Top 10 Ritchie Blackmore Songs

Since 14 April 1945 is Ritchie Blackmore's birthday, it would be interesting to highlight the top 10 songs he's written over the years, with Deep Purple, Rainbow, The Outlaws and the various other bands he's worked with. According to the people at Ultimate Classic Rock, here is what they consider to be the top 10 Ritchie Blackmore songs

1. Shake With Me

-1964, The Outlaws

-This song was done with one of Blackmore's early bands, The Outlaws. This was from when he was working with producer Joe Meek. As a teen, he worked with a group of fellow teens who called themselves The Outlaws and dressed in Western-type clothing. This song shows just what Blackmore would be capable of on guitar

2. Wring That Neck

-1968, Deep Purple

-Taken from the album The Book of Taliesyn, Deep Purple allowed Blackmore to really show what he could do on guitar. This song allowed Jon Lord to flex his musical muscles on the keyboard while Blackmore did the same on his guitar

3. Speed King

-1970, Deep Purple

-Featured on the 1970 album Deep Purple In Rock, whose album cover shows the members of Deep Purple in a mockup of Mount Rushmore, "Speed King" was a fast guitar song that let Blackmore tell the whole world it was he would be in charge of Deep Purple

4. Smoke on the Water

-1972, Deep Purple

-This is the most iconic Deep Purple song. Everyone knows the doomy-sounding opening riff on guitar. This song, featured on the 1972 album Machine Head, has inspired countless guitarists to try and replicate the iconic riff on their own guitars

5. Lazy (live version)

-1973, Deep Purple

-Featured on Made in Japan, this song was made at the height of Deep Purple's success. Blackmore fired his way through songs like "Child in Time", "Strange Kind of Woman", "Space Truckin'". But it was "Lazy" that helped show just how talented on guitar Ritchie is

6. Stargazer

-1976, Rainbow

-This song was from the years that Ritchie held the reins as guitarist for the band Rainbow. Featured on their 1976 album Rising, said to be one of the most successful albums of that band, "Stargazer" is described as "castle metal" due to Ritchie's infusion of classical elements with vocalist Ronnie James Dio's lyrics centering on castles, dungeons, dragons and fair maidens

7. Kill the King

-1978, Rainbow

-This song is featured on the album Long Live Rock 'n' Roll. The guitar solo Ritchie produces on this is nothing short of rapid fire fast, along with lyrics still in that medieval theme thanks to vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Overall, the song is great and the guitar solo is rapid fire fast

8. Difficult to Cure (Beethoven's Ninth) Live

-1981, Rainbow

-Blackmore spent years learning classical compositions and finally got to put them to use. Making a rock version of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. It was featured on the 1981 Rainbow album Difficult to Cure. He showed that it is possible to combine classical music with rock instruments

9. Knocking At Your Back Door

-1984, Deep Purple

-The original Mark II lineup of Deep Purple reunited to record Perfect Strangers. On that album is this track, "Knocking At Your Back Door." When it came to band reunions, the chance of Deep Purple reuniting was about as likely as the Devil ruling the world. The years of fighting between Ritchie Blackmore and Ian Gillan disappeared as the band pounded their way through "Knocking At Your Back Door." Unfortunately, the peace wouldn't last. But for the time being, the Man in Black and his former bandmates were together making music once more

10. Minstrel Hall

-1997, Blackmore's Night

-This song is from the medieval-inspired music that Blackmore is making now. Courtesy of his wife Candice, this acoustic song features track allows Blackmore to indulge his interest in classical music and Renaissance-era music