Difficult to Cure
Encyclopedia
Difficult to Cure is the fifth studio album by the British rock band, Rainbow
, and was released in 1981. The album marked the further commercialization of the band's sound with Blackmore once describing at the time liking for the rock band, Foreigner
.
The album material was started with Graham Bonnet
still in the band, getting as far as recording an early version of "I Surrender", before Bonnet left the band due to his dissatisfaction over the material. American singer Joe Lynn Turner
, formerly of Fandango
was recruited and sang over backings already completed. Turner stated that, because of this, he was singing in higher keys than he would do normally (and would do subsequently).
The cover design is by Hipgnosis
though it was not specifically for this album. It had previously been put forward as a cover for Black Sabbath's 1978 album, Never Say Die!
A remastered CD reissue was released in May 1999, with packaging duplicating the original vinyl release.
Jealous Lover, the first track written by Turner and Blackmore, was the non-album B-side to Can't Happen Here.
This track listing is as it appears on the 1999 CD release. The original 1981 LP and cassette releases had the title of the fifth track as "Vielleicht Das Nachster Zeit (Maybe Next Time)". This was a mis-translation from the German, which was corrected on later releases. However, the "corrected" version still contains multiple spelling errors.
Additionally the final track, Difficult to Cure, was originally credited as arranged by Blackmore/Glover/Airey. The laughter at the end of this track is unmistakably that of Oliver Hardy
. On the original LP, the laughter is an endless loop in the last groove, while on the CD it loops a few times before stopping.
I Surrender would be the band's highest charting single in the UK, reaching #3.
Spotlight Kid was covered by German band Angel Dust
for the album Border of Reality (1998).
Rainbow (band)
Rainbow were an English rock band, controlled by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore from 1975 to 1984 and 1994 to 1997. It was originally established with American rock band Elf's members, though over the years Rainbow went through many line-up changes with no two studio albums featuring the same line-up...
, and was released in 1981. The album marked the further commercialization of the band's sound with Blackmore once describing at the time liking for the rock band, Foreigner
Foreigner (band)
Foreigner is a British-American rock band, originally formed in 1976 by veteran English musicians Mick Jones and ex-King Crimson member Ian McDonald along with American vocalist Lou Gramm...
.
The album material was started with Graham Bonnet
Graham Bonnet
Graham Bonnet is an English rock vocalist, and songwriter. He has recorded and performed as a solo artist, and as a member of several hard rock and heavy metal bands including Rainbow, the Michael Schenker Group, Alcatrazz, and Impellitteri.-Early days:Bonnet was born in Skegness in 1947...
still in the band, getting as far as recording an early version of "I Surrender", before Bonnet left the band due to his dissatisfaction over the material. American singer Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner
Joe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
, formerly of Fandango
Fandango (US band)
Fandango were an American rock band fronted by vocalist Joe Lynn Turner.The band opened for acts like The Allman Brothers and Chicago. Turner has stated that the band took influences from the Eagles and southern rock. He also claims the group disbanded after their equipment was stolen and that they...
was recruited and sang over backings already completed. Turner stated that, because of this, he was singing in higher keys than he would do normally (and would do subsequently).
The cover design is by Hipgnosis
Hipgnosis
Hipgnosis was a British art design group that specialized in creating cover art for the albums of rock musicians and bands, most notably Pink Floyd, T.Rex, The Pretty Things, UFO, 10cc, Bad Company, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Scorpions, Yes, The Alan Parsons Project, Genesis, Peter Gabriel, ELO and XTC...
though it was not specifically for this album. It had previously been put forward as a cover for Black Sabbath's 1978 album, Never Say Die!
Never Say Die!
-Band:*Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals*Tony Iommi – guitar, backing vocals on "A Hard Road"*Geezer Butler – bass guitar, backing vocals on "A Hard Road"*Bill Ward – drums, lead vocals on "Swinging the Chain", backing vocals on "A Hard Road"-Additional musicians:...
A remastered CD reissue was released in May 1999, with packaging duplicating the original vinyl release.
Jealous Lover, the first track written by Turner and Blackmore, was the non-album B-side to Can't Happen Here.
Track listing
- All Songs Published By Panache Music, Ltd., except where noted.
