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the best of Sabbath?!

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Topic: the best of Sabbath?!
Posted By: Zenbadger
Subject: the best of Sabbath?!
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 18:20
I've been revisiting all the Sabbath albums from the ozzy era today. I think Sabbaths albums from this period were So strong that I find it almost impossible to rate them best to worst?!

I wondered how you guys rate them and also if you had to pick your top ten Sabbath tracks... What would you go for?



Replies:
Posted By: Zenbadger
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 18:33
I think for me the albums are at the moment;

Sabotage
Volume 4
Sabbath bloody sabbath
Paranoid
Master of reality
Technical ecstasy
Never say die
black sabbath

My top ten tracks:

Sabbath bloody sabbath
Snowblind
Symptom of the universe
Megalomania
Cornucopia
Into the void
Supernaut
Hole in the sky
Under the sun
War pigs

Although they both change




Posted By: HolyMoly
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 19:22
I too love the Ozzy era, but I'm mostly indifferent to the Dio stuff, with a few exceptions.  So I'll just rank the Ozzy stuff which I know really well and can judge fairly:

Albums:
1. Paranoid
2. Vol 4
3. Sabotage
4. Black Sabbath
5. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
6. Never Say Die
7. Master of Reality
8. Technical Ecstasy

But I would rate them all "B" or above.

Favorite 10 songs:

1. Tomorrow's Dream
2. Fairies Wear Boots
3. War Pigs
4. Wheels of Confusion
5. Symptom of the Universe
6. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
7. Never Say Die
8. Iron Man
9. The Writ
19. After Forever


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Posted By: Zenbadger
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 19:29
Yeah they're all B and above for sure, I can't think of any band that put out so many great albums in such a short space of time!


Posted By: Nogbad_The_Bad
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 20:20
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sabotage
Black Sabbath
Volume 4
Paranoid
Master Of Reality
Technical Ecstasy
Never Say Die

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Megalomania
Symptom Of The Universe
Snowblind
Children Of The Grave
Fairies Wear Boots
The Wizard
N.I.B.
Hole In The Sky

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Host of the Post-Avant Jazzcore Happy Hour on Progrock.com

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Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 20:42
Interesting thread....I am a huge Sabbath fan up to Never Say Die and I do find it strange that TE and NSD get such a bad rap. I have to say both have aged really well and NSD is excellent, to these ears anyway. I find it odd how many try blueprint a band for a so called " classic" era, which is natural I suppose but a lot of these bands, Sabbath included have some excellent stuff way in the late 70's and 80's.

So I will defy the critics and say

Never Say Die
Volume 4
Technical Ecstasy
Master of Reality
Sabotage
SBS
Debut
Paranoid....enjoy this one least at the moment


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<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian

...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]


Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 21:09
I have just been getting into a bit of Sabbath, and actually I still couldn't put their albums or songs in order. So far, I only have the debut, Paranoid, Master of Reality, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and the Reunion live album. Yet, one thing is certain, so far my favourite album is the Reunion one; their songs sound heavier and more professional, I just love them. I'm waiting to receive the Dio years box set... after hearing some Rainbow I just had to get his version of Sabbath. Obviously I still haven't heard those albums, but I find it strange they don't get any love here. I still don't know about the quality of the songs, but at least Dio is by far a better singer than Ozzy, so that should cound for something.


Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 21:23
What a sorry state of affairs that we are discussing Black Sabbath in the main prog forums and yet Boston can't even get into prog related.  There are days that I wonder if people still remember what prog is.

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Posted By: Eria Tarka
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 22:09
Top 10Albums: 

1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
2. Vol. 4
3. Paranoid
4. Master of Reality 
5. Black Sabbath
6. Heaven & Hell
7. Sabotage
8. Never Say Die
9. Mob Rules
10. Born Again

Songs:

1. Wheels of Confusion / The Straightener 
2. Sabbra Cadabra
3. Hand of Doom
4. A National Acrobat
5. Symptom of the Universe
6. Under the Sun / Every Day Comes and Goes
7. Planet Caravan
8. Heaven and Hell
9. Killing Yourself to Live
10. Behind the Wall of Sleep

I just remembered how much I love Sabbath


Posted By: Metalmarsh89
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 22:17
Originally posted by ghost_of_morphy ghost_of_morphy wrote:

What a sorry state of affairs that we are discussing Black Sabbath in the main prog forums and yet Boston can't even get into prog related.  There are days that I wonder if people still remember what prog is.


I would imagine this will get moved. Are you more upset that BS is prog-related, or that Boston isn't?


