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Hi Phil, The American release, or the one I bought, did not fold out with the poem inside... and side two began with Wicked World then the Warning. Evil Woman was not included. Great review and love hearing about how you first became indoctrinated. Pat
This is BY FAR the best review of this album I have ever seen!!! I was into Hammer Horror at the time and your description of the title track mirrors my reaction exactly.....it made the hairs on my head stand up....which must have looked creepy as I had long locks at that time! It was released on the PHILIPS label here in Australia early 1970...I give the album rating!
One of the creepiest album covers ever and of course one of the greatest debuts. Reminds me a bit of Zappa's "Hot Rats" cover. I love the Ozzy years (even Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die, which I feel are underrated). Just never got into the Dio years but of course totally respect him as a singer.
Hi Larry, thank you for watching. You are right there is a similarity between this and the Hot Rats album cover. Tinting photos was all the rage back then. Phil
Did anybody recognize that the spooky girl in front of the lake has obviousley a similitary to the film figure "Miss Jessel" in the great horror movie "The innocents", which is an adaptation of the novel "The turn of the screw" by Henry James. In this film the already dead person "Miss Jessel" stands near or behind a lake and is wearing a black dress. Maybe the illustrator Keef was inspired by this film. th-cam.com/users/clipUgkxneI8UbNy0MTbN_zuU6dMSqA6bDpPqRU8?si=lLRHTVWi117VNVRT
Brilliant review and story telling! Love it! I could write reams about this album, but I’d be here all day! So just a couple of things. I have a, self made, edit of Behind The Wall Of Sleep as a ringtone, which is brilliant coz it’s so loud I never miss a call. Happy to share, if anyone wants it. When I was about 12 or 13, I was already DJing at school and the local church-run youth club and after I discovered Sabbath and got this album, I would take great delight in playing the title track, every now and then, and getting away with it because before anyone supervising realised what the first half of the track was about, it was into that fabulous guitar break and everybody would be headbanging along and then it was into my next track and nobody could undo what I already played! I was always a bit of a rebel, and getting away with it was always half the fun. 🤘😎🤘
Thank you for this personal and deep review on Black Sabbath! This record is indeed something special. I know BS fans saying this one is not yet the "real" Sabbath, it's still rooted in the blues, has harmonica on it, not so heavy etc. - This is record has so much doom and dark elements, it really started something new. In Rock by DP may be the heavier record issued some moth later, but it lacks the dark atmosphere of BS.
I would just stare at the album Cover first listen. It added a spook element to the whole thing. I was only 11 Yrs old. June 1984. 🤘When I bought the first album on cassette. Watershed moment for me in music obviously. 40 yrs later. Still resonates. Still fresh still killer.
Thanks for your reading of the poem Phil! I hadn't read it or heard it before and it made the hair on my arms stand up! Now I must immediately listen to Black Sabbath on headphones at max volume ,,\/, ,\/,,
Hi Phil, It's Halloween and a very appropriate time to praise the genius of this band. 50 yrs ago, I used to sneak into my older brothers room (he had a stereo, I didn't) and listen to Paranoid and Master of...through headphones (both on vinyl) and I was intrigued by the way the guitars sounded with all of the sounds that you mentioned, and the other tracks were captivating as well. Still to this day I love this band...never gets old..They are at the top of the "Metal/Hard Rock music chain" ....brilliant stuff !!!
Thank you for an amazing story. I first discover Black Sabbath on a mix tape from a friend of mine, someone who had the complete BS discography made that tape for him, he play it for me and I was blown away, changed my view on music, I was 14 (back in 1989) I was into AC-DC and Van Halen but BS became my favorite band right away. My friend refused to lend me the tape but, as karna goes, he forgot the tape in my house and i never return it to him... I still have that tape. Then I became obssesed with the band and did my research and managed to get my hands on all the Ozzy era CDs... Again thank you for that wonderful story. Keep them comming. Cheers.
JAZZ SABBATH LIVE Fri 11 Nov Leverkusen DE Leverkusener JazzTage Wed 16 Nov London UK PizzaExpress Jazz Club EFG London Jazz Festival support: Billy Watman Fri 18 Nov Fletching UK Trading Boundaries support: Billy Watman Sat 19 Nov Cranleigh UK Cranleigh Arts Centre support: Billy Watman Sun 20 Nov Devizes UK Corn Exchange support: Billy Watman Mon 21 Nov Cardiff UK Acapela Studio support: Billy Watman Tue 22 Nov Dartmouth UK The Flavel support: Billy Watman Thu 24 Nov Milton Keynes UK The Stables support: Billy Watman Sat 26 Nov Birmingham UK The Crescent Theatre support: Billy Watman
I first heard the album in 1985. A friend played to me. I remember loving the riff to N.I.B. and the long bluesier jams. My first Black Sabbath album was Heaven & Hell. Bought that three years later. My major introduction to the music on this album was through a cheap CD copy of We sold our souls…. Back then their CD catalogue were very shoddy. Almost like no one cared. Of course it was because of the legal wrangling. Well my first copy I bought in 1996 when the 1970-1987 albums were properly remastered by Castle/ Sanctuary. Then I have the deluxe edition witch you showed Phil. I have always loved the rawness of it. It has it’s roots in Cream and Hendrix but of course they went further. A fantastic raw debut. With a fantastic cover to sell it.
This album was my second "Hard Rock" album, the first was "Made in Japan" by Deep Purple. At that time i was in my early teens and i can remember the spooky feeling the first track gave me. At certain times i didn`t dare listen to it and i skipped it. This album is in my view a masterpiece. Hard to beat.
Great memories about discovering Black Sabbath, thanks. I enjoyed that. My first encounter with Sabbath was 'Vol 4' when I was about 13 in 1979. A friends brother had it and whilst at his house we put it on...Wow, hooked for life. My kids, now in their late 20's all love Sabbath too. It's timeless. Over 40 years later I'm still loving it.
