Man on the Silver Mountain Bass Cover

"Man on the Silver Mountain" by Rainbow off of the album "Ritchie Blackmore's R-A-I-N-B-O-W" which came out in 1975 and featured Craig Gruber on bass and, of course, Ronnie James Dio on vocals.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but this initial lineup of Rainbow was more like Elf, but with a new guitar player, wasn't it? Speaking of being wrong, I misspoke when I mentioned that Ronnie James Dio grew up in a town near where I lived. He did grow up in the town of Cortland, but it was a different Cortland which is much further upstate. In New York, which is a fairly large state, we have a habit of referring to any town North of Manhattan as being "upstate". That could mean half an hour, or 4 and a half hours. There's a live version of this song on KZbin with Bob Daisley playing bass which is really cool. He changed the bass-line quite a bit.
I'm playing the Danelectro Longhorn bass through a SansAmp Bass Driver Ver. 2.

[@RC32Smiths01]

Rainbow has so much great basslines. Awesome work man.

[@TJH3113]

Yeah, and a lot of different bass players! And some of the greatest singers as well. Thanks!

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@TJH3113 For sure! Their consistency in great talent is not to be overlooked.

[@toneloke7489]

Danelectro Longhorn bass🤘 rocking it!!!!!

[@TJH3113]

I got it on a recommendation from Bruce Thomas and I love it.

[@RCAvhstape]

Also worth noting that Ronnie was a bass player himself, and played bass in bands when he was young.

[@TJH3113]

Yes! A lot of pics with him playing an EB3.

[@curtisphilumalee1447]

Ronnie James Dior’s voice kicks ass. Especially when he was with Rainbow. Thanks for the upload.

[@TJH3113]

Yeah, he is the quintessential voice of Hard Rock/Heavy Metal. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, Curtis!

[@bonecreatureify]

RIP Craig Gruber.. I worked with him at Kirby Vacuums. He was a recruiter. He'd appreciate the cover and recognition

[@TJH3113]

Wow! Really? Very cool! I bet he had some stories to share.

[@patrickgarrett9866]

Daisley!!!! Great job, man. I love all the ghost notes and hammers. Just killer!

[@TJH3113]

Actually, it was Elf's bass player who recorded this song. Thanks Patrick!

[@WimRijksen]

Well done Troy, thanks. Talking about Elf, they had an album produced by Roger Glover and Ian Paice of Deep Purple, and were the opening act for them, so DP's guitarist Rtichie Blackmore definitely knew them when he left DP and started Rainbow.

[@TJH3113]

Thank you, Wim. Very interesting, I did not know that.

[@mastathrash5609]

Just a good bass and a good song that’s fun to play! Love it. I’ve always wanted to get my hands on a longhorn, cause they’re just kind of weird and cool. And this one sounds excellent. Outstanding!🤘

[@TJH3113]

I think the Longhorn is an incredible bass. It really shouldn't function as well as it does. Thanks.

[@markmilner842]

Great job Troy. Yes, Rainbow was basically Elf with a different guitarist on the first album, and then Ritchie fired everyone but Ronnie before the second album. Upstate New York is beautiful, especially the parts near the Quebec border. Thanks again for sharing this. Your videos are excellent.

[@TJH3113]

Thank you, Mark. Sounds like a true Blackmore move. I'm in the Hudson Valley and have never been much further North than the Lake George/Saratoga area. I love where we are... pretty much central to everywhere - NYC, Albany, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.

[@darrenbaugh6579]

A lot of comments about the bass, but I believe the sweet sound is in the fingers. Thanks for the Dio. Amazing.

[@TJH3113]

To a certain extent you may be correct. I'm going to sound like "me", for better or worse, on whatever bass I play. That being said, every bass has its own voice and that "voice" will still come through, regardless of who is playing it. It's not that I entirely disagree with you, but I've seen the "tone is in the fingers" thing used to discourage players, as in, "You will never sound like me because my sound is in my hands." I do thank you for the compliment though and thanks for allowing me to rant a bit. Thanks again and take care, Darren!

[@basswars7060]

Thanks for another outstanding upload. Ronnie James Dio is one of the greatest singers of all time and Gruber's bass on this song really shines.

[@TJH3113]

Thanks, I'm glad you liked it.

[@mikebassgtpepper11]

I love watching your videos brother Thank You for helping me along on this journey

[@TJH3113]

Glad to hear that. It's been my pleasure.

[@costelloandsilke7321]

Rainbow on a Dano - excellent choice Troy!

[@TJH3113]

Playing this one on a short scale helped quite a bit.

