Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore is a hero of mine.

While I don't play guitar (the drums are my instrument), I love this guy's works.

Blackmore was a founding member of Deep Purple and Rainbow. I used to have all the Deep Purple and Rainbow albums on vinyl . . . until a little mishap. Someone borrowed my albums while I was out of the country and never returned them. Actually, I did get Rainbow's "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" back, but Deep Purple's "Machine Head" and "Rainbow Rising" and the rest have been missing since 1987. Not that I'm bitter.

But I digress.

Back in 1999, a publicist friend of mine introduced me to Blackmore's Night. The album was "Under a Violet Moon," which features Blackmore and his wife, singer Candice Night. It was their sophomore album after "Shadow of the Moon," released in 1997.

Throughout his career, Blackmore has been fascinated by music of the Middle Ages. His style contains a rich undertone of classical leads and pentatonic scales. That's just something I've always admired in Blackmore.

When I first took "Under a Violet Moon" for a spin, I could tell this is where he wanted to be. Blackmore's Night plays original medieval minstrel songs. The artists combine rock, classical and folk styles, mingled with melodies from 16th century England.

So when I caught word of the new album "Beyond the Sunset: The Romantic Collection," I latched onto it immediately.

"Beyond the Sunset" is a compilation of serenades from the previous four Blackmore Night albums. It also includes a previously unreleased track, "Once in a Million Years."

One of the highlights is the new re-recording of the title track from the 2003 album "Ghost of a Rose." There are 14 tracks. "Be Mine Tonight," "Spirit of the Sea," "Castles and Dreams and "Beyond the Sunset" are just a few of the enchanting melodies.

There's also a bonus DVD of five songs that were filmed during a European concert tour — "Written in the Stars," "Morning Star," "Play Minstrel Play," "Minstrel Hall" and "Under a Violet Moon."

Also available is a special extended version of the album, which contains an additional CD with three Christmas songs — "Emanuel," "We Three Kings" and "Christmas Eve." Each features the Blackmore take, with a Renaissance flavor.

"Beyond the Sunset" is for any Ritchie Blackmore fan.

Now I feel pressure to not only replenish my Deep Purple and Rainbow collections, but to get the other Blackmore's Night discs as well.

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com