Great review Phil and such an accurate description. I remember the day that I purchased this record in 1970. A department store in suburban Chicago's music section was playing Bassically/NIB. I never heard anything like that before, bought the record and the rest is history. Always my favorite Sabbath record. The beginning of Heavy Metal.
We might be thousands of miles apart in distance during those pre internet days. But our experiences in discovering the holy Trinity of Heavy Metal of Sabbath, Purple and Zeppelin are very similar! I discovered Sabbath in 1974 aged 11! And your detailed narration of Black Sabbath's 1970 debut is chilling and attention grabbing. You are worthy of Vincent Price and Boris Karloff ! Perhaps you should have tried a career in the movies. Thoroughly enjoyable video.
I didn’t know the name Black Sabbath until late 1991 when I was 13. I bought Faith No More’s The Real Thing and noticed “War Pigs” had Ozzy’s name in the credits so I assumed it was an Ozzy song. I bought the Just Say Ozzy EP, because it had “War Pigs” on it and a friend told me, no, that’s a Black Sabbath song and Ozzy started in that band. That name rang a bell and sure enough my Dad had Sabbath’s We Sold Our Soul for Rock ‘n’ Roll 2LP. So, I queued it up and listened and it starts with “Black Sabbath” and the rain, bells, and thunder. When the riff hit, I was an instant fan. I recognized “Paranoid” from rock radio and “Iron Man” from Timex Iron Man watch commercials. I got the first album on CD from a record club soon after along with Paranoid and Master of Reality.
Hi Brian, thank you for watching and sharing your journey to this album. That Faith No More version is epic and a great stepping stone back to Black Sabbath. Phil :)
In the late 1970s the first proper pay packet reached my pocket I took a trip to Our Price to replace my worn out secondhand Sabbath LPs and home taped copies. Walked up to the counter and requested " Black Sabbath, please" The question reply "Which one" my response "All of it". The debut album was immediately and repeatably played on return home; must have driven my Sinatra loving parents mad.
Hi Phil, thanks for this excellent review video. Your story made the review interesting. I discovered Sabbath when I was in junior high school, since there were kids who were metal heads. I became a part time metal head myself, which I say because I like diverse music genres not just hard rock and metal. I love how Tony Iommi made something great out of what could have been a tragedy and invented a new form of rock music because of his accident as a teenager. I was lucky enough to see Sabbath with the original lineup at Ozz Fest, which was a great experience.
Hi Laura, thank you for watching and sharing your introduction to Black Sabbath. There was a lot of light and shade in Sabbath and especially on this album. Metal fans forget that Black Sabbath themselves were listening to The Beatles, Jazz, Cream and the blues at the time. Phil
This album was life changing for me when a friend loaned it to me aged 14..I hope a super deluxe of this album is released with unreleased early tracks "The Rebel" and "When I Come Down "included as well as alternate takes from these sessions..Love the story about walking round school with the album cover on display..Great review, Cheers Phil
I’ve just checked my Black Sabbath album Phil. I bought it 50 years ago in Coventry. The inner record sleeve has the Vertigo design and it’s a WWA edition. Thanks for bringing details to my attention ( I’d not given any thought to them) Also I didn’t realize the witch was holding a cat. I think I was more concerned at the green tinge to her skin and it’s possible health implications 😎. Your school stories very evocative also. We’d have record days at school where the teacher allowed us to play our albums. I always thought my choice of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath was cooler than the T-Rex and Bowie kids. Now of course I love all that music from that very special era. Great show! Thank you.
I first heard paranoid and vol 4 album in 1972 when my older brother had them inspired by his friends in the top year of Senior school. The albums were absolutely fantastic. It went from there, groundhogs, led zep, deep purple. I became hooked at the tender age of 12. I had already got into the faces, the who and atomic rooster inspired by the singles chart of 71 but sabbath etc expanded my appreciation of 70s rock music. Without 70s music I don't think life would have been as fulfilled.
Hi Phil, Great Video, a truly landmark album, who'd of known we would be talking about this album 52 years on. And yes as you say, and I think I touched on this in an email to you sometime ago about Sabbath. Yes Sabbath ' Swing ' not many people bring this up when talking about Sabbath, but I've always felt this. And it down to Bill and Greezer, especially Bill's drumming, and when Bill is not behind the kit, it's just not the same. Superb that's all I can say.
Hi Raymond, thank you for watching. I agree that not enough people mention the Sabbath swing which is why I wanted to make it part of the video. I agree, I was not the same without him. Phil
Great stuff Phil, another classic review of yours. Loved it. This was one of those albums that did the rounds at school. A Vertigo copy indeed. In music class at school we were encouraged to bring in our LPs and play them on the very good system in the music room. I always remember how that Vertigo pressing just lept out of the speakers.
@@NowSpinningMagazine we had a wonderful music teacher who was very keen that we could speak about the music we loved. I guess he predated Now Spinning by about four decades 🤣 I also remember blasting out Van Halen I and II in those sessions.
I remember my first exposure to this song was one night when me and my dad were picking up my mom from work. We were waiting for her inside the car and just to kill time my dad popped in a CD with this same cover. I was aware of Black Sabbath already but never really listened to the early stuff and I’m not gonna lie, the moment the first track started playing I felt chills and it just gave me an eerie sensation I never felt with music before. Years later I still thank my dad for his love of Black Sabbath, my favorite album is gotta be “Never Say Die” to this day.
