THE Rock world was stunned and saddened by the death of vocalist Ronnie James Dio in May 2010. His voice was unparalleled and the bands he graced with his presence were always at the top of the tree.

To celebrate over three decades of that unique performer, Universal music have gathered together 27 of his greatest songs on a 2-CD set.

The collection starts more or less at the beginning with the band Elf and the title track from their 1974 album Carolina County Ball.

For a time, Elf was the opening act for Deep Purple and when Purple bassist Roger Glover put together his solo album The Butterfly Ball And The Grasshoppers Feast, he called upon Ronnie to supply some of the vocals and Love Is All is the best remembered song and it too has found it’s way into this collection – and a good thing too.

After leaving Elf, Ronnie joined Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow (yet another Deep Purple connection), and his voice complimented Blackmore’s trademark guitar perfectly.

Catch The Rainbow, Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll and Stargazer are amongst the eight tracks from that band. To pick just eight tracks must have been a nightmare – after all, just which ones do you leave out.

Ronnie than got the plum job in rock music.

In the late seventies, Black Sabbath sensationally sacked Ozzy Osbourne, and there was only one man who could have been his successor in that band – Ronnie James Dio.

There are half a dozen tracks from Ronnie’s first stint in Sabbath; including Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules.

After leaving them he formed his own band – Dio.

The band lasted 20 plus years beginning with Holy Diver in 1983, and from his time in his own band there are seven tracks, from the title track of that first album to One More For The Road in 2004.

He also found time to return to Black Sabbath for the Dehumaniser album and the collection Black Sabbath- The Ronnie James Dio Years, and a track from each is included.

The collection finishes with two tracks from the band Heaven And Hell. A live version of the Sabbath song Neon Knights and Bible Black from The Devil You Know.

A stunning collection, and whilst Ronnie will be missed, his legacy lives on in the history of these bands..

Catalogue Details: Universal Music.5333308 Release date: August 8th 2011.