Rainbow On Stage




Rainbow On Stage is captured from various performances on the 1976 Rainbow world tour, this live album showcases the power and improvisation displayed by Rainbow’s Mk.II line up. Not content with merely replicating the original recorded work, Blackmore would extend many numbers into lengthy guitar showcases lasting up to 20 minutes on some occasions.

The album was mixed and edited by Martin Birch, once again given sole duties at the production helm. The overall sound is impressive for a live show, although it later transpired that several performances had been edited together to create better versions of some songs. This was fairly standard practice for live albums, however, as it was unlikely that a single show would ever be good enough as a stand alone performance to be released as an album (e.g. Deep Purple’s ‘Made In Japan’ was compiled from three separate shows). Other well known sections of the Rainbow live set were cut altogether, such as Cozy Powell’s ’1812 Overture’ drum solo and recent tracks off the ‘Rainbow Rising’ LP, namely ‘Do You Close Your Eyes’ and ‘Stargazer’. Some of these decisions were made in order to get the tracks to fit on a double LP, some because the performances weren’t quite good enough; ‘Stargazer’ was a tough one to replicate live without the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra filling out the sound as on the ‘Rising’ album…! The running order was also chopped around to fit across 4 sides of vinyl, and again, many purists felt disappointed at the final representation of a Rainbow gig.

Taking that aside, the sound and individual performance of each song in its own right, is exemplary of the energy and quality of 1976 Rainbow at its peak.


On this live album not only Japanese performances are included but also European performances. At the end of Still I'm Sad it sounded like it was recorded in Germany. The audience shouted 'Zugabe, Zugabe' which is German language for 'We Want More'. But the truth is different.

This article of which the content has been translated from a Japanese source that has one or more fans gone deep into the live recordings of "On Stage" to find out what the sources of the recordings were.


1. Over The Rainbow - Kill The King (5:31)

0:00 - 0: 28 It is assumed that the sound source of a Japanese performance is used, but because there is no comparing material, it is not 100% sure. Another source assumed that the Tokyo [December 16, 1976 evening show] is used. The cheering sound like Japanese and is vagely audible.

0:28 - 1: 01 The source is Nürnberg [September 28, 1976]. Because there is a feature in the performance of Tony Carey's keyboards. It is used to the prelude of Kill The King which was unexpected.

1:01 - 5: 10 The source is Munich [September 29, 1976]. The way of singing by Ronnie James Dio and the guitar of Ritchie Blackmore were used that way. It starts coming out, that the sound source is changed when the cymbal of the one-shot of Cozy Powell is hit. It is felt that the ability of Martin Birch is shown.

5:10 - 5: 31 The source is again Nürnberg [September 28, 1976]. Listen to the last 6 reams of Cozy Powell. The sound source has been changed well. Furthermore after the performance of Kill The of Ronnie James Dio King ends, "Thank you" and also the keyboard sound of Tony Carey which shout became the deciding factor.

reference:
[Official] Live in Nürnberg 1976
[Official] Live in Germany 1976

2. Man On The Silver Mountain - Blues - Starstruck - Man On The Silver Mountain(Reprise) (11:17)

0:00 - 4: 13 The source is Tokyo [December 16, 1976 afternoon show]. As for this, you can verify the sound source of pirate board "Black Tapestry". Listen to Ritchie Blackmore how he uses the bottleneck.

4:13 - 8: 15 The source is Tokyo [December 16, 1976 evening show]. Blackmore's part of Blues is the proof, listen to the pirate board "When Evening Falls", the same sound source as this was used.

8:15 - 9: 11 The source is Tokyo [December 16, 1976 evening show]. The truth is Blackmore's Blues and Starstruck were a medley, you thought that it is continued as one part, but when you listen to the pirate soundboard you know it was not. You could verify that immediately before the performing Starstruck it has been slightly edited. When you explain in detail, Blackmore after the Blues Jam ending, the guitar of Ritchie Blackmore and the part where the vocal of Ronnie James Dio negotiates to exist.

9:11 - 11: 17 The source is Tokyo [December 16, 1976 afternoon show]. To tell the truth the return of the sound is going a little back before the right moment. When you hear this you understand that the sound quality is separated faintly. Furthermore Ronnie James Dio's "You're the man. We're the man. Come to show you the way" is matching up the guitar playing of Ritchie Blackmore. The end of the performance you hear Ronnie Jams Dio say to the audience "Thank you!" and you hear the fading out when Jimmy Bain shouts "Arigatou". The bootleg proves this was the afternoon show.

reference:
[Bootleg] Black Tapestry (Rising Arrow)
[Bootleg] When Evening Falls (Rising Arrow)

3. Catch The Rainbow (15:37)

0:00 - 13:49 The source is Oska [December 9, 1976].

13:49 - 14:23 From this moment Tokyo [December 16, 1976 evening show] is used. In the Osaka performance the lyrics were slightly different.

14:23 - 15:37 The source is again Oska [December 9, 1976]. Ronnie Jams Dio repeats the word "Shine" 8 times.

reference:
[Bootleg] More Heavy Struck (Rising Arrow)
[Bootleg] When Evening Falls (Rising Arrow)


4. Mistreated (13:09)

0:00 - 13:09 The source is Cologne [September 25]. Complete track but there is a slightly edit around 12:31 where there was some German singing.

reference:
[Official] Live in Cologne 1976

5. 16th Century Greensleeves (7:38)

The source is Tokyo [December 16, 1976 evening show]. Complete track taken from this show, no edits.

reference:
[Bootleg] When Evening Falls (Rising Arrow)

6. Still I'm Sad (11:01)

The source is Nürnberg [September 28, 1976]. Total time of this track is 16:39 but the drum solo was cut out.

reference:
[Official] Live in Nürnberg 1976