Hi, thank you for watching and sharing your journey to Black Sabbath. Also interesting to read that Never Say Die is your favourite Black Sabbath album. Phil
I was playing the CD today and well it just speaks for itself doesn’t it😅 It’ll be interesting if BMG do a Super Deluxe Boxset of this album 💿 but it’s unlikely. I’m 21 and my Dad pretty much bought a hand full of Sabbath albums on a CD format as he is into the Ozzy era. I first heard this at around 15 and hearing N.I.B for the first time was like hearing iron man for the first time, “this is the best thing ever” the title track to start it off just grabbed me and took me playing the guitar even further, behind the wall of sleep is a belter of a song, I was really interested in Ozzys vocal melody, when I heard it for the first time you just wanna listen to it again and again. I played the hell out of this album. I have the 2014 remaster. Fantastic video Phil, I’m glad you did this. All the best
The original thick vinyl pressing scratch and dent sale in the used records bin. Then was played on the wooden cabinet encased close & play with good 👍 volume + sound… zYou really hear the raw power in the guitar 🎸
I know my original has long gone so i only have it on cd. So after watching this i thought why not get a copy on record again. Im glad i checked first as i have the 2015 reissue. Close shave there Phil 😂
Thanks Phil , this was really fun. I could easily spend over an hour talking about my beginnings with Sabbath and this album in particular. I loved the detail you went into talking about this and the tracks. Wicked world was on our Canadian copies and it was years later that we ever got a chance to hear evil woman. So I grew up with this album , used to hearing wicked world opening up the second half. It took quite a while to get used to hearing my UK copy with Evil woman in its place.
Deep Purple In Rock and Black Sabbath BS came out about the same time loved them both. More than Zeppelin it to me sounded like the continuation of the Yard Birds blues based rock. The other two (DP/BS) blew my mind.
Hi Barry, thank you for watching. If I had to choose it would be 1. Deep Purple, 2. Black Sabbath, 3. Led Zeppelin. I have covered In Rock on this channel is you have not seen it? Phil
My grand-parents, bless their hearts, got me the Black Sabbath album for a birthday roundabout 1980. Not sure they exactly liked my preferred flavour of music but they didn't reject it either. Nowadays I still get a bit excited when I turn on the telly and there's a rerun of THAT episode of Midsommer Murders in which the Mapledurham Mill forms part of the background to a couple of murders and some mystery.
I discovered Black Sabbath in 1986 when I was 12 (48 now) going through my mom's albums. It was the Paranoid album, but the first Sabbath album I bought was Master of Reality. Unfortunately I don't exactly remember when I bought their first album.
Great storytelling Phil. Not sure if my vinyl copy had that wording in full or perhaps I have forgotten. My first taste of early Sabbath was the Greatest Hits lp. Ozzys voice sounded so strange at the time particularly as Dio was the current singer and the music was very different. Had to seek it all out though!
My sisters then boyfriend had it, and I first heard it 1975 - I was 14. I bought my copy from Graduate Records in Dudley. It's on the NEMS label, the inside gatefold is white and not black. I also have a USA vinyl pressing (I have this album a few times on Vinyl & CD), Evil Woman was omitted for the USA and side 2 starts with Wicked World. The track listing is also changed (to make 10 tracks for the album requirement at the time). Black Sabbath The Wizard WASP Behing The Wall of Sleep Bassically N.I.B Wicked World A Bit of Finger Sleeping Village Warning
When I first encountered this album, it wasn't my copy. I had a mate George in the next street and we used to visit each other, draw our own alien crime fighting force complete with their vehicles, uniforms, weapons, etc with our dozens of felt-tip pens, and listen to albums. It was probably 73/74. I had albums like "Sweet Fanny Adams" and I recall George had Status Quo's Dog of Two Head and - more relevantly - the Black Sabbath debut album. I don't remember much of the former, but I did like the Sabbath. An abiding memory was when I visited his house and found the house seemingly empty. The album was propped up by the record player, but there was no disc on the revolving turntable - only a single tarot card. George and his cousin (a guy with a Ziggy haircut) were attempting to play a trick on me. I replaced the tarot card with the album and started it playing. The two guys sheepishly entered a few minutes later, and we had a good laugh. I didn't buy my copy for a couple of years, but I found a secondhand copy of it and Master of Reality (both good condition) in a junk shop, so bought them. It wasn't the swirly Vertigo version like George's (I already had a couple of examples of this hypnotic label, like Fairfield Parlour) but that didn't matter. I finally had my own copy. A few years ago I did one of those 12 favourite albums things. The rules were that one could only have one album by a particular artist, but otherwise anything was allowable. Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath would still be on that list. As would Sweet Fanny Adams, incidentally...
The first Heavy/Rock album I ever heard was the Sabbath compilation We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll and had never heard anything like it. I was hooked. A bit of a shock after T Rex and The Sweet!
Your 1st copy off anything you buy the 1st time on C.D. or L. P. Is your best copy as that's the one that takes you on your journey into that band or artist and that is what keeps you spinning. Deep purple a d black sabbath have that special bit off magic thats runs though all there music.
A really GREAT! bit of incite into this classic Sabbath album Phil and it's always fascinating to know how people were introduced to the album all those years ago. My introduction to this album came from my oldest brother's bedroom back in 1972 when I was around 11 or 12. I am pretty sure my brother was working at Byrants back then and every weekend he would come home with a coup[le of albums that he had lent off a workmate to listen to. To be honest most of the stuff his mate lent him my brother was not into at all and he was more into Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Dianna Ross & The Supremes and much of the mainstream pop music back then. I actually found the albums he lent off his mate more interesting than him and it was me who would eventually end up buying them later on with my pocket money. I am pretty sure I brought the album back in 1973/74 and carried on collecting Sabbath albums as they came out up until Ozzy got fired and then I followed him instead. All those albums they did with Ozzy back then still stand the test of time today apart from the album Never Say Die which I thought was totally rubbish apart from the self-titled track of the album.
Hey Phil, great discussion on Sabbath. It’s like talking with a mate about music - (like we used to…back in the day!) I too was in awe of their “Demonism” as a 10 year old when my big brother brought this into our home. I secretly listened to it away from my parents ears and always thought I might have been mixing with evil. Funny how it’s taken most of my lifetime to realise that Sabbath are showmen too not Anti-Christs or Devil worshippers (good on them if they are!). Keep them coming!
