Best Early Black Sabbath Album

[oh_my_hat]

For some reason over the years I have resisted buying any Black Sabbath records/CDs but have bought 3 of Ozzy Osbourne’s CD of the 80’s & early 90’s. For some reason the time feels right to dip my toes in and buy and few early Black Sabbath CDs but am unsure which to buy. I will probably get Paranoid because I am familiar with the title track and Iron Man & War Pigs (I think that is on this CD), and I will more than likely get Master of Reality.

If I was to but one or perhaps two more of the earlier Black Sabbath CD’s with the original line up which would you suggest and why?

[Darky]

The first one (self-titled) is my favourite, with Sabotage and Volume 4 on the next tier.

Master of Reality & Paranoid are both very good too, but the remainder (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Never Say Die, Technical Ecstasy) are IMHO very patchy, and quite dull apart from a couple of good tracks.

If you're unsure, get a "best of" (there are plenty about) as almost all will focus on Sabbath's Ozzy years. If you are familiar with 90s metal bands, the two Nativity In Black tribute albums are also handy, as they cover Ozzy-era Sabbath songs and most bands are fairly well known in metal circles.

[FIGJAM]

Originally posted by Darky
Master of Reality & Paranoid are both very good too, but the remainder (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Never Say Die, Technical Ecstasy) are IMHO very patchy, and quite dull apart from a couple of good tracks.
I think you are being harsh on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath! Maybe you prefer the dark grooves of the earlier stuff, but to put it simply Sabbath Bloody Sabbath rocks from top to toe!!

I'd rank Paraniod and Sabbath Bloody Sabbath as the peak albums of the band's career, with Master of Reality, Volume 4, Black Sabbath and Sabotage following after (also brilliant).

Never Say Die and Technical Ecstacy are weaker efforts and are for the hardcore fans.

So long as Ozzy is singing, these guys were and remain the premier heavy metal band of all time!

[PrincessPark]

Attention! Black Sabbath

Sleeping Village is one of my favourites, as well as N.I.B

[TheSheik]

I believe the core line-up of the band (with Ozzy out front) put out their best albums from 1970-1975.

Black Sabbath
Paranoid
Master Of Reality
Black Sabbath Vol. 4
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sabotage

Basically, you can pick any of these six albums and you will not be disappointed. For me, 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' & 'Paranoid' are the two standouts, but there are a couple of ripsnorter tracks on 'Sabotage' that are worth getting the album alone for.

Instead of putting yourself to the cost of all six albums, you might want to consider getting one of the many compilations on the market. There are two good options to consider here, 'We Sold Our Soul For Rock And Roll' which was released in 1976 but features material mainly from the first two albums. However, if you can get it, there is a 3CD box set titled "The Ozzy Osborne Years" which compiles all six albums together. The 3CD set is a good way of getting Black Sabbaths good stuff all at the one time !!

[Darky]

I know FIGJAM and some others will disagree, but I still reckon the best Sabbath album was 1980's Heaven And Hell! SLightly different sound, most fast and flowing than the 70s heavy blues riff-o-rama, but Geezer's bass sounds very ominous, and Iommi's guitar playing probably reaches its peak. And of course Ronnie James Dio on vocals to add a different sound - possibly THE greatest voice of heavy metal muisc.

[TheSheik]

Originally posted by Darky
And of course Ronnie James Dio on vocals to add a different sound - possibly THE greatest voice of heavy metal muisc.

I love Ronnie James Dio's voice but he is somewhat of a heavy metal **** having fronted Elf, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Black Sabbath & Dio among others. I reckon his best ever song is 'Love Is All' which appeared on "The Butterflys Ball", a side project co-ordinated by Deep Purple's Roger Glover and was basically a childrens album.

As far as Sabbath is concerned, after Ozzy, was there really a Black Sabbath ?? It's like AC/DC post Bon Scott, they are okay but its just not the same !!

