1979 rehearsal recording of 'Heaven and Hell' with Geoff Nicholls on bass

[Scott]

A previously unreleased rehearsal recording of BLACK SABBATH playing the song "Heaven And Hell" in 1979 during the pre-production sessions for the album of the same name can be streamed below. The track, which features SABBATH's longtime keyboardist Geoff Nicholls on bass, was uploaded to YouTube by Geoff's stepson and executor of his estate, Gary Rees.

Rees stated about the "Heaven And Hell" 1979 rehearsal recording: "I recently found this SONY C-90 tape cassette amongst the thousands in Geoff Nicholls' archive. On the inlay card is written ' ON & ON HEAVEN & HELL ORIGINAL VERSION GEOFF PLAYING BASS'. Inside the cassette case was a Maxell UD 90. On the A side again in blue ink ballpoint is written 'LADY EVIL (crossed out) BLUES + SLAPBACK'. The B side is written 'On + On HEAVEN HELL ORIGINAL GEOFF ON BASS' Nowhere does it say that this is BLACK SABBATH on the cassette. At the end of the uploaded song you can hear talking that sounds to me like Geoff talking then laughing.

https://blabbermouth.net/news/previously-unheard-1979-rehearsal-recording-of-black-sabbaths-heaven-and-hell-released-by-geoff-nichollss-estate/

The video also shows a cassette with 'Lady Evil' and what might be another working title written on it.

[Jack the Stripper]

This is so cool to listen to. Interesting that the singalong part they use to do live was part of the early workings of the song.

Can’t wait to hear what else might get uploaded from Geoffs archive, especially from the Heaven and Hell rehearsals.

[Charger]

This is an awesome find indeed! What a treat!

This is exactly the kind of stuff you'd want to have on those deluxe editions...but I know that'll never happen...but thank god for people like Mr. Rees putting stuff like this out there for us to hear.

[Zzzptm]

Dude, yeah, awesome!

[Scott]

This is so cool to listen to. Interesting that the singalong part they use to do live was part of the early workings of the song.

Can’t wait to hear what else might get uploaded from Geoffs archive, especially from the Heaven and Hell rehearsals.

I remember reading some years ago that they worked up a version of Heaven and Hell that was more than ten minutes long. Makes me think now that some/most of the regular extended version they'd do live came from that.

[Jack the Stripper]

This is so cool to listen to. Interesting that the singalong part they use to do live was part of the early workings of the song.

Can’t wait to hear what else might get uploaded from Geoffs archive, especially from the Heaven and Hell rehearsals.

I remember reading some years ago that they worked up a version of Heaven and Hell that was more than ten minutes long. Makes me think now that some/most of the regular extended version they'd do live came from that.

Yep more than likely the live extended version was mostly conceived from the early rehearsals/demos going on this early version.

[Zzzptm]

^ Agree. Lots of stuff bands do that doesn't get recorded turns up both in the live sets and in the previously unreleased studio outtakes.