[@brianpierce6877]

I not only appreciate your work on the tunes, but LOVE the recognition you give for the original bass players on your covers! Good on ya for keeping rock alive!!!

[@TJH3113]

Thanks so much, Brian. Of course, if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here! Take care!

[@wtcornet]

Another great video. Craig Gruber was a great bass player together the late Gary Driscoll they (Elf) brought the groove to Rainbow. Thanks for doing Craig's bass lines justice.

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Wade. It was my pleasure. Thank you for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@ericlagarde3807]

Awesome work! I love the sound of this bass too. And yes! Even Tuckahoe in Westchester Co. is considered “Upstate” by the “Flatlanders” 😉😄

[@TJH3113]

Thanks a lot, Eric! So you know what I’m talking about?

[@ericlagarde3807]

@@TJH3113 You bet!

[@samhelsel443]

Great timing as I just finished reading Dio's book. The little man with the huge voice. What an extraordinary life he led. Fantastic cover as usual Troy and the Danelectro is really cool. I know you get a lot of requests but if I may, check out Gates of Babylon off of Long Live Rock n Roll featuring Bob Daisley on bass. I think you will like it. Keep rocking!!!

[@TJH3113]

Very cool! Yeah, I believe he is the quintessential voice of Heavy Metal. I'll check out your suggestion, thanks for making it. Take care, Sam!

[@eugenechek7288]

Great cover, as always. 👍👏

[@TJH3113]

Thank you, Eugene.

[@my2centsiz3]

Hey , why doesnt my Bass sound like that? Oh ya, cause im playing it. Flawless as usual.

[@TJH3113]

I'm sure it sounds quite similar. Thank you.

[@joedecker8096]

Low action?

[@kuslers]

That Danolectro Longhorn does have its own special tone to it.Amazing what they do with plywood.Thanks so much for the inspiration in your playing.

[@TJH3113]

It does, doesn't it? Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment, Jonathon.

[@nurktwin8677]

Great choice for today

[@TJH3113]

I'm glad you liked it!

[@Rendclaw]

I always loved this bassline. Excellent job!

[@TJH3113]

Glad you liked it. Thanks!

[@jamespatton2975]

Great bass line Troy. I can tell you’re enjoying this one also ! Ha Ha ! You got that grin.

[@TJH3113]

It is, isn't it? Thanks for noticing, James.

[@offgridhomesteadingmcgarve1494]

I used to play this back in the day. Nice work as always. Have a fantastic day..!!

[@TJH3113]

Very cool! Thanks… You too!

[@rogercarpentier8305]

Awesome Troy!

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Roger!

[@Jon_Bass4001]

First time I’ve heard a Danelectro Longhorn bass isolated. Good punch. Great job as always on the cover! Sure do appreciate your posts. 🎸

[@TJH3113]

Yeah, it's deep, but focused. Bruce Thomas told me that most of the session work he did post Elvis was done using a Longhorn. Thanks and take care, Jon!

[@morrisj68]

Yeah! Rainbow. Beautifully done as always.

[@TJH3113]

Thank you, John.

[@dougfm415]

You’re putting on a clinic! What a killer bass line!

[@TJH3113]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@eduardolimoeiro1327]

awesome again !

[@TJH3113]

Thank you, Eduardo!

[@vmacart]

i worshipped this album in 1975. and love it still! rainbow live is great too. way cool. thanks.

[@TJH3113]

Very cool! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@marvinewilliams8281]

Nice beat Troy!!

[@TJH3113]

Thank you Marvine!!

[@image30p]

Humbling and inspiring. Very nice playing! Thank you for sharing.

[@TJH3113]

Thanks so much for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@image30p]

@@TJH3113

[@jordanjones2046]

I really like playing this song. Fun bass line.

[@TJH3113]

Awesome! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment.

[@jcwm01]

Very cool cover. Always been intrigued by the longhorn bass. Cheers!

[@TJH3113]

Thank you Johnny. I got the Longhorn on the advisement of Bruce Thomas.

[@IronBhoy]

I love that bass. 🤩👍

[@TJH3113]

It’s cool, isn’t it?

[@jonathanchevallier7046]

Good cover Troy. Thank you ;-)

[@TJH3113]

Thanks a lot Jonathan!

[@DeepakIyerp]

Sick bass tone . You nailed it 👍👍👍

[@TJH3113]

Thanks a lot!

[@lisabiamonte6575]

Outstanding as always Troy!! Thanks 4the fun fact that Dio grew up just across the River from me 🤘

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Lisa! Actually, Dio grew up in a different Cortland, NY which is a few hours north of us. I found out when I was looking up the street they named after him, "Dio Way".

