Dio Cover Thread

[ronws]

We had one for Queensryche. And a few "challenge" threads for "Child in Time" by Deep Purple.

Why not a thread for covers of songs sung by Ronnie James Dio. I don't care if you sound like him. I don't. Though it's cool that we share the same first name. That's as far as the similarity goes.

So, here's my first bit. Recorded in December 2010. I had just received my recording rig, including a studio quality condenser mic, as a gift from fellow member, akward (Thanos.) This was literally the first thing I recorded with it. And fellow member Snax (Mike) mixed the results for me with some new software he had just obtained.

Bring out your inner Dio.

"Rainbow in the Dark" by Ronnie James Dio

https://www.box.com/s/2bb14d0f35647355b382

[akarawd]

I've already told you my opinion on your singing through email, so you know what I think.

Rainbow in the Dark :

https://app.box.com/s/0dllu0utq3tlksf79ynl

https://app.box.com/s/3hg7zyr5zri6nzkwwrwi

Last in Line :

https://app.box.com/s/xieuys03v7b9njsqzg2y

Unworthy, I know, but it is a snapshot of my effort at this point in time.

Cheers,

Thanasis

Edit : Better mixed

[ronws]

I've already told you my opinion on your singing through email, so you know what I think.

Yeah, I don't remember. That was from almost 3 years ago and I think I erased that email since then.

Here's another one. I go flat in the first chorus, which irks me as I think it was an okay take, otherwise. Maybe not ready for an album.

edited to add:

Finally found it. Moved it to my box account,

"Holy Diver" by Dio.

https://app.box.com/s/pctwy0o6d8cgiiyln8cd

[akarawd]

Sorry, I though it was that last version we talked about.

[ronws]

Yeah, I had an acoustic cover of Holy Diver which stunk to high heaven. I only share that one now if I want to hurt someone.

:lol:

[DJDeth]

Here's my Holy Diver - a version from last year. Gotta record it once more, as there is some stuff that get's on my nerves in this take.

https://app.box.com/s/7abde3b9759855b9058c

I also have this video from 2010 - I did guest vocals on a charity Tribute to Dio gig that I've organized. The event turned out to be a success:) At that point it was the biggest crowd that I had ever performed in front of, so I was quite nervous:D

Temple of the King

[ronws]

Just awesome, DJ. And you do it live, in front of people. And hold the melody. Fantastic strat note, too.

[jonathangraham]

Great efforts all round so far guys :cool: in particular DJDeth live performance was excellent. Congrats!!

Dio's Songs must be some of the most challenging to make sound good so i'm going to spend a few days on something and post next week if i can get it half decent.

I might just have to do this one

:D

[DJDeth]

Thanks Ron and Jonathan, I'm glad you liked it Instrumentally this was inspired by Angel Dust version of the song.

[slstone]

I might join in this challenge, as I have been working on a Dio song for a while. I've already recorded all of the music for it, and I may actually have time soon for my studio, lol. Now if I can have a day where my voice isn't hoarse, it would be awesome. However, I won't tell you yet which song it is.

[Chavie]

Here's my attempt at rainbow in the dark

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12393488

[akarawd]

I think Chavie has a tone that's closer to all of Dio's characteristics, whereas DJ follows closely Dio's cleaner tone. Mine is more guttural (but notes are still clear) and Ron's is the pure head voice approach.

It's great that we get to hear all these different takes.

Edit : Better mixed

Rainbow in the Dark :

https://app.box.com/s/0dllu0utq3tlksf79ynl

https://app.box.com/s/3hg7zyr5zri6nzkwwrwi

Last in Line :

https://app.box.com/s/xieuys03v7b9njsqzg2y

[MDEW]

Ronws, Sounded pretty good. I think the main thing that your voice needs is a little reverb or some kind of effect to let the voice fit in the mix a little better.

Akarawd,I liked the second Rainbow a little better. The first was to heavy and raspy. It sounds like you had an easier time singing the second recording. Both takes were awsome none the less.

Chavie, I have not yet heard a song from you that I did not like.

DjDeath, That was pretty awesome also.

Jonathan, I think it would be a nice change to hear something from Ronnie's earlier career. He was among the teen Idols in the sixties. Some of his earlier songs should be among any tribute or DIO challenge.

Slstone, I can't wait to hear what you would do with one of Dio's songs.

So far in this challenge no one has dropped the ball. Just goes to show you do not have to sound like DIO to sing his songs and make them work.

