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Strange Highways
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| Strange Highways | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 25, 1993 | |||
| Studio | Rumbo Recorders (Los Angeles) | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 53:36 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | Mike Fraser | |||
| Dio chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Ronnie James Dio chronology | ||||
| ||||
Strange Highways is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Dio, released on October 25, 1993, through Vertigo Records in Europe, and on January 26, 1994, through Reprise Records in the U.S. It was the band’s first album since Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice's reunion tour with Black Sabbath, and the first to feature guitarist Tracy Grijalva and bassist Jeff Pilson. Recorded at Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles, California, the album was produced, mixed, and engineered by Mike Fraiser, while its cover art was designed by Wil Rees.
Upon release, the album would receive generally positive reviews from critics, but showed a continued commercial decline, debuting at No. 142 on the Billboard 200. This decline would continue throughout the 1990’s until the release of Magica in 2000.
Background and recording
[edit]In 1992, the English Rock band Black Sabbath would release Dehumanizer, which was the first album to feature Dio and Appice since 1981’s Mob Rules. The album notably had a troubled production, as songs had to be rewritten multiple times.[1] Despite this, it was Black Sabbath’s biggest commercial success in a decade,[2] and would shortly thereafter launch a tour to further capitalize on this success. During the tour, however, Dio would leave the band a second time after the band was invited by Ozzy Osbourne to perform on his No More Tours tour.[3] Following the short-lived reunion, Dio and Appice returned to Dio's solo group, hiring Tracy Grijalva as new guitarist. Former Dio bassist Jimmy Bain was to make a return to the band, but he was soon sacked by Dio and replaced by Jeff Pilson.[4]
Parts of "Hollywood Black" were demoed by Black Sabbath during the Dehumanizer sessions. "Whether it's the same, I don't know…" Tony Iommi remarked of Dio's version (before hearing it). "Could be the same lyrics – probably is. I wouldn't think he would use the same music."[5]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 8/10[7] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B−[8] |
Strange Highways received generally favorable reviews from critics. Allmusic reviewer Jason Anderson would compliment Dio’s vocals and Grijalva’s guitar playing, and described the album as a “solid effort”.[9]
Track listing
[edit]All lyrics are written by Ronnie James Dio; all music is composed by Dio, Vinny Appice, Tracy Grijalva, and Jeff Pilson, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost" | Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 4:13 |
| 2. | "Firehead" | 4:06 | |
| 3. | "Strange Highways" | 6:54 | |
| 4. | "Hollywood Black" | Dio, Grijalva, Appice | 5:10 |
| 5. | "Evilution" | 5:37 | |
| 6. | "Pain" | Appice, Dio, Grijalva | 4:14 |
| 7. | "One Foot in the Grave" | 4:01 | |
| 8. | "Give Her the Gun" | Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 5:58 |
| 9. | "Blood from a Stone" | 4:14 | |
| 10. | "Here's to You" | 3:24 | |
| 11. | "Bring Down the Rain" | 5:45 |
Personnel
[edit]Dio
- Ronnie James Dio – vocals
- Tracy G – guitars
- Jeff Pilson – bass, keyboards
- Vinny Appice – drums[10]
Production
- Recorded at Rumbo Recorders, Los Angeles, California
- Produced, engineered and mixed by Mike Fraser
- Assistant engineered by Andy Udoff
- Mixed at Record Plant, Los Angeles, California
- Originally mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, New York City
- Cover illustration by Wil Rees
- Sigil design and cover artwork by Ed Holding for Mainartery
Charts
[edit]| Chart (1993) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[11] | 79 |
| US Billboard 200[12] | 142 |
References
[edit]- ^ Rosen 1996, p. 128.
- ^ "Black Sabbath – Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 9, 2013.
- ^ Iommi 2012.
- ^ "Metal-Rules.com Zine - JEFF PILSON - Foreigner, War & Peace, ex- Dokken, DIO". www.metal-rules.com.
