Rainbow: Difficult to Cure

Rainbow – Difficult to Cure

Originally released in 1981, Difficult to Cure is Rainbow’s fifth studio album and their first with vocalist Joe Lynn Turner. It captures the band moving towards a more melodic, radio-friendly hard rock sound, pairing Ritchie Blackmore’s distinctive guitar work with polished hooks and Turner’s soulful delivery.

The album reached No. 3 on the UK Albums Chart, while I Surrender also climbed to No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart. That hit provides a compelling introduction to this era of Rainbow: an insistent melody, a powerful vocal and a chorus that stays with you long after the song ends.

Rather than abandoning the band’s hard rock roots, Difficult to Cure gives them a different focus. Blackmore’s guitar brings bite and character to the accessible arrangements, balancing precision with melodic flair. It is a natural choice for listeners drawn to the meeting point between classic British hard rock and the big hooks of early-1980s melodic rock.