Posted By: dr wu23
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 22:42
The first 4 are still my favorites after all these years. and I like the first the best.

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One does nothing yet nothing is left undone.
Haquin


Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: December 12 2013 at 22:58
Originally posted by Metalmarsh89 Metalmarsh89 wrote:

Originally posted by ghost_of_morphy ghost_of_morphy wrote:

What a sorry state of affairs that we are discussing Black Sabbath in the main prog forums and yet Boston can't even get into prog related.  There are days that I wonder if people still remember what prog is.


I would imagine this will get moved. Are you more upset that BS is prog-related, or that Boston isn't?

I'm not sure.  Probably a bit of both.  Boston was very clearly and deeply influenced by two prog rock acts (according to this site.   I wouldn't count Zep as prog myself.)  and then turned around and influenced many prog acts themselves.  (Just listen to Howe on the first two Asia albums if you want evidence of that.)  So clearly at the very least we should be considering Boston as prog related.

As for Black Sabbath, these guys are integral to metal. and metal eventual developed whole new subgenres when combined with prog.  Does this make them proto-prog?  Not in my book, but I can understand including their discography here for people who might be interested.


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Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: December 13 2013 at 12:28
^ Swaying off topic slightly but Boston were rejected I think on being too AOR. At least Sabbath fit a prog related mould. I nearly lost my breakfast the other day after hearing the new Boston albumDead

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<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian

...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]


Posted By: Crumple
Date Posted: December 13 2013 at 14:38
I think TE and NSD get short shrift because the band members themselves have criticized them pretty heavily.


Posted By: Crumple
Date Posted: December 13 2013 at 14:39
Also just to add it's hard for me to do lists, but I consider War Pigs to be one of the greatest songs ever recorded by anyone.   


Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: December 13 2013 at 14:47
^ Thanks was not aware of that. Again though it is not what the artists think of the work as opposed to what the listener gets from the work....subjective of course. I mean if we formed opinions on music based on what the artists think of their work then , for example, I would not have bothered with Van Morrison's work, cause his ' dissed' most of his tooSmile I do find some artists in retrospect trying to defend certain albums or the opposite. Mike Oldfield was completely surprised at how well received ' Amarok'  was. Now considered one of his best albums. Finally on PA the review ratings system does work by and large, even if sometimes individually we may disagree with a rating. NSD for me is one of my most pleasure listens this yearApprove

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<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian

...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]


Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 13 2013 at 17:13
Originally posted by ghost_of_morphy ghost_of_morphy wrote:

What a sorry state of affairs that we are discussing Black Sabbath in the main prog forums and yet Boston can't even get into prog related.  There are days that I wonder if people still remember what prog is.


Which aspect(s) of Boston would you deem prog-related? Boston is the AOR poster child, as far I can, er, hear. I'd wager Foreigner has a better chance of being prog-related than Boston.

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https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay


Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: December 13 2013 at 17:16
And yes, I am a fan of Black Sabbath: all eras, which includes Ozz, Dio (favorite albums are with him), Ian, Glenn, Ray Gillen (unreleased version of Eternal Idol) and Tony Martin.

The only singer who sang with Sabbath whose voice really didn't fit was...Halford. Fine for Priest, but so wrong for Sabbath!

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https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_ipg=50&_sop=1&_rdc=1&_ssn=musicosm" rel="nofollow - eBay


Posted By: The Glide
Date Posted: December 13 2013 at 17:30
Haven't decided the best yet, I think it will be Vol 4 or Master of Reality.

Although I'm very surprised with 13 as well!


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I've created an atmosphere where I'm friend first, boss second. Probably entertainer third.


Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: December 13 2013 at 17:30
Albums: everything up to Sabotage + Heaven and Hell

Tracks (bold font ones within the proggiest)
Fairies Wear Boots
Solitude
Children of the Grave
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
A National Acrobat
Air Dance
Children of the Sea
The Sign of the Southern Cross
Disturbing the Priest


Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 13 2013 at 22:52
Originally posted by Chris S Chris S wrote:

^ Thanks was not aware of that. Again though it is not what the artists think of the work as opposed to what the listener gets from the work....subjective of course. I mean if we formed opinions on music based on what the artists think of their work then , for example, I would not have bothered with Van Morrison's work, cause his ' dissed' most of his tooSmile I do find some artists in retrospect trying to defend certain albums or the opposite. Mike Oldfield was completely surprised at how well received ' Amarok'  was. Now considered one of his best albums. Finally on PA the review ratings system does work by and large, even if sometimes individually we may disagree with a rating. NSD for me is one of my most pleasure listens this yearApprove



What I have read about Oldfield and Amarok is that he was so mad at Virgin that he wanted to do his last album the least marketable he could, thus he made it all one song with no possibility to extract a single out of it nor play it in the radio.


