THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

976-Rainbow-All Night Long.

1980-Number 5 single.

Best Bit-At 1.51. This song is responsible for the worst chat up line in the world ever.’Don’t know about your brain, but you look alright.’

Rainbow were formed in London, England, and Los Angeles, California, United States, in 1975, by Ritchie Blackmore, who had recently left Deep Purple, (see also best songs 550 and 89) and the four members of the American Rock band ‘Elf,’ they originally called themselves ‘Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, which was also the title of their debut studio Album released in 1975. Following the first Album Blackmore sacked the band with the exception of Ronnie James Dio, (1942-2010) and replaced them with three others including the drummer Cozy Powell (1947-1998) (see also best songs 864.) Ronnie James Dio who would go on to join Black Sabbath in 1979 (see also best songs 814) was the person responsible for inventing the ‘Heavy Metal Sign,’Sign of the Horns.’In September 2003, he accidentally severed his thumb during a gardening accident when a heavy garden gnome fell onto it. He was concerned he would no longer be able to do his signature ‘Devil’s Horns’ hand gesture, but a doctor managed to re-attach it. Dio died of stomach cancer on May 16th, 2010, at the age of 67. Rainbow remained active through until 1984, but reformed between 1993-1997, and then again from 2015, to the present day, in total there have been 29 different members come and go, with Ritchie Blackmore being the bands one constant.

Rainbow who have sold in excess of 28 million records worldwide have released eight studio Albums between 1975-1995, and 24 singles between 1975-2019, there are also 15 official live Albums, and 17 official compilation Albums available. In the UK, Rainbow have achieved seven top 40 singles, with ‘I Surrender’ from 1981 charting the highest at Number 3, while in America on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, their only top 40 entry remains ‘Stone Cold’ from 1983, which reached Number 40, although they have had four singles make the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart, with ‘Stone Cold’ reaching Number 1.

‘All Night Long’ was the second and final single released from ‘Down to Earth,’ which was the fourth studio Album from Rainbow, from August 1979. The song was written by Ritchie Blackmore, and Roger Glover, with Glover also producing, Glover had also been a member of Deep Purple, and had joined Rainbow in 1979, he stayed until 1984. ‘Down to Earth’ was a change in musical direction for Rainbow,’ whose music now had a far more commercial edge to it, the five who played on ‘All Night Long,’ and it’s parent Album were, Blackmore, (guitar) Glover, (bass) Cozy Powell, (drums) Graham Bonnet, (vocals) and Don Airey (keyboards.)

‘All Night Long’ is a song of lust, probably based on the real life experience of a ‘Rock Star’ being tempted by a beautiful young fan, who is more than willing to get to know him intimately. The song received a lot of criticism due to it’s perceived sexist lyrics, which prompted Ritchie Blackmore to say,’I think there’s a lot of women who are very boring. Everybody knows it’s all tongue in cheek, and anybody who doesn’t know that isn’t worth being talked about anyway. The whole world has always been men running after women, and the woman is the peacock going around with her feathers up, so that’s the way it will always be no matter how many people go around trying to change it.’ In September 1980 in an issue of ‘Sounds’ magazine which was a weekly Pop/Rock UK music newspaper, ‘All Night Long’ was criticised under a headline,’Sexism is no Joke,’ to which Roger Glover responded,’All Night Long was supposed to be funny.’

‘I saw you standing down by the stage, your black stockings and your see through dress. Your mouth is open but I don’t want to hear ya say goodnight. You’re sorta young but you’re over age, I don’t care cause I like your style, don’t know about your brain, but you look alright.’