- ^ Southern Cross No.19, March 1997
- ^ Anderson, Jason. "Strange Highways - Dio". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- ^ Popoff, Martin (August 1, 2007). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 121. ISBN 978-1-894959-62-9.
- ^ Sinclair, Tom (January 28, 1994). "Strange Highways Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
- ^ Anderson, Jason. "Strange Highways - Dio". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2012.
- ^ Saulnier, Jason (March 24, 2012). "Vinny Appice Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved May 6, 2013.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Dio – Strange Highways" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
- ^ "Dio Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2021.
Strange Highways
View on GrokipediaBackground and development
Lineup changes
Following the temporary reunion of Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice with Black Sabbath for the 1992 album Dehumanizer, the duo returned to Dio's solo project, rekindling band activities after a period of uncertainty.[9] This shift prompted significant personnel adjustments, as the previous lineup from Lock Up the Wolves (1990) underwent changes due to evolving band dynamics.[10] Earlier members like guitarist Vivian Campbell, who had contributed to Dio's 1980s albums such as Holy Diver (1983) and Dream Evil (1987), had already departed in the late 1980s to pursue other opportunities, reflecting ongoing evolution in the band's composition.[11] More immediately, bassist Jimmy Bain, a fixture since the band's inception and part of the Lock Up the Wolves lineup, was initially slated to return but faced personal issues that led to his exclusion, with no detailed reasons beyond general band progression provided.[12] Similarly, guitarist Rowan Robertson, who joined at age 18 for Lock Up the Wolves, left after the album and its brief tour when Dio rejoined Black Sabbath, pursuing his own projects including a band with vocalist Oni Logan.[10] The reformed lineup for Strange Highways introduced guitarist Tracy Grijalva (known as Tracy G.), a session musician and former member of WWIII, whose heavy, doomy style offered a more experimental contrast to prior guitarists like Campbell's melodic approach.[9] On bass, Jeff Pilson, formerly of Dokken, was recruited after an impromptu jam session at his home—arranged when Bain failed to appear for a rehearsal—bringing a heavier hard rock influence shaped by his Dokken experience.[12] These additions emphasized a fresh creative direction while retaining core members Ronnie James Dio on vocals and Vinny Appice on drums, ensuring continuity from earlier Dio efforts like Lock Up the Wolves.[9] The new configuration fostered a collaborative band dynamic that influenced the album's intense tone.[9]Pre-production
The pre-production phase for Strange Highways involved intensive songwriting collaboration among Ronnie James Dio, Vinny Appice, Tracy Grijalva, and Jeff Pilson, with Dio solely responsible for all lyrics and melodies. The process began with Dio, Appice, and Grijalva composing the initial two tracks before Pilson joined, after which the remaining nine songs were co-written collectively as a band effort, emphasizing fresh ideas and daily rehearsals lasting 9-10 hours over two months. This collaborative approach marked a departure from prior Dio albums, fostering a unified creative dynamic that integrated the new members' riff contributions to shape the album's foundation.[13][9] Conceptually, the album represented a shift toward darker, more progressive heavy metal themes, moving away from Dio's earlier fantasy-oriented narratives to address real-world frustrations and existential concerns inspired by personal setbacks and global uncertainties in the early 1990s. Dio expressed anger at societal issues and the modern world's disillusionments, infusing the material with black-and-white lyrical intensity to voice the unheard struggles of everyday people. This evolution was partly driven by the band's post-Black Sabbath reunion energy, as Dio and Appice sought to revitalize the project's sound following the underwhelming commercial reception of Lock Up the Wolves, which peaked lower on charts than prior releases and signaled a downturn in sales.[9][14][15] Key tracks, including the title song "Strange Highways," were developed during these demo and rehearsal sessions as metaphors for existential journeys, portraying life's cyclical paths of hope, isolation, and repeated disappointments akin to a fool's quest amid uncertainty. Dio envisioned the opener "Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost" to establish a deliberately "weird" and abstract tone, setting the stage for the album's thematic depth. These early sketches captured the band's intent to blend progressive elements with heavier, doom-laden riffs, reflecting Dio's personal reflections on career upheavals like the Sabbath reunion's collapse and industry shifts.[9][14]Recording and production
