Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) (WARNER BROS. RECORDS) Black Sabbath
Album Description:
SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH is the fifth studio album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1973. With this album, the band expanded upon their slow, crunching style of music but incorporated progressive rock elements such as synthesizers, strings, keyboards and more complex, orchestral arrangements.
Recording:
Following the 1972–1973 world tour in support of their VOLUME 4 album, Black Sabbath again returned to Los Angeles, California to begin work on its successor. Pleased with VOLUME 4, the band sought to recreate the recording atmosphere, and returned to the Record Plant Studios with new producer and engineer Tom Allom. Although the album credits the band's manager Patrick Meehan as producer, guitarist Tony Iommi said "Meehan's ego got involved, and he stuck his name down as producer". With new musical innovations of the era, the band were surprised to find the room they had used previously at the Record Plant was replaced by a "giant synthesizer". The band rented a house in Bel Air and began writing in the summer of 1973, but due in part to substance issues and fatigue, were unable to complete any songs. "Ideas weren't coming out the way they were on VOLUME 4 and we really got discontent" Iommi said. "Everybody was sitting there waiting for me to come up with something. I just couldn't think of anything. And if I didn't come up with anything, nobody would do anything." After a month in Los Angeles with no results, the band opted to return to the U.K., where they rented Clearwell Castle in The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. "We rehearsed in the dungeons and it was really creepy but it had some atmosphere, it conjured up things, and stuff started coming out again". While working in the dungeon, Iommi stumbled onto the main riff of "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", which set the tone for the new material. Recording was completed at Morgan Studios in Willesden, North London in 1973. Keyboardist Rick Wakeman of the band Yes (who was recording TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS with Yes in the next studio) was brought in as a session player, appearing on "Sabbra Cadabra".
Music and lyrics:
SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH is widely considered to be Black Sabbath's last true classic album. Building off the stylistic changes introduced on VOLUME 4, new songs incorporated synthesizers, strings, keyboards and more complex arrangements. "Who Are You?" incorporates a Moog, a common instrument in progressive rock at the time. Track "Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath" resumed the quartet's penchant for penning heavy metal compositions that sounded like they were tailor made for being blasted in a huge arena. Lyrics of some songs on the album were written about problems within the band at the time. "Killing Yourself to Live" was written by bassist Geezer Butler while in hospital for kidney problems caused by heavy drinking. Drummer Bill Ward was also suffering from binge drinking, and the song reflects the problems caused by their "extreme" lifestyles. An earlier incarnation of the song can be heard on the records LIVE AT LAST and PAST LIVES.
SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH proved to be another in a long line of 100% filler-free records in band's catalog. Song "Sabra Cadabra" would even be covered by Metallica on it's 1998 release GARAGE INC. Also found on the album is one of Sabbath's most haunting yet serene instrumentals, "Fluff," as well as the melodic album-closing rocker "Spiral Architect." SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH is quintessential heavy metal.
Track Listing:
1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - 5:46 2. A National Acrobat - 6:17 3. Fluff - 4:12 4. Sabbra Cadabra - 6:00 5. Killing Yourself to Live - 5:41 6. Who Are You? - 4:15 7. Looking for Today - 5:06 8. Spiral Architect - 5:30
Performance Credits:
Black Sabbath -------------- Primary Artist Rick Wakeman -------------- Synthesizer, Piano, Keyboards Ozzy Osbourne -------------- Synthesizer, Harmonica, Percussion, Vocals Geezer Butler -------------- Synthesizer, Bass, Percussion, Mellotron, nose flute, Fuzz Bass Tony Iommi -------------- Organ, Synthesizer, Acoustic Guitar, Bagpipes, Flute, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Electric Guitar, Steel Guitar, Harpsichord Bill Ward -------------- Percussion, Drums, Bass Drums, Vocals, Timpani Will Malone -------------- Conductor
Technical Credits:
Black Sabbath -------------- Arranger, Composer, Producer Ozzy Osbourne -------------- Hands Mike Butcher -------------- Engineer Geezer Butler -------------- Hands Tony Iommi -------------- Hands Patrick Meehan -------------- Director, Direction Will Malone -------------- Arranger Bill Ward -------------- Hands
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) (WARNER BROS. RECORDS)
ReplyDeleteBlack Sabbath
Album Description:
SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH is the fifth studio album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1973. With this album, the band expanded upon their slow, crunching style of music but incorporated progressive rock elements such as synthesizers, strings, keyboards and more complex, orchestral arrangements.
