Strange Highways

For the collection of the same name by Dean Koontz, see Strange Highways (story collection).
Strange Highways
Studio album by Dio
Released October 25, 1993 Europe & Japan
January 26, 1994 U.S.A.
Recorded Rumbo Recorders,
Los Angeles, California
Genre Heavy metal
Length 53:36
Label Reprise (North America)
Vertigo (rest of the world)
Producer Mike Fraser
Dio chronology

Lock Up the Wolves
(1990)		 Strange Highways
(1993)		 Angry Machines
(1996)
Ronnie James Dio chronology
Dehumanizer
(1992)		 Strange Highways
(1993)		 Angry Machines
(1996)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic [1]
Entertainment Weekly (B−)[2]

Strange Highways is the sixth studio album by the 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, 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.

"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."[3]

Track listing

All lyrics written by Ronnie James Dio, music as stated.

No. TitleMusic Length
1. "Jesus, Mary & the Holy Ghost"  Dio, Grijalva, Pilson 4:13
2. "Firehead"  Appice, Dio, Grijalva and Pilson 4:06
3. "Strange Highways"  Appice, Dio, Grijalva and Pilson 6:54
4. "Hollywood Black"  Dio, Grijalva, Appice 5:10
5. "Evilution"  Appice, Dio, Grijalva and Pilson 5:37
6. "Pain"  Dio, Grijalva 4:14
7. "One Foot in the Grave"  Appice, Dio, Grijalva and Pilson 4:01
8. "Give Her the Gun"  Dio, Grijalva, Pilson 5:58
9. "Blood from a Stone"  Appice, Dio, Grijalva and Pilson 4:14
10. "Here's to You"  Appice, Dio, Grijalva and Pilson 3:24
11. "Bring Down the Rain"  Appice, Dio, Grijalva and Pilson 5:45

Charts

Album
Year Chart Position
1994 German Albums Chart[4] 79
U.S. Billboard 200[5] 142

Personnel

Dio
Production

References

  1. ↑ Anderson, Jason. "Strange Highways - Dio". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-03-18.
  2. ↑ Sinclair, Tom (1994-01-28). "Strange Highways Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-06-06.
  3. ↑ Southern Cross No.19, March 1997
  4. ↑ "Album – DIO, Strange Highways". Charts.de (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  5. ↑ "Strange Highways Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  6. ↑ Saulnier, Jason (24 March 2012). "Vinny Appice Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 6 May 2013.

External links