Editing Down to Earth (Rainbow album)

{{EngvarB|date=September 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox album
| name         = Down to Earth
| type         = studio
| artist       = [[Rainbow (rock band)|Rainbow]]
| cover        = Down to Earth (Rainbow album) coverart.jpg
| alt          = 
| caption      = Cover art by [[Ron Walotsky]]
| released     = 3 August 1979<ref>{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | author-link1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Deep Purple Family | edition = 2nd | publisher = Wymer Publishing | year = 2016 | pages = 259 | isbn = 978-1-908724-42-7}}</ref>
| recorded     = March–July 1979
| venue        = 
| studio       = Château Pelly de Cornfeld (France) <br/> Kingdom Sound Studios (Long Island) <small>(vocals)</small>
| genre        = [[Hard rock]]
| length       = 36:05
| label        = [[Polydor Records|Polydor]]
| producer     = [[Roger Glover]]
| prev_title   = [[Long Live Rock 'n' Roll]]
| prev_year    = 1978
| next_title   = [[Difficult to Cure]]
| next_year    = 1981
| misc         = {{Singles
 | name        = Down to Earth
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Since You Been Gone]]
 | single1date = 31 August 1979<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1979/Music-Week-1979-09-01.pdf|title=Music Week|page=48}}</ref>
 | single2     = [[All Night Long (Rainbow song)|All Night Long]]
 | single2date = 8 February 1980<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1980/Music-Week-1980-02-09.pdf|title=Music Week|page=22}}</ref>
}}
}}

'''''Down to Earth''''' is the fourth studio album by the British [[hard rock]] band [[Rainbow (rock band)|Rainbow]]. It is their last album to feature drummer [[Cozy Powell]], their first with bassist [[Roger Glover]] and keyboardist [[Don Airey]] and their only album with vocalist [[Graham Bonnet]]. Released in 1979, it contains Rainbow's first hit single "[[Since You Been Gone]]",<ref name="UK" >{{cite web | url = http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/rainbow/ | title = Rainbow Official Charts| access-date = 2013-11-26 | publisher = [[Official Charts Company]]}}</ref> marking a more commercial direction of the band's sound.

==Writing and recording==
The writing of ''Down to Earth'' began at [[Ritchie Blackmore]]'s house in Connecticut in January 1979.<ref name="deluxe" >{{cite AV media notes |title= Down to Earth (Deluxe Edition) |title-link=Down to Earth (Rainbow album) |others= [[Rainbow (rock band)|Rainbow]] |year=2011 |first=Jerry |last=Bloom |type=CD booklet |publisher=[[Polydor Records]]  |location=London, UK }}</ref> By that time, he had dismissed both bassist [[Bob Daisley]] and keyboardist [[David Stone (keyboardist)|David Stone]] before singer [[Ronnie James Dio]] quit the band.<ref name="gi">{{cite web | url = http://guitarinternational.com/2013/04/14/roger-glover-talks-about-deep-purple-ronnie-james-and-ritchie-blackmore/ | title = Roger Glover Talks About Deep Purple, Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore | access-date = 2013-12-08 | last = Cavuoto | first = Robert | publisher = Guitar International.com}}</ref> Blackmore had already recruited his old [[Deep Purple]] bandmate [[Roger Glover]] as producer and started auditioning musicians for the vacant slots in the band, while songwriting progressed with Blackmore, [[Cozy Powell]] and session bassist [[Clive Chaman]].<ref name="deluxe" /> The songs were largely written by Blackmore and Glover.<ref name="gi"/> "It was a great opportunity for me, and why should I bear a grudge? ''(about being dismissed from Purple in 1973)'' " recalled Glover. "I'm a huge Ritchie fan. Some of my biggest influences have come from him."<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Paul|last=Rees|title=To Infinity… and Beyond?|magazine=[[Classic Rock (magazine)|Classic Rock]] #234|date=April 2017|page=40}}</ref>

By early 1979, Blackmore had recruited keyboardist [[Don Airey]] – a suggestion from Powell – and considered [[Peter Goalby]] of [[Trapeze (band)|Trapeze]], as well as another old Deep Purple bandmate [[Ian Gillan]], to replace Dio.<ref name="blackknight1">{{Cite book |title=Black Knight – The Ritchie Blackmore Story |first=Jerry |last=Bloom |publisher=[[Omnibus Press]] |year=2006|pages=227–229 |isbn = 978-1846097577}}</ref> In April 1979, [[Jack Green (musician)|Jack Green]] of [[The Pretty Things]] was hired as new bass player for the recording sessions at Château Pelly de Cornfeld, in the countryside of Southern France, but he did not stay for long.<ref name="blackknight1"/> Producer Glover ended up playing bass on the album and provided lyrics for all songs. While auditions for the new singer proceeded, Glover tracked down ex-[[The Marbles (duo)|Marbles]] singer [[Graham Bonnet]], who auditioned in France and was immediately hired.<ref name="deluxe" />

During song composition, Bonnet composed his vocal melodies although his contributions remained uncredited.<ref name="roadrunnerrecords1">{{cite news |title=GRAHAM BONNET Talks RAINBOW, MSG And ALCATRAZZ in New Interview |date=19 November 2010 |work=[[Blabbermouth.net]] |url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=149691 |access-date=17 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121171435/http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=149691 |archive-date=21 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His vocals were not recorded with the other tracks in France, but later at Kingdom Sound Studios in Long Island, when all other recording sessions were completed.<ref name="deluxe" /> ''Down to Earth'' is the only Rainbow album to feature Bonnet, though he was still part of the band when writing for ''[[Difficult to Cure]]'' began.

