METAL ODYSSEY’S ALBUM PICKS OF THE WEEK AND BEYOND: ALL RONNIE JAMES DIO
DIO – With Ronnie James Dio’s passing away on May 16, 2010, I, like so many countless other fans, have been listening to his music this week with a lump in our throats and knots in our stomachs. To recommend a DIO album to someone who is totally “new” to the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal of Ronnie James Dio, I would point out ALL. Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, DIO… the Metal sky is the limit for new fans. Still, the obvious way to recruit new fans to the magical voice that Ronnie James Dio bestowed upon us, is to have that greatest hits available and at the Metal ready.
Any and all new fans to Ronnie James Dio MUST just acquire or purchase – The Very Beast Of DIO, which was released back in October of 2000. I bought this CD, despite having the albums that are represented on this compilation, be it vinyl, cassette or CD. I was browsing the CD aisle at Walmart a couple of years ago, The Very Beast Of DIO was there and it was only 7 dollars (U.S.), if my Metal memory serves me correct. I bought it finally because it is DIO and this CD was an arms length from me. Plus, all of the “hits” are on this CD… 16 monster hits from DIO! From Stand Up And Shout to Strange Highways, with Mystery and Rock ‘N’ Roll Children in-between, a DIO greatest hits is a Metal necessity.
However… don’t get me wrong… ANY album from DIO shall suffice! Of course, there are the fan favorites to choose, nonetheless, there is not a bummer album out there, with Ronnie James Dio on lead vocals. Metal be thy name.
Dive into Holy Diver from 1983. An amazing debut album from DIO… pure Metal brilliance. You can read what I wrote about this DIO album, back on June 17, 2009, by clicking the header below:
DIO “Holy Diver” – long live this Metal masterpiece!
The Last In Line from 1984 is… incredible. You can check out my post I wrote about this DIO album, back on August 12, 2009, by clicking the header below:
DIO “The Last In Line” will last my Metal Music lifetime
Get submersed into the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal roots of the 1978 Rainbow album – Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll… and don’t forget to sing along once you instantly catch onto the lyrics of the songs. Back on May 19, 2009, I wrote just how I feel about this ultra great Rainbow album with Ronnie James Dio on vocals. If you like, you can read it by clicking that big header below:
Rainbow “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll” long lives indeed!
The second Black Sabbath album featuring Ronnie James Dio on vocals is… Mob Rules, released back in 1981. An unreal and jaw dropping Heavy Metal album is Mob Rules. On May 23, 2009, I wrote about this album too… and how it RULES. One click to the header below will let you read all about it:
Black Sabbath – “Mob Rules” still rules the Metal world
On April 28, 2009, the reunion album of the Ronnie James Dio fronted Black Sabbath took on an entirely new name… Heaven & Hell. The album title – The Devil You Know. I was not just counting down the weeks and days for this albums release… I was counting the F’n hours! On April 30, 2009, I wrote with Metal glee about how I felt listening to this Heaven & Hell album, with Ronnie James Dio at the vocal helm. Click the header below to read what I had to say… if you like.
Heaven & Hell “The Devil You Know” is Metal greatness!
On March 18, 2010, I wrote just how I feel about Ronnie James Dio. A Hard Rock and Heavy Metal vocalist, lyricist and songwriter that captured my Metal heart and soul so many Metal moons ago. The header below, can take you to read what I had to say, on that day, about Ronnie James Dio:
RONNIE JAMES DIO – A TRUE HEAVY METAL WARRIOR!
As I have had a couple of days to let it all sink in, the passing of Ronnie James Dio is reality. This is what life is about… people are born and people pass on. I love the old saying: As one door closes, another door opens. I certainly pray and assume the door to Heaven has opened for Ronnie James Dio. God Bless you Ronnie James Dio.
Stone.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
May 18, 2010 at 8:28 pm
I have Mob Rules playing on the computer as I write this. The sign of the southern cross is on now. I remember a time in the mid-80’s before I had a car. I would take a walk out the road with my walkman on and this song in particular playing. I would look up at the stars towards the beginning and wait for that part where the music picked up and Dio’s voice tore right into it. Simply an amazing voice.
May 18, 2010 at 8:42 pm
When I first heard “Voodoo”, my God I was numb. Tony Iommi opening up the song on guitar… then the drums kick in… whoa.
There is something about Ronnie’s vocals on “The Sign of the Southern Cross” that can be pretty mesmerizing for sure. It’s as if it is really mystical. You know, back then and even now, when I listen to “Mob Rules”, I truly feel like a Metalhead… the whole feeling of being into Metal surrounds me like nothing else.
Listening to “Mob Rules” also brings back those “Old School” feelings of driving around and looking for keg parties out in the woods too. Corn dog… maybe, yet true for me.
Stone
May 18, 2010 at 8:30 pm
Forgot to mention that another walkman favorite of mine was side two of Rainbow’s Rising which I think my be my favorite album that Dio was a part of.
May 18, 2010 at 8:35 pm
“Stargazer” is CLASSIC. I believe Dream Theater covered this song as part of the “deluxe” edition for their last album – “Black Clouds & Silver Linings”… they did a cool job with it too. There are a ton of fans that consider “Rising” as the best Rainbow album… your not alone. I just gravitated to “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll” to a level that I cannot explain away.