Hi Bruce, thank you for watching and for kind words. I was like you thinking I was listening to some dark band. Actually they are all Christian’s ! I think the clue was in the song After Forever from Master of Reality - Phil
@@NowSpinningMagazine Great stuff Phil. Seeing you are in England, what about filling us Southern hemispheric people in on the days of living when Led Zeppelin were at large. As Ozzie school kids we could only dream what it would have been like over there in the Rock Heaven of England…
Great video Phil, have just discovered your Channel, and it's fantastic! Have subscribed and look forward to following you! I'm your vintage, and am as passionate as you about the wonderful Bands/albums/music that you feature! I had the same reaction to Black Sabbath in '77, as you had! 🤘😊
Brilliant album … quite literally and unbelievably… just got my vinyl copy today and the first time I’ve ever heard it … amazing debut….maybe there best album?…..
Hi Dean, thank you for watching and congratulations in getting your first copy. All their albums are special in their own way but this one is just unique. They were creating a new genre and following no one. Phil
Nowadays, after what has gone on over the years in music and other entertainment, the album seems quite tame now. At the time, it must have been shocking.
Hi Graham, thank you for watching and sharing your…. Amazing story! How did that happen? What made you buy it? When you got it home did you just file it away? Phil :)
@@NowSpinningMagazine I just brought a few vinyl and put it on my shelfs (which is in Year & Alphabetical order) and its still there. My favourite apart from Beatles is GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD CAPTAIN FANTASTIC BRAIN SALAD SURGERY WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON ALAN PARSONS PROJECT Varied selections.
Hi Phil, I wonder why my post on Louisa Livingstone the woman on the cover of Black Sabbath was taken down. I thought it might be of interest to fans as it was to me when I came across it some time ago..
I remember first hearing Iron Man when I was like 8-1Ø Years Young in Mid-7Ø’s over at a little bit Older Friends then in The 8Ø’s when I entered ‘High’ School THAT was when I got into the Heavier Stuff ,.. I quite literally got into Black Sabbath with ‘both’ ØŹŽŸ & DIO & ØŹŽŸ Solo ALL at the same Time and for about 6 Months I didn’t get the connection that ØŹŽŸ was the original Singer in Black Sabbath so THAT says A lot for ØŹŽŸ’s Solo Album ‘Blizzard Of ØŹŽ’ I also did ØŹŽŸ’s ‘Crazy Train’ for My English 2Ø Poetry Assignment,..which was right after Noon Hour 😮💨 When it started with the “I I I I I” 🎶 Well ,., 🤯 ÑøW that got Everyone’s Attention as IT was the most Wild & Heavy Song played by Anyone. Needless to say, 2 of Us ended up in Principals Office cuz We reeked of Weed !!! 😂
Hi Ligeia, yes that’s me! Well not really:) just a music fan living in Cornwall in the UK. I like the description and I do love Hammer Horror films and I am a child of the 70s. Thank you for watching! Phil
Hi Phil hope its ok to message you afew times in a day love this album but I found your channel I can relate to don't know if someone already told you but bad company the band was named after a film cowboy I think Mick loved them my late wife loved the band head of it's time I think black Sabbath
Do all the UK Vertigo 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th pressings from 1970 and maybe 71 sound the same? Or do I need to buy the "A Philips Record Product" 1st pressing to get the best sound? Is it a waste of money to get the true first pressing?
I have never been interested in 1st, 2nd, 3rd pressings. The one I own is my favourite. Others may disagree but this album was recorded in 48 hours in fairly basic equipment. It sounds raw and live, I have never heard a bad pressing. Just enjoy 😊 Phil
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Came to Sabbath in 1983 heard the classic Heaven and Hell and just worked my way back great album, great review Phil cheers
Hi Phil, The American release, or the one I bought, did not fold out with the poem inside... and side two began with Wicked World then the Warning. Evil Woman was not included. Great review and love hearing about how you first became indoctrinated. Pat
Thank you
This is BY FAR the best review of this album I have ever seen!!! I was into Hammer Horror at the time and your description of the title track mirrors my reaction exactly.....it made the hairs on my head stand up....which must have looked creepy as I had long locks at that time! It was released on the PHILIPS label here in Australia early 1970...I give the album rating!
Thank you so much - I always wonder what others will think of my random reviews and your comment makes me feel I am on the right track! Phil
One of the creepiest album covers ever and of course one of the greatest debuts. Reminds me a bit of Zappa's "Hot Rats" cover. I love the Ozzy years (even Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die, which I feel are underrated). Just never got into the Dio years but of course totally respect him as a singer.
Hi Larry, thank you for watching. You are right there is a similarity between this and the Hot Rats album cover. Tinting photos was all the rage back then. Phil
@@NowSpinningMagazine Same with Houses of the Holy by Led Zeppelin.
Did anybody recognize that the spooky girl in front of the lake has obviousley a similitary to the film figure "Miss Jessel" in the great horror movie "The innocents", which is an adaptation of the novel "The turn of the screw" by Henry James. In this film the already dead person "Miss Jessel" stands near or behind a lake and is wearing a black dress. Maybe the illustrator Keef was inspired by this film.
th-cam.com/users/clipUgkxneI8UbNy0MTbN_zuU6dMSqA6bDpPqRU8?si=lLRHTVWi117VNVRT
Happy Halloween Phil, I bought this in 1973 when I was 12. Keep up the channel and greetings from Chicago.
Hi Gregory, thank you for watching and thank you for support! Phil :)
Awesome review man! One of my all time favorites also. I've got a vertigo CD version that I've had since I was 14 also
Brilliant review and story telling! Love it!
I could write reams about this album, but I’d be here all day! So just a couple of things. I have a, self made, edit of Behind The Wall Of Sleep as a ringtone, which is brilliant coz it’s so loud I never miss a call. Happy to share, if anyone wants it. When I was about 12 or 13, I was already DJing at school and the local church-run youth club and after I discovered Sabbath and got this album, I would take great delight in playing the title track, every now and then, and getting away with it because before anyone supervising realised what the first half of the track was about, it was into that fabulous guitar break and everybody would be headbanging along and then it was into my next track and nobody could undo what I already played! I was always a bit of a rebel, and getting away with it was always half the fun.
