RAINBOW – Bent Out Of Shape [Japan SHM-CD remastered MiniLP] 2008/2011, MP3+FLAC

“Bent Out Of Shape” is RAINBOW‘s last album from their first era, and one of their finest. This remastered Japanese Limited Edition was the only released on SHM-CD in a Cardboard Sleeve miniLP replica, now out of print and highly sought after by collectors.

After the success of the single Stone Cold from the previous album, an overall commercial sounding-record, by 1983 Ritchie Blackmore intended to bring back some of the late ’70s ferocity with much faster, rocking songs, still combined with more accessible ones on the last of the Joe Lynn Turner years albums: “Bent Out Of Shape”.
Possibly, Rainbow’s most complete work in history.

Of course, we have here the most known Rainbow song ever; the AOR ecstasy of ‘Street Of Dreams’, alongside the catchy ‘Can’t Let You Go’, immaculately-arranged with lyrical, delicate harmonies and tortured lyrics featuring Turner at his best, accompanied by Rosenthal’s stratospheric synthesizers and Blackmore’s exquisite licks.
Instrumental basis is polished, simplistic, creating an unique atmosphere, without interfering with the numerous verses excessively, eluding complication and introducing quite concise, straight-up solos.

‘Desperate Heart’ is another incredible gem, a melodic power ballad presenting a similar vibe to those two with a quicker beat, however more elaborated arrangements and heavier guitar lines.
On the contrary, bigger speed and energy is revealed on tracks like the pumping ‘Stranded’ and ‘Make Your Move’ whose rhythms are looser, adding rougher riffing with a kick – still incorporating a few refined, neat licks and melancholy lyrics.

‘Fool For The Night’ is also pretty vigorous and dynamic but undoubtedly, the most killer, frenetic tunes on the record are ‘Fire Dance’ and ‘Drinking With The Devil’ on a truly accelerated display of power with vicious riffage, double-bass kicks, complexity and overtones – an equation completed by Ritchie’s extended solos and countless of licks and details.
Certainly, that’s the more rocking, fastest stuff Rainbow ever played since the monumental Rainbow Rising album. Other times, the Man In Black decides to push vocals away and emphasize instrumental structures, on both ‘Anybody There’ and ‘Snowman’ incorporating admirably proficient, expressive and melodic solos with the lord & master of the band absolutely inspired, displaying true talent – accompanied by Rosenthal’s vivid keyboard textures.

‘Underrated’ has always been an overused term but it’s a proper description for this unfairly ignored record – the musically strongest, most violent of the Turner era releases.
That was one terrific line-up, including skilled musicians of the level of monster drummer Chuck Burgi and Rosenthal in particular, without ignoring Glover & Turner’s brilliant, passionate contribution.

Rainbow dissolved in 1984 after 2 monumental farewell dates at the Budokan in Tokyo, making this genre refreshing again in the ’70s when the decline of British Rock started, rockin’ also in the ’80s with radio hits, worldwide tours and commercial success.
“Bent Out Of Shape” combines elements from each preceding work, from rabid aggressive hard rockers to melodic, classy ballads – not an ultimate culmination itself, yet an admirably consistent, talented effort.
We love this record.

01 – Stranded
02 – Can’t Let You Go
03 – Fool For The Night
04 – Fire Dance
05 – Anybody There
06 – Desperate Heart
07 – Street Of Dreams
08 – Drinking With The Devil
09 – Snowman
10 – Make Your Move

Joe Lynn Turner – vocals
Ritchie Blackmore – guitars
Roger Glover – bass, percussion, producer
David Rosenthal – keyboards
Chuck Burgi – drums

turbo thx magnus FLAC