[Darky]

Originally posted by TheSheik


I love Ronnie James Dio's voice but he is somewhat of a heavy metal **** having fronted Elf, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Black Sabbath & Dio among others. I reckon his best ever song is 'Love Is All' which appeared on "The Butterflys Ball", a side project co-ordinated by Deep Purple's Roger Glover and was basically a childrens album.

As far as Sabbath is concerned, after Ozzy, was there really a Black Sabbath ?? It's like AC/DC post Bon Scott, they are okay but its just not the same !!

Re : Dio being a metal frontman **** - fair comment I guess, but it's his reputation and vocal stature that have made him sought after I guess.

When Ronnie was playing with Elf, Blackmore wanted him on board so desperately that he let Ronnie bring his entire band along (minus guitarist becauase according to Ronnie "well, Ritchie was, y'know, pretty good"). He then recorded THE best heavy metal/hard rock album of all time (Rising) and it's excellent predecessor and successor, plus a couple of live killers.

Moved to Black Sabbath after being sought by Toni Iommi, and put out the masterly Heaven & Hell, plus Mob Rules (a very good follow-up).

Since starting solo band Dio, he's sold units and maintained a profile, although to many he has become a bit of an anachronism, still singing about goblins and wolves and stuff...

I think what this indicates is that with a good songwriter he can work very well, and Blackmore and Iommi are/were two of the best riff merchants around. Left to his own devices, or those of a lesser writer, the vocals are still strong, but the material isn't as good.

Then again, Rising and Heaven & Hell were just two albums out of the bag.

[roofus]

Originally posted by oh_my_hat
If I was to but one or perhaps two more of the earlier Black Sabbath CD’s with the original line up which would you suggest and why?

You can't go wrong with the first 3 albums.

[roofus]

Originally posted by Darky
Ronnie James Dio - possibly THE greatest voice of heavy metal muisc.

Well, having seen him fronting Rainbow when they came here, I have to agree that he's the best I've ever heard. The live Rainbow album reinforces that as well.

[roofus]

Originally posted by TheSheik
I reckon his best ever song is 'Love Is All' which appeared on "The Butterflys Ball", a side project co-ordinated by Deep Purple's Roger Glover and was basically a childrens album.

For me it was "Catch the Rainbow" from the live Rainbow album.....his use of dynamics was superb.

Regardless of the genre of music, they guy has a great voice ad finitum.

[Wally]

I'd go with:
1.Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
2.Paranoid
3.Volume 4
4.Black Sabbath

where's wally?

[Wally]

Originally posted by PrincessPark
Attention! Black Sabbath

Sleeping Village is one of my favourites, as well as N.I.B

Don't forget 'The Wizard', one of my all-time fave Sabbath tracks.

where's wally?

[Rusty Brookes]

For me it would be in order:

Master of Reality
Paranoid
Black Sabbath
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Volume 4
Sabotage

[FIGJAM]

Originally posted by Wally
Don't forget 'The Wizard', one of my all-time fave Sabbath tracks.
Same.

Bill Ward is an absolute freaken legend!!

[Defender]

Originally posted by TheSheik



As far as Sabbath is concerned, after Ozzy, was there really a Black Sabbath ?? It's like AC/DC post Bon Scott, they are okay but its just not the same !!

sorry cant agree with that Heaven and Hell is one of the best albums ever made in my opinion..

early Ozzy is its own vintage and they were pioneering thats for sure but Heaven and Hell took them to new heights..

and speaking post Ozzy and Dio I think they recorded awesome albums with Tony Martin singing than they did with any other singer...and some great albums Headless Cross, Tyr, Cross Purposes

and lets not forget Born Again with Ian Gillan which had its own strange charm as did Seventh Star with Glenn Hughes..the hughes one is a fave of mine even though i understand it was actually meant to be a Tony Iommi solo album but pressure from the label forced it to be tagged Black Sabbath

[oh_my_hat]

Thanks for the feedback everyone. Think I'll get 'em all!!

[bobbity2]

First five are classics, but I'll go for 'Paranoid' and 'Volume Four'. (Can't believe more people didn't pick it).