[@lisabiamonte6575]

@@TJH3113 yes ur right ...I was thinking Cortland Manor....How cool they named a street after him...Thanks 😃

[@TJH3113]

@@lisabiamonte6575 the documentary said, "... the upstate NY town of Cortland..." and I assumed it was over by Peekskill. This Cortland is REALLY upstate!

[@Twobarpsi]

You really played in the groove so well here!! Those low G's had the perfect pop! 🤘 to you, and 🤘for Ron!

[@TJH3113]

Thanks a lot!

[@resin_Hd]

Excellent job on be of my fav songs ! 👍🏼👍🏼

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Kevin!!

[@BassistJayDLeep]

Great Job my friend, also been one of my fav's for bass lines!!

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Jay!

[@crazeyjoe]

Nice work, Troy! There is a street that is one block long in Cortland named in his honor "Dio Way."

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Joe! Yeah, that's how I found out it was a different Cortland, NY. I looked it up on GoogleMaps because I thought it would be cool to visit. I wonder how many of those signs have been stolen?

[@crazeyjoe]

@@TJH3113 There is a "Pantera Ave" sign out in Arizona that has been stolen numerous times.The local officials ended up placing a locking bracket on the sign to prevent it from being stolen again, With that said, I would agree that the Dio Way sign has most likely to have been stolen.

[@Tracer9GTRider8]

Unless it has some kind of crazy custom paint job I'm gonna guess you don't see many Danelectros used in metal. I could be wrong though! The tone is fantastic and you really nailed this one - those tripelets!

[@ak47dragunov]

Could be wrong but Roger Glover played one of these bad boys during his time in Rainbow as well

[@Tracer9GTRider8]

@@ak47dragunov I just did a Google search and sure enough there's a video of "Death Alley Driver" that shows him playing one, with a pick, that is a solid brown color. I guess maybe what I was trying to say is in the color scheme that looks more at home in a country & western setting 😅

[@TJH3113]

Lynn wouldn't let me get a black one.

[@TJH3113]

Yeah, it's definitely got its own look going on. I know the guy from Golden Earring played one. Thanks a lot!

[@Tracer9GTRider8]

@@TJH3113 😂

[@Hettmar]

I believe Craig Gruber is the guy who played bass on early demos for Sabbath's Heaven & Hell album when Geezer left for a while. Geezer said in one interview that he 'stole' some of the licks he heard on those demos. And Craig brought in 'Die Young', which is my favorite Dio era Sabbath track! Anyway, amazing cover again!

[@TJH3113]

Yes, I just read that. Another fellow mentioned that he worked with Craig at Electrolux! Thanks and take care!

[@pmdinaz]

One of the songs that got me into bass in the first place!

[@TJH3113]

Awesome to hear that!

[@WolverineFootballalumni]

Superb🎸🎸🎸🔥🔥🔥

[@TJH3113]

Thanks ✌️

[@rushyeskansas]

Great tone and playing my friend, this was for a long time my favorite Rainbow tune, especially the live version. Until I heard Stargaser, my alltime favorite!

[@TJH3113]

Thanks a lot! Great to hear from you. Harry is looking to do a collaboration. Hope you’re up for it!

[@rushyeskansas]

@@TJH3113 Your very welcome Troy, What Harry (Crowe?) ... what song he wants to do? I am kinda "out of the business" ;) when it comes to Collabs

[@DrFrige]

You always pick awesome songs to cover. Love your work.

[@TJH3113]

Thank you very much!

[@rodolphobradaci7902]

Amazing... please bring us "Snake charmer"! \m/

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Rodolpho... I'll check it out.

[@rodolphobradaci7902]

@@TJH3113 Thank you my friend!

[@Rockxx2422]

Great cover Troy, love the Danelectro too. Have a nice day !!

[@TJH3113]

Thank you, Hector! You too!

[@vlodpg]

IDK now I missed this one!

[@TJH3113]

I'm glad you found it!

[@TheBhunt1]

great cover of a great song

[@TJH3113]

Thanks!

[@prestonh.4436]

Great cover! I believe this my first comment on your channel but I’ve been following for a while and I have to say your covers are really really great and have inspired me. And it’s nice to see another upstate NYer playing bass on here! :) Best.

[@TJH3113]

Thank you Preston and welcome to the comments section. Thanks for the kind words!

[@АлександрЛященко-з5п]

Amazing, you couldn't have played it better

[@TJH3113]

Thanks so much.

[@myoptik3x103]

Your covers are always fantastic, but playing this one on a Danelectro Longhorn is just next level! Cheers from behind the Redwood Curtain.

[@TJH3113]

Thanks so much... it's a really cool bass.

