In a recent interview with Eon Music, Candice Night, Ritchie Blackmore’s wife, revealed the ongoing legal challenges surrounding Rainbow’s final album reissue.
“There was some strange things that went on with that album. We’re still arguing about trying to get an anniversary edition put out with the people that own the masters,” Night explained. “Unfortunately, Ritchie doesn’t own the masters on that particular one, so it kind of gets lost in the shuffle of those huge conglomerate record labels, and then you want to argue with them, and it’s $500 an hour for your lawyer to actually pick up the phone to talk to them, but we’re still working on it.”
“We’re still banging on those doors and trying to shake those trees a bit,” she continued. “I think we’re getting a little bit closer to being able to put stuff out. As far as that’s concerned, man, they have that thing locked down. I don’t know why.”
“You know, fans would love to hear that a remastered reissue. There’s some tracks that haven’t been released,” Night added. “We have all these ideas in mind, and it’s those record companies. You’ve got to deal with those record companies.”
The legal dispute exemplifies a common challenge in the music industry that particularly affects classic rock artists and their catalogs.
Guitar World reported that ‘Stranger in Us All’ marked Rainbow’s significant return in 1995 after a ten-year break. The album showcased Doogie White’s powerful vocals and Blackmore’s distinctive guitar work.
The album successfully maintained Rainbow’s classic sound while incorporating contemporary elements. Various guest musicians enhanced the project’s dynamic sound during the recording sessions.
The struggle for the album’s masters illustrates a widespread industry issue. Artists frequently lose control over their work through historical contractual agreements with major record labels. These arrangements often create complications for reissue efforts, especially for pre-digital era albums.
Veteran artists commonly face similar challenges in regaining control of their master recordings. This limitation affects their ability to release anniversary editions or special reissues of their classic works.