Also recorded for the proposed next single, but unreleased due to Bonnet's departure, was "[[Will You Love Me Tomorrow]]". Bonnet had previously recorded this song for his first, eponymously titled, solo album in 1977. Rainbow's version was recorded in the studio in May 1980, during rehearsals for the Japanese leg of the ''Down to Earth'' tour. It was subsequently played live throughout that tour.

==Tour==
In 1980, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow headlined the inaugural [[Monsters of Rock]] festival at [[Castle Donington]] in England.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.ukrockfestivals.com/donington-1980.html | title = Monsters of Rock | access-date = 2013-12-08 | date = November 2009 |work=UK Rock Festivals.com }}</ref>

Songs from ''Down to Earth'' have been performed by Graham Bonnet at his solo shows, as well as at concerts performed with Don Airey (2001) and [[Joe Lynn Turner]] (2007).{{cn|date=April 2022}}

==Release==
In the UK there was a limited edition clear vinyl LP release.

"Bad Girl", an outtake from the album sessions, was used as the B-side to the "Since You Been Gone" single. Similarly, "Weiss Heim", an instrumental recorded in Copenhagen in January 1980, was the B-side to "All Night Long".

A remastered CD reissue was released in May 1999, with packaging duplicating the original vinyl.

In 2011, a Deluxe Edition of the album was released, featuring a bonus disc with previously unreleased songs and instrumental versions of the basic tracks.

==Reception==
{{Album reviews
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AllMusic" >{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/down-to-earth-mw0000196706 | title = Rainbow Down to Earth review | access-date = 2013-12-08 | last = Erlewine | first = Stephen Thomas | author-link = Stephen Thomas Erlewine | publisher = [[AllMusic]] }}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[PopMatters]]''
| rev2score = 7/10<ref name="pop" >{{citation | url = http://www.popmatters.com/review/139066-down-to-earth-deluxe-edition/ | title = Rainbow: Down to Earth (Deluxe Edition) | access-date = 2013-12-08 | last = Begrand | first = Adrien | date = 28 April 2011 | publisher = [[PopMatters]]}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Record Collector]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="collector" >{{cite journal | title = Rainbow – Down to Earth: Deluxe Edition | journal = [[Record Collector]] | date = March 2011 | first = William | last = Pinfold | issue = 386| url = http://recordcollectormag.com/reviews/down-to-earthdeluxe-edition | access-date = 2013-12-09}}</ref>
}}
[[AllMusic]] editor [[Stephen Thomas Erlewine]] defines the album "a fine [[hard rock]] platter", which "might not offer anything unique, but it delivers the goods." He criticizes mostly Bonnet's vocals, but praises "the guitar artistry and mystical sensibility of Ritchie Blackmore", who "sounds invigorated on the album".<ref name="AllMusic" /> ''[[PopMatters]]''{{'}} Adrien Begrand, reviewing the 2011 Deluxe Edition, remarks how ''Down to Earth'' "is somewhat underrated compared to the towering Dio discography, but it remains a strong outing 31 years later", even with "the new material sounding so much more stripped-down compared to the overtly epic heavy metal arrangements of Dio-era Rainbow". The songs are "eight searing, hooky hard rockers", remarkably rendered by Bonnet's performance and energy.<ref name="pop" /> The album "is perhaps the most divisive record in Rainbow’s catalogue" according to  ''[[Record Collector]]'' reviewer, because of "Blackmore's single-minded pursuit of mainstream success" and the departure from the sound of preceding albums. He adds that this is a "strong" album with many "classic radio" staples, but the second disc of the Deluxe Edition does not add anything essential to the listening experience.<ref name="collector" />

In 2005, ''Down to Earth'' was ranked number 431 in ''[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]''{{'}}s book ''The 500 Greatest Rock & Metal Albums of All Time''.<ref>{{cite book|title=Best of Rock & Metal – Die 500 stärksten Scheiben aller Zeiten|year=2005|publisher=[[Rock Hard (magazine)|Rock Hard]]|language=de|isbn=3-89880-517-4|page=36}}</ref>

==Blackmore's opinion==

In an interview with ''[[Sounds (magazine)|Sounds]]'' in 1979,<ref>Sounds magazine, 15 December 1979</ref> Blackmore said: "I have so much respect for classical musicians that when I listen to myself I think, oh, that's nonsense.  I can put down other people's music because the fact is I put down my own music and say it's rubbish.  A lot of it is- not all of it- "No Time to Lose" definitely is but "Eyes of the World" is OK.  But a good deal of it is a waste of time."

