Black Sabbath

Trupa Black Sabbath a avut o influenta extraordinar de mare asupra muzicii heavy metal in general, putand fi definita ca o adevarata forta a genului.
Grupul s-a folosit de sound-ul blues-rock de la sfarsitul anilor `60 al unor trupe precum Cream, Blue Cheer, Vanilla Fudge, impingandu-l insa catre concluzia logica – incetinirea ritmului, accentuarea bass-ului si cresterea sunetului strident al chitarei solo. La toate acestea s-au adaugat versurile caracterizate de angoasa si fantezii macabre.

Daca predecesorii lor au depasit in mod cert traditia blues, Black Sabbath a impins acea traditie intr-o noua directie, dand nastere unui stil muzical aparte ce va atrage milioane de fani zeci de ani mai tarziu.

Grupul a fost format din patru tineri prieteni din Aston, Anglia: Anthony `Tony` Iommi (n. in feb. 19, 1948), chitara – celebru pentru indemanarea sa la acest instrument in pofida faptului ca ii lipseste un deget; William `Bill` Ward (n. mai 5, 1948), tobe; John `Ozzy` Osbourne (n. dec. 3, 1948), vocalist si Terence `Geezer` Butler (n. iul 17, 1949), bass. Initial, trupa s-a numit `Polka Tulk`, apoi `Earth` - cantand in mai toata Europa. 

La inceputul lui 1969, decid sa isi schimbe din nou numele, deoarece erau confundati cu un alt grup intitulat Earth. Butler a compus un cantec inspirat dintr-o nuvela oculta a unui anumit Dennis Wheatley - `Black Sabbath` - grupul luandu-si de aici noul nume.
Pe masura ce deveneau tot mai cunoscuti pentru show-urile lor live, mai multe case de productie s-au aratat interesate de colaborari, tinerii semnand in cele din urma cu Phillips Records.

In ian. 1970 apare single-ul de debut `Evil Woman (Don’t Play Your Games With Me)` - cover dupa un hit realizat pentru Raven. Nu a intrat in topuri.
Luna urmatoare este lansat si albumul de debut (`Black Sabbath`) - mai intai in Marea Britanie, apoi in State – unde ramane in Top 40 timp de un an, vanzandu-se in peste 1 milion de copii.

Acestuia ii urmeaza destul de curand `Paranoid` (sept. 1970). Piesa cu acelasi nume aparuta ca single inaintea LP-ului a stationat o vreme in primele 5 pozitii din topul oficial al Marii Britanii, albumul ocupand pozitia a 3-a. In State, succesul celui de-al doilea material a fost si mai mare – peste 4 milioane de copii vandute, iar Black Sabbath devine un `nume`.

Urmeaza `Master of Reality`, `Black Sabbath (sept 1972) si `Sabbath Bloody Sabbath` - la care a colaborat si excelentul clapar Rick Wakeman (Yes).

Dupa mai multe dispute de ordin managerial, dar si in ce priveste schimbarea sound-ului prin introducerea unor instrumente noi (de exemplu alamuri), Ozzy Osbourne paraseste trupa in noiembrie 1977. Locul lui este luat pentru mai multe reprezentatii live de catre Dave Walker (fost component Savoy Brown). Ozzy revine insa doua luni mai tarziu.
1978 va fi anul `Never Say Die` - material ce nu va fi la fel de bine primit ca predecesoarele sale.

In 1979, Osbourne paraseste din nou trupa, fiind inlocuit de Ronnie James Dio (Rainbow). Tot in aceasta perioada claparul Geoff Nichols devine un obisnuit al grupului, cu toate ca el niciodata nu a fost inclus in mod oficial printre membrii Black Sabbath. `Heaven and Hell` (aprilie 1980) a constituit revenirea succesului comercial. Intre timp, tobosarul Bill Ward este inlocuit de Vinnie Appice pentru o scurta perioada de timp, deoarece acesta din urma va parasi Black Sabbath impreuna cu Dio in ianuarie 1983.

De altfel, componenta trupei se va schimba tot timpul, alternand aparitii ale lui Osbourne, Iommi, Nichols, Appice etc.
Aceste schimbari nu vor afecta insa in foarte mare masura succesul rockerilor. Mai mult de atat, piesa `Iron Man` le va aduce primul Grammy pentru `Cea mai buna reprezentatie Metal`.

