Blackmore's Night – Dancer and the Moon (2013)
A Romantic Folk-Rock Celebration of Melody & Legacy
Released on June 14, 2013 (Europe) and June 18, 2013 (USA), Dancer and the Moon is the ninth studio album by Blackmore’s Night. The album continues the duo’s signature Renaissance-inspired folk sound while incorporating more melodic rock elements and reinterpretations of classic songs.
Led by legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Candice Night, this release blends original material with creative covers — bridging Blackmore’s rock heritage and the band’s medieval-folk identity.
🌙 Album Overview
Dancer and the Moon presents a warm, melodic, and reflective atmosphere. Compared to earlier albums, it features:
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A stronger classic rock influence
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Emotional ballads
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Traditional folk reinterpretations
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Instrumental medieval dance pieces
The album was a commercial success in Europe and became one of the band’s strongest chart performers in Germany.
📀 Official Tracklist
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I Think It’s Going to Rain Today
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Troika
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The Last Leaf
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Lady in Black
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Minstrels in the Hall
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Temple of the King
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Dancer and the Moon
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Galliard
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The Ashgrove
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Somewhere Over the Sea (The Moon Is Shining)
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The Moon Is Shining (Somewhere Over the Sea) (instrumental reprise on some editions)
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Carry On… Jon (tribute track on certain editions)
(Track listings may vary by region and edition.)
🎤 Album Credits
🎶 Core Members
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Ritchie Blackmore – acoustic & electric guitars, mandola, hurdy-gurdy, percussion
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Candice Night – lead vocals, backing vocals, pennywhistle, recorder, shawm
🎻 Additional Musicians
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Bard David of Larchmont (David Baranowski) – keyboards
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Lady Madeline & Lady Nancy – harmony vocals
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Session musicians contributing strings and traditional instrumentation
🎛️ Production
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Produced by: Pat Regan
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Label: Frontiers Records
📈 Chart Performance & Sales
Dancer and the Moon achieved strong European chart success:
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🇩🇪 #7 on the German Albums Chart
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🇨🇭 Top 20 in Switzerland
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🇦🇹 Charted in Austria
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🇯🇵 Charted in Japan
The album continued the band’s consistent Top 10 presence in Germany during the 2000s and 2010s.
🎵 Notable Songs & Highlights
🌧️ “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today”
A cover of the classic song written by Randy Newman, reimagined with medieval instrumentation and Candice Night’s ethereal vocals.
🌈 “Temple of the King”
A Renaissance-style interpretation of the song originally recorded by Rainbow in 1975 — reconnecting to Blackmore’s earlier rock career.
🖤 “Lady in Black”
A folk-rock rendition of the classic track by Uriah Heep, adapted into the band’s signature acoustic medieval style.
🧠 Did You Know?
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The album includes a tribute track, “Carry On… Jon,” honoring Jon Lord, Blackmore’s former bandmate in Deep Purple.
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“The Last Leaf” was originally written by Ritchie Blackmore for Rainbow but remained unreleased in that form for decades.
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The album title reflects the romantic imagery often present in Candice Night’s lyrical themes — blending moonlit mysticism with poetic storytelling.
🎉 Fun Facts & Trivia
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“Troika” is based on a traditional Russian melody, showcasing the band’s continued exploration of international folk traditions.
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The album cover continues the duo’s tradition of romantic fantasy-inspired artwork.
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Dancer and the Moon balances Blackmore’s rock legacy with Blackmore’s Night’s medieval identity more overtly than some previous releases.
🌟 Legacy & Influence
Dancer and the Moon stands as a mature and confident release in the Blackmore’s Night catalog. It demonstrates:
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A seamless fusion of classic rock history and Renaissance folk
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Emotional depth in both original and cover material
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Strong European chart appeal
For longtime fans, the album feels like both a tribute to the past and a reaffirmation of the band’s unique musical direction.
Blackmore's Night Full Discography
