Album Description:
In 1984, the world of heavy metal was forever changed with the release of Dio's second studio album, "The Last in Line". The German edition of this iconic album, bearing the record catalog number Vertigo 822 366, became an instant classic in the hearts of metal enthusiasts across the globe. Filled with powerful performances, masterful musicianship, and captivating artwork, this LP stands as a testament to Dio's enduring legacy in the realm of heavy metal.
A Powerful Duo:
Produced by the legendary Ronnie James Dio himself, the German edition of "The Last in Line" maintained the same creative direction that made the original release such a success. With Dio's unparalleled vision and dedication to his craft, the album promised to deliver an unforgettable listening experience to fans in Germany and beyond.
The Masterful Touch:
The importance of mastering an album cannot be overstated, as it ensures the final sound quality is optimized for vinyl. For the German edition, Dio enlisted the renowned mastering engineer George Marino, who brought his expertise to the table once again. Marino's skilled touch enhanced the album's sonic depth, allowing every instrument and vocal nuance to shine through with clarity and power.
Visual Brilliance:
True to the spirit of Dio's artistry, the album cover design and artwork for the German edition were just as captivating as the original. Fans were treated to a visual feast, courtesy of the talents of the designers involved in creating the cover. The imagery perfectly complemented the album's themes and added an extra layer of mystique and intrigue.
Photographic Magic:
To capture the essence of Dio's performance and persona for the German edition, a team of skilled photographers was assembled. Their task was to immortalize the band's energy and charisma through their lenses, resulting in striking images that showcased the band in all their metal glory. These photos became an integral part of the album's presentation, resonating with fans and leaving an enduring impact.
The Maestros of Metal:
"The Last in Line" owed its legendary status not only to Dio's charismatic presence but also to the outstanding musicians who comprised the band.
Ronnie James Dio, with his powerful and emotive vocals, was the beating heart of the band. His ability to convey raw emotion and his remarkable stage presence cemented his status as one of the most iconic figures in metal history. Although no longer with us, Ronnie James Dio's influence continues to be felt throughout the genre.
Claude Schnell, the master of keyboards, added layers of grandeur and atmosphere to the band's sound. His keyboard arrangements complemented the heavy guitar riffs, creating a captivating and unique sonic experience.
Jimmy Bain, a multi-talented musician who played bass and keyboards, contributed significantly to the band's distinctive sound. His creativity and technical prowess on the bass guitar laid a solid foundation for the band's music.
Vinny Appice, the powerhouse behind the drums, provided the driving rhythm that propelled the band's songs forward with relentless energy. His precise and thunderous drumming style became a defining element of Dio's sound.
Vivian Campbell's guitar work was nothing short of extraordinary. His impressive technical skill, melodic sensibility, and fiery solos elevated the band's music to new heights, making him an indispensable part of the Dio lineup.
The Magnum Opus:
"The Last in Line" featured a collection of timeless heavy metal anthems. Tracks like the eponymous "The Last in Line" and the electrifying "We Rock" have become staples in Dio's live performances, rallying crowds with their potent energy and memorable choruses. The epic and storytelling nature of "Egypt (The Chains Are On)" showcased Dio's ability to craft immersive musical journeys.
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Music Genre: Heavy Metal NWOBHM
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Album packaging:
This album includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, and photos.
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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
Read more...
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
Rich Markowitz - Sound Engineer
George Marino (1947-2012) - Mastering Engineer
George Marino – Mastering EngineerWhen my site brain goes full 1980s metal mode, his name keeps showing up like a hidden signature in the dead wax. Read more... 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
Barry Jackson - Artwork
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.
Neil Zlozower - Photographer
Neil Zlozower – Rock Photographer
The eye behind some of the most iconic hard rock and metal images of the ’70s and ’80s.
Read more...
Neil Zlozower is a legendary rock photographer whose raw, high-energy images helped define the hard rock and heavy metal scenes of the 1970s and 1980s. Best known for his close association with bands like Van Halen and Mötley Crüe, his photographs capture the unfiltered intensity, excess, and attitude of rock’s golden era. Decades on, his work remains a visual time capsule of loud amps and louder personalities.
Steve Gerdes - Album Cover Design
Wendy Dio - Cover Concept
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Record Label & Catalognr:
Vertigo 822 366
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Media Format:
12" Vinyl LP Record |
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Year & Country:
1984 Made in Germany
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Personnel/Band Members and Musicians on: DIO - Last in Line
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Band-members, Musicians and Performers
- Ronnie James Dio (1943-2010) - Vocals, Producer
- 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
Read more...
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
- Vivian Campbell - Guitars
- Claude Schnell - Keyboards
- 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. Read more... 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 – Drums
Vinny Appice hits like a wrecking ball that somehow keeps perfect time—tight, loud, and annoyingly tasteful. Late-70s grind with Rick Derringer (1976–1977) and Axis (1978) turned into the real deal with Black Sabbath (1980–1982), then that classic jump with Ronnie James Dio into Dio (1982–1989; back again for the 1994 and 1996 records). Read more... Vinny Appice, Brooklyn-born and raised on the kind of grit that doesn’t need a press release, has always sounded like he’s driving the whole band from the drum throne. First heard him properly when he slid into Black Sabbath on the Heaven and Hell tour in 1980 and then stamped his name on Mob Rules (1981) and the Live Evil chapter (1982). Late 1982 brought the big pivot: leaving the Sabbath orbit with Ronnie James Dio to build Dio, where my turntable still keeps coming back to that early run—Holy Diver (1983), The Last in Line (1984), Sacred Heart (1985), Intermission (1986), Dream Evil (1987)—before he stepped away in December 1989. The story didn’t end there, because heavy metal loves sequels: he flew back into Sabbath for Dehumanizer in 1992, reunited with Dio for Strange Highways (1994) and Angry Machines (1996), and later rode with the same core crew as Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010—proof that his groove isn’t a “style,” it’s a structural beam.
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