Customer Reviews

ELF

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There have been a lot of pretenders to the throne, but no other rock `n' roll singer can even hold the tail end of Ronnie Dio's cape; that includes Sammy Hagar, David Coverdale, Freddie Mercury, "Diamond" David Lee Roth and Robert Plant.

Elf was really the precursor to Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow project - there's only one personnel change between Elf's last album and Rainbow's first, that of lead guitar - but it's on this record that Dio first gets to strut his stuff.

Not surprisingly, there's not a bad cut here (even though much of the production is quite rough): "Hoochie Koochie Lady" is good ol' down-home rock and roll; Dio amazes with his range in "Never More"; "Dixie Lee Junction" tempts you down to Tennessee (the town's about 15 miles southeast of Knoxville off of I75), and "Gambler, Gambler" is driving rock and roll at its best (complete with Ronnie burning up the bass, especially in the opening bars).

Uninitiated Dio fans shouldn't be put off by the album credits; though Ronald Padovana is listed as lead vocalist and on bass guitar, take a listen and find the real Ronnie James Dio in all his glory.

Ronald Padavona from Cortland, New York........
I met him once when he was with Sabbath during Mob Rules. He played bass on this. Some of my older friends remember seeing them at the Goblet in Auburn, NY. They said that their energy was incredible. Every song is a classic. That also includes everything they released. The first Rainbow(Ritchie blackmore's Rainbow) is Elf minus David Feinstein. Feinstein went on to create David Feinstein's Thunder and The Rods. anyways, I would recommend this to a stranger. It happens to be an unknown classic.

I have always been a fan of RJD, and I stumbled across this album via Never More...I was so blown away by the rawness and magic of the sound that I had to hear more!!! Elf puts Deep Purple to shame. I recommend this to anyone.....True Nitty Gritty Rock & Roll. The Guitar of Feinstein is rich and overwhelming at times, brilliant! Mickey Lee's Piano is the best Blues Piano I have ever heard, and compliments Dio's vocals, Driscoll's Drums and Feinsteins Guitar like a feather on a hat!

Do yourself a favor and get this CD while you still have ears to listen to it!

Originally released in 1972, this was Elf's first lp(produced by Roger Glover and Ian Paice). As most of you are aware of it, Elf was the band that Ronnie James Dio was in before joining up with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. This is more 'heavy blues rock' than any thing else. Somewhat inspiring tunes here are "First Avenue", "Sit Down Honey"(maybe it's just me, but this reminds me of like a rough Rod Stewart song) and "Love Me like A Woman". Do keep in mind this is VERY different in style from Dio's solo work, or his music with Rainbow or Sabbath for that matter. Might appeal to fans of Cactus,Samson,Iron Butterfly and possibly April Wine.

This is actually a review for Elf albums LA '59 and Trying to Burn the Sun which you can get (if you can find it) on one compilation CD. These albums were recorded in 1974 and 1975 just before Ronnie was asked to join Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. But don't expect these albums to sound a thing like Rainbow, Black Sabbath or Dio because they are miles away from each other in genre. These are definitely the most accessible and down-to-earth albums Ronnie has ever recorded. Kind of laid back southern style playing and lyrics and very much a bandly experience. These albums are great for sitting back on a hot summer night playing cards with the boys. It's pretty funny too hearing RJD sings about old southern women, whiskey, and locomotives in the old west! Buy this if you can find it (not only for collectors).

