DIO
Holy Diver Super Deluxe Edition
Rhino Records
Review By Hannah Laney
It’s vibrant, bold, and back better than ever. DIO is the gift that keeps on giving. Celebrating the singer’s 80th birthday calls for a deluxe edition of his most iconic work. Of course nothing compares to the original mix of this classic 1983 album, but Joe Barressi manages to bring another element to the table. Barressi’s take sounds top-notch and clean cut, exactly what one would expect from a producer who has worked with both JUDAS PRIEST and NINE INCH NAILS. On top of the remix, this CD box set includes an unreleased show from the Holy Diver tour, rare photos and outtakes, and so much more.
This first triumphant solo album came directly after Dio’s departure from BLACK SABBATH. Its impact has radiated all around the world of hard rock and heavy metal, leaving generations of young rockers in awe of the talents within. It gives the fans exactly what they want: a holy dive into the world of Ronnie James Dio and the legacy he has left behind. Mick Wall takes readers on a journey throughout the exclusive book within the CD set. “The last time I spoke to Ronnie James Dio, before his tragic death in 2010, he was still describing Holy Diver as ‘one of the proudest moments of my career’. It was, he said, ‘Rock, but not just noise.’ Which summed it up perfectly”.
Each page provides a deeper context down to the very detail of performances, album history, and personal experiences with Dio himself. It is interesting to take in all of the stories while listening to the album, which definitely creates a profound effect. The artwork ranges from magazine to tour book covers and everything in between. Photos of Dio’s band including Vivian Campbell, Jimmy Bain, and Vinny Appice grace the pages along with anecdotes regarding their impact on the band.
Dio had actually started writing some of the Holy Diver material while still in BLACK SABBATH. He was hoping the band would use songs “Holy Diver” and “Don’t Talk to Strangers” as a part of their catalog, but ultimately put them towards his own project. The third CD comes from the band’s appearance in December of 1983 about six months after the album came out at Fresno, California’s Selland Arena. The setlist included a wide range of songs from the new album, as well as BLACK SABBATH’s “Heaven and Hell”, “Children of the Sea”, and RAINBOW’s “Man on The Silver Mountain”. This element of the box set truly made it into an all-encompassing package that no DIO fan will be able to pass up. Overall, there is something for everyone in this exclusive look at Holy Diver. Will you take the plunge?
4.5 Out Of 5.0
Holy Diver: Super Deluxe Edition tracklist:
Disc One: Holy Diver (2022 Joe Barresi Mix)
- “Stand Up and Shout”
- “Holy Diver”
- “Gypsy”
- “Caught in the Middle”
- “Don’t Talk to Strangers”
- “Straight Through the Heart”
- “Invisible”
- “Rainbow in the Dark”
- “Shame on the Night”
Disc Two: Holy Diver (2022 Remaster)
Disc Three: Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983
- Intro
- “Stand Up and Shout”
- “Straight Through the Heart”
- “Shame on the Night”
- “Children of the Sea”
- “Holy Diver”
- “Heaven and Hell” – including guitar solo
- “Rainbow in the Dark”
- “Man on the Silver Mountain”
- “Starstuck”
- “Man on the Silver Mountain” – reprise
- “Don’t Talk to Strangers”
Disc Four: Outtakes, Singles & B-Sides
Tracks 1-7 unreleased
- “Evil Eyes” – Wyn Davis remix *
- “Don’t Talk to Strangers” – Take 1 (Joe Barresi mix) *
- “Invisible” – Take 1 (Joe Barresi mix) *
- “Invisible” – Take 3 (Joe Barresi mix) *
- “Rainbow in the Dark” – Alternative Guitar Solo Version (Joe Barresi mix) *
- “Straight Through the Heart” – Take 2 (Joe Barresi mix) *
- “Straight Through the Heart” – Take 3 (Joe Barresi mix)*
- “Rainbow in the Dark” – 7″ Mono Edit
- “Evil Eyes” – 1983 Version. B-Side of “Holy Diver”
- “Rainbow in the Dark” – 7″ Stereo Edit
