"Hungry for Heaven" is the seventh single released by heavy metal band Dio. It was the second single from their 1985 LP Sacred Heart, although it was originally written for the movie Vision Quest, appearing both in the film and on the associated soundtrack album.

"Hungry for Heaven"
Single by Dio
from the album Sacred Heart
B-side"King of Rock and Roll" (UK)
"Hide in the Rainbow"
(re-issue)
ReleasedOctober 4, 1985[1]
May 9, 1986 (re-issue)[2]
RecordedRumbo Studios, Los Angeles, California, USA
GenrePop metal[3][4]
Length4:10
LabelVertigo
Songwriter(s)Ronnie James Dio, Jimmy Bain
Producer(s)Ronnie James Dio
Dio singles chronology
"Rock 'N' Roll Children"
(1985)
"Hungry for Heaven"
(1985)
"Dio Live"
(1985)
Alternative cover
International version

Many different versions of the single exist; the original UK release had the B-side songs "King of Rock and Roll" and a live version of "Like the Beat of a Heart". An international version, however, had live versions of the songs "Holy Diver" and "Rainbow in the Dark" on the B-side, with a different sleeve design.[5] The Australian release featured "The Last in Line" on the B-side.[6]

The single peaked at #30 on the Billboard Top Album Tracks chart. A different version of this song also made an appearance in the 1985 movie Vision Quest.

The song's main guitar riff was heavily inspired by The Who's song "Baba O'Riley".

In the music video, Ronnie James Dio makes this introduction speech: "Greetings my children, come with me now and discover the magic that lies beyond the sea of dreams, and if you have the courage to cross the rainbow bridge, you may find the Sacred Heart"

Chart performance

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Chart (1985) Peak
position
UK Singles (OCC)[7] 72
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[8] 30

References

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  1. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 12.
  2. ^ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 6.
  3. ^ Mathis, Shayne (2015-05-15). "Celebrate DIO's Legacy With This Round-up Of 12 Of His Greatest Songs". Metal Injection. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  4. ^ Little, Michael H. (2020-05-11). "Graded on a Curve: Dio, Holy Diver". The Vinyl District. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  5. ^ Tapio Keihänen. "Tapio's Ronnie James Dio Pages: Dio 12" Single Discography, May 1983-March 1986". Dio.net. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  6. ^ Tapio Keihänen. "Tapio's Ronnie James Dio Pages: Dio 7" Single Discography, May 1983-March 1986". Dio.net. Retrieved 2007-03-08.
  7. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Dio Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 16 February 2021.