By 1997, the rock landscape had changed dramatically. Grunge had come and gone, and the “retro-rock” boom was beginning. Rainbow itself had been inactive since 1984. However, the late 90s saw a massive resurgence of interest in 70s hard rock, driven by compilation albums and the burgeoning CD reissue market.
Polydor/Universal seized this moment to release "The Very Best of Rainbow" .
The 1997 remastering on this compilation is generally considered superior to earlier CD pressings. It adds a layer of brightness to the 1970s recordings without sacrificing the bottom-end warmth. If you are a Hi-Fi enthusiast, the FLAC version of this compilation is an excellent "stress test" for your audio setup—specifically the transition tracks like "Kill the King," which feature rapid-fire instrumentation that can suffer from "warbling" in lower bitrates.
Searching for "Rainbow 1997 The Very Best of Rainbow FLAC" isn't just a file query; it’s a statement. It says you value history, you value audio fidelity, and you understand that the right soundtrack can transform a mundane moment into something cinematic.
Whether you are a lifelong fan of Ritchie Blackmore or a newcomer looking to explore the roots of hard rock, this
The Very Best of Rainbow is a definitive greatest hits compilation released on August 11, 1997
, through Polydor Records. It provides a comprehensive look at the band's evolution from 1975 to 1983, spanning three distinct vocal eras: Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet, and Joe Lynn Turner. Album Overview Release Date: August 11, 1997. / Chronicles. Total Runtime: Approximately 77:40 minutes. Chronology: It follows the 1981 compilation The Best of Rainbow and precedes the 2000 release 20th Century Masters Key Features & Content
The compilation is noted for its high-quality remastering and the inclusion of a rare track not originally found on the band's studio albums. Era Coverage:
The first half of the disc (Tracks 1–7) focuses on the "classic" Dio era featuring hard rock and fantasy themes. The second half covers the band's shift toward a more commercial AOR (Adult Oriented Rock) sound. Includes " Jealous Lover
," which was originally only available as a B-side to the "Can't Happen Here" single or on a US-only EP. Physical Media:
The original CD release often includes a fold-out poster-style booklet featuring an essay and a detailed "Rainbow Family Tree" titled Roots and Branches Cover Art:
The cover photo, featuring Ritchie Blackmore playing a Fender Stratocaster, actually originates from a photo session with his previous band, Deep Purple Tracklist & Personnel Track Title Original Album (Year) Lead Vocals Man On The Silver Mountain Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow Ronnie James Dio Catch The Rainbow Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow Ronnie James Dio Starstruck Ronnie James Dio Ronnie James Dio Kill The King Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Ronnie James Dio Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Ronnie James Dio Gates Of Babylon Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Ronnie James Dio Since You Been Gone Down To Earth Graham Bonnet All Night Long Down To Earth Graham Bonnet I Surrender Difficult To Cure Joe Lynn Turner Can't Happen Here Difficult To Cure Joe Lynn Turner Jealous Lover "Can't Happen Here" B-Side (1981) Joe Lynn Turner Stone Cold Straight Between The Eyes Joe Lynn Turner Straight Between The Eyes Joe Lynn Turner Can't Let You Go Bent Out Of Shape Joe Lynn Turner Street Of Dreams Bent Out Of Shape Joe Lynn Turner FLAC versions rainbow 1997 the very best of rainbowflac hot
of these specific tracks, or would you like to explore more about the band's family tree mentioned in the booklet?
Released on 11 August 1997, The Very Best of Rainbow is a definitive 16-track retrospective of the British hard rock band's most influential era from 1975 to 1983. Issued by Polydor Records and Chronicles, this compilation tracks the band's evolution from mystical heavy metal to FM-friendly melodic rock through its three major vocal eras. Vocal Era Breakdown
The album is organized chronologically, showcasing how Ritchie Blackmore’s vision shifted with different frontmen:
Ronnie James Dio (Tracks 1–7): Features the band's foundational hard rock and "castle rock" classics like "Man on the Silver Mountain" and the epic eight-minute "Stargazer".
Graham Bonnet (Tracks 8–9): Highlights the brief but commercially successful period with the hits "Since You Been Gone" and "All Night Long".
Joe Lynn Turner (Tracks 10–16): Covers the band's transition into early '80s AOR with tracks such as "I Surrender," "Stone Cold," and the compilation's closer, "Street of Dreams". Album Features & Technical Details
Remastering: The 1997 release features remastered audio, typically provided in high-quality formats on Apple Music or found in lossless FLAC collections for audiophile-grade playback. Total Runtime: Approximately 77 minutes and 40 seconds.
