The First Album - Song by Song

[Zzzptm]

I'll start this by saying that up until now, I've not been a fan of the first album. But I'm wondering how much of that is based on what's actually on that album or what happens to those songs when done live. Like what happened with "Snowblind", where I let the over-the-top stuff done live affect my appreciation of the studio version. In the case of Black Sabbath and N.I.B., I blame Dio. I love most of how Dio interprets work done by other vocalists, but not when it comes to Ozzy-era material. He gets way too growly, and it doesn't work for that material, not for me.

So I want to do the first album. I want to come in fresh and give it a proper listen for the first time in a long time. No guarantees on any outcomes. I've got meetings for the next two hours, but I should have enough break after that to do a solid listen to the title track.

Feel free to cuss and discuss the track in the meantime - if there's something special you find about it, let me know and I'll see if I can hear the same thing, as well.

[Charger]

Well I have to disagree on one point though right away. I've always found Ronnie's version of NIB to be the ultimate one. He elevates that song to a whole new level...and that's a feat as it's on a pretty damn high level to begin with!


I think I'll put this album on now as well for my workout music today. Just to get a fresh listen as it has been a while.

[Jack the Stripper]

I’m with you Z as I think as are most fans.The original era songs just didn’t gel with Ronnie. They didn’t have the same vibe, portray the same emotion or convey the message of the song like Ozzy did or was originally intended, that’s not a knock on Ronnie, it’s the same for most singers that have tried to sing Ozzy songs.

I liken it to singers trying to sing Roger Waters Pink Floyd songs, they can have all the technical singing abilities over Waters but can’t bring the character or portray the message of the song like he did which is vitally important in giving the song authenticity.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

The title track is probably the most important song in the history of heavy metal. Personally, I think there are better songs on the album and the guys went on to do much better albums.

I get why the song Black Sabbath is so important, if I had been there when it was released I would probably love it more, and I do quite like it, but it drags a little at the start and the lyrics are a little weak, but once the song speeds up it's great.

[Zzzptm]

Taking that plunge...

Opening riffs - DEFINITELY some of the heaviest, doomiest sounds of the day, if not THE heaviest/doomiest. The lyrics... well, let's just say that Geezer really matured a LOT as a lyricist by the time SBS rolled out.

But Ozzy's best moments are on his fills, the "OH NO PLEASE GOD HELP ME" is iconic. Nevermind some of the cheeze from the main verses - Ozzy sells it with his screaming pleas.

Instrumentally, this is proof that less is way more when you want to set up a mood. 3 chords, sparse lines, echoing drumbeats - that was real fun to take in like that.

The fast part is fast, and the band keeps it simple enough to be effective. I can hear why this is a concert staple - only one track per instrument so what you hear here is what you get live. No disappointment when there's but the one guitar trying to do the work of 8 in the studio YEAH I'M LOOKING AT *YOU* JIMMY PAGE!!!

This is not a complicated piece. Start slow and doomy, end fast and panicked. Honestly, this is like musical home cooking. Coming back to the original after this time, well, I have a new appreciation for it. There's no real nuance to discover - it is what it is, and it's metal the way Mom used to make it, so to speak. I'm still wanting to taste SBS, but I'm finding this track to be overall quite satisfying and I'm looking forward to The Wizard coming up next.

This is definitely where Billy's argument about a lead singer being better *because* he's not all spit and polish holds true.

[Typhon]

Zzzptm's comments cover the self-titled tune very well.  I just have a couple of other comments.

The title track is probably the most important song in the history of heavy metal.

I get why the song Black Sabbath is so important, if I had been there when it was released I would probably love it more,

Well, I was 12 years old in 1970, not really a big music fan, just heard what ever the radio stations played.  But when I heard Black Sabbath, it was the first time I was stopped in my tracks and said, "now who the heck is this?" 

The appropriately self-titled very first song, to me, is the band saying, "This is who we are, and if you don't like it, then don't listen." 

[Vyn]

I first heard that song on my record player after I thought I was getting Paranoid (being a kid and not knowing anything, I think I told that story before).

My initial reaction was along the lines of WTF!?

I remember calling some friends (one at a time, rotary phone, cuz, you know, no group chat at the time) just to come over and hear it. I didn't listen to anything but the title track for a couple of days. Like Z pointed out, it is simple, super heavy without production knobbing, and it remains unlike anything else out there.

I did not have these thoughts at the time, but looking back...in the midst of the Vietnam War and the attendant social upheaval in the US, the hippies were listening to "Volunteers" and Black Sabbath rolled up with a song that conveyed the "shit-your-drawers" fear that the world was changing beyond your control, and not for the better.

[Jack the Stripper]

^^Awesome Vyn.

I was introduced to it via Ozzy’s Speak of the Devil album in late 82. I was 11 at the time and it was the eeriest, darkest, and most atmospheric songs I’d ever heard and still is to this day. Can only imagine what it would’ve been like hearing it for the time in 1970. Groundbreaking song and always a highlight of any original era Sabbath live show.

[Charger]

The title track was without a doubt the song that started everything heavy and doomy. And it was something that was completely new at the time...

I don't know if there's much to be said that hasn't already been said.

As an album opener this is one of those few slower songs that actually work and work well...big thanks to the intro which adds yet another layer of mystique to the track.

[Zzzptm]

Time for "The Wizard"...

This one I have always had fun with, that harmonica intro does it for me every time. Again, direct riffage backed up with some great technical drumming from Bill Ward.

Best blues-rock song about a wizard that I know of.

And that's what this is, a straight-up blues number with the volume cranked up. Led Zeppelin was already doing this, but Black Sabbath wrote their *own* lyrics! Iommi's solo is almost buried in the mix, though, would have liked it to be more prominent. And when the criticism is basically, "wish I could hear more", that's a good place to be.

But, yeah, Bill's drumming is the star of this show. You can tell the guy liked Buddy Rich and didn't want to be just a 4/4 metronome when he played.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I like The Wizard, but it took years for me to really appreciate it. I think I felt it was a little silly and throw-away, almost filler even. But over the years I've really become a fan, I love the harmonica on it.

[Jack the Stripper]

Yup Bill is the star of the show here as is Ozzy’s harmonica. Great track to follow Black Sabbath and another set staple live gem.

[Charger]

The Wizard is without a doubt one of my favourites. The riff is brilliant. This is one of those examples again where Ozzy's vocal melody follows the riff quite faithfully and it works great.

The harmonica part is simple but great.

And as said Bill's drumming is flawless here, but one thing that hasn't been mentioned is Geezer's bass work which I think is really great. He plays the bass almost like rythm guitar here.


The lyrics are great too...based on Gandalf I believe. Although some think the wizard is a code for a drug dealer but I find that bit far fetched to be honest. Wizard is a wizard simple as that.

[Zzzptm]

Yeah, this is a very early sort of D&D song. Even before the game was released! Heck there were people who thought "Smoke on the Water" was a kind of hashish hookah reference.

[Zzzptm]

So is the next song    "Wasp / Behind the Wall of Sleep / Bassically / N.I.B" ? Or do we need to break each one out separately?

I'll take them as a suite, as they were played. I'm reading that the recording was done in 12 hours, pretty much one shot, straight through. Everything was pretty much recorded live, with Ozzy singing in a separate booth. Then they drove off to play a gig in Switzerland.

So does this count as Sabbath's first live album? Mmmmmmmmmmmaybeeeeeee....