~ELF ABLUMS~Discussion

[Holymagica]

Elf
Track listing

1."Hoochie Koochie Lady" – 5:32
2."First Avenue" – 4:23
3."Never More" – 3:50
4."I'm Coming Back For You" – 3:27
5."Sit Down Honey (Everything Will Be Alright)" – 3:48
6."Dixie Lee Junction" – 5:09
7."Love Me Like A Woman" – 3:47
8."Gambler, Gambler" – 4:26

Band
Ronnie Jame Dio-vocals, bass
David Feinstein - guitar
Mickey Lee Soule - piano
Gary Driscoll - drums

Carolina County Ball
Track listing
1."Carolina County Ball" - 4:46
2."L.A.59" - 4:21
3."Ain't It All Amusing" - 5:01
4."Happy" - 5:28
5."Annie New Orleans" - 3:01
6."Rocking Chair Rock 'n' Roll Blues" - 5:36
7."Rainbow" - 4:00
8."Do the Same Thing" - 3:10
9."Blanche" - 2:31

Band
Ronnie James Dio: Lead Vocals
Steve Edwards: Guitar
Mickey Lee Soule: Keyboards
Craig Gruber: Bass
Gary Driscoll: Drums

Trying to Burn the Sun
Track Listing
1."Black Swampy Water" - 3:43
2."Prentice Wood" - 4:37
3."When She Smiles" - 4:54
4."Good Time Music" - 4:30
5."Liberty Road" - 3:22
6."Shotgun Boogie" - 3:07
7."Wonderworld" - 5:03
8."Streetwalker" - 7:07

Band
Ronnie James Dio: Lead Vocals, Additional Bass
Steve Edwards: Guitar
Mickey Lee Soule: Keyboards, Additional Guitars
Craig Gruber: Bass
Gary Driscoll: Drums
Mark Nauseef: Percussion

[rickmax]

recently i found the first elf album on cd, its a awesome album but thats the only one i could find, RJD FOREVER

[Holymagica]

[M60]

I heard that the transfers on the two-cd one are not very good (sound-quality wise). But Niji was talking about re-issuing them all in a boxset. I really hope they do. Haven't really had a chance to listen to these.

[olivious the drummer]

I have the first album ELF on casette........doesnt seem to be available on CD and I am currently in the process of converting it to a CD myself. I have the other two on CD and if I am in a mellow mood these are great to relax to.

They are quite a departure from what we all know as Dio as they are very boogie woogie, piano based albums.

I love the irony of 'Happy' but my fav track from that period is probably 'Aint it all Amusing' - its a jolly track!
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Stand up and Shout!!!!!

[The Masterstroke]

Back in 84 a friend of mine and me had a little spare time in the music room of our school.We sat down on an old piano that was not well tuned so it had those honky tong sound.We couldn't play piano at all,though he was still playing better than me.He started to play some chords and I tried to play some small melodies to it.It all sounded a bit melancholic and we called it our "Rain Song".About a week later I got a call that "Carolina County Ball" has arrived.I had to order it as an import,because it wasn't availeble in Germany for years.We were blown away when we heard "Blanche" ,which was allmost excactly our "Rain Song" and the lyrics were : "Rainy Days,Rainy Daiys Too Many Rainy Days.

[adiszul]

i love this blues/hard rock style I love especially the first one, are there bands from that period similar to ELF?? i mean blues rock/hard rock
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So live for today
Tomorrow never comes

[The Masterstroke]

I have some early Whitesnake albums that have that kind of BluesRock.

[adiszul]

I adore David Coverdale! this kind of rock is awesome but unfortunately very overlooked

there is a magic on Elf first release, now listening to "love me like a woman"
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So live for today
Tomorrow never comes

[richierich]

I have the "Elf Albums" 2 on 1 cd, and I love it!

The sound to me is a mix of r & b, country rock, gospel and a bit of soul.

There's hints of The Band in there I think, and the piano-led sound makes me think of a harder edged version of Elton John's early sound - if you think of songs like "Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting" and "Crocodile Rock" maybe? Obviously not the vocals tho, just the backing.

It also shows what a versatile voice Ronnie had too, as he still sounds 100% like himself but adapts well to a different style.
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"Whenever you dream you're holding the key, it opens the door to let you be free" - RJD 1985

[The Masterstroke]

I recently discovered Wonderworld and it became my favorit Elf song.

[DioInfinitum]

I was introduced to the Elf material AFTER all the heavy stuff that came later in Ronnie's career.

These Elf songs are some of the most beautiful and sophisticated musical art.

In terms of style, I would say the Elf body of work may stand out as Ronnie's most 'beautiful' work ever, very understandably leading him to his future gig Rainbow.

I'm sure some will be put off by these recordings, but for me it's probably some of the most interesting stuff Ronnie ever did. It also showcases the incredible diversity he had as a vocalist.

I am a singer too. I can sing beautifully over the right kind of music. I know for sure I don't fit in a 'metal' band as a vocalist. Ronnie had the amazing ability to jump from one style to another and sound like he belonged.

Ronnie could sing beautifully. He could have sung a child's song and it would be just as magnificent as his most aggressive work.

NEVER MORE is positively brilliant and beautiful. I love it.

[PinkLedRushDio]

I've heard some of the covers that they ( Elf ) did of Aqualung, War Pigs, and Black Dog and they all sounded wonderful. Are those on an album somewhere? They were on youtube, I figure they may be bootlegs but not sure.
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So if a stranger sees you
Don't look in his eyes, 'cause he's

Voodoo!

[LindaJeanne]

[PinkLedRushDio]

What's the best place to find these albums on CD? I can't seem to find them very easily.
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So if a stranger sees you
Don't look in his eyes, 'cause he's

Voodoo!