As requested, more classic RAINBOW in high quality. In this case, we have “Difficult To Cure” in its exceptional Japanese Edition Mini LP replica with HR (High Resolution) cutting, copied from the original UK tapes at FX Copyroom and pressed on a high-fidelity Platinum SHM-CD by Universal Japan.
“Difficult To Cure” is the fifth Rainbow studio album, the first featuring legendary American singer Joe Lynn Turner, formerly of Fandango, recruited to sang over already completed musical tracks. Turner stated that, because of this, he was singing in higher keys than he would do normally.
The album marked the further commercialization of the band’s sound, turning a bit ‘Americanized’ and catchy, leaning to a more melodic hard rock style.
There’s no question that when Ritchie Blackmore replaced Graham Bonnett with Joe Lynn Turner, he was seeking the breakthrough success in the U.S. market that had been eluding him. While the earliest Dio-era Rainbow albums were definitely hard rock and the one Bonnett-sung disc showed more commercial tendencies, this first Turner disc shows definite radio-friendly touches.
With that said, one thing that has always impressed me about Blackmore is his ability to craft great parts for the songs he plays on. While Ritchie isn’t normally thought of as a great rhythm guitarist, his rhythm parts usually fit very nicely. And his solos? Well, Ritchie is definitely one of the best soloists in rock. Even if he only gets 8 bars for a solo, he’ll make a memorable statement.
So we have here some awesome classic melodic rockers in “Spotlight Kid”, “Can’t Happen Here” and “I Surrender”, which would be the band’s highest charting single in the UK, reaching No. 3. These 3 cuts alone worth the disc.
But while ‘tradional hard rockers’ made a lot of knocks against this record when it was released, they seem to forget the two instrumentals contained here. First is “Vielleicht Das Nachter Zeit (Maybe Next Time)” which is a superb piece featuring some great slide playing (for which Ritchie doesn’t get enough credit). The melodies so perfectly fit the mood of the piece, given the title.
The second is the masterly, awesome take on Beethoven’s 9th symphony called as the album, “Difficult To Cure”. It’s really a great instrumental and would be a long-time feature of Rainbow’s live shows. In fact, a version recorded with the Tokyo symphony appears on “Finyl Vinyl”, spectacular for sure.
I know many melodic hard rock fans – especially the younger – have never heard “Difficult To Cure” in its entirety.
This fantastic Platinum SHM-CD edition is the perfect excuse to discover a really great album from the genre, plenty of catchy choruses, sharp guitar work, lots of stabbing synths and a polished, immaculate production.
01. I Surrender [0:04:05.15]
02. Spotlight Kid [0:04:57.62]
03. No Release [0:05:37.58]
04. Magic [0:04:09.20]
05. Vielleicht Das Nachste Mal (Maybe Next Time) [0:03:20.45]
06. Can't Happen Here [0:05:00.20]
07. Freedom Fighter [0:04:24.62]
08. Midtown Tunnel Vision [0:04:35.00]
09. Difficult To Cure (Beethoven's Ninth) [0:05:57.73]
Rainbow – Difficult To Cure [Platinum SHM-CD] [Limited Release] 2013, MP3+FLAC
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