Trupa s-a reunit in formula originala in cadrul diferitelor turnee, in februarie 2001 anuntand chiar lansarea unui nou album de studio, lucru nerealizat insa.
Ozzy Osbourne dupa ce a avut o cariera de succes in anii `80, iar la inceputul anilor `90 va infiinta un festival ce ii va purta numele (Ozzfest), va lua din nou prim-planul, devenind si mai cunoscut printr-un serial TV, inceput in primavara lui 2002.
La sfarsitul lui septembrie 2006, a fost anuntata tentativa de reunire Black Sabbath cu Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward si Ronnie James Dio in vederea sustinerii unui turneu in vara lui 2007, eveniment sortit sa promoveze discul `Black Sabbath: The Dio Years`. Cvartetul a stabilit insa sa nu se mai foloseasca de numele `Black Sabbath`, noul nume ales fiind `Heaven and Hell`.

Black Sabbath - Master of Reality (Full album 1971)

“Master of Reality” is the third studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath, released on 21 July 1971. It is widely regarded as the foundation of doom metal, stoner rock, and sludge metal. It was certified double platinum after having sold over 2 million copies. “Master of Reality” was Black Sabbath's first and only top 10 album in the US until “13”, forty-two years later.

“Master of Reality” este al treilea album de studio al trupei engleze de rock Black Sabbath, lansat pe 21 iulie 1971. A fost pe larg privit ca fundatia de la doom metal, stoner rock si sludge metal. A fost certificat cu dublu platina dupa ce a avut peste 2 milioane de copii vandute.
“Master of Reality” a fost primul si singurul album Black Sabbath intrat in top 10 in Statele Unite pana la lansarea lui “13” patruzeci de ani mai tarziu.

List of tracks

Side 1

1.       "Sweet Leaf"          5:05

2.       "After Forever"      5:27

3.       "Embryo" (Instrumental) 0:28

4.       "Children of the Grave"   5:18

Side 2

5.       "Orchid" (Instrumental)   1:31

6.       "Lord of This World"       5:27

7.       "Solitude"    5:02

8.       "Into the Void"       6:13

Personnel

Tony Iommi – guitar, synthesizer on "After Forever," flute and piano on "Solitude", acoustic guitar on "Orchid"

Geezer Butler – bass guitar

Bill Ward – drums, percussion on "Children of the Grave", sleigh bells on "Solitude"

Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals

Keef – photography, poster design

Mike Stanford – art direction

Black Sabbath la Ontario, 1974, Motor Speedway Festival

List of tracks

I. Tomorrow's Dream ( 00:00 - 02:54 )

II. Sweet Leaf ( 02:54 - 08:57 )

III. Killing Your Self To Live ( 08:57 - 15:04 )

IV. War Pigs ( 15:04 - 22:58 )

V. Snowblind ( 22:58 - 28:21 )

VI. Sabbra Cadabra ( 28:21 - 35:04 )

VII. Tony Solo ( 35:04 - 43:07 )

VIII. Bill Solo ( 43:07 - 45:45 )

IX. Supernaut ( 45:45 - 51:22 )

X. Iron Man ( 51:22 - 57:00 )

XI. Orchid / Sabbra Cadabra ( 57:00 - 01:05:18 )

XII. Paranoid ( 01:05:18 - 01:10:03 )

XIII. Embryo ( 01:10:03 - 01:11:02 )

Black Sabbath - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Full album 1973)

“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” is the fifth studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath, released in December 1973. It was produced by the band and recorded at Morgan Studios in London in September 1973.
The song "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" has been singled out for praise by many hard rock and heavy metal guitar players, with Slash from Guns N' Roses stating to Guitar World in 2008, "The outro to 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' is the heaviest shit I have ever heard in my life. To this day, I haven't heard anything as heavy that has as much soul." Brent Hinds of Mastodon agrees, telling Nick Bowcott in 2008, "The 'dreams turn to nightmares, Heaven turns to Hell' riff at the end of that song is unbeatable." Kirk Hammett of Metallica cites "Killing Yourself to Live" as his favourite Black Sabbath song, revealing in the Holiday 2008 issue of Guitar World that "A lot of people gravitate toward the album's title track, 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath', but for me this is the stand out cut on the album."

“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” este al cincilea album de studio al trupei engleze de rock Black Sabbath, lansat in decembrie 1973. A fost produs de trupa si inregistrat la studiourile Morgan din Londra in septembrie 1973.
Cantecul “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” a fost scos pe single si laudat de multi chitaristi de hard rock si heavy metal, cu Slash de la Guns N’Roses declarand pentru Guitar World in 2008:”Finalul de la ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’este cel mai greu rahat pe care l-am auzit in viata mea. Din acea zinu am mai auzit ceva atat de heavy si cu atat de mult suflet.” Brent Hinds de la Mastodon este de accord, spunandu-I lui Nick Bowcott in 2008:”Visele se transforma in cosmaruri, Raiul se transforma in Iad in acel riff de final, care face cantecul de neinvins.” Kirk Hammett de la Metallica citeaza cantecul ca fiind favoritul lui, relevand in numarul de sarbatori din 2008 al Guitar World ca “Multi oameni au gravitat in jurul piesei de titlu “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, dar pentru mine e piesa de rezistenta a albumului.”