I happened to catch these guys as an opening act for Uriah Heep at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. I had no idea who they were and had no preconceptions. What I have just found out by reading these other reviews was that I was witnessing an early glimpse of Ronny James Dio. This act was OK. Not great. I liked some of the songs well enough that I went out and plopped down my $3.88 for the LP. (Am I showing my age)? Their guitarist had the (then) typical Les Paul through a Marshall stack that exemplified many of the British bands of the period. This guy (sorry...forgot his name) changed off on 3 different Les Pauls. The sad fact was that he couldn't carry the entire act. His playing wasn't explosive or wild at all. It was more measured. And since he played his les Pauls straight into his Marshall without any effects at all, he had little variance in his sound. Things just started to sound tired and the same as the set drew to a close. The drummer had a rather limited vocabulary. (which is strange, since I believe Deep Purple's drummer, Ian Paice, was their producer). And though it was nice seeing a grand piano on stage, it didn't lend enough texture to the music. What did stick out was Dio's singing. He had a powerful yet dynamic voice. When he had to sing softer passages, he didn't lose any of the emotion in his voice.

I must have been impressed enough because I bought the LP. I liked it well enough but, like the live show, I wasn't blown away. The 2 songs that stuck out on the album were the ones that stuck out in the show. Nevermore and I'm Comin' Back For You. These songs sill hold up for me, but the rest just isn't stand out enough for me. Dio went on to do some much more remarkable things with his career.

If you're anything like me, chances are the only reason you're checking out Elf's self-titled 1972 debut album is because it featured legendary metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Chances are also good that after you hear this album you'll need to spin Holy Diver or Heaven And Hell to get the echoes of this swamp-boogie album out of your head.

Yes, that's THE Ronnie James Dio singing, and yes he sounds as good as you expect him to sound. Unfortunately Dio's pipes are the only thing most metal fans are going to recognize and enjoy, unless you're also a big "southern fried boogie with lots of honky tonk piano" fan. Songs like Hoochie Coochie Lady and Dixie Lee Junction let you know you're not on the Silver Mountain anymore, and even though Dio's performance is completely solid, it's just too jarring to hear him sing this kind of music. There aren't even any songs about elves, let alone dragons.

This album has value only as a curiosity and conversation piece. Dio fans have to hear it at least once. I'm guessing that once will be more than enough.

I bought this because of Dio. I have always liked Dio, but the first I knew of him was when he took over vocals for Black Sabbath. I bought those albums (way too few!) and the Dio solo albums, and just recently knew of these Elf albums. I knew from reading these reviews it would not be like Rainbow or Sabbath or Dio. Well, I got to say I have enjoyed this album as much as any I have heard in years! (This one and the 3 new songs from Heaven and Hell/AKA Black Sabbath!) I had not heard of one single song on this album, but they are all pretty dern good! A lot of the reviewers called it blues-rock, but it is nothing but good old Southern Rock to me! Dio singing Southern Rock! Who would a thunk it?!?! This album makes you want to get up and boogie! I love it!

SOME OF THE BEST PIANO PLAYING YOU WILL EVER HEAR ON A ROCK ALBUM.DIO SINGING AND GREAT GUITAR FROM DAVID FEINSTEIN WHO WENT ON TO FORM FASTWAY AND THE RODS IN LATER YEARS.THIS CD IS ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITES AND THE PIANO PLAYING BY MICKEY LEE SOULE IS FANTASTIC.

There seems to a major discovery/re-discovery of 1970s music among today's 15-25 year olds. Many of them tell me they consider most of today's new music to be total rubbish (no argument from me on that point) and that they consider 1970s music to far superior to today's new releases.

I grew up in the 1970s and I now find myself being repeatedly asked by my friends' teenaged sons and their friends for recommendations of 1970s bands they're not familiar with. They all know about Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and other major acts but they're totally unfamiliar with many of the lesser known 1970s bands.

To help them and others who are discovering/rediscovering 1970s music I'll start posting reviews of albums by some of these less well known 1970s bands whose music I think is worth the attention of a new generation of listeners.

This 1972 release by Elf is one such album that is worth a listen. The bass player and vocalist is billed as Ronald Padavona but it's actually Ronnie James Dio before he became well known. The vocals are unmistakable Dio.

This album was produced by Roger Glover and Ian Paice, at the time the bass player and drummer, respectively, of Deep Purple.

If you like Deep Purple and Ronnie James Dio's later work, you'll like this one.