ELF : ELF 1972

Ronald James Padavona (July 10, 1942 – May 16, 2010), better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American rock and heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, among others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio.


Dio's musical career began in 1957 when several Cortland, New York musicians formed the band The Vegas Kings. This band's lineup had Padavona on the bass guitar, along with singer Billy DeWolfe, guitarist Nick Pantas, drummer Tom Rogers, and saxophone player Jack Musci.

In late 1967 Ronnie Dio and the Prophets transformed into a new band called The Electric Elves and added a keyboard player. Following recovery from a deadly car accident in February 1968 (which killed guitarist Nick Pantas and put Dio and other band members in the hospital briefly), the group shortened its name to The Elves and used that name until mid 1972 when it released its first proper album under the name Elf.

he founded Elf in the early '70s that Dio, or Ronald Padavona as he was then called, took his first tentative steps toward hard rock. Still, with the honky tonk piano playing of Mickey Lee Soule dominating many of its songs, Elf's self-titled Epic Records debut (produced by Deep Purple bassist Roger Glover) hardly qualifies as a bona fide Hard Rock - Blues record.

Over the next few years, the group went on to become a regular opening act for Deep Purple. Elf recorded three albums until the members' involvement recording the first Rainbow album in early 1975 resulted in Elf disbanding.

Dio's vocals caught the ear of Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore, who was planning on leaving the band then, since he didn't approve of his bandmates' new direction. Blackmore invited Ronnie along with Gary Driscoll to record two songs in Tampa, Florida on December 12, 1974. Being satisfied with the results, Blackmore decided to recruit more of Elf's musicians and form his own band, primarily known as Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow.


Dio died of stomach cancer on May 16, 2010. One of the last songs he recorded was titled "Metal Will Never Die". Ronnie James Dio has sold over 47 million copies of albums with all of the bands he has worked in.

TRACKS

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

Produced by Roger Glover ( Bassist of Deep Purple ) and Ian Paice ( Drummer of Deep Purle )
Recorded at Studio One , Atlanda , Georgia .

MP3  Size : 83 MB

Flac   Size : 241 MB

The Elf Painting is by my artist friend Kelly Kantanoleon

 ( Thank you my Love , my Precious ! Gollum ! Gollum ! )