Special Inclusion: Includes "Jealous Lover," a notable B-side from the 1981 "Can't Happen Here" single that wasn't on the original studio albums.
Artwork Trivia: The cover photo, showing Ritchie Blackmore playing, is actually an older shot from his time with Deep Purple, originally featured inside the gatefold of Rainbow's 1975 debut. Complete Tracklist # Original Album (Year) Lead Vocals Man on the Silver Mountain Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975) Ronnie James Dio Catch the Rainbow Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975) Ronnie James Dio Starstruck Rising (1976) Ronnie James Dio Rising (1976) Ronnie James Dio Kill the King Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) Ronnie James Dio Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) Ronnie James Dio Gates of Babylon Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) Ronnie James Dio Since You Been Gone Down to Earth (1979) Graham Bonnet All Night Long Down to Earth (1979) Graham Bonnet I Surrender Difficult to Cure (1981) Joe Lynn Turner Can't Happen Here Difficult to Cure (1981) Joe Lynn Turner Jealous Lover Jealous Lover EP (1981) Joe Lynn Turner Stone Cold Straight Between the Eyes (1982) Joe Lynn Turner Straight Between the Eyes (1982) Joe Lynn Turner Can't Let You Go Bent Out of Shape (1983) Joe Lynn Turner Street of Dreams Bent Out of Shape (1983) Joe Lynn Turner
The Very Best of Rainbow is a comprehensive greatest hits compilation released in
by Polydor Records. It spans the band's career from its formation in 1975 to their final studio album of that era in 1983. Album Overview Release Date: July 15, 1997. Released under and Chronicles. By 1997, the rock landscape had changed dramatically
The album compiles 16 tracks that showcase the band's evolution through three distinct vocalists: Ronnie James Dio Graham Bonnet Joe Lynn Turner
The cover art is a photograph of Ritchie Blackmore originally found inside the debut album, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (which actually features him with Deep Purple). Tracklist & Eras
The tracks are generally arranged chronologically, documenting the transition from neo-classical heavy metal to a more melodic, commercial hard rock sound. Amazon.com Track Title Original Album Man on the Silver Mountain Ronnie James Dio Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow Catch the Rainbow Ronnie James Dio Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow Starstruck Ronnie James Dio Ronnie James Dio Kill the King Ronnie James Dio Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Ronnie James Dio Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Gates of Babylon Ronnie James Dio Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Since You Been Gone Graham Bonnet Down to Earth All Night Long Graham Bonnet Down to Earth I Surrender Joe Lynn Turner Difficult to Cure Can't Happen Here Joe Lynn Turner Difficult to Cure Jealous Lover Joe Lynn Turner Jealous Lover EP Stone Cold Joe Lynn Turner Straight Between the Eyes Joe Lynn Turner Straight Between the Eyes Can't Let You Go Joe Lynn Turner Bent Out of Shape Street of Dreams Joe Lynn Turner Bent Out of Shape The Very Best Of Rainbow - Discogs
Table_title: Rainbow – The Very Best Of Rainbow Table_content: header: | Label: | Polydor – P2-37687, Chronicles – P2-37687 | row:
The Very Best Of Rainbow – CD (Compilation), 1997 [r6689164]
The Very Best of Rainbow , released in by Polydor/Chronicles, is a comprehensive 16-track compilation covering the band's career from 1975 to 1983. Album Overview Release Date: July 15, 1997 Total Runtime: ~1 hour 17 minutes Era Coverage:
Features material from the Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet, and Joe Lynn Turner eras. Notable Personnel:
Includes Ritchie Blackmore, Ronnie James Dio, Cozy Powell, Roger Glover, Graham Bonnet, and Joe Lynn Turner. Full Tracklist (1997 Edition)
The standard 1997 CD release features the following 16 remastered tracks: Song Title Original Album (Year) Lead Vocals Man on the Silver Mountain Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975) Ronnie James Dio Catch the Rainbow Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975) Ronnie James Dio Starstruck Rising (1976) Ronnie James Dio Rising (1976) Ronnie James Dio Kill the King Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) Ronnie James Dio Long Live Rock 'n' Roll Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) Ronnie James Dio Gates of Babylon Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) Ronnie James Dio Since You Been Gone Down to Earth (1979) Graham Bonnet All Night Long Down to Earth (1979) Graham Bonnet I Surrender Difficult to Cure (1981) Joe Lynn Turner Can't Happen Here Difficult to Cure (1981) Joe Lynn Turner Jealous Lover Jealous Lover EP (1981) Joe Lynn Turner Stone Cold Straight Between the Eyes (1982) Joe Lynn Turner Straight Between the Eyes (1982) Joe Lynn Turner Can't Let You Go Bent Out of Shape (1983) Joe Lynn Turner Street of Dreams Bent Out of Shape (1983) Joe Lynn Turner High-Fidelity Formats (FLAC)
While the 1997 compilation was originally a CD release, high-quality lossless versions (FLAC) are often sought after for their superior audio fidelity compared to MP3. Lossless Availability:
Most major Rainbow studio albums and later live compilations are available in FLAC and Hi-Res formats (24-bit/96kHz) on various audiophile sites. Remasters: For fans of classic hard rock, few names
The 1997 compilation itself is widely available in FLAC from reputable digital music platforms that offer lossless downloads.
