The First Album - Song by Song

[Zzzptm]

Might I suggest we do Wicked World next, THEN Evil Woman so that Warning can be the rightful last track!

I second that motion.

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I quite enjoy Wicked World, it is probably the Sabbath song I know the least -- in much the same way as Evil Woman is probably less well known to many in the North American community.

There's not much more I can say except I really need to buy a turntable and listen to the 19minute version on Live At Last... or maybe I could actually buy the CD, I suppose it might be cheaper!!

[Jack the Stripper]

The first time I heard “Wicked World“ was on an Australian/NZ only Black Sabbath compilation called “The Best - The Ultimate in Heavy Metal” that came out in 1983 which happened to be the first Sabbath album I got of original recordings. For a couple of years there when I was first getting into Sabbath I wondered where this great song had come from as it wasn’t on any of the official Ozzy era releases.

I’ve always loved the song though, so much so it was the 2nd Black Sabbath song I ever learnt on guitar behind Iron Man. I remember taking a tape of the song to one of my lessons and getting my teacher to work the song out for me. Strangely though, I’ve always felt it sounded a bit out of place on the debut, not just because it wasn’t on the original press or the actual song itself but the production just sounded a bit different to the other songs. Maybe the fact Tony used a Stratocaster and not the SG on it and Ozzy voice sounds like there’s a filter on it or something might of had me thinking that way. Great song though and taken to an even greater level live.

[Zzzptm]

I have always liked the opening that features the Tony Iommi Jazz Trio before Black Sabbath takes over.

I kid, but that's pretty much what it is. It's a very enjoyable, jazzy intro before the song turns to heavy blues for the main portion.

[Typhon]

I also enjoy Wicked World very much.  It continues the overall eerie vibe of the album.

[Charger]

Like I've always said Wicked World is one of my favourites...the intro riff, Tony's solo guitar solo is brilliant (and something I wish he would have done on later albums as well) and Bill's drumming is top notch too.

I like how the song mixes heavy with jazzy vibes perfectly.

[Zzzptm]

Listening to it today, I had to follow up with some Peter Green's Fleetwood Mac. Not as heavy, but still very much in that distorted blues vein that this song is in. Green has a great character in his voice, just like Ozzy has that character in his.

[Jack the Stripper]

^^Fair comparison and always worth making a point about the character Ozzy brought to the songs.

Shall we move onto the cover “Evil Woman, don’t  play your games with me“? 

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I'll kick off with Evil Woman

It has that feeling of "filler" all over it. It's an okay song, but I don't think they really put their heart and soul into it. I'm not familiar with the original but if this is an improvement I would be surprised!

[Jack the Stripper]

I like Evil Woman, like the original Crow song as well. Adds a good variation to the album with its uptempo feel. Strange song for them to cover though, especially given the original was already made famous and got to #19 on the billboard charts less than a year before, but it seems it was quite normal for bands back then to cover songs that similarly weren’t that old.

[Charger]

If memory serves me the story goes the band didn't want to cover the song at all but the manager Jim Simpson wanted a single and it was a custom in the UK at the time for bands to record cover versions of big US hits before they made it big in the UK. So the band "had to" do the song. It was also recorded in a completely seperate session.

It's something of a throw away track. It doesn't really fit the mood of the album at all. Bit on the "happy" side in comparison to the rest of the songs.

Ironically it made no impact on the single charts either.

[Typhon]

^^^^^^
Precisely what I heard and agree.  I, personally, am glad it is not on the album here in the states.  The band did not write it, and it doesn't belong.  I do listen to the song separately from the album in my mix CDs.  I'm pleased with how it sounds there.

[Zzzptm]

"Evil Woman" goes great with Deep Purple's "Black Night". Seriously. Similar riffs, similar blues-driven verses with a brief singalong chorus. And it sounds like Tony used a Fender for at least one of the guitars tracked on the single.

Totally a contractual obligation sort of recording.

[Jack the Stripper]

Shall we?

Red sun rising in the sky
Sleeping village, cock’rel’s cry
Soft breeze blowing in the trees
Peace of mind, feel at ease

Somewhat downcast start with Tony’s haunting chords and Ozzy’s sombre vocals while the Jews harp does its thing in the background, it then picks up the mood when Bill joins the fray before launching into a cool jazzy jam, only then to bring the mood back again to then perfectly transition into “Warning“.

It’s cool, I like it, no, actually I love it...

[KiloDeltaCharlie]

I too quite like Sleeping Village/A Bit of Finger, but it's the jazzy jam I really like. The slow start I feel doesn't really fit with the rest of the track (or vice versa!)