The broad roster of artists under the Universal Music umbrella -- thanks to record company merger mania -- has enabled a slew of mid-line-priced
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection titles. In some cases, such as
Steve Winwood's, it's a unique volume. For others, such as
Rainbow, it's a sensible purchase for budget-minded casual fans, but more complete one-CD retrospectives exist.
Deep Purple hasn't truly received the widespread critical respect it deserves as a pioneering heavy metal band, so it's no surprise that guitarist
Ritchie Blackmore's
Rainbow isn't fully appreciated either. No consecutive studio albums bore the same lineup, so continuity can't be considered one of
Rainbow's virtues. But from the progressive heavy metal, mid-'70s
Ronnie James Dio era to the calculated, radio-friendly, early-'80s
Joe Lynn Turner era, the band created many excellent songs and foreshadowed the mid-'80s pop/metal boom.
Rainbow's three best-known songs -- "Since You Been Gone" (with
Graham Bonnet's throat-bursting vocals), "Stone Cold," and "Street of Dreams" -- are featured on
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection. All three were modest hit singles, but only "Stone Cold" made the Top 40. "Man on the Silver Mountain" should also be recognizable to fans of "classic rock" radio. The beautifully hypnotic "Catch the Rainbow" and bombastic, strings-enriched epic "Stargazer" are other highlights. The menacing "Kill the King," supple "Rainbow Eyes," 13-minute live version of
Deep Purple's blues showcase "Mistreated," and catchy "I Surrender" are treats too. ("Since You Been Gone" and "I Surrender" were both penned by
Argent veteran
Russ Ballard.) Although 1997's stunning The Very Best of Rainbow is the definitive compilation, the generous 11-song, 66-minute
20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection certainly has its own virtues. ~ Bret Adams