Monday, November 24, 2008

Elf Power

Well the Elf is none other than Ronnie James Dio and his pre-Rainbow concern. In fact, Elf contained three other members who went on to join Rainbow: drummer Gary Driscoll, piano dude Mickey Lee Soule, and bassist Craig Gruber. Listening to this album, it's easy to understand why Richie Blackmore eagerly scooped these guys up. Dio's voice is instantly recognizable here. This came before his obsession with swords and wizards. Elf were about some sawdust floor honky tonkin' bar stomp blues rock with lyrics about gamblin', ramblin' and women of loose morals. Fucking awesome.

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13 comments:

  1. ErichNovember 24, 2008 at 1:35 AM

    Wonderful record, indeed. And the cover picture shows a lot of guts - courage to uglyness, as they say in germany.

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  2. TMMNovember 24, 2008 at 6:32 AM

    I've never heard of this. I'll have to force myself to take the Syphilitc Vaginas Cd out and try this one.

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  3. RyGarNovember 24, 2008 at 9:25 AM

    Mortiis totally bit Dio's style! Who knew?

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  4. williamNovember 24, 2008 at 9:41 AM

    thanks for this. i have not heard elf since i saw them open for deep purple and ELO in the 70's.

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  5. Θόρυβος ΤώραNovember 24, 2008 at 9:45 AM

    living in greece means two things:
    you ALWAYS get to hear dio s voice and political corruption.
    after 29 years both have become boring

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  6. Roger CamdenNovember 24, 2008 at 9:00 PM

    I bought this on CD not a week ago.

    I found an image of the cover a few years ago. A mild obsession followed. Not with Dio or Elf mind you, but the image of the cover.
    I'd e-mail it around to co-workers with misleading subject headers or with promise of nude pics or whatever.
    No one ever found it as endlessly amusing as me.

    I vowed to buy a copy should I ever run across one so as to repay Dio (and Elf) for hours of entertainment on his record cover's behalf.

    Turns out, the record is actually damn good.

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  7. tanakabakaNovember 24, 2008 at 10:01 PM

    And it's turned out the most amusing comments as well!!! I did not know that about living in Greece. I read it "Lying in Grease" or should it be "Laying in Greece"?

    Hey, was there a blurb that you have a virtual zine? Or did I dream that? I don't see the ConnectMePlease button... which is cousin to the DrinkMe bottle and the EatMeYou bite. Thx for entertainment!!!!

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  8. AesopNovember 24, 2008 at 10:16 PM

    Tanaka, go here NOW!:

    http://legacydocument.blogspot.com/

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  9. Dimaension XNovember 27, 2008 at 5:52 AM

    Funny how he still looks the same now as he did then. And this was some 30 years ago? I've heard he's one of the worst guys to work with (major EGO), but still has one of THE best voices in heavy rock and metal. Ever.

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  10. cornmanDecember 1, 2008 at 9:36 AM

    If you, like me, have always wondered what it would sound like if "the Faces" traded in Rod Stewart for Dio you now have your answer.....fookin' brilliant!!

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  11. DoomstinDecember 2, 2008 at 4:05 PM

    Crucial Brucial. A must hear. A+
    This shit keeps me riding the hearse.

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  12. AnonymousMay 17, 2010 at 4:54 PM

    R.I.P. Dio. You'll be missed. Amazing album.

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  13. Mike SmithMay 17, 2010 at 9:30 PM

    This is as good a day as any to check this out. See you later, Ronnie.

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