🤘😎🤘
Thank you for this personal and deep review on Black Sabbath! This record is indeed something special. I know BS fans saying this one is not yet the "real" Sabbath, it's still rooted in the blues, has harmonica on it, not so heavy etc. - This is record has so much doom and dark elements, it really started something new. In Rock by DP may be the heavier record issued some moth later, but it lacks the dark atmosphere of BS.
I would just stare at the album
Cover first listen. It added a spook element to the whole thing. I was only 11
Yrs old. June 1984. 🤘When I bought the first album on cassette. Watershed moment for me in music obviously. 40 yrs later. Still resonates. Still fresh still killer.
the Sabbath album i return to the most.........
tons of raw power & this feeling of a great new band exploding onto the scene !
Thanks for your reading of the poem Phil! I hadn't read it or heard it before and it made the hair on my arms stand up! Now I must immediately listen to Black Sabbath on headphones at max volume ,,\/, ,\/,,
Hi Phil, It's Halloween and a very appropriate time to praise the genius of this band. 50 yrs ago, I used to sneak into my older brothers room (he had a stereo, I didn't) and listen to Paranoid and Master of...through headphones (both on vinyl) and I was intrigued by the way the guitars sounded with all of the sounds that you mentioned, and the other tracks were captivating as well. Still to this day I love this band...never gets old..They are at the top of the "Metal/Hard Rock music chain" ....brilliant stuff !!!
Hi Stan, thank you for watching and sharing your memories. Such wonderful times! Phil
Thank you for an amazing story. I first discover Black Sabbath on a mix tape from a friend of mine, someone who had the complete BS discography made that tape for him, he play it for me and I was blown away, changed my view on music, I was 14 (back in 1989) I was into AC-DC and Van Halen but BS became my favorite band right away. My friend refused to lend me the tape but, as karna goes, he forgot the tape in my house and i never return it to him... I still have that tape.
Then I became obssesed with the band and did my research and managed to get my hands on all the Ozzy era CDs...
Again thank you for that wonderful story. Keep them comming. Cheers.
Thank you - Phil
Very glad you highlighted the jazz elements in this album. Been laughed at for saying that before in a record shop. Wonderful album.
Hi David, thank you for watching and good to hear someone else recognises the ‘jazz’ aspect in early Sabbath ! Phil
@@NowSpinningMagazine Stan and Phil, and don't forget, Jazz Sabbath are touring soon, check 'em out if you can !
JAZZ SABBATH LIVE
Fri 11 Nov Leverkusen DE
Leverkusener JazzTage
Wed 16 Nov London UK
PizzaExpress Jazz Club
EFG London Jazz Festival
support: Billy Watman
Fri 18 Nov Fletching UK
Trading Boundaries
support: Billy Watman
Sat 19 Nov Cranleigh UK
Cranleigh Arts Centre
support: Billy Watman
Sun 20 Nov Devizes UK
Corn Exchange
support: Billy Watman
Mon 21 Nov Cardiff UK
Acapela Studio
support: Billy Watman
Tue 22 Nov Dartmouth UK
The Flavel
support: Billy Watman
Thu 24 Nov Milton Keynes UK
The Stables
support: Billy Watman
Sat 26 Nov Birmingham UK
The Crescent Theatre
support: Billy Watman
I first heard the album in 1985. A friend played to me. I remember loving the riff to N.I.B. and the long bluesier jams. My first Black Sabbath album was Heaven & Hell. Bought that three years later. My major introduction to the music on this album was through a cheap CD copy of We sold our souls…. Back then their CD catalogue were very shoddy. Almost like no one cared. Of course it was because of the legal wrangling. Well my first copy I bought in 1996 when the 1970-1987 albums were properly remastered by Castle/ Sanctuary. Then I have the deluxe edition witch you showed Phil. I have always loved the rawness of it. It has it’s roots in Cream and Hendrix but of course they went further. A fantastic raw debut. With a fantastic cover to sell it.
Hi Pontus, thank you for watching and sharing your story. I will be adding this to the Now Spinning website as well. Phil
This album was my second "Hard Rock" album, the first was "Made in Japan" by Deep Purple.
At that time i was in my early teens and i can remember the spooky feeling the first track gave me. At certain times i didn`t dare listen to it and i skipped it. This album is in my view a masterpiece. Hard to beat.
Hi Hakan, thank you for watching - Phil
Great memories about discovering Black Sabbath, thanks. I enjoyed that. My first encounter with Sabbath was 'Vol 4' when I was about 13 in 1979. A friends brother had it and whilst at his house we put it on...Wow, hooked for life. My kids, now in their late 20's all love Sabbath too. It's timeless. Over 40 years later I'm still loving it.
Thank you 🙏 band great to hear your kids are also carrying the Sabbath flame 🔥. Phil :)
Thank you.
I have been arguing for years that Rock music was born as much from Jazz as the Blues.
It's what those kids grew up listening to.
Great review Phil and such an accurate description. I remember the day that I purchased this record in 1970. A department store in suburban Chicago's music section was playing Bassically/NIB. I never heard anything like that before, bought the record and the rest is history. Always my favorite Sabbath record. The beginning of Heavy Metal.
We might be thousands of miles apart in distance during those pre internet days. But our experiences in discovering the holy Trinity of Heavy Metal of Sabbath, Purple and Zeppelin are very similar! I discovered Sabbath in 1974 aged 11!
And your detailed narration of Black Sabbath's 1970 debut is chilling and attention grabbing. You are worthy of Vincent Price and Boris Karloff !
Perhaps you should have tried a career in the movies. Thoroughly enjoyable video.
