It’s just appropriate that we follow up the previous “Song of the Day” that was one of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo tracks with one who replaced him for a brief time as frontman of OZzy’s previous band, Black Sabbath.

Ronnie James Dio will always be one of the metal gods. People may disagree but they will always be wrong. Some would say it’s the height of arrogance to name one’s band after themselves and, for the most part, I would agree with them. Yet, if there as ever a musician who deserved to have their arrogance as part and parcel of their immense talent it would be Ronnie James Dio and the band he would form after his stint with Black Sabbath. A band that he would simply call Dio.

It would be remiss not to include the second track to be released as a single from the group’s debut album, Holy Diver.

I speak of the song “Rainbow in the Dark” which remains one of my favorite Dio songs and, I honestly believe, his best one. I’m not the only one who seem to think so, but even the song’s mass appeal to it’s heavy metal and hard rock following doesn’t dismiss the fact that it’s Ronnie James Dio at his best. Not to mention has one of the best guitar solos ever.

A guitar solo which comes midway during the song and performed by group guitarist Vivian Campbell.

Rainbow in the Dark

When there’s lightning
You know, it always brings me down
‘Cause it’s free, and I see that it’s me
Who’s lost and never found

I cry out for magic
I feel it dancing in the light
It was cold, lost my hold
To the shadows of the night

No sign of the morning coming
You’ve been left on your own
Like a rainbow in the dark
A rainbow in the dark

Do your demons
Do they ever let you go?
When you’ve tried, do they hide deep inside?
Is it someone that you know?

You’re just a picture
You’re an image caught in time
We’re a lie, you and I
We’re words without a rhyme

There’s no sign of the morning coming
You’ve been left on your own
Like a rainbow in the dark
Just a rainbow in the dark, yeah

(guitar solo)

When I see lightning
You know, it always brings me down
‘Cause it’s free, and I see that it’s me
Who’s lost and never found

Feel the magic
I feel it floating in the air
But it’s fear, and you’ll hear
It calling you, beware, look out

There’s no sight of the morning coming
There’s no sign of the day
You’ve been left on your own
Like a rainbow

Like a rainbow in the dark, yeah-yay
You’re a rainbow in the dark
Just a rainbow in the dark
No sign of the morning
You’re a rainbow in the dark, whoa

Great Guitar Solos Series

• Master of Puppets (by Metallica)
• Free Bird (by Lynyrd Skynyrd)
• Hotel California (by The Eagles)
• Stairway to Heaven (by Led Zeppelin)
• Texas Flood (by Stevie Ray Vaughan)
• Comfortably Numb (by Pink Floyd)
• Powerslave (by Iron Maiden)
• Fade to Black (by Metallica)
• Bohemian Rhapsody (by Queen)
• Sweet Child o’ Mine (Guns N’ Roses)
• Mr. Crowley (by Ozzy Osbourne)