Rainbow / IL, USA – June 25, 1976 (Remastered)

This release features a polished version of a superb recording capturing the 1976 US tour—a tour notable for the consecutive performance of two major tracks: “Stargazer” and “A Light In The Black.” Specifically, this title documents the legendary audience recording from the June 25, 1976, concert in Chicago. While we strive to archive Rainbow’s history through the finest possible recordings, the period during which these two masterpieces were performed back-to-back was remarkably brief. To better understand the context, let us first look at an overview of the band’s activities during that time and examine where this release fits into the timeline. 1975: April 7 – Ritchie leaves Deep Purple; August 4 – *Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow* released; September – Lineup finalized; November 10–29 – North American Tour #1 (12 shows) [e.g., *Detroit 1975*]. 1976: February – Production of *Rising*; May 15 – *Rising* released; June 11–August 7 – North American Tour #2 (32 shows) [**This Release**; “A Light In The Black” dropped from the setlist]; August 31–September 14 – UK Tour (10 shows) [e.g., *Birmingham Rising*]; September 20–October 18 – European Tour (20 shows) [e.g., *Copenhagen 1976*]; November 4–22 – Australian Tour (11 shows) [e.g., *Sydney 1976*]; December 2–16 – First Japan Tour (10 shows) [e.g., *Definitive Last Night*]; February 1977 – Jimmy Bain fired. This was the trajectory of Rainbow in 1975 and 1976. While the band’s evolution culminated in the legendary first tour of Japan—packed with miraculous performances—the early days offer a different kind of appeal, allowing listeners to experience the excitement of a band still in the process of developing its sound. There were two North American legs: “North American Leg #1” (before “Kill The King” was created) and “North American Leg #2” (where songs like “A Light In The Black” were performed). The Chicago show featured here belongs, of course, to the latter. Let’s organize the collection by focusing on the specific dates: “North American Leg #2” details—June 11–15 (3 shows) *June 17: *BEACON THEATRE 1976* – June 18–24 (4 shows) *June 25: Chicago Show ← ★This Release★ – June 27–July 14 (10 shows) *July 15: *MIAMI 1976* – July 16–August 2 (8 shows) *August 3: *BURBANK 1976* – August 6 & 7 (2 shows). The sound quality here represents a new pinnacle, offering significantly greater stability. While the highly acclaimed *BEACON THEATRE 1976* is still fresh in everyone’s memory, the Chicago show featured here took place just about a week later. Recordings of this show have long been known among traders and have undergone repeated upgrades over the years. A major leap forward came in 2008 with our store’s release, *RISING KINGDOM*. It was a groundbreaking “best master” that remained unsurpassed for 18 years. For this release, “GRAF ZEPPELIN” has applied meticulous mastering to that *RISING KINGDOM* source, creating a definitive new edition that sets a new standard for excellence. The sound is truly superb. While *RISING KINGDOM* was certainly the best version available at the time, to modern ears, it felt a bit distant from the stage, with unavoidable sound diffusion and hall resonance. There were also instances of distortion in the low-frequency range. “GRAF… “ZEPPELIN” has refined that vintage sound. The overall pitch—which was slightly high—has been corrected, and precise phase alignment has been applied before summing the left and right channels to mono. Since the original recording was mono, the center positioning itself hasn’t changed drastically; however, the instability caused by phase or frequency-range misalignment has been eliminated, resulting in a vastly superior sense of stability with the sound image firmly anchored in the center. Nuances in the guitar playing are particularly easier to grasp, and the difference is readily apparent on tracks like “Mistreated” and “Catch The Rainbow.” While preserving the dignified atmosphere of the original recording, the listening experience has been dramatically improved. A magnificent performance featuring Ronnie’s awe-inspiring, powerhouse vocals. This upgraded sound brings Ronnie James Dio’s incredible vocal performance into sharp relief. His soaring vocals, delivered with exceptional intensity, reveal a fierce, god-like vocal style that foreshadows his work with Black Sabbath in 1980 and his own band, Dio, in 1983. His vocals on “Kill The King,” “Mistreated,” and “Man On The Silver Mountain” are overwhelming, while words fail to describe his superhuman performance from “Stargazer” through “A Light In The Black.” The process of the band’s evolution—typical of their early days—is also fascinating. Even at this point, roughly two weeks into the tour, the sextuplet-based rhythmic break in the coda of “Kill The King” had not yet been perfected; it was still a work in progress. On the other hand, compared to the *Beacon Theatre 1976* recording from just a week prior, the band’s cohesion has improved significantly, and the endings are executed much more naturally. One can clearly hear the evolution that took place over a mere eight days. And then, the highlight: “A Light In The…” “A Light In The Black.” This track is a highlight of the day, boasting a magnificent performance; the musical progression following the keyboard solo at the 2:35 mark is truly outstanding. The relentless momentum—cascading breathlessly from the sharp musical break at 3:30 into the guitar solo at 3:50—is enough to give you goosebumps; it is a breathtaking section where Ritchie and Tony trade fiery licks, all underpinned by Ronnie’s ferocious vocals and Cozy’s rock-solid rhythm. The audience remains in a frenzy from start to finish, captivated by the band’s passionate performance. The energy never flags, right up to the final track, “Do You Close Your Eyes,” where the swirling, thunderous guitar chaos creates an atmosphere of sheer, frenzied excitement. This live album offers a 100% authentic experience of Rainbow during their 1976 North American tour—a time of rapid evolution as they built the ultimate British hard rock sound. It is a masterpiece that anyone looking to move beyond official releases or soundboard recordings simply must hear. It features the legendary audience recording of the June 25, 1976, Chicago show. This definitive edition has been polished through meticulous mastering by “Graf Zeppelin,” eliminating pitch instability and vastly improving overall sonic steadiness. It is a complete live album that demands to be heard, showcasing Ronnie’s god-like vocal power—foreshadowing his later eras with Black Sabbath and Dio—and a stunning rendition of “A Light In The Black.” Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, IL, USA – June 25, 1976. Disc 1 (52:21) 1. Intro. 2. Over The Rainbow 3. Kill The King 4. Mistreated 5. Sixteenth Century Greensleeves 6. Catch The Rainbow 7. Man On The Silver Mountain. Disc 2 (57:30) 1. Keyboard Solo 2. Stargazer 3. A Light In The Black 4. Still I’m Sad (incl. Keyboard Solo) 5. Drum Solo (incl. 1812 Overture) 6. Still I’m Sad. (reprise) 7. Do You Close Your Eyes incl. Guitar Crash 8. Over The Rainbow Ritchie Blackmore – Guitar Ronnie James Dio – Vocals Cozy Powell – Drums Jimmy Bain – Bass Tony Carey – Keyboards