DIO „Stand Up And Shout The Anthology”

Yet another Dio compilation from Rhino/Warner Brothers with the last compilation The Very Beast Of Dio (on the same label) only three years old. But as always, Dio anthologies are fairly similar. Pull the classic songs from Holy Diver including the title-cut, 'Rainbow In The Dark', 'Stand Up And Shout' and one or two other songs from the debut. Then toss on 'We Rock' and 'The Last In Line' from Last In Line, you can also add one or two more tracks from this release. Finally, include a few selections from Sacred Heart or Dream Evil, or maybe one or two tracks off both. This has been the formula for almost every greatest hit set. And much like the last collection from Rhino, Stand Up And Shout ends with 'Lock Up The Wolves' and 'Strange Highways' off the recordings of the same name. But as far as rarities, you got the studio cut 'Time To Burn' (the track was previously only on the live Intermission EP) with the Anthology (1997) collection. While Diamonds The Best Of Dio (1992) included 'Hide In The Rainbow' from the Iron Eagle soundtrack, and The Very Beast Of Dio is your basic Dio set without any rarities. I never bothered to pick up the Beast Of Dio for the fact that it offers nothing new. What Stand Up And Shout attempted was pulling Dio's entire career into one set, including a few songs from the ever elusive Elf sessions in the mid 70s, Rainbow and Black Sabbath. This is the first compilation to do that, and it's the type of compilation Rhino should've released the first time around.

As far as the music goes, you know the Rainbow songs (three of them are here), Black Sabbath (nine songs are included) and Dio (the band) material (15 tracks within) are classic! But what about Ronnie James Dio's older band, Elf? They pretty much sound like old-time barroom boogie Rock 'N' Roll with lots of piano, and I do mean LOTS, and guitar elements in a southern boogie type of style, I guess. The songs are amusing, but somewhat out of place once the Rainbow and Black Sabbath cuts start up. But 'I'm Coming For You' is the type of rock song that does hint at his future with Rainbow and it's a fairly good track!

Once again, this is the type of compilation Rhino should've put out three years ago. I actually wanted the Elf tracks, which I've never heard, and I couldn't give a darn for the simplistic The Very Beast Of Dio. But still, this is only a compilation, and if you already have the Rainbow stuff (I don't, but want it), Black Sabbath cuts and Dio (the band) material, you really have to figure out how bad you want to hear Elf. So how bad do you want it? In the end, this is just a career overview, and it's probably more geared towards collectors. But it's a solid collection at that, so fair enough! Here we have Stand Up And Shout, The Anthology. Take it for what it is and get it if you so desire. But in other Dio news, I definitely can't wait for the new Dio DVD!

note: 7 of 10

Tracklist

CD One ELF
1. Hoochie Koochie Lady
2. I'm Coming For You
3. Carolina County Ball RAINBOW
4. Man On The Silver Mountain
5. Starstruck
6. Long Live Rock 'N' Roll BLACK SABBATH
7. Neon Knights
8. Children Of The Sea
9. Heaven And Hell
10. Turn Up The Night
11. The Sign Of The Southern Cross
12. The Mob Rules
13. Computer God
14. Voodoo (Live 1982) DIO
15. Sacred Heart (Live 1985)

CD Two
1. Stand Up And Shout
2. Holy Diver
3. Don't Talk To Strangers
4. Straight Through The Heart
5. Rainbow In The Dark
6. We Rock
7. The Last In Line
8. Egypt (The Chains Are On)
9. King Of Rock And Roll
10. Hungry For Heaven
11. Dream Evil
12. All The Fools Sailed Away
13. Lock Up The Wolves
14. Strange Highways