"The Very Best of Rainbow" is a comprehensive greatest hits compilation album by the British hard rock band Rainbow, released on July 15, 1997, by Polydor Records. Album Overview
The collection spans the band's career from its formation in 1975 to its 1983 release Bent Out of Shape. It highlights the different eras of the band, featuring the diverse vocal styles of Ronnie James Dio, Graham Bonnet, and Joe Lynn Turner.
The 1997 CD release typically features 16 remastered tracks: Man on the Silver Mountain (4:37) Catch the Rainbow (6:38) Starstruck (4:06) Stargazer (8:26) Kill the King (4:29) Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (4:23) Gates of Babylon (6:46) Since You Been Gone (3:17) All Night Long (3:50) I Surrender (4:01) Can't Happen Here (4:57) Jealous Lover (3:12) Stone Cold (5:17) Power (4:26) Can't Let You Go (4:20) Street of Dreams (4:25) Production & Features
For fans of classic hard rock, few names command as much respect as Rainbow. Formed by the legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore after his departure from Deep Purple, Rainbow became a proving ground for some of the greatest vocalists in rock history, most notably the late, great Ronnie James Dio.
The 1997 compilation, The Very Best of Rainbow, serves as the definitive anthology of the band's output. While other compilations exist, this specific release is prized by audiophiles because it captures the band's transition from the mystical, dungeon-synth heavy metal of the mid-70s to the polished, radio-ready AOR (Album Oriented Rock) of the Joe Lynn Turner era.
Format: FLAC (Lossless Audio) Genre: Hard Rock / Heavy Metal / Classic Rock Release Year: 1997 (Compilation)
To understand why people want this in high-fidelity FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec), look at the tracklist. This isn't a random grouping; it’s a narrative arc.
| Track | Title | Original Album (Year) | Why it’s “Hot” | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 | All Night Long | Down to Earth (1979) | The ultimate opener. Ritchie’s riff is pure attitude. | | 2 | Man on the Silver Mountain | Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1975) | The birth of Rainbow. Dio’s legendary vocal melody. | | 3 | Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll | Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll (1978) | A manifesto. The drum intro by Cozy Powell is a sound system tester. | | 4 | Since You Been Gone | Down to Earth (1979) | The massive pop hit. Needed in lossless to hear the layered backing vocals. | | 5 | Straight Between the Eyes | Straight Between the Eyes (1982) | Underrated Turner-era gem. Synth-rock perfection. | | 6 | Stone Cold | Straight Between the Eyes (1982) | Ballad power. In FLAC, you hear the room reverb on the snare. | | 7 | Rainbow Eyes | Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll (1978) | The acoustic anomaly. Beautiful, delicate, and a true test of FLAC’s subtlety. | | 8 | Can’t Happen Here | Difficult to Cure (1981) | Driving rocker. | | 9 | Tears of the Dragon | Bent Out of Shape (1983) | Epic. Blackmore’s melodic solo is a masterclass. | | 10 | Difficult to Cure (Beethoven’s Ninth) | Difficult to Cure (1981) | A hard rock take on classical music. The bass drops are brutal in lossless. | | 11 | Catch the Rainbow | Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (1975) | Slow-burning masterpiece. In MP3, the sustain fizzles; in FLAC, it sings. | | 12 | I Surrender | Difficult to Cure (1981) | The Russ Ballard cover. Pure energy. | | 13 | Stargazer (Edit) | Rising (1976) | The crown jewel. The orchestral intro, the drums, the choir. This song is why FLAC exists. | | 14 | Death Alley Driver | Straight Between the Eyes (1982) | High-speed guitar work. | | 15 | Street of Dreams | Bent Out of Shape (1983) | Soaring chorus. | | 16 | Jealous Lover | B-Side / Difficult to Cure (1981) | The bonus track bonus. A hard-driving rarity. |
Note on "Stargazer": While the 1997 compilation uses an edit (trimming the intro slightly), the mastering quality of this specific version is considered superior to the 2012 remasters by many fans on forums like Steve Hoffman Music Forums.