Hi Jegaraj, thank you for watching and sharing your story. I think this TH-cam channel is as close to the movies as I can get : Phil :)
I didn’t know the name Black Sabbath until late 1991 when I was 13. I bought Faith No More’s The Real Thing and noticed “War Pigs” had Ozzy’s name in the credits so I assumed it was an Ozzy song. I bought the Just Say Ozzy EP, because it had “War Pigs” on it and a friend told me, no, that’s a Black Sabbath song and Ozzy started in that band. That name rang a bell and sure enough my Dad had Sabbath’s We Sold Our Soul for Rock ‘n’ Roll 2LP. So, I queued it up and listened and it starts with “Black Sabbath” and the rain, bells, and thunder. When the riff hit, I was an instant fan. I recognized “Paranoid” from rock radio and “Iron Man” from Timex Iron Man watch commercials. I got the first album on CD from a record club soon after along with Paranoid and Master of Reality.
Hi Brian, thank you for watching and sharing your journey to this album. That Faith No More version is epic and a great stepping stone back to Black Sabbath. Phil :)
In the late 1970s the first proper pay packet reached my pocket I took a trip to Our Price to replace my worn out secondhand Sabbath LPs and home taped copies. Walked up to the counter and requested " Black Sabbath, please" The question reply "Which one" my response "All of it". The debut album was immediately and repeatably played on return home; must have driven my Sinatra loving parents mad.
Hi Phil, thanks for this excellent review video. Your story made the review interesting.
I discovered Sabbath when I was in junior high school, since there were kids who were metal heads. I became a part time metal head myself, which I say because I like diverse music genres not just hard rock and metal. I love how Tony Iommi made something great out of what could have been a tragedy and invented a new form of rock music because of his accident as a teenager. I was lucky enough to see Sabbath with the original lineup at Ozz Fest, which was a great experience.
Hi Laura, thank you for watching and sharing your introduction to Black Sabbath. There was a lot of light and shade in Sabbath and especially on this album. Metal fans forget that Black Sabbath themselves were listening to The Beatles, Jazz, Cream and the blues at the time. Phil
Excellent Phil. Really enjoyed that.
This album was life changing for me when a friend loaned it to me aged 14..I hope a super deluxe of this album is released with unreleased early tracks "The Rebel" and "When I Come Down "included as well as alternate takes from these sessions..Love the story about walking round school with the album cover on display..Great review, Cheers Phil
Thank you for watching, glad you enjoyed it - Phil
I’ve just checked my Black Sabbath album Phil. I bought it 50 years ago in Coventry. The inner record sleeve has the Vertigo design and it’s a WWA edition. Thanks for bringing details to my attention ( I’d not given any thought to them) Also I didn’t realize the witch was holding a cat. I think I was more concerned at the green tinge to her skin and it’s possible health implications 😎. Your school stories very evocative also. We’d have record days at school where the teacher allowed us to play our albums. I always thought my choice of Deep Purple and Black Sabbath was cooler than the T-Rex and Bowie kids. Now of course I love all that music from that very special era. Great show! Thank you.
I first heard paranoid and vol 4 album in 1972 when my older brother had them inspired by his friends in the top year of Senior school. The albums were absolutely fantastic. It went from there, groundhogs, led zep, deep purple. I became hooked at the tender age of 12. I had already got into the faces, the who and atomic rooster inspired by the singles chart of 71 but sabbath etc expanded my appreciation of 70s rock music. Without 70s music I don't think life would have been as fulfilled.
Hi, thank you for watching. You list some fabulous bands in your comment. I can see the album covers in my mind now! Fabulous memories - Phil :)
Hi Phil, Great Video, a truly landmark album, who'd of known we would be talking about this album 52 years on. And yes as you say, and I think I touched on this in an email to you sometime ago about Sabbath. Yes Sabbath ' Swing ' not many people bring this up when talking about Sabbath, but I've always felt this. And it down to Bill and Greezer, especially Bill's drumming, and when Bill is not behind the kit, it's just not the same. Superb that's all I can say.
Hi Raymond, thank you for watching. I agree that not enough people mention the Sabbath swing which is why I wanted to make it part of the video. I agree, I was not the same without him. Phil
Great stuff Phil, another classic review of yours. Loved it. This was one of those albums that did the rounds at school. A Vertigo copy indeed. In music class at school we were encouraged to bring in our LPs and play them on the very good system in the music room. I always remember how that Vertigo pressing just lept out of the speakers.
Hi Chris, thank you 🙏 Playing this in the school classroom at the time must have been surreal!
@@NowSpinningMagazine we had a wonderful music teacher who was very keen that we could speak about the music we loved. I guess he predated Now Spinning by about four decades 🤣 I also remember blasting out Van Halen I and II in those sessions.
Excellent review of one of the greatest debut albums ever, the beginning of metal!
Hi Raymond, thank you for watching and your comment - Phil :)
I remember my first exposure to this song was one night when me and my dad were picking up my mom from work. We were waiting for her inside the car and just to kill time my dad popped in a CD with this same cover. I was aware of Black Sabbath already but never really listened to the early stuff and I’m not gonna lie, the moment the first track started playing I felt chills and it just gave me an eerie sensation I never felt with music before. Years later I still thank my dad for his love of Black Sabbath, my favorite album is gotta be “Never Say Die” to this day.
Hi, thank you for watching and sharing your journey to Black Sabbath. Also interesting to read that Never Say Die is your favourite Black Sabbath album. Phil
I was playing the CD today and well it just speaks for itself doesn’t it😅
It’ll be interesting if BMG do a Super Deluxe Boxset of this album 💿 but it’s unlikely.
I’m 21 and my Dad pretty much bought a hand full of Sabbath albums on a CD format as he is into the Ozzy era.
I first heard this at around 15 and hearing N.I.B for the first time was like hearing iron man for the first time, “this is the best thing ever” the title track to start it off just grabbed me and took me playing the guitar even further, behind the wall of sleep is a belter of a song, I was really interested in Ozzys vocal melody, when I heard it for the first time you just wanna listen to it again and again. I played the hell out of this album.
I have the 2014 remaster.