Recording:
Following the 1972–1973 world tour in support of their VOLUME 4 album, Black Sabbath again returned to Los Angeles, California to begin work on its successor. Pleased with VOLUME 4, the band sought to recreate the recording atmosphere, and returned to the Record Plant Studios with new producer and engineer Tom Allom. Although the album credits the band's manager Patrick Meehan as producer, guitarist Tony Iommi said "Meehan's ego got involved, and he stuck his name down as producer". With new musical innovations of the era, the band were surprised to find the room they had used previously at the Record Plant was replaced by a "giant synthesizer". The band rented a house in Bel Air and began writing in the summer of 1973, but due in part to substance issues and fatigue, were unable to complete any songs. "Ideas weren't coming out the way they were on VOLUME 4 and we really got discontent" Iommi said. "Everybody was sitting there waiting for me to come up with something. I just couldn't think of anything. And if I didn't come up with anything, nobody would do anything." After a month in Los Angeles with no results, the band opted to return to the U.K., where they rented Clearwell Castle in The Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. "We rehearsed in the dungeons and it was really creepy but it had some atmosphere, it conjured up things, and stuff started coming out again". While working in the dungeon, Iommi stumbled onto the main riff of "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", which set the tone for the new material. Recording was completed at Morgan Studios in Willesden, North London in 1973. Keyboardist Rick Wakeman of the band Yes (who was recording TALES FROM TOPOGRAPHIC OCEANS with Yes in the next studio) was brought in as a session player, appearing on "Sabbra Cadabra".
Music and lyrics:
SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH is widely considered to be Black Sabbath's last true classic album. Building off the stylistic changes introduced on VOLUME 4, new songs incorporated synthesizers, strings, keyboards and more complex arrangements. "Who Are You?" incorporates a Moog, a common instrument in progressive rock at the time. Track "Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath" resumed the quartet's penchant for penning heavy metal compositions that sounded like they were tailor made for being blasted in a huge arena. Lyrics of some songs on the album were written about problems within the band at the time. "Killing Yourself to Live" was written by bassist Geezer Butler while in hospital for kidney problems caused by heavy drinking. Drummer Bill Ward was also suffering from binge drinking, and the song reflects the problems caused by their "extreme" lifestyles. An earlier incarnation of the song can be heard on the records LIVE AT LAST and PAST LIVES.
SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH proved to be another in a long line of 100% filler-free records in band's catalog. Song "Sabra Cadabra" would even be covered by Metallica on it's 1998 release GARAGE INC. Also found on the album is one of Sabbath's most haunting yet serene instrumentals, "Fluff," as well as the melodic album-closing rocker "Spiral Architect." SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH is quintessential heavy metal.
ReplyDeleteTrack Listing:
1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - 5:46
2. A National Acrobat - 6:17
3. Fluff - 4:12
4. Sabbra Cadabra - 6:00
5. Killing Yourself to Live - 5:41
6. Who Are You? - 4:15
7. Looking for Today - 5:06
8. Spiral Architect - 5:30
Performance Credits:
Black Sabbath -------------- Primary Artist
Rick Wakeman -------------- Synthesizer, Piano, Keyboards
Ozzy Osbourne -------------- Synthesizer, Harmonica, Percussion, Vocals
Geezer Butler -------------- Synthesizer, Bass, Percussion, Mellotron, nose flute, Fuzz Bass
Tony Iommi -------------- Organ, Synthesizer, Acoustic Guitar, Bagpipes, Flute, Guitar, Percussion, Piano, Electric Guitar, Steel Guitar, Harpsichord
Bill Ward -------------- Percussion, Drums, Bass Drums, Vocals, Timpani
Will Malone -------------- Conductor
Technical Credits:
Black Sabbath -------------- Arranger, Composer, Producer
Ozzy Osbourne -------------- Hands
Mike Butcher -------------- Engineer
Geezer Butler -------------- Hands
Tony Iommi -------------- Hands
Patrick Meehan -------------- Director, Direction
Will Malone -------------- Arranger
Bill Ward -------------- Hands