What's your favorite Dio-related album?

Listening to some various Dio-related albums today, and he obviously has a lot of stuff, way more than will fit in one poll. I tried to pick stuff that could likely be *most* people's favorite stuff (listed chronologically, not by band), but of course, some dudes have different taste so maybe it's not included.

It's a tough decision, and mine would most definitely be one of the Sabbath records, but my vote is gonna go with Sabbath's "Heaven and Hell". Lock Up the Wolves is up there too, but I did not include that in the list, as most people aren't really into that one for some reason.

I picked Rising, but this is impossible. Let's consider that Dio had an unparalleled run of greatness from 1975-1985 in three separate bands! No one has ever come close to that kind of achievement.

Tie between Dream Evil and Rising

Witchfinder wrote:

I picked Rising, but this is impossible.  Let's consider that Dio had an unparalleled run of greatness from 1975-1985 in three separate bands! No one has ever come close to that kind of achievement.

Yeah I agree it is pretty impossible. Aside from the s/t Rainbow album, which I do like a lot, but it's nowhere near as good to me as the subsequent two, everything up to Sacred Heart is absolute gold in my book.

So really, my run of Dio greatness would be 76 through 92, save for Dream Evil..which is okay, but probably my least favorite Dio the band album overall.

This is pretty hard and I've never heard Elf or the last 3 Rainbow albums he was on.

ZombieHavoc wrote:

Witchfinder wrote:

I picked Rising, but this is impossible.  Let's consider that Dio had an unparalleled run of greatness from 1975-1985 in three separate bands! No one has ever come close to that kind of achievement.

Yeah I agree it is pretty impossible. Aside from the s/t Rainbow album, which I do like a lot, but it's nowhere near as good to me as the subsequent two, everything up to Sacred Heart is absolute gold in my book.

So really, my run of Dio greatness would be 76 through 92, save for Dream Evil..which is okay, but probably my least favorite Dio the band album overall.

Dream Evil is amazing. Better than Sacred Heart, imo. I did a ranking with commentary here (link leads to rateyourmusic.com).

And nothing wrong with the Rainbow debut. I think it might be my favourite Rainbow album.

Anyway, I voted for Heaven and Hell. It was between that and Holy Diver. Both are just perfect heavy metal albums.

By the way, ZombieHavoc, where were you during the Ronnie James Dio Song Battle?

007 wrote:

This is pretty hard and I've never heard Elf or the last 3 Rainbow albums he was on.

I never heard any of the Elf albums either. The material that I have heard, it's probably something I wouldn't play a lot.

But, regarding Rainbow, Dio only did 3 albums with Blackmore. Unless you count live albums? All three of the studio albums are fantastic though, so I will highly highly recommend getting those.

Lari wrote:

Dream Evil is amazing. Better than Sacred Heart, imo. I did a ranking with commentary here (link leads to rateyourmusic.com).

And nothing wrong with the Rainbow debut. I think it might be my favourite Rainbow album.

Anyway, I voted for Heaven and Hell. It was between that and Holy Diver. Both are just perfect heavy metal albums.

By the way, ZombieHavoc, where were you during the Ronnie James Dio Song Battle?

Something with Dream Evil just never clicked with me. I put off ever buying it for a long time because I really was not into the title track, nor really the other tracks from the album that were on Very Beat of Dio ("All the Fools..." and "...Dreamer" I think). I eventually found it for $2 at a yard sale and got it then. Some songs I liked quite a lot, like Night People and Sunset Superman, but just didn't really get into it overall.

And there certainly is nothing wrong with the first Rainbow at all. But for me, when compared against everything else that came after with Rainbow, Sabbath and Dio, it's pretty low down in the Dio-verse for me. I still dig it though, to be sure.

And I never once noticed that Dio song battle thread. Ha. No clue what happened there.

This is ridiculously difficult. I've been on a huge "anything Dio related" kick recently. My favorite album of Dio's has always been Dream Evil (which is tons better than Sacred Heart).

I'd almost be inclined to pick it, but when considering Rainbow and Sabbath alongside that, that complicates things.

I'd rank it by artist like this:

Elf's self titled (the only one I've ever heard from them)
with Rainbow, On Stage.
with Sabbath, Mob Rules.
with Dio, Dream Evil.

I think I've got to go with Mob Rules, since it was my first exposure to Dio when I was a kid.

I wish you only put 4 realeases - at a time -
that's quite the list - Dio did well !
but 4 releases - poll - another4 releases - poll
then have the playoffs !

Glower wrote:

I wish you only put 4 realeases - at a time -
that's quite the list - Dio did well !
but 4 releases - poll - another4 releases - poll
then have the playoffs !

That woulda been a good idea, but I guarantee you after the first poll it would've ended...I can't keep up with that the way some of the posters here can!

Rainbow Rising!!

Heaven & Hell but I agree it's impossible.

We should definitely do a poll spanning his whole brilliant career starting with Dio At Domino's

I was going to start this but then we went a little poll crazy

Holy Diver.

I checked off "Long Live Rock and Roll" to give a great album some love but almost anything on that list could take the number one spot on any given day. I like a lot of the lesser known tracks off "LLRaR" almost more than the concert staples/ hit singles.

Faves:

"L.A. Connection"
"Kill the King"
"Rainbow Eyes"

Can't decide between Sabbath's Heaven and Hell or Dio's Dream Evil...

(flips coin) aaaaaannd it's Dream Evil!

Dream Evil was the first Dio album I purchased so it holds a special place for me. Holy Diver is just a bit better to me, but Dream Evil is a great album.

I've been down too long in the midnight sea.

But, I could easily be listening to fools tomorrow.

Holy Diver - by a long shot.

This was a really hard pick. I like his stuff with Elf, Rainbow, Sabbath, and his solo stuff. I narrowed it down to 3 and then picked from Heaven and Hell, Long Live Rock n Roll, and Holy Diver. I finally settled on Heaven and Hell.

I voted "On Stage" for sentimental reasons.

When I was in college my roommate and I developed a drinking game around how many times Dio yelled "Awright".  We'd do a vodka shot for each time.  

We could get totally hammered just by listening to the first track of Side 2 (on vinyl back then).  He must say that 5 times just leading into the tune (either that or my alcohol tolerance then isn't what it is now ),   But if you listen to the whole album and do a shot every time Dio says "Awright!" I guarantee you'll be hammered by the time it's over.

If not for the memories associated with On Stage, I'd have voted for Heaven and Hell. I don't really like Ozzy-era Sabbath so that Sabbath album is easily my favorite by the band.

Holy diver.

Holy Diver. Followed closely by Heaven and Hell.

I prefer the Rainbow stuff overall.

Went with "Rising"

Fat Freddy wrote:

Can't decide between Sabbath's Heaven and Hell or Dio's Dream Evil...

(flips coin) aaaaaannd it's Dream Evil!

Friggin' love that album!

Faves:

All the Fools Sailed Away
Sunset Superman
Dream Evil
I Could Have Been a Dreamer