Best Ronnie James Dio Songs

In memory of one of the greatest legends in metal music... 1942-2010. Here's the top 10 songs with Ronnie James Dio singing vocals.
The Top Ten
1 Stargazer - Rainbow

A Metal-Masterpiece in every sense of the word. This song combines several elements found in nearly all metal tracks to date, and even in some non-metal songs. His voice is so powerful he can level mountains. Not only the best performance in Dio's career but perhaps one of the genres' best songs ever created.

This must be the greatest song ever written by rainbow, at the time there was a whole new mood of young teenage rockers following the legendary Ritchie Blackmore following his departure from Deep Purple, this new wave rock band continued to chage it's line up from proberbly the most successful album to RJD leaving after the much awaited Long Live Rock & Roll album.

This might actually be the first list I see that makes perfect sence. I know that a lot of it is personal preference when it comes to music. But this song is amazing. It is so epic the power in Dios voice really hits you when he sings "Now where do we gooo". Every time I listen to this song I have to turn up the volume just for the epicness of this song. Stargazer is perfect.

2 Heaven and Hell - Black Sabbath

I like how the slow to fast rhythum in this, emphasises the entitlement of this song Heaven and Hell, from one to the next. It's masterfully composed, and Ron's vocals add the finishing fundamental touch.

Hard rock doesn't get any better than Heaven and Hell (song and album). Take all of RDJ and you have a top five catalog in the history music. Just flat out powerful!

When the vocals come back after the solo and smacks you in the face- it's one of the best moments in metal.

3 Holy Diver - Dio

Beautiful song. Dio does it great. I love how it starts of slowly then it start to REALLY rock. His style is absolutely incredible. When the guitar solo comes, I imagine Dio riding a tiger. Crazy good song.

1. Holy Diver - Dio
2. Stargazer - Rainbow
3. Rainbow In The Dark - Dio
4. Don't Talk To Strangers - Dio
5. Heaven And Hell - Black Sabbath (I like Dio, and I like Black Sabbath a lot, but not as much together. Still pretty good though. )

First Dio song I ever heard-- in high school on cassette in parking lot in back of friend's car during lunch august of 1983...I have never been the same since.

4 Rainbow in the Dark - Dio

Vocals, lyrics and the keyboard riff. Rainbow in the Dark is an epitome of a hard rock/heavy metal track with such obscure yet beautiful lyrics.

Maybe I'm just voting in this because of nostalgia, but the fact remains that this was the first song by Dio I ever heard, and quite frankly it still tops my list. RIP RJD m/

A beautiful song that soon will be in my arm forever!

5 Gates of Babylon - Rainbow

The best, as so many are of Dio/early Rainbow songs were
Cutting edge, and as usual, Blackmore started that style of rock, and Ronnie was the perfect fit, and he put Ronnie on the "map" to be seen...

Just listen to it and you'll understand completely why this is my choice.

Still one of the best ever made.

6 The Last in Line - Dio

Greatest "home" ever sung...NEVER gets old. Like a shot of adrenaline right in your heart. Viv and vinny at their best.

After Heaven and Hell this is the next best song!

So Good, Can't stop Listening to this song!

7 Turn Up the Night - Black Sabbath
8 A Light In the Black - Rainbow

Wow! No. 12 & 20, its moving up. Metallica exposed the song to a larger audience.

Great track from rainbow rising awesome vocals by ronnie james dio

9 Man on the Silver Mountain - Rainbow

Ritchie and Ronnie are a perfect duo for metal. Nothing comes close, not even Hetfield and Hammett.

10 Children of the Sea - Black Sabbath

Amazing song. But the first time I heard this song my big brother was playing it, and he passed away nearly fourteen years ago. That might weigh heavily on my opinion.

Great song on an epic album. Lady Evil should be here as well...

Its totally a kick ass song. love the vocals of ronnie I guess this is one of Black Sabbath's epic rock song

The Contenders
11 Don't Talk to Strangers - Dio

Ronnie James Dio is the greatest rock singer that has ever lived on the planet earth since the beginning of time... Plain and simple... And for some one to be better then him your above god... When he passed I cryed badly... I have all his cd's and movie's of him... He is a legend... If life lasts another million years how will he ever be beaten...

The vocals in this song were unbelievably beautiful. So high at the beginning, yet so powerful towards the end.

Dio at his best

12 Lock Up the Wolves - Dio

Appeared on the last dio album that went Gold in the states.

13 Love is All - Roger Glover

Great performance on this fun track. From the Butterfly Ball and the Grasshopper's Feast concept album, and later on Deep Purple's live at the royal albert hall. Was well received in the Netherlands and Australia.

14 Neon Knights - Black Sabbath

Another that I am shocked it is not here. Great song to open up Heaven and Hell, Black Sabbath's second best album, behind Paranoid of course.

Dio at his absolute best with Sabbath. Awesome tempo and it really deserves to be up there in the top ten along with We Rock and Stand Up and Shout

This one is legendary. That's all I can say.

15 Strange Highways - Dio
16 The Sign of the Southern Cross - Black Sabbath

Iommi's beautiful acoustic intro followed by a bad-ass riff and Dio's amazing voice and fantastical lyrics at their best. The dichotomy between gentle and powerful both musically and vocally make this a very special song.

"fade away, fade away, vanish into smoke, fade away, fade away, break the crystal ball" a really heavy song by black Sabbath. It's so beautiful. Deserves to be at least the second best Dio song.

17 Kill the King - Rainbow

This song was insanely fast for the 70s and it was/is one of the most influential metal songs. It was covered by many bands:
Heathen, Metallica, Candlemass, Jorn, Primal Fear, Adrenaline Mob, Liege Lord, Grave Digger, and several more.

I don't believe it is not in the top of the list... Perfect song...

18 Push - Dio
19 The Mob Rules - Black Sabbath
20 Long Live Rock 'N' Roll - Rainbow
21 Wonderworld - Elf

Great track off of the Trying To Burn The Sun release. Produced by Roger Glover who also did the Judas Priest sin after sin release.

"I'm a fire, burning higher, trying to burn the sun." Great.

22 Rainbow Eyes - Rainbow
23 Between Two Hearts - Dio

A stand out track.

24 Follow the Tears - Heaven & Hell
25 Stand Up and Shout - Dio

How the hell is this not on the list? Brilliant opener to Holy Diver!

I LOVE this song, it's one of my favorite Ronnie James Dio songs, I listen to it almost all the time.

Rock on, Ronnie, We miss you :(

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