[@THEATREofPAIN270]

Some also referred to it as The Catskills, Like heading east is The Shore. Great cover Troy. And any version of this one works for me. Nicely Done as always. 🤘

[@TJH3113]

Thanks a lot, I appreciate it!

[@RCAvhstape]

I was a huge Ronnie Dio fan. These old Rainbow tunes are so ahead of their time for 70s metal. Saw the band DIO 2 or 3 times. Was planning on seeing his Sabbath reunion {aka Heaven and Hell) and then he got sick and passed away. RIP RJD.

[@TJH3113]

Regardless of what went on between Dio and Blackmore, Dio never spoke badly of him. Rainbow was a big step up for Ronnie and he was grateful for it. I'm really happy that I got to see Black Sabbath on their "The End" tour. I'd have regretted not seeing them.

[@RCAvhstape]

@@TJH3113 He was a class act for sure.

[@kimbullock475]

Great bass line Troy..

[@TJH3113]

It is, isn’t it? Take care Kim.

[@pawlio66]

And on a Danelectro long horn short scale! X

[@TJH3113]

It made things a lot easier than it would have been on a long-scale!

[@jeanmarienoe]

Really cool ♠️

[@TJH3113]

I’m glad you liked it!

[@stokermat112]

Nice!

[@TJH3113]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@ultimatebasses]

As soon as I heard the opening notes, I thought Deep Purple. New addition to your bass harem Troy? Sounds real nice!

[@TJH3113]

Yeah, definitely has that Blackmore sound, doesn't it? Yeah, I got the bass on the advice of Bruce Thomas and I really like it. I did a Suzanne Vega cover with it where I talk a bit about it... "In Liverpool" is the song.

[@sassaraowalter5241]

Oh , Rainbow with Dio até The Best. Great Song . Craig Gruber are a fantastic Bass player Few knows this brilliant musician. And he recorded the Bass lines on Black Sabbath' Heaven and Hell álbum.

[@TJH3113]

Thank you for watching and for taking the time to comment!

[@donjohnson5653]

Thanks Troy✌👊😎

[@TJH3113]

It was my pleasure, Don

[@miketestani4918]

Awesome as usual!! Not sure if you've answered this before, but I love your backdrop and I'm wondering what the impetus for it is. Years ago when I first started watching your videos I assumed you owned a costume shop and did the videos in our spare time. Thanks and love your videos!!

[@TJH3113]

Thank you, Mike! I collect masks and other, horror related, items. Before we moved into our house, they would all be in storage until Halloween. When we built the house, instead of closets, I had them put in a display area into the room. It's just dumb luck that I wound up with one of the more recognizable backgrounds on KZbin. Take care!

[@EnergyAndLightAwakening]

Wow very cool and interesting choice. Haven't heard this one in a while. I've always been a big Rainbow & Dio fan and enjoyed many of his concerts in the 80's. Never heard a bass line refereed to as nimble before lol. This song definitely sounds more like Dio where I can't imagine him singing Since You've Been Gone lol which sounds more like a Sweet song.

[@TJH3113]

I first heard it on a Rainbow "greatest hits" CD I bought years ago and it really stuck out. Rainbow had some of the greatest voices in Rock. Never heard "nimble"... now you have! (it's the first word that popped into my head... haha) I regret not going to see Dio, some 20? years back when he played at a smallish club near me called The Chance.

[@uncleted2063]

Sounding real good Troy. I would love to hear you cover hand of doom.

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Uncle Ted. I'll check it out.

[@BenboQuest]

I've been wondering for like 8 years if you'd ever do Snake Charmer off this album, amazing busy bass line especially under the solo

[@TJH3113]

Someone else suggested that one. I'll check it out.

[@tomaszflorczuk994]

Love it. It'd be great if you could do "sixteenth century greensleves" from the same album!

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Tomasz. I'll check it out.

[@andrewcoates4952]

I’d no idea a Danelectro could sound this good

[@TJH3113]

Bruce Thomas told me so and he wasn't wrong.

[@mimoochodom2684]

Great song choice. Dan Electros have always intrigued me. They're a bit much-a-do-about-nothing but they seem to be all the rage. What do you think of them as a short scale? And what were your tone settings for this song?

[@TJH3113]

Thank you. I wasn't aware that Danelectros were ever a "rage". I think it's a great bass. I got it on the recommendation of Bruce Thomas who said he did the majority of his session work, after Elvis Costello, on one. The tone setting on the bass - always both p/u's selected and tone full up. I don't fiddle much with knobs.

