Search - Black Sabbath :: We Sold Our Soul For Rock 'N' Roll

Memories in Black

Mr. Music Man | Wolf Point, MT | 09/16/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember my dad having this album and he used to listen to it when he would drink. Those are the only memories I have of my dad and when I hear a Black Sabbath song that he used to play (which are all on this album) I can just see him sitting there singing to us kids. The one Black Sabbath song I will always cherish is Changes. When this song would come on he would put me on his lap and sing this only to me. That was OUR song and still is. Since then he has passed away and so in his memory I will get this record just for the memories."

Phew!

Mike Warden | Tarkio, Mo. USA | 01/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Where do I begin? This album is probably THE definitive Heavy metal release of the seventies. Sabbath clearly established themselves with this one. The album was a double release, I'm not sure how the CD is packaged, but it is worth the money. believe me.
Black Sabbath touched on so many subjects that the recording industry (and society in general) refused to even discuss. They wrote songs about witchcraft (NOT! endorsing it, I might add) war, pollution (War Pig's!) drug abuse, paranoia and just general teen angst. What is even more amazing, is that even while listening to this recording, one can catch a feeling of subtle humor wrapped around just about every song, i.e. "...People think I'm insane 'cause I'am frowning all the time."
The line up of Tony Iommi (Guitar), Terry 'Geezer' Butler (Bass), Bill Ward (Drums-and a underrated drummer at that), and of course Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, created a driving metal machine that most certainly dispensed with the "flower power" mentality. Though one can find humor in some of the writings, many of the songs were also of a very serious nature. Sabbath wanted to be REAL about their music, and this recording definitely shows this to be so.
Prototypical heavy metal riffs were laid down with ALL of Sabbath albums, as this is a collection of recordings from "Black Sabbath" to "Vol-Four." There are some parts that drag. "Warning", in particular, is a bit redundant,(though Iommi comes through with a riveting solo here also). Would have liked to see "Electric Funeral" to have made the cut here also, but it was simply not included.
This is a recording of a TRUE heavy metal band that worked with a bond and chemistry that is sorely lacking with many of todays bands. If you are a true heavy metal fan, and haven't found this one yet, you are in for a very pleasant surprise. They don't get any louder (or any more realistic lyrically) than this one. The only thing that bothers me, is I shudder to think if the title has any truth to it. But then again that would be right in line with the Sabbath tradition...realism, albeit painful realism"

One of the best cd's ever

Joel Badalucco | Montgomery, NY United States | 12/14/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"look if you really want to hear some of the best hard, cranking, kick (...) music ever made buy this album. you won't be sorry!great guitar and great words sung by ozzy.it's one of the all time greats."