[ronws]

So far in this challenge no one has dropped the ball. Just goes to show you do not have to sound like DIO to sing his songs and make them work.

Excellent observation, M. As for reverb, "Rainbow in the Dark" was mixed for me by fellow member Snax. He used what he called negative reverb and some other neat stuff. Plus, he doubled the backing track, which is why it sounds like you are at a rock concert. My bit at the end, a capella, is a tribute to how RJD ends the song at Waacken 2004. The quintessential performance of this song if I am allowed to present the original artist.

"Holy Diver" - I mixed that myself, and it shows.

I had also done a cover of "Last in Line" but was not satisfied with the mix. And I did some falsetto crap in the middle that while fun, doesn't really fit.

[MDEW]

Holy Diver was fresh in my mind when I wrote that. There is plenty of reverb in Rainbow. Sometimes the only thing I retain is the last thing I hear.

I guess I am getting old. But don't tell anybody. I will forget about it in a few minutes myself. :P

[ronws]

I was trying to find the source file for Last in Line that I was talking about and could not find it. And accidently found another version I did. Remixed it. Still sounds like crap, though I really liked the opening I did. Too bad I could not make the whole song out of that. I am still not sure about sharing it here. I like you guys too much.

Maybe I should send it to you, M. But only because you are a strong enough friend.

[ronws]

After some consideration, an objective ear for both my covers of "Last in Line" and inspired by Keith sharing one of his "worst" performances, I decided to share this one. Granted, my voice is different today but this recording shares a feeling I had at a moment in time.

I re-mixed it a little. Feel free to critique, or not. I would sing it differently, if I re-recorded it today. Of the Dio catalog, it is a tougher song than one would think.

"Last in Line - remix"

https://app.box.com/s/bk3vbt9lgxzrlq8mcx1f

[napoleonboot]

I woke up intending to work on one of my original songs, but checked this site and saw this Dio thread, which I must have missed previously.

So I tracked (most) of "Man On The Silver Mountain", although I ran out of steam before doing the ad lib section at the end. It's just a single recording session (and I've never sung this song before), whereas for one of my original recordings I spend several sessions, retracking the dodgy bits until I am happy. I thought I'd post it anyway, warts-and-all.

https://app.box.com/s/3xcjczhm4oh2iwye3tc6

George

[Chavie]

I woke up intending to work on one of my original songs, but checked this site and saw this Dio thread, which I must have missed previously.

So I tracked (most) of "Man On The Silver Mountain", although I ran out of steam before doing the ad lib section at the end. It's just a single recording session (and I've never sung this song before), whereas for one of my original recordings I spend several sessions, retracking the dodgy bits until I am happy. I thought I'd post it anyway, warts-and-all.

https://app.box.com/s/3xcjczhm4oh2iwye3tc6

George

Damn dude this was pretty amazing job for just a mornings work!!

Great job on the vocal harmonies as well.......i'm always too lazy to learn and track em lol

Great cover!!!

[akarawd]

Couldn't agree more with Chavie... that is a great cover in every way.

You have these harmonies going and I think that sometimes I can hardly do the main line lol

Thanasis

[ronws]

Awesome, George. One of my favorites from Rainbow.

Useless trivia. When Ritchie Blackmore left Deep Purple, he really enjoyed RJD's voice. Ronnie was in a band called Elfen. So, pretty much what you hear in the original of this song is Elfen with Ritchie on lead guitar. But it was called Rainbow, a word that meant a lot to Ronnie.

[jonpall]

I've already told you my opinion on your singing through email, so you know what I think.

Rainbow in the Dark :

https://app.box.com/s/0dllu0utq3tlksf79ynl

https://app.box.com/s/3hg7zyr5zri6nzkwwrwi

Last in Line :

https://app.box.com/s/xieuys03v7b9njsqzg2y

Unworthy, I know, but it is a snapshot of my effort at this point in time.

Cheers,

Thanasis

Edit : Better mixed

Great job Thanos! . Minor pitch issues here and there, mostly in the beginning but a great attitude in the sound.

[akarawd]

Hey Jonpall, it's been a long time, thank you for listening and for your comment, I appreciate it a lot.

Cheers,

Thanasis

[Chavie]

Just finished a cover of "heaven & hell"

http://soundclick.com/share.cfm?id=12485845

[ronws]

That was awesome, Chavie. You beat the crap out of all of us. As for the vocal track, I would have mixed it a little more front but it was well blended.

You have a Dio feel in the voice. Let it shine. Like a rainbow.