Studio sessions
The recording of Strange Highways took place at Rumbo Recorders in Los Angeles, California, beginning in mid-1993 following the band's formation with its new lineup featuring guitarist Tracy G Grijalva, bassist Jeff Pilson, and drummer Vinny Appice alongside Ronnie James Dio.[16][17] Principal sessions spanned the summer and fall of 1993, involving spontaneous jamming among the instrumentalists that was captured on Appice's tape deck to preserve a raw energy, with overdubs—including Dio's vocals—completed by October to meet the album's release schedule.[18][19]Production team
Mike Fraser served as the producer, engineer, and mixer for Strange Highways, bringing his expertise from previous collaborations with prominent hard rock acts such as AC/DC to craft a sound that balanced polish and aggression.[20][21] Assisting Fraser in engineering duties was Andy Udoff, while the album was mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound in New York.[20][22] Background vocals were provided by Ronnie James Dio and bassist Jeff Pilson, enhancing the album's vocal layers without external contributions.[23] The songwriting remained entirely in-house, with all lyrics penned by Dio and music composed by the core band members—Dio, Vinny Appice, Tracy G, and Pilson.[20] Reflecting on the collaboration, Dio described Fraser as "an absolutely incredible engineer" whose approach contributed to capturing the band's raw energy in the studio, distinguishing it from the more commercial polish of earlier Dio releases.[24]Musical style and composition
Style evolution
Strange Highways marked a significant evolution in Dio's musical style, transitioning from the melodic heavy metal of the band's 1980s albums like Holy Diver to a darker, more aggressive sound influenced by the 1990s metal landscape.[25] This shift was intentional, as Ronnie James Dio noted that the band began writing in a different manner with this album, to recapture the live intensity of their early work while adapting to contemporary trends.[26] Compared to the polished production of the preceding Lock Up the Wolves, Strange Highways adopted a denser, industrial-tinged grind that emphasized heaviness over catchiness.[4] Central to this evolution were the contributions of new guitarist Tracy G. Grijalva, whose heavier, sludgy riffs—often featuring whammy bar techniques reminiscent of Tony Iommi—infused the album with a modern edge, blending industrial aggression and grunge-era intensity suitable for the early 1990s.[27] Drummer Vinny Appice's complex, powerful playing further amplified the intensity, delivering tight grooves and crushing fills that supported the album's raw production and distinguished it from the band's pop-metal leanings of the past.[7] Song structures also grew more progressive, with extended compositions like the title track at 6:54 incorporating builds from acoustic intros to heavy climaxes, adding depth beyond the concise anthems of prior releases.[20] The album's overall tone reflected Black Sabbath-like doom elements alongside occasional thrash-inspired speed bursts, creating mid-tempo grooves that positioned Strange Highways as Dio's heaviest effort to date and a deliberate "comeback" statement amid shifting genre dynamics.[7] Vinny Appice highlighted the band's conscious push toward this heavier direction during writing and recording, drawing from evolving metal influences to reinvigorate the sound post-reunion.[28] This approach not only echoed the anger of Dio's brief Black Sabbath stint on Dehumanizer but also incorporated broader 1990s aggression, setting it apart from the more traditional heavy metal of the 1980s.[25]Lyrical themes