[@HandOfDoom9349]

How are you liking the Dano? My wife (then girlfriend) bought me one for Xmas many, many years ago... such a unique tone, surprisingly chunky and growly but still very tight. I love it 😊

[@TJH3113]

I love it! Tight and focused and easy to EQ... just as Bruce Thomas described it.

[@shawnray2941]

Is there a bass you don't own? Great sound and a fantastic player too boot. I need to be in your line of work!

[@TJH3113]

There are plenty. Fortunately, my tastes are not terribly expensive. Thanks so much. If you want to drive an oil truck and drag a hose over hill and dale in the cold, snow, rain, heat... my place is hiring

[@tallbassguy]

Nice job on that one Troy! On the Danelectro longhorn. The production on that album wasnt great IMO, so I know hearing all the little details was not easy. Much Respect!

[@TJH3113]

Thank you very much!

[@haynerbass]

Have you done an update on your recording setup since the last one. 5 or 6 or more years ago. If not I think most of us would like to see one.

[@TJH3113]

Actually, I haven't changed a thing, though my computer is on its way out. Not bad to get 13 years out of a computer, but I'm dreading getting a replacement. I did add a small 4 channel mixer, but it has nothing to do with my sound, it's just so I can have a microphone for speaking.

[@KenDyerJr]

Cool bass. RIP Ronnie James Dio.

[@TJH3113]

It is!

[@gffrush]

Great Job Troy. Miss Dio. Any new guy with is voice?

[@TJH3113]

Thanks GianFranco! Nice to hear from you. No, there was only one Dio.

[@Armpitbush]

You are awsome

[@TJH3113]

You are very kind

[@Sittin.]

Disposable Heroes? It´s a damned good song if you think about it!

[@TJH3113]

I’ll check it out. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@NFlight]

Curious... what compressor do you use and what are the settings. Sounds Deep, Crisp and Even. :)

[@TJH3113]

I use GarageBand to generate my sound (all of my EQ comes from one preamp pedal or another), but I do use some preset compression from there. It's called "Smooth Bass". I just clicked around at the presets and thought this one sounded the best. It's pretty subtle. It stays unchanged for every video.

[@NFlight]

@@TJH3113 I picked up an iRig but can't hear a thing in GarageBand. I am going direct in with a Jim Dunlop MXR compressor. The knobs glow in the dark. lol

[@chrishouston3566]

🤘🤘

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Chris!

[@nervousfromnewfoundland-sp4337]

They're strange lookin' basses but I suddenly want one.

[@TJH3113]

Very strange, but I like it a lot.

[@4LowRocks]

"Nimble" is right ... lots of little runs in that one. Nice work.

[@TJH3113]

Truth! Thank you.

[@cbr9914]

the first rainbow record was the best. it had strut and swagger.

[@TJH3113]

Truth!

[@pensnut08]

"Correct me if I'm wrong, but this initial lineup of Rainbow was more like Elf".... Yeppers, Elf without the guitar player. I always referred to anything south of the 518 area code as "downstate" LOL

[@TJH3113]

Sounds like a Blackmore move alright. Haha... where is 518?

[@stevekahn3540]

Awesome. Your Guild would of also worked on this song, no?

[@TJH3113]

Thanks Steve. Yeah, the Guild works on just about everything, but I thought I would take it easy on my hands and play the short scale on this one.

[@offbeatbassgear]

I can do nothing with a Longhorn bass, I just can't get comfortable on one in any playing position, but its amazing what you can do with a Masonite body and a pair of lipstick tube pickups.

[@TJH3113]

I'm not sure if they are still manufactured the same way, or not. For some reason, I don't think they are.

[@vincentmorelli1013]

Bass has a nice growl. Kinda reminds me of a Ric.

[@TJH3113]

It does, doesn’t it? I think it’s a good sounding bass.

[@Bacopa68]

Dio brought the "malocchio" hand sign to metal. It's the sign against the Evil Eye from southern Italy. It's also the Hook 'em Horns here in Texas. In northern Italy it's the "mano cornudo", an insult. In Sicily the "malocchio" is a sign to ward off evil when talking about good things. Germanic cultures have "knock on wood" as a similar apotropaic gesture.

[@TJH3113]

Thanks for sharing some of the background on that gesture.

[@barryhaynes103]

Roger Glover is so overlooked as a musician …😎

[@TJH3113]

This is true, but I don't think this was Roger Glover playing. I believe it was the bass player from Dio's band "Elf" who was part of Deep Purple for this one album.

[@barryhaynes103]

@@TJH3113 Craig Gruber … for some reason I thought Roger left Deep Purple when Ritchie did but that’s not correct …

[@awenawen8585]

wo

[@TJH3113]

Thanks