Sacred Heart
Dio | Artist Essentials
First released: 1985 (year verified)
Original 1985 studio album recording
MusicAtlas editorial note: A dramatic selection that benefits from hearing its full length.
YouTube opens a title-and-artist search. The selected recording and date are identified below.
Release evidence and recording details
First released: 1985 (year verified)
Year precision identifies the original recording release. It does not assert a globally earliest day, and later single campaigns, remasters or live performances do not reset this year.
Recording: Original 1985 studio album recording
Credit: Dio
Role in this collection: Primary artist
Original album: Sacred Heart
A Decade of Dio - Rhino original album programs and chronology
The label explicitly gives the six original album years from 1983 through 1993 and the complete original studio programs. The 2016 box-set date and remaster suffixes are not used as first-release dates. An alternate Evil Eyes and the separate Time to Burn recording are distinguished from the original album programs. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
Ronnie James Dio - official discography by credited project
The estate's official discography separates Dio from Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath and Heaven & Hell, and gives the original years of all ten Dio studio albums. Later box sets and concert releases are separately listed. | Reviewed 2026-10-19
In the yearly lists
This selected recording is beyond the current yearly lists.
About Dio
Dio was the band led by singer Ronnie James Dio after his work with Rainbow and Black Sabbath. Drummer Vinny Appice accompanied him from Sabbath into the new group. Its debut Holy Diver arrived in 1983 and included both the title song and Rainbow in the Dark. These tracks belong to Dio's own recording catalog; the singer's earlier band affiliations do not change their credited performer to Rainbow or Black Sabbath.
Artist background sources
Dio - Rhino history of Holy Diver
Ronnie James Dio after Rainbow and Black Sabbath; new group Dio in 1983, joined by Vinny Appice. | Retrieved 2026-10-19
Dio studio albums - Rhino label release notes
Dio's 1983 debut Holy Diver includes the title song and Rainbow in the Dark. This identifies Dio the band, not Rainbow. | Retrieved 2026-10-19
Profile reviewed: 2026-10-19. Artist background does not establish a song's creative origin or release date.
Continue listening
Recommended positions express one editorial listening sequence. They are not measured quality scores.
Browse by year
1960-2025. Each year contains 150 selections.