The lyrics of Strange Highways, primarily penned by Ronnie James Dio, revolve around the central motif of "strange highways" as a metaphor for life's unpredictable and perilous journeys, intertwining fantastical imagery with pointed observations on contemporary existence. In the title track, Dio evokes a cyclical, disorienting path akin to a "carousel" of chaos, symbolizing personal and professional upheavals in a "crazy world" that prompts escape to realms of the absurd. This theme underscores the album's departure from pure fantasy, grounding mythological wanderings in real-world disillusionment, as Dio explained in a 1994 interview: "It’s much more involved with the world that we see around us when we look out the window today as opposed to what we wanted ten centuries ago."[9] Recurring themes prominently feature religious critique, occult undertones, and quests for personal redemption, delivered through Dio's signature poetic, narrative-driven style rich in mythological allusions. Songs like "Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost" challenge faith's foundations with provocative invocations of sacred figures, striking an "abstract chord" to unsettle listeners and establish the album's unconventional tone, as Dio noted: "We wanted that song to be where it is on the album because it set the whole album up for being weird." Occult imagery permeates tracks such as "Evilution," amplifying a sense of moral ambiguity and supernatural dread, while redemption narratives emerge in introspective pleas for isolation and renewal, exemplified by lines yearning to "bury my bones on the moon" to evade societal judgment and embrace inner peace. These elements draw on archetypal myths.[9][24][29] Dio's lyrical approach on Strange Highways marks a darker evolution from earlier works like Dream Evil, favoring stark, "black and white" realism over whimsical fantasy, with wizards and magic yielding to raw frustration: "The records before that were much more fantasy oriented... where this one is pretty much black and white. This album is a very angry, frustrated black and white album because what I see in the world around me doesn’t make me a very happy person." Unique to the record is its social commentary on 1990s disillusionment, particularly in "Blood from a Stone," which confronts exploitation and inequality, serving as a platform for the voiceless: "I think that some one needs to shout out about it and I’m not trying to make sociological changes. I’m just screaming for people who don’t have a stage to scream from."[9][9]Release and promotion
Release details
Strange Highways was first released in Europe on October 25, 1993, through Vertigo Records.[30] The album's United States release followed on January 26, 1994, via Reprise Records.[30] The album was distributed in multiple formats, including CD, vinyl LP, and cassette tape, with the standard edition featuring 11 tracks.[2] Vertigo Records managed the international markets outside the US, while Reprise handled domestic distribution under the Warner Bros. umbrella.[2] Initial pressings included artwork illustrated by Wil Rees, depicting a surreal scene of a distorted highway stretching into a fantastical landscape, with art direction by Janet Levinson.[20] No commercial singles were issued from the album at launch, though promotional versions were prepared for radio and industry use.[2]Touring and marketing
The promotion of Strange Highways centered on "Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost" as a key track, which received airplay on rock radio stations and had a music video produced that aired on MTV to highlight the album's darker, more aggressive sound and Dio's theatrical performance style.[31] Promotional efforts included interviews where Ronnie James Dio emphasized the album's return to his heavy metal roots following the more experimental phases of prior releases, positioning Strange Highways as a raw, uncompromising statement of the band's identity.[9] Merchandise tied to the album's surreal highway theme, including promotional posters and T-shirts featuring the cover artwork of a demonic figure on a desolate road, was distributed to fans and sold at shows to reinforce the record's atmospheric narrative.[32] The Strange Highways World Tour launched in Europe on November 4, 1993, in Athens, Greece, before shifting to North America in May 1994, with the band playing smaller theater venues to foster intimate connections with audiences. Setlists emphasized new material from the album, including "Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost," "Strange Highways," "Pain," and "Evilution," balanced with staples like "Holy Diver," "Rainbow in the Dark," and "The Mob Rules" to blend fresh songs with Dio's catalog classics. The tour extended into 1995, comprising around 90 shows across Europe, North America, and South America and showcasing the lineup's chemistry with extended guitar solos and dramatic staging.[33][34] Amid the 1994 dominance of grunge acts like Nirvana and Pearl Jam, which shifted mainstream rock radio and media focus away from traditional heavy metal, promotion for bands like Dio faced headwinds in securing broad exposure. However, Dio's loyal fanbase, built over decades, delivered solid attendance at tour stops, sustaining the shows' energy despite the era's stylistic challenges.[35]Reception
