Strange Highways: Difference between revisions

Strange Highways
Strange Highways
Studio album by Dio
Released	October 25, 1993
Studio	Rumbo Recorders (Los Angeles)
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	53:36
Label	Vertigo
Producer	Mike Fraser
Dio chronology
Ronnie James Dio chronology

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Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal	8/10^[2]
Entertainment Weekly	B−^[3]

Strange Highways is the sixth studio album by American heavy metal band Dio. It's also their first album since Ronnie James Dio and Vinny Appice's reunion tour with Black Sabbath. The European release was on Vertigo Records, in October 1993; the U.S. release was on Reprise Records, in January 1994.

After the short-lived reunion with Black Sabbath for the recording of the album Dehumanizer (1992) and the subsequent tour, 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]

"Hollywood Black" was 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]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Ronnie James Dio.

All music is composed by Dio, Vinny Appice, Tracy Grijalva, and Jeff Pilson, except where noted.

*Strange Highways* track listing
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

Dio

Ronnie James Dio – vocals
Tracy G – guitars
Jeff Pilson – bass, keyboards
Vinny Appice – drums^[6]

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

Chart performance for *Strange Highways*
Chart (1993)	Peak position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[7]	79
US Billboard 200^[8]	142

References

^ 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.
^ Metal Rules - Jeff Pilson interview
^ Southern Cross No.19, March 1997
^ 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.

[AM-1] Anderson, Jason. "Strange Highways - Dio". AllMusic. Retrieved March 18, 2012.

[martin-2] 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.

[3] Sinclair, Tom (January 28, 1994). "Strange Highways Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on April 21, 2009. Retrieved June 6, 2012.

[4] Metal Rules - Jeff Pilson interview

[5] Southern Cross No.19, March 1997

[Music_Legends-6] Saulnier, Jason (March 24, 2012). "Vinny Appice Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved May 6, 2013.

[ac_Germany4_Dio-7] "Offiziellecharts.de – Dio – Strange Highways" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 23 February 2021.

[ac_Billboard200_Dio-8] "Dio Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 February 2021.

