Well, the big box sets just keep on coming……..soon after the Wild Horses and Ian Gillan Band sets due at the end of February 2026, now Rainbow join the club with a nine CD set titled The Temple of the King 1975-1976 with a release in March 2026.
When I saw this, my initial reaction was great! A box set of the eight studio albums and a disc of assorted bonus tracks. I should have looked harder at the title instead of jumping to a conclusion.
What this box set comprises of is the band’s first two albums – yes, Rising is one of them – three live performances from the 1976 tour at dates in Germany spread out over six CDs and one CD of various rehearsals and rough mixes one of which is a “Bolivian mono mix” of Temple of the King.
I believe all the live stuff has been released previously so there’s not really much new here. Probably this is a box set for completists only?
There’s a note that this is the start of a major reissue campaign for Rainbow. I take that to mean that more box sets are planned on a drip-feed basis. If following this format, it could be a couple of studio albums at a time padded out by more live stuff perhaps.
We all know how good Rainbow were at the time don’t we during the Dio years. Particularly Rising. As a reminder, here’s Run with the Wolf:
This box set isn’t, in my opinion, value for money when compared with say the upcoming Ian Gillan Band eight disc box set of eight CDs coming in at around £35 whereas this Rainbow nine disc set I’m seeing priced at circa £65-£75.
I’ll be giving it a miss. Had it been all eight studio albums and a disc of other stuff then great – I’d have ordered. Though the first two studio albums and six discs of already “out there” live stuff for the price isn’t for me.
As I said above, it’s probably one for Rainbow completists. Or perhaps the curious. If you fall in to either category, here’s a pre-order link for Amazon:
>> RAINBOW 1975-1976 BOX SET ON AMAZON <<
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