The Best of Rainbow

The Best of Rainbow is the first compilation album from British hard rock group Rainbow, released in 1981.

Not to be confused with the band's 1997 compilation album The Very Best of Rainbow.

The Best of Rainbow
Cover design by Hipgnosis
Greatest hits album by
Rainbow
ReleasedNovember 1981
Recorded1975–1981
GenreHard rock, heavy metal
Length82:11
LabelPolydor
ProducerMartin Birch, Roger Glover
Rainbow compilation albums chronology
The Best of Rainbow
(1981)		 The Very Best of Rainbow
(1997)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

This compilation album is slightly different from the similarly titled album from 1980, which was released only in Japan,[2] and features mostly previously-released studio cuts, taken from the five studio albums Rainbow had released at that point. However, "Jealous Lover", the first song written by Blackmore and Turner, had been available only as a B-side in Europe (to "Can't Happen Here") and on the Jealous Lover EP in the United States.

The original vinyl-release was a 2-LP set, in a gatefold-sleeve which contained photos of the band during its various incarnations, and reached No. 14 in the UK Albums Chart in 1981.[3] As of 2019, this compilation album has never been released in the United States.

The photograph on the cover was taken at Zaanse Schans.

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
1."All Night Long"Ritchie Blackmore, Roger GloverDown to Earth (1979)3:53
2."Man on the Silver Mountain"Blackmore, Ronnie James DioRitchie Blackmore's Rainbow (1975)4:39
3."Lost in Hollywood"Blackmore, Glover, Cozy PowellDown to Earth4:53
4."Jealous Lover"Blackmore, Joe Lynn TurnerB-side of the single "Can't Happen Here" (1981)3:10
5."Long Live Rock 'n' Roll"Blackmore, DioLong Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978)4:23
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
6."Stargazer"Blackmore, DioRising (1976)8:26
7."Kill the King"Blackmore, Dio, PowellLong Live Rock 'n' Roll4:29
8."A Light in the Black"Blackmore, DioRising8:12
Side three
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
9."Since You Been Gone"Russ BallardDown to Earth3:20
10."Sixteenth Century Greensleeves"Blackmore, DioRitchie Blackmore's Rainbow3:31
11."Catch the Rainbow"Blackmore, DioRitchie Blackmore's Rainbow6:36
12."Eyes of the World"Blackmore, GloverDown to Earth6:42
Side four
No.TitleWriter(s)Original releaseLength
13."I Surrender"BallardDifficult to Cure (1981)4:03
14."Gates of Babylon"Blackmore, DioLong Live Rock 'n' Roll6:49
15."Can't Happen Here"Blackmore, GloverDifficult to Cure4:59
16."Starstruck"Blackmore, DioRising4:06

Personnel

Charts
Chart (1981) Peak
position
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[4] 48
UK Albums (OCC)[5] 14

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[6] Gold 100,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Rivadavia, Eduardo. "The Best of Rainbow review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
  2. "Rainbow - The Best Of Rainbow". Discogs. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  3. "Rainbow Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 26 November 2013.
  4. Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005 (in Japanese). Roppongi, Tokyo: Oricon Entertainment. 2006. ISBN 4-87131-077-9.
  5. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 17, 2023.
  6. "British album certifications – Rainbow – The Best of Rainbow". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 4 February 2021.


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