The Early Years

While it wouldn't seem far-fetched to believe that Ronnie James Dio just sort of appeared from another dimension as a fully formed heavy metal god, the iconic frontman who once stood at the vanguard of bands like Black Sabbath and Rainbow had been recording music for almost 20 years before he would become a household name in heavy metal circles. Taking a look back at his time spent with Ronnie Dio & the Prophets, with whom he recorded throughout most of the '60s, The Early Years finds the singer who would eventually bring us "Holy Diver" crooning his way through early rock staples like "Love Potion #9" and "Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow." Unsurprisingly, the songs work pretty well, and while it's a bit strange hearing a voice that's distinctly Dio belting his way through some bubblegum classics, it's clear that he was always destined for success. It was just a matter of biding his time until the music could be epic enough to properly contain his full power.