Rainbow

On Stage Deluxe Edition

Rainbow’s On Stage was always a curious affair; it's compilation a complex and controversial issue, that's not really worth going into here. Originally a double album, it was relatively short in length and this Deluxe re-issue doesn’t add anything to the original version but is a chance to get reacquainted with one of the best hard-rock bands at the top of their game.

The album is spliced together from a number of different concerts from Japan to Germany however you’d be hard pressed to hear the joins. There’s the taunting intro from the Wizard of Oz and then into a rampaging version of Kill the King. Swiftly followed by the Man on the Silver Mountain medley with some exquisite blues from Blackmore. Catch the Rainbow and Mistreated at 15 and 13 minutes respectively may appear anachronistic but this is the 70's and they are actually very good versions. The closing brace of Sixteenth Century Greensleeves and reworking of The Yarbirds’s Still I’m Sad are interesting choices in particular the thumping version of the latter. 

The extra disc is a 1976 concert from Osaka. It’s longer, there are some changes to the setlist, and the performances are satisfactory and overall complement the original album.