Fantastic video Phil, I’m glad you did this. All the best
Hi, thank you for watching and sharing your Sabbath story! I will look at Master of Reality next. Phil
The original thick vinyl pressing scratch and dent sale in the used records bin. Then was played on the wooden cabinet encased close & play with good 👍 volume + sound… zYou really hear the raw power in the guitar 🎸
I know my original has long gone so i only have it on cd. So after watching this i thought why not get a copy on record again. Im glad i checked first as i have the 2015 reissue. Close shave there Phil 😂
Thanks Phil , this was really fun. I could easily spend over an hour talking about my beginnings with Sabbath and this album in particular. I loved the detail you went into talking about this and the tracks. Wicked world was on our Canadian copies and it was years later that we ever got a chance to hear evil woman. So I grew up with this album , used to hearing wicked world opening up the second half. It took quite a while to get used to hearing my UK copy with Evil woman in its place.
Thank you for watching, so pleased you enjoyed this! Phil
Deep Purple In Rock and Black Sabbath BS came out about the same time loved them both. More than Zeppelin it to me sounded like the continuation of the Yard Birds blues based rock. The other two (DP/BS) blew my mind.
Hi Barry, thank you for watching. If I had to choose it would be 1. Deep Purple, 2. Black Sabbath, 3. Led Zeppelin. I have covered In Rock on this channel is you have not seen it? Phil
@@NowSpinningMagazine absolutely I'm a subscriber and watch all your shows my friend. Keep up the great work thank you for an awesome channel.
My grand-parents, bless their hearts, got me the Black Sabbath album for a birthday roundabout 1980. Not sure they exactly liked my preferred flavour of music but they didn't reject it either. Nowadays I still get a bit excited when I turn on the telly and there's a rerun of THAT episode of Midsommer Murders in which the Mapledurham Mill forms part of the background to a couple of murders and some mystery.
I discovered Black Sabbath in 1986 when I was 12 (48 now) going through my mom's albums. It was the Paranoid album, but the first Sabbath album I bought was Master of Reality. Unfortunately I don't exactly remember when I bought their first album.
Hi, thank you for watching and sharing your story! You mum is very cool 😎 Phil
A great album ,the begining of many OTHERS great RECORDS
Great storytelling Phil. Not sure if my vinyl copy had that wording in full or perhaps I have forgotten. My first taste of early Sabbath was the Greatest Hits lp. Ozzys voice sounded so strange at the time particularly as Dio was the current singer and the music was very different. Had to seek it all out though!
Hi, thank you for watching. Yes, that must have been strange going back from the Dio period to Ozzy! Phil
My sisters then boyfriend had it, and I first heard it 1975 - I was 14. I bought my copy from Graduate Records in Dudley. It's on the NEMS label, the inside gatefold is white and not black.
I also have a USA vinyl pressing (I have this album a few times on Vinyl & CD), Evil Woman was omitted for the USA and side 2 starts with Wicked World.
The track listing is also changed (to make 10 tracks for the album requirement at the time).
Black Sabbath
The Wizard
WASP
Behing The Wall of Sleep
Bassically
N.I.B
Wicked World
A Bit of Finger
Sleeping Village
Warning
I have seen the film . Might be the only time Boris Karloff played a vampire .
When I first encountered this album, it wasn't my copy. I had a mate George in the next street and we used to visit each other, draw our own alien crime fighting force complete with their vehicles, uniforms, weapons, etc with our dozens of felt-tip pens, and listen to albums. It was probably 73/74. I had albums like "Sweet Fanny Adams" and I recall George had Status Quo's Dog of Two Head and - more relevantly - the Black Sabbath debut album. I don't remember much of the former, but I did like the Sabbath.
An abiding memory was when I visited his house and found the house seemingly empty. The album was propped up by the record player, but there was no disc on the revolving turntable - only a single tarot card. George and his cousin (a guy with a Ziggy haircut) were attempting to play a trick on me. I replaced the tarot card with the album and started it playing. The two guys sheepishly entered a few minutes later, and we had a good laugh.
I didn't buy my copy for a couple of years, but I found a secondhand copy of it and Master of Reality (both good condition) in a junk shop, so bought them. It wasn't the swirly Vertigo version like George's (I already had a couple of examples of this hypnotic label, like Fairfield Parlour) but that didn't matter. I finally had my own copy.
A few years ago I did one of those 12 favourite albums things. The rules were that one could only have one album by a particular artist, but otherwise anything was allowable. Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath would still be on that list. As would Sweet Fanny Adams, incidentally...
Hi Steve, thank you for watching and sharing your fantastic story. I will add this to the Now Spinning Magazine website tomorrow under my review. Phil
The first Heavy/Rock album I ever heard was the Sabbath compilation We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll and had never heard anything like it. I was hooked. A bit of a shock after T Rex and The Sweet!
Thank you for watching and sharing your musical journey. Yes that would have been a bit of a shock! Phil :)
Your 1st copy off anything you buy the 1st time on C.D. or L. P. Is your best copy as that's the one that takes you on your journey into that band or artist and that is what keeps you spinning. Deep purple a d black sabbath have that special bit off magic thats runs though all there music.
Hi Roland, thank you for watching. I love your comments! Phil :)
A really GREAT! bit of incite into this classic Sabbath album Phil and it's always fascinating to know how people were introduced to the album all those years ago. My introduction to this album came from my oldest brother's bedroom back in 1972 when I was around 11 or 12. I am pretty sure my brother was working at Byrants back then and every weekend he would come home with a coup[le of albums that he had lent off a workmate to listen to. To be honest most of the stuff his mate lent him my brother was not into at all and he was more into Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Dianna Ross & The Supremes and much of the mainstream pop music back then.
I actually found the albums he lent off his mate more interesting than him and it was me who would eventually end up buying them later on with my pocket money. I am pretty sure I brought the album back in 1973/74 and carried on collecting Sabbath albums as they came out up until Ozzy got fired and then I followed him instead. All those albums they did with Ozzy back then still stand the test of time today apart from the album Never Say Die which I thought was totally rubbish apart from the self-titled track of the album.
