#different across Rainbow and Ballard's versions) but the chief ingredient that made Rainbow's version a radio mainstay and a huge
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mariocki · 27 days ago
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Infinite list of favourite lyrics: 228/?
Rainbow - Since You Been Gone (1979)
"So in the night I stand,
Beneath the backstreet light,
I read the words that you sent to me.
I could take the afternoon
But nighttime comes around too soon -
You can't know what you mean to me.
Your poison letter,
Your telegram,
Just goes to show you don't give a damn!"
#favourite lyrics#rainbow#since you been gone#1979#russ ballard#down to earth#I'm not sure how many people realise that Since You Been Gone (and it is You‚ not You've‚ despite the intriguing typo on the single sleeve#i used for an image) the song which gave Rainbow their first hit single‚ became a rock anthem and forever associated with the band‚ is#actually a cover version. Russ Ballard‚ in the aftermath of leaving Argent‚ had reinvented himself as a solo artist and wrote the song for#his 1976 album Winning. his version is good‚ but can come as a bit of a surprise: it's... a little goofy tbh. punctuated by strange#electronic boops and bleeps‚ it's a chipper‚ strangely upbeat delivery. Ballard was a celebrated songwriter already in his own time‚ and#his songs commonly covered; several artists beat Rainbow to this song‚ actually‚ with US rockers Head East perhaps the first to give it a#slightly heavier sound. but it was Rainbow who stripped the song down and built it back up from scratch‚ retooling a piano heavy oddity#into a hard rock tragic masterpiece. there's some subtle changes in their arrangement (the scansion in the quoted lines is markedly#different across Rainbow and Ballard's versions) but the chief ingredient that made Rainbow's version a radio mainstay and a huge#commercial success (and the beginnings of a more commercially viable sound for the band) has to be the lead vocals by Graham Bonnet#actually Down to Earth was Bonnet's sole album with Rainbow‚ replacing Ronnie James Dio who'd departed after disagreements with band#founder Ritchie Blackmore. the band had something of a rotating membership from the beginning‚ and Bonnet soon moved on to form his#own metal band‚ Alcatrazz. his delivery on this song‚ though‚ is incredible: a full throated‚ roaring‚ soul baring triumph#that couldn't be further from Ballard's vaguely cheery sing song. backed by a wall of guitar and drums‚ it's a completely different song#a complete stylistic reinvention into a blaring‚ stomping‚ iconic entry in the 70s hard rock canon
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