Ronnie James Dio: Top 10 Songs

Ronnie James Dio first came into the spotlight in the late 1960's and early 1970's leading a band named Elf. Elf's debut album was co-produced by two members of Deep Purple, and they toured as an opening act for the mega band.

But it was guitarist Ritchie Blackmore who, when he split from Deep Purple in the mid-1970's and recruited Dio away from Elf to join his new project "Rainbow," jump started Dio's career.

Dio, along with Blackmore, became the driving force behind the music of Rainbow - a fantasy-themed hard rock. He left the band after their third album when Blackmore wanted to move the band in a more mainstream direction - a sound demonstrated on Rainbow's subsequent album, "Down to Earth" and the single "Since You Been Gone." Dio, for his part, replaced Ozzy Osbourne in Black Sabbath - moving that band in a completely new direction.

His stint with Sabbath was short, lasting only two studio albums, before striking out with drummer Vinny Appice to form "Dio."

His professional music career spans about 50 years - While in high school, he released a single while playing in a band called Ronnie and the Red Caps. His studio recording career begins in 1972 - 36 years - and it is from this point we will rank Dio's Top most important 10 songs.

"The Important Dio"

10. "Hungry for Heaven" (Dio) - 1985 Sacred Heart, "Vision Quest" Soundtrack

This song is the latest of the Dio tracks to make this Top 10. It is somewhat of a break from Dio's typical subject matter, designed to reach a more pop-oriented audience - even to the point of inclusion on the soundtrack to "Vision Quest," an otherwise forgettable high school movie. This is likely the sound Blackmore was looking for in Rainbow, precipitating Dio's departure.

9. "Neon Knights" (Black Sabbath) - 1980 Heaven & Hell

This song represents one of the rare occasions that Black Sabbath charted in the US, hitting #17 on Billboard's mainstream rock chart. Heaven & Hell was Sabbath's first studio album without Ozzy Osbourne.

"The Last in Line" (Dio) - 1984 The Last In Line