Hi Lee, thank you for watching and sharing your story. I felt the same way about Never Say Die and did not get a copy until a few years ago! Phil
Well spoken. Your explanations are very impressive
Thank you 🙏
Hey Phil, great discussion on Sabbath. It’s like talking with a mate about music - (like we used to…back in the day!)
I too was in awe of their “Demonism” as a 10 year old when my big brother brought this into our home. I secretly listened to it away from my parents ears and always thought I might have been mixing with evil. Funny how it’s taken most of my lifetime to realise that Sabbath are showmen too not Anti-Christs or Devil worshippers (good on them if they are!). Keep them coming!
Hi Bruce, thank you for watching and for kind words. I was like you thinking I was listening to some dark band. Actually they are all Christian’s ! I think the clue was in the song After Forever from Master of Reality - Phil
And there is another great album! What about Sabotage and Paranoid?! Demonic rock ( by Christians)!!!
@@Raypirri I have covered Paranoid and Sabotage while reviewing the box sets etc. I could do similar reaction/ musical memories type videos I guess?
@@NowSpinningMagazine Great stuff Phil. Seeing you are in England, what about filling us Southern hemispheric people in on the days of living when Led Zeppelin were at large. As Ozzie school kids we could only dream what it would have been like over there in the Rock Heaven of England…
Yes, Paul Rodgers named the band after the Jeff Bridges film Bad Company (American Western film directed by Robert Benton, released in 1972)
Thank you for watching and the additional information. Phil
I recall the head of Warner US saying "The thing about Sabbath was we never had any returns."
Excellent review!
Thank you
I know people will laugh… but this is the greatest album ever made in the heavyweight vein!! Magnificent work!!! Killer.. killer..
I believe you :) it is where it all started!
Great video Phil, have just discovered your Channel, and it's fantastic! Have subscribed and look forward to following you! I'm your vintage, and am as passionate as you about the wonderful Bands/albums/music that you feature! I had the same reaction to Black Sabbath in '77, as you had! 🤘😊
Thank you 🙏
Brilliant album … quite literally and unbelievably… just got my vinyl copy today and the first time I’ve ever heard it … amazing debut….maybe there best album?…..
Hi Dean, thank you for watching and congratulations in getting your first copy. All their albums are special in their own way but this one is just unique. They were creating a new genre and following no one. Phil
I see an Ian Gillan album in the stack to your left, awesome, love your channel
Hi David, thank you for watching and your kind words. I have covered Mr Universe by Gillan, perhaps Glory Road should be next? Phil :)
And lo heavy metal was born !!
Nowadays, after what has gone on over the years in music and other entertainment, the album seems quite tame now. At the time, it must have been shocking.
Hi. I'm gonna surprise you. I brought this album a year after its original release. And since that day. I still haven't played it. I must do soon
Hi Graham, thank you for watching and sharing your…. Amazing story! How did that happen? What made you buy it? When you got it home did you just file it away? Phil :)
@@NowSpinningMagazine I just brought a few vinyl and put it on my shelfs (which is in Year & Alphabetical order) and its still there.
My favourite apart from Beatles is
GOODBYE YELLOW BRICK ROAD
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
BRAIN SALAD SURGERY
WELCOME TO MY NIGHTMARE
DARK SIDE OF THE MOON
ALAN PARSONS PROJECT
Varied selections.
unplayed vertigo 2nd press !!! sell it - worth a couple of hundred lol
Black Sabbath movie directed by Mario bava
Contains 3 short stories
Presented by Boris karloff
Hi Jonas, thank you for the extra information! Phil
Hi Phil, I wonder why my post on Louisa Livingstone the woman on the cover of Black Sabbath was taken down. I thought it might be of interest to fans as it was to me when I came across it some time ago..
Hi Mike, wasn’t me. I’ll see it it is been held for review - Phil
I remember first hearing Iron Man when I was like 8-1Ø Years Young in Mid-7Ø’s over at a little bit Older Friends then in The 8Ø’s when I entered ‘High’ School THAT was when I got into the Heavier Stuff ,.. I quite literally got into Black Sabbath with ‘both’ ØŹŽŸ & DIO & ØŹŽŸ Solo ALL at the same Time and for about 6 Months I didn’t get the connection that ØŹŽŸ was the original Singer in Black Sabbath so THAT says A lot for ØŹŽŸ’s Solo Album ‘Blizzard Of ØŹŽ’ I also did ØŹŽŸ’s ‘Crazy Train’ for My English 2Ø Poetry Assignment,..which was right after Noon Hour 😮💨 When it started with the “I I I I I” 🎶 Well ,., 🤯 ÑøW that got Everyone’s Attention as IT was the most Wild & Heavy Song played by Anyone. Needless to say, 2 of Us ended up in Principals Office cuz We reeked of Weed !!! 😂
Whoever is this guy, he looks like some movie character of an early seventies Hammer production.
MG; VAT69; fuchsia scarf... Fear in the Night.
Hi Ligeia, yes that’s me! Well not really:) just a music fan living in Cornwall in the UK. I like the description and I do love Hammer Horror films and I am a child of the 70s. Thank you for watching! Phil
Hi Phil hope its ok to message you afew times in a day love this album but I found your channel I can relate to don't know if someone already told you but bad company the band was named after a film cowboy I think Mick loved them my late wife loved the band head of it's time I think black Sabbath
Hi Martin, thank you for watching. Sorry to hear about your wife. Take care - Phil
Hi Phil, one word. Warning. That is all. 😁
Do all the UK Vertigo 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th pressings from 1970 and maybe 71 sound the same? Or do I need to buy the "A Philips Record Product" 1st pressing to get the best sound? Is it a waste of money to get the true first pressing?
I have never been interested in 1st, 2nd, 3rd pressings. The one I own is my favourite. Others may disagree but this album was recorded in 48 hours in fairly basic equipment. It sounds raw and live, I have never heard a bad pressing. Just enjoy 😊 Phil
Hi there!
Does your Black Sabbath lp have Evil Woman or Wicked World as first track on side 2?
Hi James, no, this is a UK edition. Phil