Seventh Star Solo album proof?

[Charger]

If there is still someone out there not believing that Seventh Star was supposed to be a Tony Iommi solo album before the Record company forced it to be something else here is a picture of what is said to be an advance copy of the album sent to Warner Bros.




And as you can see the artist is just Tony Iommi there.

Reportedly there are 3 copies like this still in existence...

So atleast back in October of 1985 Seventh Star was still just a solo album.

[Typhon]

Was never in doubt in my mind.

[Jack the Stripper]

Definitely a solo album along with everything else that followed over the next 10 years barring Dehumanizer of coarse... 

[Zzzptm]

So, I'll play Record Executive's Advocate:

You've got a band that's committed for so many albums in its contract, or maybe it's just signed with you and is going to put out product that sells to the kids. Whatever. They make money for you. The band has fallen completely apart - again - and all that's left now is the guitar player. It was hard enough when Ozzy left, then Bill, then Ronnie, then Ian, Geezer, and Bill again...

... and now the guitar player wants to do a solo? How is that going to move vinyl? Everybody knows "Black Sabbath", not "Tony Iommi". Sure, die hard fans know the guitarist's name, but we don't make our bottom line unless we're selling to fans that aren't die hard.

So tell that guitar player that, one, there are a million guitar players we can promote so he's not anybody special; two, Black Sabbath is what's special, so if he wants to sell records that are going to provide him the funds to keep the wolf from the door, he's going to put "Black Sabbath" on the cover in a bigger font than everything else on the cover. We can put his name on it too, if it makes him happy, but we're keeping this thing as a band effort, not a solo effort.

[Typhon]

So, I'll play Record Executive's Advocate:

Play!  Shmay!  You just love doing this, don't you?

The singer went solo and moved plenty of vinyl.

[Charger]

So, I'll play Record Executive's Advocate:

You've got a band that's committed for so many albums in its contract, or maybe it's just signed with you and is going to put out product that sells to the kids. Whatever. They make money for you. The band has fallen completely apart - again - and all that's left now is the guitar player. It was hard enough when Ozzy left, then Bill, then Ronnie, then Ian, Geezer, and Bill again...

... and now the guitar player wants to do a solo? How is that going to move vinyl? Everybody knows "Black Sabbath", not "Tony Iommi". Sure, die hard fans know the guitarist's name, but we don't make our bottom line unless we're selling to fans that aren't die hard.

So tell that guitar player that, one, there are a million guitar players we can promote so he's not anybody special; two, Black Sabbath is what's special, so if he wants to sell records that are going to provide him the funds to keep the wolf from the door, he's going to put "Black Sabbath" on the cover in a bigger font than everything else on the cover. We can put his name on it too, if it makes him happy, but we're keeping this thing as a band effort, not a solo effort.

This is probably pretty much exactly what was going on.


What is also funny is that when a lead singer of a band calls is quits and goes on a solo career it CAN be very succesful...but when a guitarist does a solo album it hardly ever is, which kind of proves that the singer is really the frontman of the band no matter what...

[Typhon]

^^^^^^
I think Pete Townsend did alright for himself.

[Charger]

^^^^^^
I think Pete Townsend did alright for himself.

I am not familiar with his stuff so I can't say.

[Typhon]

^^^^^^
I think Pete Townsend did alright for himself.

I am not familiar with his stuff so I can't say.

I keep forgetting you're a youngster. 

[Charger]

^^^^^^
I think Pete Townsend did alright for himself.

I am not familiar with his stuff so I can't say.

I keep forgetting you're a youngster. 

I'm glad you feel that way! I don't feel like a youngster anymore...anything but truth be told.

[Typhon]

^^^^^^
I think Pete Townsend did alright for himself.

I am not familiar with his stuff so I can't say.

I keep forgetting you're a youngster. 

I'm glad you feel that way! I don't feel like a youngster anymore...anything but truth be told.

Here's a truth --> 20 years from now you will be wishing you was 30something again.

[Charger]

^^^^^^
I think Pete Townsend did alright for himself.

I am not familiar with his stuff so I can't say.

I keep forgetting you're a youngster. 

I'm glad you feel that way! I don't feel like a youngster anymore...anything but truth be told.

Here's a truth --> 20 years from now you will be wishing you was 30something again.

Well that's only if I'll live that long...which I doubt.

[Typhon]

^^^^^^
I think Pete Townsend did alright for himself.

I am not familiar with his stuff so I can't say.

I keep forgetting you're a youngster. 

I'm glad you feel that way! I don't feel like a youngster anymore...anything but truth be told.

Here's a truth --> 20 years from now you will be wishing you was 30something again.

Well that's only if I'll live that long...which I doubt.

You keep lifting those weights, walk, eat healthy foods and you should be fine.  Did you listen to the Townsend video?

[Zzzptm]

I'd say Townsend had an edge as a guitarist since he also did vocal work for The Who, so he got to work that frontman angle.

Each of The Beatles got to do a solo career with some success because each one of them got to sing.

[Charger]

I'd say Townsend had an edge as a guitarist since he also did vocal work for The Who, so he got to work that frontman angle.

Each of The Beatles got to do a solo career with some success because each one of them got to sing.

That is true...same goes for let's say Zakk Wylde. He made a succesful career with Black Label Society because he handled the vocal duties as well and he was also vocal with Ozzy even if it was just few spoken words during the set.

And yes Typhon I did manage to check out Townsend's work...it's quite good indeed!