Posted By: Tom Ozric
Date Posted: December 14 2013 at 00:40
'Never Say Die' has a bunch of really decent cuts on it - I don't get why it gets dissed so much ?? And 'Heaven And Hell' is highly regarded ?? Give me 'Dehumanizer' over H&H any day.


Posted By: Jbird
Date Posted: December 14 2013 at 21:12
Originally posted by Chris S Chris S wrote:

^ Swaying off topic slightly but Boston were rejected I think on being too AOR. At least Sabbath fit a prog related mould. I nearly lost my breakfast the other day after hearing the new Boston albumDead

That bad? And I was thinking of picking it up….


My favorite Sabbath are Heaven And Hell & Mob Rules, by far. And I was a Sabbath fan before H&H was released. I just love Ronnie's voice paired with Tony's guitar.

That said, the new album, 13, is pretty decent. Ozzy's voice doesn't even annoy me like it has the last couple of Ozzy albums. And Black Sabbath, Paranoid, & Master Of Reality are classics. I've always hated TE and NSD, horrible albums Unhappy


Posted By: The Dark Elf
Date Posted: December 15 2013 at 11:15
Can't get any better Sabbathically speaking than:
 
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Vol. 4
Master of Reality
 
Throw in the first side of Sabotage for good measure.


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...a vigorous circular motion hitherto unknown to the people of this area, but destined
to take the place of the mud shark in your mythology...


Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: December 15 2013 at 11:35
Originally posted by verslibre verslibre wrote:

Originally posted by ghost_of_morphy ghost_of_morphy wrote:

What a sorry state of affairs that we are discussing Black Sabbath in the main prog forums and yet Boston can't even get into prog related.  There are days that I wonder if people still remember what prog is.


Which aspect(s) of Boston would you deem prog-related? Boston is the AOR poster child, as far I can, er, hear. I'd wager Foreigner has a better chance of being prog-related than Boston.

Why vers, Boston came out of prog as an attempt to merge the sound of Yes with the sound of Led Zeppelin.  It returned back into prog with the brilliant and influential guitar sound that they pioneered.  If you need proof of influence here, just listen to Howe's work on the first two Asia albums.


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Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: December 15 2013 at 11:37
Originally posted by Chris S Chris S wrote:

^ Swaying off topic slightly but Boston were rejected I think on being too AOR. At least Sabbath fit a prog related mould. I nearly lost my breakfast the other day after hearing the new Boston albumDead

Sabbath fits a metal related mold...First there was metal and then it combined with prog.

Boston, however, first there was prog and then Boston added the elements that made AOR. 

Boston was rejected for reasons of snobbery.


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Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: December 15 2013 at 12:00
...hmmmm....not much love for "Heaven and Hell" on this thread!  I consider it their best effort.  

As a guitarist playing for over forty years, I started by playing easy licks such as "Iron Man".  Iommi's initial work was easily playable, primarily barre chords & very simple single-note solos. 

However, I immediately noticed that Dio brought a new energy to the band.  Check out the signature "Neon Nights"



(sorry for the misspellings!  The guy who posted this needed to take his medication or something LOL  )


Now, listen for Iommi's guitar solo beginning at 1:59 - he really burns it up at 2:24 onwards!  


When I first heard this, I wasn't sure it really was Iommi, as his solo technique up to then was rather primitive (due to the famous loss of fingertips in an accident).  Either he took lessons or really spent time in the woodshed.  


H&H has been rated by some as the best heavy metal album of all time, it would also receive my vote.  I'm not sure how prog BS is, but it is some good music.  Cheers, Charles  p.s. R.I.P., Ronnie James Dio!



Posted By: ghost_of_morphy
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 03:43
I notice that this post has STILL not been moved to prog related/proto prog.  You people have no clue what prog is, do you?

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Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 04:06
^ Take a chill pill morphSmile

Whenever I hear RJD, I cannot not think of Rainbow Rising , what a strong vocalApprove


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<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian

...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]


Posted By: Chris S
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 04:12
Originally posted by ghost_of_morphy ghost_of_morphy wrote:

Originally posted by verslibre verslibre wrote:

Originally posted by ghost_of_morphy ghost_of_morphy wrote:

What a sorry state of affairs that we are discussing Black Sabbath in the main prog forums and yet Boston can't even get into prog related.  There are days that I wonder if people still remember what prog is.


