Black Sheep Of The Family

In a 1975 radio interview with Ritchie Blackmore and Ronnie James Dio, Ritchie explained how this came to be recorded. It was suggested, he said, the song was autobiographical because he was the black sheep of the family in Deep Purple - of which he was both a founder member and the time serving lead guitarist. While he was indeed the black sheep of the band, he dismissed this explanation. He got together with Dio - who at that time was with Elf - to record it as a single, and it turned out so well they needed a B Side, but when the B-side was recorded, it turned out to be even better. This led to them recording an album, and to the formation of Rainbow.

In fact, "Black Sheep Of The Family" also known simply as "Black Sheep" was written by Steve Hammond, and was recorded originally by Quatermass. Whether or not it is autobiographical, many families have one. It was never released as a single by Rainbow, although the B Side was originally intended to be "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves." Running 3:22, it was recorded along with the rest of the album at Musicland Studios, Munich, Germany - in Blackmore's favorite country - although the concept dates to December 1974 in Tampa Bay, Florida.