Straight Between the Eyes [Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered]

Rainbow | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 25, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
• Label: Polydor / Umgd
• ASIN: B00000J2SQ
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #34,562 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IF YOU WERE IN HIGH SCHOOL IN THE EARLY 80'S, March 6, 2003

By 

C. Todaro "chazzt" (Rocky Point, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Straight Between the Eyes (Audio CD)

Is there a better guitarist at placing his solos perfectly into his band's songs than the incomparable Ritchie Blackmore. He does it all over this album.

The reviews to this CD are an unfortunate mixed bag. In the context of its 1982 release it was a great album -- it stands alone and on its own merits. An Amazon reader can clearly be misled.

If you were in high school in the early 80's -- particularly 1982 you know MTV played "Stone Cold" nearly every hour. But Death Alley Driver was the better video. Where is the DVD of all those great Rainbow videos anyway??

I remember the MTV Saturday night concerts and the Rainbow weekend was a superb show. The one thing which was very true that senior year of high school was that although Van Halen blew through town in November '82 to support Diver Down -- .38 Special was touring to support the Special Forces album -- Def Leppard released the spectacular Pyromania album in Feb./March '83 and toured to support it then -- those bands had nothing on Rainbow. Stone Cold was the video of the year.

When Van Halen dumped Diamond Dave in 1985 I thought Joe Lynn Turner would have been a great fit.

Joe Lynn Turner and Ritchie Blackmore were a cut above those other frontmen. The one thing which was absolutely true about Rainbow fans was that they were more devoted to their band than fans of other bands were.

Though smaller in number -- true fans of this band had a genuine affection for Ritchie Blackmore and Roger Glover despite the sometimes musical chairs lead singers and keyboard players and drummers over the years.

Today, Ritchie has gone in a new direction with Blackmore's Night pursuing folk and medieval renaissance music --- but at a concert at the Patchogue Playhouse in November of 2000 -- Ritchie went into the archives to really rock out on some Rainbow and Deep Purple classics -- and the crowd loved it.

Listen to this record and you will be rewarded.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Album From The JLT Era, November 22, 2005

By 

Christopher Fryer (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Straight Between the Eyes (Audio CD)

Straight Between The Eyes came out in 1982 and contains Rainbow's biggest hit, Stone Cold, a "power ballad" I have never gotten tired of hearing. This was Joe Lynn Turner's second album after the decent Difficult To Cure. The production is better and so are the songs. Highlights are the rockin Death Alley Driver (good chorus and solo), Tearin' Out My Heart (a ballad with great vocals), Power (upbeat rocker), Eyes Of Fire (mystical), and Stone Cold. Every Rainbow album including the last one, Stranger In Us All, has at least a few gems. If I had to choose the best three I would say Rainbow Rising, Straight Between The Eyes, and Bent Out Of Shape. I recommend Martin Popoff's latest book about Blackmore (English Castle Magic) if you can find it.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Let the Dream Chaser take you away", November 12, 2006

By 

mwreview "mwreview" (Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Straight Between the Eyes (Audio CD)

A lot of Rainbow fans seem to dislike this record but I think it's awesome! I only have five Rainbow records, but this one is my favorite so far. It's just a feel good, fun, rock n roll album. It doesn't offer those long, complex, epic numbers like "Stargazer," but it is a solid album of excellent tracks including two of my all-time favorites "Stone Cold" and "Bring on the Night (Dream Chaser)." There is only one track I'm not too crazy about ("Rock Fever") but the rest are great. Joe Lynn Turner has an amazing voice and it, of course, features the guitar legend Ritchie Blackmore. The worst part about this album is, actually, the cover. Rainbow is not known for the best album covers (i.e. "Difficult to Cure"), but this one is hideous! Oh well, it's what's inside that counts and here's what's inside:

"Death Alley Driver" (4:36): Fast and furious opener. Killer guitar and keyboard solos. I really like the overall sound of this one and I think the keyboards really stand out. I guess I'm one of the few fans who like keyboards in hard rock and metal.
"Stone Cold" (5:15): From the first guitar riff, this song rules! Soft and delicate in places and catchy rocker in others. Excellent use of keyboards, too.
"Bring on the Night (Dream Chaser)" (4:02): I love this song! This one and "Stone Cold" are my favorites on this album (and also favorite songs all-time). It just flat out kicks! The sweeping sound right before the chorus is cool!
"Tite Squeeze" (3:15): This song is OK. I can listen to it. It is just an average, straight-forward rock song. Nothing sets this song apart like most of the others on this record.
"Tearin' Out My Heart" (4:00): Slow, power track.

"Power" (4:23): This track kicks! Like with "Dream Chaser", my favorite part is right before the chorus. The intensity is built with flying percussion. Double bass would've been even better.
"MISS Mistreated" (4:25): Another of the better tracks. Guitar solo a highlight as well as the bass. I also like the use of keyboards. A medium-tempo song.
"Rock Fever" (3:40): The only track here I don't care for. The chorus is just stale, good-time rock n roll. "Lemme see you rock, lemme see you roll, lemme see you burn." No originality.
"Eyes of Fire" (6:41): The closest to an epic track on this album. It has an interesting sound. I wonder if Bruce Dickinson had this song in mind when he wrote Iron Maiden's masterpiece "Powerslave." They have the same Egyptian tune.