Track Listings
Disc: 1
| 1 | Stand Up and Shout (2022 Joe Barresi Remix) |
| 2 | Holy Diver (2022 Joe Barresi Remix) |
| 3 | Gypsy (2022 Joe Barresi Remix) |
| 4 | Caught in the Middle (2022 Joe Barresi Remix) |
| 5 | Don’t Talk to Strangers (2022 Joe Barresi Remix) |
| 6 | Straight Through the Heart (2022 Joe Barresi Remix) |
| 7 | Invisible (2022 Joe Barresi Remix) |
| 8 | Rainbow in the Dark (2022 Joe Barresi Remix) |
| 9 | Shame on the Night (2022 Joe Barresi Remix) |
Disc: 2
| 1 | Stand Up and Shout (2022 Remaster) |
| 2 | Holy Diver (2022 Remaster) |
| 3 | Gypsy (2022 Remaster) |
| 4 | Caught in the Middle (2022 Remaster) |
| 5 | Don’t Talk to Strangers (2022 Remaster) |
| 6 | Straight Through the Heart (2022 Remaster) |
| 7 | Invisible (2022 Remaster) |
| 8 | Rainbow in the Dark (2022 Remaster) |
| 9 | Shame on the Night (2022 Remaster) |
Disc: 3
| 1 | Intro (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 2 | Stand Up and Shout (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 3 | Straight Through the Heart (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 4 | Shame on the Night (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 5 | Children of the Sea (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 6 | Holy Diver (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 7 | Heaven and Hell (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 8 | Rainbow in the Dark (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 9 | Man on the Silver Mountain (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 10 | Starstruck (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
| 11 | Man on the Silver Mountain (Reprise) [Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983] |
| 12 | Don’t Talk to Strangers (Live at Selland Arena, Fresno, CA, 1983) |
Disc: 4
| 1 | Evil Eyes (Wyn Davis Remix) |
| 2 | Don’t Talk to Strangers (Outtake Version 1) [2022 Joe Barresi Remix] |
| 3 | Invisible (Outtake Version 1) [2022 Joe Barresi Remix] |
| 4 | Invisible (Outtake Version 2) [2022 Joe Barresi Remix] |
| 5 | Rainbow in the Dark (Alternative Guitar Solo Version) [2022 Joe Barresi Remix] |
| 6 | Straight Through the Heart (Outtake Version 1) [2022 Joe Barresi Remix] |
| 7 | Straight Through the Heart (Outtake Version 2) [2022 Joe Barresi Remix] |
| 8 | Rainbow in the Dark (7-Inch Mono Edit) [2022 Remaster] |
| 9 | Evil Eyes (2022 Remaster) |
| 10 | Rainbow in the Dark (7-Inch Stereo Edit) [2022 Remaster] |
Review-See if you heard this story before. A Black Sabbath singer who created some iconic albums during their time, leaves the band and makes a debut album that becomes a hard rock/metal classic. I know it has never happened, right? All jokes aside:much like Ozzy, Ronnie seemed destined to branch into a solo venture. While “ Mob Rules” and “ Heaven and Hell” were both great albums for Sabbath, it just felt like Dio was sick of being the hired gun and that Ozzy shadow. In the fall of 1982, we saw Dio launch his band. Vinny Appice was the first hire behind the drums. Rumors were that Jake E. Lee was going to be the guitarist for his band. Not sure what happened but Vivian Campbell stepped in and took the guitar slot. Ronnie then recruited ex-Rainbow bassist Jimmy Bain to finish this lineup. The magic these four would create would become the record we know as “ Holy Diver”. On this new four-disc, super deluxe reissue we see that this band was clearly setting up a trail that would define Ronnie for his career.
“Holy Diver” is like the bible for metal. From the opening riffs that signal “ Stand Up and Shout”, you just know this band is going to deliver. To call this song iconic, is such an understatement. I know first hand, that live this song goes over very huge with the crowd. Vivian Campbell blues-based-power-chords just showcase that Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Ozzy himself were not the only players in town that can create magic. This song just demands your attention. After this song, you witness the beauty of the man’s baritone voice. The title track is just such a journey into the fairy tale world that exists in Dio’s lyric sheet. You just feel the epic story unfold as he guides you through the trip. I always pictured the album being the symbolism of this song. A priest facing a demon or some may say the demon is facing a judas priest. Who really knows? That last one could be a stretch. Let us get to the super deluxe. Is this worth owning? My answer is it depends on how big a Dio fan you are. I mean, “ Rainbow in the Dark’ is done about 6 different versions. I am not sure if we truly needed 6 versions. I mean, I am happy with the amount of material we are getting, but I feel some of it I do not know if I would return to. Joe Barresi releases some outros that are very rare. We also get a keyhole peek behind the scenes of the sessions.
I will say that I really like the sound of the new remaster more than I thought I would. It sounds more intense in moments but yet still is faithful to the original recording. Now, the selling points. The recording from the 1983 Fresno show is a must listen. While it has its ups and downs, I just really enjoyed hearing how energetic the band was and how electric Dio’s voice came across. The outtakes and alternative versions disc is a mixed bag. I enjoyed the rawness in moments but I feel unless you are a huge Ronnie fan, this one can be a hard sell to a person who sort of likes Dio. I was the jean jacket music geek who bought “ Holy Diver” when it came out and put it in the boombox and scared all my neighbors and parents. This deluxe for me is hit and miss, but I dug the trip through all four discs but some stuff I can say, once was enough. The remix and remaster were very amazing, and I highly recommend fans to seek those out. The live show was hit and miss. I mean, with Dio it does not justify watching it on video or listening to a cd, you have to be there to fully get the experience. Though, his vocals and the band’s energy was very incredible. I saw Dio in 85 with Rough Cutt opening, and this band puts out a live show that is just incredible. You can not get the same impact without being there. The outtakes disc is such a fan’s only experience. Some moments take patience to get thru and others are very well done.
I will end this review like this. I think on vinyl this would have a greater impact. I think the needle on this disc would bring such a richness to the sound that cd seems to lack. I feel the outtake disc would have been great on vinyl, but how can you have “ Holy Diver” and not be happy. The mix and remaster alone are worth the price of admission. Now, I have to play my “ Holy Diver” vinyl again.
The Remix and Remaster- 10 out of 10
The Live Show from Fresno-7 out of 10
The Outtakes-7 out of 10
Holy Diver on Vinyl-100 out of 10