List of tracks

All songs by Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.

Side 1

1."Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"     5:45

2."A National Acrobat"              6:16

3."Fluff" (instrumental)              4:11

4."Sabbra Cadabra"                   5:59

Side 2

5."Killing Yourself to Live"     5:41

6."Who Are You?"                  4:11

7."Looking for Today"            5:06

8."Spiral Architect"                 5:29

Personnel  

Black Sabbath

Ozzy Osbourne – vocals (all tracks except 3), synthesizer (tracks 5 and 6), handclaps (track 7)

Tony Iommi – guitars (all tracks), piano (tracks 3, 4, and 6), synthesizer (tracks 5 and 6), harpsichord (track 3), organ (track 7), flute (track 7), handclaps (track 7), bagpipes (track 8)

Geezer Butler – bass guitar (all tracks), synthesizer and mellotron (track 6), handclaps (track 7), nose flute (track 8)

Bill Ward – drums (all tracks except 3), bongos (track 1), timpani (tracks 6 and 8), handclaps (track 7)

Additional personnel

Rick Wakeman – piano and Minimoog (track 4)

Wil Malone – conductor, arranger

The Phantom Fiddlers - strings (track 8)

Black Sabbath - Vol.4 (Full album 1972)

“Vol. 4” is the fourth studio album by English rock band Black Sabbath, released in September 1972. It was the first album by Black Sabbath not produced by Rodger Bain; guitarist Tony Iommi assumed production duties. Patrick Meehan, the band's then-manager, was listed as co-producer, though his actual involvement in the album's production was minimal.

“Vol.4” este al patrulea album de studio al trupei engleze de rock Black Sabbath, lansat in septembrie 1972. A fost primul album al lui Black Sabbath care nu a fost produs de catre Rodger Bain; chitaristul Tony Iommi si-a asumat indatoririle de productie. Patrick Meehan, managerul de atunci al trupei, a fost trecut ca si co-producator, desi aportul lui la productia albumului a fost minim.

List of tracks

Side 1

1."Wheels of Confusion" 8:02

2."Tomorrow's Dream"    3:12

3."Changes"                     4:45

4."FX" (Instrumental)       1:44

5."Supernaut"                   4:50

Side 2

6."Snowblind"                                   5:33

7."Cornucopia"                                  3:55

8."Laguna Sunrise" (instrumental)   2:56

9."St. Vitus Dance"                            2:30

10"Under the Sun"                             5:53

Personnel

Black Sabbath

Tony Iommi – guitars, piano, mellotron

Geezer Butler – bass guitar, mellotron

Bill Ward – drums, percussion

Ozzy Osbourne – vocals

Additional

Colin Caldwell, Vic Smith – engineering

Patrick Meehan – production

Black Sabbath - Iron Man

"Iron Man" is a song written and performed by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released on their 1970 album “Paranoid”. The lyrics tell the story of a man who time travels into the future and sees the apocalypse. In the process of returning to the present, he is turned into steel by a magnetic storm. He is rendered mute, unable verbally to warn people of his vision of impending destruction. His attempts to communicate are ignored and mocked. This causes Iron Man to become furious, and drives his revenge on mankind, causing the apocalypse seen in his vision.
Upon hearing the main guitar riff for the first time, vocalist Ozzy Osbourne remarked that it sounded "like a big iron bloke walking about". The title became "Iron Man", with Geezer Butler writing the lyrics around the title. Osbourne sang behind a metal fan to get the sound effect in its first line, 'I am Iron Man!'. Despite the title, the song has no connection to the Marvel Comics character of the same name, although it was used in the end credits of the 2008 movie Iron Man, and the trailer for the 2010 sequel, Iron Man 2; the superhero also wears a Black Sabbath T-Shirt during the events of The Avengers.The song was also used in Monster Jam for the Iron Man truck's theme.

