Black Sabbath Vol. 4 - Song by Song

[Zzzptm]

Now for "Laguna Sunrise".

This one always sets me at ease. I love the gentleness of Iommi's instrumental, it's very light and emotional.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

LS is a nice enough tune, gets across the impression of a sunrise over Laguna Beach. One of the better instrumentals in their portfolio.

[Charger]

My buddy Charger, the human paradox!   

Hahah! I'll take that compliment!


As for Laguna Sunrise, it is bit overly "light" for my taste but it still has a nice melody to it and it's not overly long...like lets say Fluff from the next album which becomes too repetetive. LS doesn't have that problem.
I do ponder how LS would have sounded had it been tuned down a bit...

[Typhon]

Laguna Sunrise would be side 2's BFTO tune.  I have always wondered if this was written after someone from the band actually saw the sun rise.   

[Charger]

Laguna Sunrise would be side 2's BFTO tune.  I have always wondered if this was written after someone from the band actually saw the sun rise.   

It was...I think Tony said so in his book that as they were doing the album in California they were based near Laguna beach and he quite often checked out the sunrise after a whole night of writing and getting high.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

Laguna Sunrise would be side 2's BFTO tune.  I have always wondered if this was written after someone from the band actually saw the sun rise.   

It was...I think Tony said so in his book that as they were doing the album in California they were based near Laguna beach and he quite often checked out the sunrise after a whole night of writing and getting high.

I won't argue, but I thought I read that it was Bill who loved to stroll along Laguna Beach.

[Charger]

I had to check that out to make sure.

From Iron Man:

Laguna Sunrise was actually inspired by a sunrise at Laguna Beach. I was there with Spock, one of the guys of our crew who was a good guitar player as well. We were up all bloody night and I just started playing this acoustic guitar and came up with this idea.

[Zzzptm]

Hearing those stories, I like it even more.

Now for "St. Vitus' Dance".

It's got a jerky syncopation for its main riff, has a nice and growling interior, but always that jangly-jerky guitar line. Your thoughts?

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I had to check that out to make sure.

From Iron Man:

Laguna Sunrise was actually inspired by a sunrise at Laguna Beach. I was there with Spock, one of the guys of our crew who was a good guitar player as well. We were up all bloody night and I just started playing this acoustic guitar and came up with this idea.

I wonder if Bill lives near there now, and it's somewhere he visits, which maybe where I get the story.

I do find it strange that they wrote about "Laguna Sunrise" as the Sunset would be what you saw over the ocean... the Sunrise would be visible looking back over the California landmass!?

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

St Vitus Dance is a strange one. I like it but it's so obscure, I doubt anyone outside of the core fans have ever heard of it.

[Zzzptm]

It *is* strange. I like it, but, yeah... it kind of jumps out of the bushes and yells "BOO!"

[Charger]

I quite enjoy St Vitus Dance. Granted the riff is bit "heavier" than the song itself but it has a very nice groove. The lyrics are bit on the silly "love song" side but what saves it is the fact that it's spoken from a third person view.


And yeah it's is bit strange...sunset would make more sense...but I guess it wasn't so much about the sunrise itself but the mood and look the beach had at sunrise...and maybe they were always still getting drunk and high and writing songs at sunset.

[Zzzptm]

They DID spend half the record company advance on cocaine, after all...

[Typhon]

I also enjoy St. Vitus Dance and agree with previous comments.  I find it rather interesting to hear a guy giving a buddy some advice about his problems with a girlfriend.  Or as KDC would say, "girlfiend".   

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I also enjoy St. Vitus Dance and agree with previous comments.  I find it rather interesting to hear a guy giving a buddy some advice about his problems with a girlfriend.  Or as KDC would say, "girlfiend".   

I've said before, but subject wise it always reminded me of The Beatles She Loves You.

The "girlfiend" is desperate to get back to the cinema, she's taking some time off next week so I get to see Tenet again!