal releases. A boxed section on the right contains additional distribution and pressing plant details.

    This label’s combination of detailed album information and artistic elements makes it an essential part of the *Dream Evil* vinyl experience, visually enhancing the album’s mystique and legacy.

    Index of DIO (The Band) - Vinyl LP Albums Discography

    DIO - Dream Evil 12" Vinyl LP
    Updated
    DIO - Dream Evil album front cover vinyl lp album https://vinyl-records.nl

    Released in 1987, Dream Evil is Dio's fourth studio album, blending soaring vocals, thunderous drums, and mystical themes. Featuring iconic tracks like Night People and All the Fools Sailed Away, it showcases Dio’s signature mix of fantasy and heavy metal. With Vinny Appice on drums and Jimmy Bain on bass, this album delivers a polished yet powerful sound, cementing Dio’s legacy in metal history.

    Learn more
    DIO - Holy Diver 12" Vinyl LP
    DIO - Holy Diver album front cover vinyl record

    Dio's legendary debut album "Holy Diver" arrives in Germany and the Netherlands! This 1983 vinyl LP delivers heavy metal classics like "Holy Diver" and "Rainbow in the Dark."

    - Holy Diver (1983, Germany ) - Holy Diver (1983, Netherlands)
    DIO - Intermission 12" Vinyl LP
    DIO - Intermission album front cover vinyl record

    Recorded at the San Diego Sports Arena in 1985 during the "Sacred Heart" tour, "Intermission" served as a sonic testament to the band's intense stage presence and Dio's enduring power as a frontman.

    Learn more
    DIO - Last In Line (German & Netherlands Releases)
    DIO - Last In Line (German & Netherlands Releases) album front cover vinyl record

    DIO's seminal album "The Last in Line" arrived in Germany and the Netherlands in 1984. This vinyl LP showcases the band's raw power with iconic tracks like "We Rock" and the album's namesake.

    - Last in Line ( 1984, Germany ) - Last In Line ( 1984, Netherlands )
    DIO - Lock Up The Wolves 12" Vinyl LP
    DIO - Lock Up The Wolves album front cover vinyl record

    Released in 1990, "Lock Up The Wolves" emerged at a pivotal juncture in Dio's musical evolution. The album marked a departure from some of his earlier works, as it unveiled a renewed sense of exploration

    Learn more
    DIO - Sacred Heart (Three European Releases)
    DIO - Sacred Heart (Three European Releases) album front cover vinyl record

    DIO's iconic third album "Sacred Heart" hit European, German, and Dutch record stores in 1985. This heavy metal masterpiece features hits like "Rock 'N' Roll Children" and the title track. Learn the history of this classic vinyl!

    - Sacred Heart (1985, Europe) - Sacred Heart (1985, Germany) - Sacred Heart (1985, Holland)