Elf was really the precursor to Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow project - there's only one personnel change between Elf's last album and Rainbow's first, that of lead guitar - but it's on this record that Dio first gets to strut his stuff.

Not surprisingly, there's not a bad cut here (even though much of the production is quite rough): "Hoochie Koochie Lady" is good ol' down-home rock and roll; Dio amazes with his range in "Never More"; "Dixie Lee Junction" tempts you down to Tennessee (the town's about 15 miles southeast of Knoxville off of I75), and "Gambler, Gambler" is driving rock and roll at its best (complete with Ronnie burning up the bass, especially in the opening bars).

Uninitiated Dio fans shouldn't be put off by the album credits; though Ronald Padovana is listed as lead vocalist and on bass guitar, take a listen and find the real Ronnie James Dio in all his glory.


The Beginning of Greatness!   November 4, 2005
Mitchell Anderson (San Diego)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I have always been a fan of RJD, and I stumbled across this album via Never More...I was so blown away by the rawness and magic of the sound that I had to hear more!!! Elf puts Deep Purple to shame. I recommend this to anyone.....True Nitty Gritty Rock & Roll. The Guitar of Feinstein is rich and overwhelming at times, brilliant! Mickey Lee's Piano is the best Blues Piano I have ever heard, and compliments Dio's vocals, Driscoll's Drums and Feinsteins Guitar like a feather on a hat!

Do yourself a favor and get this CD while you still have ears to listen to it!


Genlt Giant   June 12, 2004
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Ronald Padavona from Cortland, New York........
I met him once when he was with Sabbath during Mob Rules. He played bass on this. Some of my older friends remember seeing them at the Goblet in Auburn, NY. They said that their energy was incredible. Every song is a classic. That also includes everything they released. The first Rainbow(Ritchie blackmore's Rainbow) is Elf minus David Feinstein. Feinstein went on to create David Feinstein's Thunder and The Rods. anyways, I would recommend this to a stranger. It happens to be an unknown classic.


A Dio stepping Stone   March 26, 2004
Eric Sanberg (Berwyn, IL United States)
12 out of 15 found this review helpful

I happened to catch these guys as an opening act for Uriah Heep at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago. I had no idea who they were and had no preconceptions. What I have just found out by reading these other reviews was that I was witnessing an early glimpse of Ronny James Dio. This act was OK. Not great. I liked some of the songs well enough that I went out and plopped down my $3.88 for the LP. (Am I showing my age)? Their guitarist had the (then) typical Les Paul through a Marshall stack that exemplified many of the British bands of the period. This guy (sorry...forgot his name) changed off on 3 different Les Pauls. The sad fact was that he couldn't carry the entire act. His playing wasn't explosive or wild at all. It was more measured. And since he played his les Pauls straight into his Marshall without any effects at all, he had little variance in his sound. Things just started to sound tired and the same as the set drew to a close. The drummer had a rather limited vocabulary. (which is strange, since I believe Deep Purple's drummer, Ian Paice, was their producer). And though it was nice seeing a grand piano on stage, it didn't lend enough texture to the music. What did stick out was Dio's singing. He had a powerful yet dynamic voice. When he had to sing softer passages, he didn't lose any of the emotion in his voice.

I must have been impressed enough because I bought the LP. I liked it well enough but, like the live show, I wasn't blown away. The 2 songs that stuck out on the album were the ones that stuck out in the show. Nevermore and I'm Comin' Back For You. These songs sill hold up for me, but the rest just isn't stand out enough for me. Dio went on to do some much more remarkable things with his career.


Elf - self-titled (Sony)   September 30, 2006
Mike Reed (USA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Originally released in 1972, this was Elf's first lp(produced by Roger Glover and Ian Paice). As most of you are aware of it, Elf was the band that Ronnie James Dio was in before joining up with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. This is more 'heavy blues rock' than any thing else. Somewhat inspiring tunes here are "First Avenue", "Sit Down Honey"(maybe it's just me, but this reminds me of like a rough Rod Stewart song) and "Love Me like A Woman". Do keep in mind this is VERY different in style from Dio's solo work, or his music with Rainbow or Sabbath for that matter. Might appeal to fans of Cactus,Samson,Iron Butterfly and possibly April Wine.