- "I Surrender" (Russ BallardRuss BallardRussell Glyn Ballard is an English singer, songwriter and musician.-Career:Ballard was initially a guitarist with Buster Meikle & The Day Breakers in 1961, together with Roy Ballard, Russ's older brother on piano and Bob Henrit on drums...
) – 4:10 (Island Music Ltd.) - "Spotlight Kid" (Ritchie BlackmoreRitchie BlackmoreRichard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
, Roger GloverRoger GloverRoger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
) – 5:04 - "No Release" (Blackmore, Glover, Don AireyDon AireyDonald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
) – 5:42 - "Magic" (Brian Moran) – 4:15 (Becket Music)
- "Vielleicht Das Nächste Mal (Maybe the Next Time)" (Blackmore, Airey) – 3:23
- "Can't Happen Here" (Blackmore, Glover) – 5:09
- "Freedom Fighter" (Joe Lynn TurnerJoe Lynn TurnerJoe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
, Blackmore, Glover) – 4:28 - "Midtown Tunnel Vision" (Turner, Blackmore, Glover) – 4:44
- "Difficult To Cure (Beethoven's Ninth)Symphony No. 9 (Beethoven)The Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125, is the final complete symphony of Ludwig van Beethoven. Completed in 1824, the symphony is one of the best known works of the Western classical repertoire, and has been adapted for use as the European Anthem...
" (Beethoven, arr. by Blackmore, Glover, Airey) – 5:58
This track listing is as it appears on the 1999 CD release. The original 1981 LP and cassette releases had the title of the fifth track as "Vielleicht Das Nachster Zeit (Maybe Next Time)". This was a mis-translation from the German, which was corrected on later releases. However, the "corrected" version still contains multiple spelling errors.
Additionally the final track, Difficult to Cure, was originally credited as arranged by Blackmore/Glover/Airey. The laughter at the end of this track is unmistakably that of Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy
Oliver Hardy was an American comic actor famous as one half of Laurel and Hardy, the classic double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted nearly 30 years, from 1927 to 1955.-Early life:...
. On the original LP, the laughter is an endless loop in the last groove, while on the CD it loops a few times before stopping.
I Surrender would be the band's highest charting single in the UK, reaching #3.
Spotlight Kid was covered by German band Angel Dust
Angel Dust (band)
Angel Dust are a German heavy metal band. Initially active from 1984 to 1990 as speed and thrash metal band, they dropped their thrash roots in favor of a power/progressive metal sound upon reforming in 1998....
for the album Border of Reality (1998).
Personnel
- Joe Lynn TurnerJoe Lynn TurnerJoe Lynn Turner , is an American rock singer, known for his works with Rainbow, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force, Deep Purple. From the late 1990s, he continued to perform in a large number of solo albums and other studio projects...
- vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Ritchie BlackmoreRitchie BlackmoreRichard Hugh "Ritchie" Blackmore is an English guitarist and songwriter, who was known as one of the first guitarists to fuse Classical music elements with rock. He fronted his own band Rainbow after leaving Deep Purple where he was unhappy because his favourite musical style wasn't adequately...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Don AireyDon AireyDonald Airey has been the keyboardist in the rock band Deep Purple since 2002, succeeding Jon Lord...
- keyboardKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments... - Roger GloverRoger GloverRoger David Glover is a Welsh bassist, songwriter, and record producer. Glover is best known as the bassist and lyricist for the hard rock band, Deep Purple.-Early career:...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, percussionPercussion instrumentA percussion instrument is any object which produces a sound when hit with an implement or when it is shaken, rubbed, scraped, or otherwise acted upon in a way that sets the object into vibration... - Bobby RondinelliBobby RondinelliBobby Rondinelli is a rock drummer best known for his work with the hard rock/heavy metal bands like Blue Öyster Cult, Rainbow, Quiet Riot, Black Sabbath, The Lizards, and Rondinelli.-Background:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Production
- Produced By Roger Glover
- Recorded & Engineered By Flemming RasmussenFlemming RasmussenFlemming Rasmussen is a Danish engineer, producer, mixer and owner and founder of Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.-Biography:...
- Assistant Engineers: Thomas Brekling, Clay Hutchinson
- Mastered By Greg Calbi
Singles
- 1981 - "I Surrender/Vielleicht Das Nachste Mal (Maybe Next Time)"
- 1981 - "Can't Happen Here/Jealous Lover"
- 1981 - "Magic/Freedom Fighter" (Japan)