“Iron Man” este un cantec scris si interpretat de trupa engleza de heavy metal Black Sabbath, lansat pe albumul lor din 1970 “Paranoid”. Versurile spun povestea unui om care calatoreste in timp in viitor si vede Apocalipsa. In procesul reintoarcerii in prezent el se transforma in otel datorita unei furtuni magnetice. Devine mut, incapabil de a vorbi si a avertiza oamenii de viziunea sa despre iminenta distrugere. Incercarile lui de a comunica sunt ignorate si luate in ras. Aceasta face ca Iron Man sa devina furios si conduce la razbunarea lui pe omenire, cauzand Apocalipsa vazuta de el in viziunea sa.
Dupa ce a auzit prima data riff-ul de chitara, vocalistul Ozzy Osbourne a remarcat ca suna  “asemenea mersului unui individ de fier”. Titlul a devenit “Iron Man” (omul de fier), cu Geezer Butler scriind versurile. Osbourne a cantat in spatele unui fan metalist pentru a obtine efectul sonor in primul rand, “Eu sunt omul de fier!”. In ciuda titlului, cantecul nu are nici o legatura cu personajul din Marvel Comics cu acelasi nume, desi a fost folosit in filmul din 2008 Iron Man si in trailer-ul pentru seria din 2010 Iron Man 2; supereroul poarta de asemenea un tricou Black Sabbath in timpul evenimentelor din filmul “The Avengers”. Cantecul a fost folosit si in Monster Jam pentru tema camionului lui Iron Man.

Black Sabbath - Paranoid (Full album 1970)

“Paranoid” is the second studio album by the English rock band Black Sabbath. Released in September 1970, it was the band's only LP to top the UK Albums Chart until the release of 13 in 2013. Paranoid contains several of the band's signature songs, including "Iron Man", "War Pigs" and the title track, which was the band's only Top 20 hit, reaching number 4 in the UK charts. It is often cited as an influential album in the development of heavy metal music.

“Paranoid” este al doilea album de studio al trupei engleze de rock Black Sabbath. Lansat in septembrie 1970, a fost singurul album al trupei intrat in top UK Albums Chart pana la lansarea lui “13” in 2013. “Paranoid” contine cateva din piesele semnatura ale trupei, incluzand “Iron Man”, “War Pigs” si piesa de titlu, care a fost singura din Top 20 hit, atingand numarul 4 in UK Charts. Albumul este citat adeseori ca unul de referinta in dezvoltarea muzicii heavy metal.

List of tracks

0:00 War Pigs

7:58 Paranoid

10:47 Planet Caravan

15:25 Iron Man

21:26 Electric Funeral

26:30 Hand of Doom

33:30 Rat Salad

36:04 Fairies Wear Boots

Personnel

Black Sabbath

Ozzy Osbourne – vocals

Tony Iommi – guitar, flute on "Planet Caravan"

Geezer Butler – bass guitar

Bill Ward – drums, congas on "Planet Caravan"

Additional personnel

Tom Allom – engineering, piano on "Planet Caravan"

Rodger Bain – production

Brian Humphries – engineering

Marcus Keef – graphic design, photography

Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath (Full album 1970)

“Black Sabbath” is the debut studio album by the English rock band Black Sabbath. Released on 13 February 1970 in the United Kingdom and on 1 June 1970 in the United States, the album reached number eight on the UK Albums Charts and number 23 on the Billboard charts. “Black Sabbath” is widely considered the first heavy metal album. Additionally, the opening track of the album—Black Sabbath—is widely considered to be the first doom metal song.

“Black Sabbath” este albumul de studio de debut al trupei britanice de rock Black Sabbath. A fost lansat pe 13 februarie in Marea Britanie si pe 1 iunie in Statele Unite. Albumul a atins locul 8 in UK Albums Charts si locul 23 in Billboard Charts. “Black Sabbath” este recunoscut pe scara larga ca fiind primul album de heavy metal. In plus, piesa de deschidere-Black Sabbath- este recunoscuta din plin ca fiind prima de doom metal.

List of tracks

Side 1

1."Black Sabbath"                     6:20

2."The Wizard"                          4:24

3."Behind the Wall of Sleep"     3:37

4."N.I.B."                                     6:08

Side 2

5."Evil Woman" (Crow cover)    3:25

6."Sleeping Village"                  3:46

7."Warning"                              10:28

Personnel

Tony Iommi – guitar

Geezer Butler – bass

Bill Ward – drums

Ozzy Osbourne – vocals, harmonica on "The Wizard"

Black Sabbath - Into The Void

Ozzy Osbourne - I Just Want You

Ozzy Osbourne - See You On The Other Side

Black Sabbath - Paranoid

Paranoia-Melissa-Dzierlatka

Ozzy Osbourne You Can't Kill Rock And Roll

Black Sabbath - The Mob Rules