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[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
 {{For|the collection of the same name by Dean Koontz|Strange Highways (story collection)}}
 <!-- BEGIN WikiProject Album infobox (scroll down to edit main article text) -->
@@ Line 7: / Line 8: @@
 | cover      = DioStrangeHighways.jpg
 | alt        =
+| released   = {{start date|1993|10|25}}
-| released   = October 25, 1993 <small>(Europe & Japan)</small><br/>January 26, 1994 <small>(US/Canada)</small>
-| recorded   = Rumbo Recorders,<br/>[[Los Angeles, California]]
+| recorded   =
+| studio     = [[Rumbo Recorders]] (Los Angeles)
-| venue      =
+| genre      = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]
-| studio     =
-| genre      = [[Doom metal]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]
 | length     = 53:36
-| label      = [[Reprise Records|Reprise]] <small>(North America)</small><br> [[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]] <small>(rest of the world)</small>
+| label      = [[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]]
 | producer   = [[Mike Fraser (record producer)|Mike Fraser]]
 | prev_title = [[Lock Up the Wolves]]
@@ Line 30: / Line 30: @@
 }}
 }}
-{{Album ratings
+{{Music ratings
-| rev1      = [[AllMusic]]
+| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
-| rev1Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=strange-highways-r198045|pure_url=yes}}|title=Strange Highways - Dio|website=[[AllMusic]]|first=Jason|last=Anderson|accessdate=2012-03-18}}</ref>
+| rev1score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="AM">{{cite web|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=strange-highways-r198045|pure_url=yes}}|title=Strange Highways - Dio|website=[[AllMusic]]|first=Jason|last=Anderson|accessdate=March 18, 2012}}</ref>
-| rev2 =''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
+| rev2 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
-| rev2Score = 8/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | authorlink1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties | publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] | date = August 1, 2007 | location = [[Burlington, Ontario]], Canada | page=121 |isbn = 978-1-894959-62-9}}</ref>
+| rev2score = 8/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book | last1 = Popoff | first1 = Martin | authorlink1 = Martin Popoff | title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 3: The Nineties | publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] | date = August 1, 2007 | location = Burlington, Ontario, Canada | page=121 |isbn = 978-1-894959-62-9}}</ref>
-| rev3      = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
+| rev3 = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]''
-| rev3Score = (B−)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300917,00.html|title=Strange Highways Review|last=Sinclair|first=Tom|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=1994-01-28|accessdate=2012-06-06}}</ref>
+| rev3score = B−<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300917,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090421102123/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,300917,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 21, 2009|title=Strange Highways Review|last=Sinclair|first=Tom|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|date=January 28, 1994|accessdate=June 6, 2012}}</ref>
 | noprose = yes
 }}
-'''''Strange Highways''''' is the sixth  studio album by the [[United States|American]] [[heavy metal (music)|heavy metal]] band [[Dio (band)|Dio]]. It's also their first album since [[Ronnie James Dio]] and [[Vinny Appice]]'s reunion tour with [[Black Sabbath]]. The European release was on Vertigo, in October 1993; the U.S. release was on Reprise Records, in January 1994.
+'''''Strange Highways''''' is the sixth studio album by American [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Dio (band)|Dio]]. It's also their first album since [[Ronnie James Dio]] and [[Vinny Appice]]'s reunion tour with [[Black Sabbath]]. The European release was on [[Vertigo Records]], in October 1993; the U.S. release was on [[Reprise Records]], in January 1994.
-After the short-lived reunion with [[Black Sabbath]] for the recording of the album ''[[Dehumanizer]]'' (1992) and the subsequent tour, 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]].<ref>[http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1194 Metal Rules - Jeff Pilson interview]</ref> It is considered Dio's heaviest and darkest album.
+After the short-lived reunion with Black Sabbath for the recording of the album ''[[Dehumanizer]]'' (1992) and the subsequent tour, 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]].<ref>[http://www.metal-rules.com/zine/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=1194 Metal Rules - Jeff Pilson interview]</ref>
 "Hollywood Black" was [[demo (music)|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."<ref>''Southern Cross'' No.19, March 1997</ref>
 ==Track listing==
-All lyrics written by [[Ronnie James Dio]], music as stated.
+All lyrics written by [[Ronnie James Dio]].
 {{Track listing
-| headline = Side one
+| headline = ''Strange Highways'' track listing
+| all_music = Dio, [[Vinny Appice]], [[Tracy G]]rijalva, and [[Jeff Pilson]], except where noted.
 | title1 = Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost
-| music1 = Dio, [[Tracy G]]rijalva, [[Jeff Pilson]]
+| music1 = Dio, Grijalva, Pilson
 | length1 = 4:13
 | title2 = Firehead
+| music2 =
-| music2 = [[Vinny Appice]], Dio, Grijalva, Pilson
 | length2 = 4:06
 | title3 = Strange Highways
-| music3 = Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson
+| music3 =
 | length3 = 6:54
 | title4 = Hollywood Black
@@ Line 63: / Line 64: @@
 | length4 = 5:10
 | title5 = Evilution
-| music5 = Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson
+| music5 =
 | length5 = 5:37
-}}
-{{Track listing
-| headline = Side two
 | title6 = Pain
 | music6 = Appice, Dio, Grijalva
 | length6 = 4:14
 | title7 = One Foot in the Grave
-| music7 = Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson
+| music7 =
 | length7 = 4:01
 | title8 = Give Her the Gun
@@ Line 78: / Line 76: @@
 | length8 = 5:58
 | title9 = Blood from a Stone
-| music9 = Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson
+| music9 =
 | length9 = 4:14
 | title10 = Here's to You
-| music10 = Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson
+| music10 =
 | length10 = 3:24
 | title11 = Bring Down the Rain
-| music11 = Appice, Dio, Grijalva, Pilson
+| music11 =
 | length11 = 5:45
 }}
 ==Personnel==
-;Dio
+'''Dio'''
 *[[Ronnie James Dio]] – vocals
 *[[Tracy G]] – guitars
 *[[Jeff Pilson]] – bass, keyboards
-*[[Vinny Appice]] – drums<ref name="Music Legends">{{cite web |publisher=Music Legends| url=http://musiclegends.ca/interviews/vinny-appice-interview-black-sabbath/|title=Vinny Appice Interview| accessdate=6 May 2013|date=24 March 2012|last=Saulnier|first=Jason}}</ref>
+*[[Vinny Appice]] – drums<ref name="Music Legends">{{cite web |publisher=Music Legends| url=http://musiclegends.ca/interviews/vinny-appice-interview-black-sabbath/|title=Vinny Appice Interview| accessdate=May 6, 2013|date=March 24, 2012|last=Saulnier|first=Jason}}</ref>
-;Production
+'''Production'''
-* Recorded at Rumbo Recorders, [[Los Angeles, California]], USA
+* Recorded at [[Rumbo Recorders]], Los Angeles, California
 * Produced, engineered and mixed by [[Mike Fraser (record producer)|Mike Fraser]]
 * Assistant engineered by Andy Udoff
-* Mixed at [[Record Plant]], [[Los Angeles, California]], USA
+* Mixed at [[Record Plant]], Los Angeles, California
-* Originally mastered by George Marino at Sterling Sound, [[New York City]], USA
+* 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==
+{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
-;Album
+|+Chart performance for ''Strange Highways''
-{| class="wikitable" width="330px"
+! scope="col"| Chart (1993)
-!align="center"|Year
+! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
-!align="center"|Chart
-!align="center"|Position
 |-
+{{album chart|Germany4|79|id=30987|artist=Dio|album=  Strange Highways|rowheader=true|access-date=23 February 2021}}
-|align="center" rowspan="2"|1994
+|-
-|align="center"|German Albums Chart<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.officialcharts.de/album.asp?artist=DIO&title=Strange+Highways&country=de | title = Album – DIO, Strange Highways | accessdate = 2013-11-10 | work = Charts.de | publisher = [[Media Control Charts]] |language=German }}</ref>
+{{album chart|Billboard200|142|artist=Dio|rowheader=true|access-date=23 February 2021}}
-|align="center"|79
-|-
-|align="center"|[[Billboard 200|U.S. ''Billboard'' 200]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/strange-highways-mw0000108432/awards| title = Strange Highways Billboard Albums | accessdate = 2013-11-10 | work = [[Allmusic]] | publisher = [[Rovi Corporation]]}}</ref>
-|align="center"|142
 |}
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
-== External links ==
-*[http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/dio/strangehighways.html ''Strange Highways'' song lyrics]
 {{Dio}}