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline        = Side one
| all_writing     = [[Ritchie Blackmore]] and [[Roger Glover]], except where noted
| title1          = [[All Night Long (Rainbow song)|All Night Long]]
| length1         = 3:53
| title2          = Eyes of the World
| length2         = 6:42
| title3          = No Time to Lose
| length3         = 3:45
| title4          = Makin' Love
| length4         = 4:38
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title5 = [[Since You Been Gone #Rainbow version|Since You Been Gone]]
| writer5 = [[Russ Ballard]]
| length5 = 3:25
| title6 = Love's No Friend
| length6 = 4:55
| title7 = Danger Zone
| length7 = 4:31
| title8 = Lost in Hollywood
| writer8 = Blackmore, Glover, [[Cozy Powell]]
| length8 = 4:51
| total_length = 36:40
}}

===2011 deluxe edition track listing===
{{Track listing
| headline        = Disc one
| title1          = All Night Long
| length1         = 3:53
| title2          = Eyes of the World
| length2         = 6:42
| title3          = No Time to Lose
| length3         = 3:45
| title4          = Makin' Love
| length4         = 4:38
| title5          = Since You Been Gone
| writer5         = [[Russ Ballard]]
| length5         = 3:25
| title6          = Love's No Friend
| length6         = 4:55
| title7          = Danger Zone
| length7         = 4:31
| title8          = Lost in Hollywood
| writer8         = Blackmore, Glover, [[Cozy Powell]]
| length8         = 4:51
| title9          = Bad Girl
| note9           = B-side of "Since You Been Gone", 1979
| length9         = 4:51
| title10          = Weiss Heim
| note10           = B-side of "All Night Long", 1980
| writer10         = Blackmore
| length10         = 5:15
}}
{{Track listing
| headline        = Disc two
| title1          = All Night Long
| note1           = instrumental outtake
| length1         = 4:43
| title2          = Eyes of the World
| note2           = instrumental outtake
| length2         = 6:52
| title3          = Spark Don't Mean a Fire
| length3         = 3:52
| title4          = Makin' Love
| note4           = instrumental outtake
| length4         = 4:46
| title5          = Since You Been Gone
| note5           = instrumental outtake
| length5         = 4:02
| title6          = Ain't a Lot of Love in the Heart of Me
| length6         = 5:00
| title7          = Danger Zone
| note7           = instrumental outtake
| length7         = 5:31
| title8          = Lost in Hollywood
| note8           = instrumental outtake
| length8         = 4:03
| title9          = Bad Girl
| note9           = instrumental outtake
| length9         = 5:04
| title10          = Ain't a Lot of Love in the Heart of Me 
| note10           = alternative outtake
| length10         = 5:23
| title11          = Eyes of the World
| note11           = instrumental outtake
| length11         = 6:11
| title12          = All Night Long
| note12           = Cozy Powell mix
| length12         = 3:54
| total_length     = 1:45:00
}}

==Personnel==
;Rainbow
* [[Ritchie Blackmore]] – guitars
* [[Cozy Powell]] – drums, percussion
* [[Roger Glover]] – bass, backing vocals, producer
* [[Don Airey]] – keyboards, backing vocals
* [[Graham Bonnet]] – lead vocals

;Production
*Gary Edwards – engineer
*Michael Palmer, Leigh Mantle – assistant engineers
*Greg Calbi – mastering

== Charts ==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1979)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=AUS>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| align="center"| 27
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts]])<ref name=FINI>{{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|edition=1st|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5 | page= 166 | language= fi}}</ref>
| align="center"| 26
|-
{{Album chart|Germany4|19|id=16841|artist=Rainbow|album=Down to Earth  |rowheader=true|accessdate=17 October 2023}}
|-
!scope="row"|[[1979 in Japanese music|Japanese Albums]] ([[Oricon]])<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]]|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref>
| align="center"| 15
|-
{{Album chart|Sweden|17|artist=Rainbow|album=Down to Earth  |rowheader=true|accessdate=17 October 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|UK2|6|date=19790826|rowheader=true|accessdate=17 October 2023}}
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|66|artist=Rainbow|rowheader=true|accessdate=17 October 2023}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (2011)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/artist/183038/ranking/cd_album/ | script-title=ja:レインボー レインボーのアルバム売り上げランキング | access-date = 2013-12-03 | publisher = [[Oricon]] | language = ja}}</ref>
|align="center"|90	
|}

==Certifications==
{{certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|type=album|relyear=1979|region=United Kingdom|award=Gold|certyear=1979|artist=Rainbow|title= Down to Earth|id=1930-513-2|access-date=4 February 2021}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Rainbow (rock band)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Down to Earth (Rainbow album)}}
[[Category:1979 albums]]
[[Category:Rainbow (rock band) albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Roger Glover]]
[[Category:Polydor Records albums]]