Critical response
Upon its release in 1993, Strange Highways received mixed reviews from critics, who appreciated the band's renewed aggression but noted inconsistencies in songwriting and pacing. AllMusic's Jason Anderson awarded the album three out of five stars, commending Ronnie James Dio's enduring vocal power and Tracy G's innovative guitar contributions as a refreshing shift, while critiquing the uneven track sequencing and presence of filler material.[25] Sputnikmusic echoed this sentiment in a three-out-of-five-star assessment, describing it as overly long and inconsistent yet a relevant entry in Dio's catalog, bolstered by powerful singing and strong instrumental performances from guitarist Tracy G and bassist Jeff Pilson.[36] Reviewers frequently highlighted Dio's timeless voice and the album's return to a heavier, more aggressive sound after the polished production of Lock Up the Wolves, with Tracy G's riffing praised for injecting fresh energy into the Dio formula.[25][36] Criticisms centered on weaker tracks that felt like filler and a production that some found overly polished or lacking warmth, diluting the raw intensity.[36] In retrospective assessments from the 2010s onward, Strange Highways has been reevaluated as an underrated highlight in Dio's discography, often celebrated for its dark, doom-laden tone and heaviness. Metal Hammer described it as far superior to its initial reception implied, positioning it as a bold, atmospheric pivot in the band's evolution.[37]Commercial performance
Strange Highways achieved modest commercial success upon its release in 1994, peaking at No. 142 on the Billboard 200 chart in the United States.[38] As of 2003, the album had sold 74,000 copies in the U.S. according to Nielsen SoundScan data, reflecting a significant decline from earlier Dio releases like Holy Diver, which peaked at No. 61 and achieved platinum certification.[15][39] The album received no RIAA certifications, underscoring the broader downturn in the heavy metal market during the 1990s amid the rise of grunge and alternative rock.[15] Internationally, performance was similarly restrained. In Germany, Strange Highways peaked at No. 79 on the Offizielle Top 100 Albums Chart, entering at No. 100 and charting for 5 weeks.[40] It failed to reach the UK Top 100 Albums Chart, indicating limited traction there.[41] In Japan, the album was distributed by Mercury Records, contributing to relatively stronger regional interest compared to other markets, though specific chart data remains unavailable.[2] This marked a stark contrast to the band's commercial peaks in the 1980s, such as Sacred Heart reaching No. 10 on the Billboard 200.[15]Content and credits
Track listing
The standard edition of Strange Highways, released in 1993, features eleven tracks with a total runtime of 53:36.[2]| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost" | lyrics: Dio; music: Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 4:13 |
| 2 | "Firehead" | lyrics: Dio; music: Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 4:06 |
| 3 | "Strange Highways" | lyrics: Dio; music: Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 6:54 |
| 4 | "Hollywood Black" | lyrics: Dio; music: Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 5:10 |
| 5 | "Evilution" | lyrics: Dio; music: Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 5:37 |
| 6 | "Pain" | lyrics: Dio; music: Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 4:13 |
| 7 | "One Foot in the Grave" | lyrics: Dio; music: Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 4:01 |
| 8 | "Give Her the Gun" | lyrics: Dio; music: Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 5:58 |
| 9 | "Blood from a Stone" | lyrics: Dio; music: Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 4:14 |
| 10 | "Here's to You" | lyrics: Dio; music: Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 3:24 |
| 11 | "Bring Down the Rain" | lyrics: Dio; music: Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson | 5:45 |
Personnel
Band membersRonnie James Dio – lead vocals, keyboards [42]
Tracy Grijalva – guitars, backing vocals [5]
Jeff Pilson – bass, backing vocals [2]
Vinny Appice – drums, percussion [43] Production
Mike Fraser – producer, engineer, mixing [5]
Jeff Rogers – additional engineering [44] Additional contributions
No guest musicians appear on the album. [42] Album credits
Steve Barnett – art direction [20]
Raul Vega – photography [20]