Which aspect(s) of Boston would you deem prog-related? Boston is the AOR poster child, as far I can, er, hear. I'd wager Foreigner has a better chance of being prog-related than Boston.

Why vers, Boston came out of prog as an attempt to merge the sound of Yes with the sound of Led Zeppelin.  It returned back into prog with the brilliant and influential guitar sound that they pioneered.  If you need proof of influence here, just listen to Howe's work on the first two Asia albums.

Help me out here.......Boston from the merging of Yes and LZ? Howe's influence/contribution to Asia, sure, not to disregard Geoff Downes either. Sorry could you clarify what it is you are pointing to but I do not see Asia as a mix of LZ and Yes, nor Boston even more so??Confused

Thanks, off track I know in terms of the thread


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<font color=Brown>Music - The Sound Librarian

...As I venture through the slipstream, between the viaducts in your dreams...[/COLOR]


Posted By: ole-the-first
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 04:22
My Sabbath album ratings would be:

Black Sabbath — 10/10
Paranoid — 10/10

Master of Reality — 8/10
Vol.4 — 8/10
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath — 9/10
Sabotage — 10/10
Technical Extasy — 7/10
Never Say Die — 6,75/10
Heaven and Hell — 10/10
Mob Rules — 8/10
Born Again — 7/10
Seventh Star — 4/10
The Eternal Idol — 4/10 (4,5/10 for Ray Gillen vocals version)
Headless Cross — 5/10
Tyr — 5/10
Dehumanizer — 8/10
Cross Purposes — 6/10
Forbidden — 5/10
The Devil You Know — 6,5/10
13 — 8/10

Talking of Sabbath, Ozzy era usually pops to my mind, though I love Dio era as well. I find Born Again terribly underrated (it's a good album with great melodies and guitar riffs, but rather poorly produced), but AOR-tinged 'Seventh Star' and the entire Tony martin era rather put me to sleep.


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This night wounds time.


Posted By: Blacksword
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 10:06
Sabotage
Heaven & Hell
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Mob Rules
Vol 4
Master of Reality
Technical Ecstasy

I've not heard Paranoid or Black Sabbath for over 20 years. I was never knocked out by them tbh, but I'll give them another go.

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Ultimately bored by endless ecstasy!


Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 13:09
Originally posted by Chris S Chris S wrote:

^ Take a chill pill morphSmile

Whenever I hear RJD, I cannot not think of Rainbow Rising , what a strong vocalApprove


Yeah, I was hooked with Dio's vocals because of that album. I'm still digging some more Dio... I hope to get some Sabbath with Dio soon.


Posted By: Dellinger
Date Posted: December 16 2013 at 13:13
Originally posted by ole-the-first ole-the-first wrote:

My Sabbath album ratings would be:Black Sabbath — 10/10Paranoid — 10/10Master of Reality — 8/10Vol.4 — 8/10Sabbath Bloody Sabbath — 9/10Sabotage — 10/10Technical Extasy — 7/10Never Say Die — 6,75/10Heaven and Hell — 10/10Mob Rules — 8/10Born Again — 7/10Seventh Star — 4/10The Eternal Idol — 4/10 (4,5/10 for Ray Gillen vocals version)Headless Cross — 5/10Tyr — 5/10Dehumanizer — 8/10Cross Purposes — 6/10Forbidden — 5/10The Devil You Know — 6,5/1013 — 8/10Talking of Sabbath, Ozzy era usually pops to my mind, though I love Dio era as well. I find Born Again terribly underrated (it's a good album with great melodies and guitar riffs, but rather poorly produced), but AOR-tinged 'Seventh Star' and the entire Tony martin era rather put me to sleep.



I kind of want to get that Born Again album, just for the curiosity of hearing Ian Gillan with Black Sabbath... but I want the special edition with live tracks including some of the classic tracks sung by him (plus, I would expect the mix to be somwhat better). I am also curious about the Seventh Star album, because of Glen Hughes singing on it... I think there's a special edition of that album with live tracks too, but I read someone say that on the live tracks it's not Glen Hughes singing (plus, the sound quality is suposed to be rather bad), so if there was a way to get a concert with Glen Hughes on vocals I guess it would be so much better.


Posted By: Jabez7
Date Posted: December 24 2013 at 23:11
 
1 Paranoid
2 Vol. 4
3 Never Say Die
4 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
5 Master Of Reality
6 Heaven & Hell
7 Sabotage
8 Black Sabbath
9 Technical Ecstasy
10 The Mob Rules



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