MXR's Randy Rhoads Distortion+ pedal

[idsnowdog]

The most important elements of Randy's tone are his MXR EQ and his Altec speakers. They contribute to that jagged high midrange grind.

[Sirion]

By the mid 80s, the production on the Ozzy albums was so overdone that it didn't sound like a band to me. But Dio suffered the same fate, really. I like the first 3 or 4 Dio albums, but he lost me after that.

After the first four albums Dio never really sounded like the same band again anyway. Goldy did an admirable job on Dream Evil, essentially being the new guy, holding the band together and writing what might be their most consistent album at the same time, but after that the entire band was replaced, and you can tell that he was trying to shift with the times. Sometimes it kind of works, often not.

[idsnowdog]

After the first four albums Dio never really sounded like the same band again anyway. Goldy did an admirable job on Dream Evil, essentially being the new guy, holding the band together and writing what might be their most consistent album at the same time, but after that the entire band was replaced, and you can tell that he was trying to shift with the times. Sometimes it kind of works, often not.

Dream Evil is perplexing. Great riffs in the Blackmore vein but the leads suck. Which doesn't make much sense if you compare it to this live footage from 1986. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtf4R6KyALU

[Mincer]

I saw Goldy live with a Dio tribute years later, and I thought he played really great...even the solos. Back then, I don't think he was on the same level as Vivian. Also, the production on Dio albums got worse as time went on.

[ErikH]

Several years back I saw a soundcheck video from before an outdoor Ozzy show on the Blizzard tour and Randy's tone was HUGE! He was walking around, noodling and this wall of Marshall sound was just huge. Not a very long video but gave you a glimpse of just how different his live tone was from what was captured in the studio. I love his tone on Tribute.

[idsnowdog]

I saw Goldy live with a Dio tribute years later, and I thought he played really great...even the solos. Back then, I don't think he was on the same level as Vivian. Also, the production on Dio albums got worse as time went on.

On Dream Evil he was trying to emulate Blackmore but the leads sound dumbed down and cold.

[Sirion]

Dream Evil is perplexing. Great riffs in the Blackmore vein but the leads suck. Which doesn't make much sense if you compare it to this live footage from 1986. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtf4R6KyALU

I've never really thought of the solos as sub-par. I might need to relisten to it to hear if I can hear it. But yes, I always thought he played better than Campbell live at the time, even if I was not entirely on board with his tone. Unfortunately, I think that he later was kept around by Dio because he wouldn't gainsay his vision, which increasingly seems to have been focused around slow, sludgy tempos that allowed him to stretch out at the microphone. I love much of Ronnie's output, but that never worked for me.

[Mincer]

On Dream Evil he was trying to emulate Blackmore but the leads sound dumbed down and cold.

Maybe that's what he was going for, but I don't think he had the chops yet. I didn't like any of the solos on that album.

[JMP/HBE]

In 1980 i sat on a 727 from Evansville Indiana to Chicago O'Hare with Black Sabbath [w/Dio] and the Sammy Hagar band.
Talked to Dio he was just a regular guy. All the devil crap was just a schtick.
RJD son had some sort of headphone cassette player which was the first Sony Walkman but had not beed released
in the States yet as Dio had been to Japan.
Tony Iommi was the only one in first class seating. Musta been in the contract.

[JMP/HBE]

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[ErikH]

It was the Beaumont, Texas soundcheck. Randy is closer to the middle of the video.