v t e Dio
Ronnie James Dio Vinny Appice Jimmy Bain Jake E. Lee Vivian Campbell Claude Schnell Craig Goldy Simon Wright Rowan Robertson Jens Johansson Scott Warren Tracy G Jeff Pilson Doug Aldrich Rudy Sarzo
Studio albums	Holy Diver The Last in Line Sacred Heart Dream Evil Lock Up the Wolves Strange Highways Angry Machines Magica Killing the Dragon Master of the Moon
Live albums	Intermission Inferno: Last in Live Evil or Divine: Live in New York City Holy Diver: Live At Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987 Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993
Compilations	Diamonds: The Best of Dio The Very Beast of Dio The Very Beast of Dio Vol. 2
Singles	"Holy Diver" "Rainbow in the Dark" "The Last in Line" "Rock 'n' Roll Children" "Hungry for Heaven" "King of Rock and Roll" "Electra"
Videos	A Special from the Spectrum Sacred Heart "The Video" Time Machine Evil or Divine: Live in New York City We Rock Holy Diver: Live Live in London, Hammersmith Apollo 1993
Related bands	Black Sabbath Elf Hear 'n Aid Heaven & Hell Last in Line Rainbow
Tribute albums	Holy Dio: Tribute to Ronnie James Dio Dio (Jorn album) Ronnie James Dio – This Is Your Life The Dio Album
Discography Members