Heaven And Hell (1980) (WARNER BROS. RECORDS) Black Sabbath
Album Description:
HEAVEN AND HELL is the ninth studio album by the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1980.
While Black Sabbath remained one of heavy metal's top concert draws throughout the late 70's, the band's albums of the era proved to not be on par with its earlier work. This creative weakness was what caused vocalist Ozzy Osbourne to split from the band in 1979 to launch a highly successful solo career. Sabbath used the opportunity to refocus its direction, eventually replacing the group's batty frontman with ex-Rainbow member Ronnie James Dio. The new line-up's first album, 1980's HEAVEN AND HELL, proved to be Black Sabbath's most successful (both commercially and artistically) in a long time. The opening number, "Neon Knights," remains one of Sabbath's most ferocious, while "Children of the Sea" alternates between dark, brooding metal and a gentle melodicism that's stressed even further on "Lady Evil" and "Die Young."
Geoff Nicholls of Quartz also joined the band as a possible replacement for Geezer Butler who had not been around through most of the writing sessions and was going through a divorce at the time. When Butler decided to stay with the group, Nicholls switched to keyboards. Nicholls remained as Black Sabbath's keyboard player for over twenty years, usually playing live shows from off-stage. Former Elf and Rainbow bassist Craig Gruber also rehearsed with the band. Gruber's involvement appears to be a point of debate. In a 1996 interview, Tony Iommi mentions that Gruber played with the band for "a bit". Gruber has stated that his time with the band was much more substantial and that he only left the group once Butler decided to return. Drummer Bill Ward completed this album and toured with the band through August, but drinking and other personal factors would eventually prevent him from completing the BLACK AND BLUE TOUR which featured Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult. Ward's mid-tour replacement Vinny Appice would become an official member.
The exact origins of much of this album's material is still a topic of debate. Osbourne apparently attempted to record some of what would become "Heaven and Hell" before being fired; all of this material was scrapped. Sabbath had in fact begun demoing material with singer Ronnie James Dio before Osbourne was formally fired.
The song "Children of the Sea" was written by Dio and Iommi during their very first session. When Butler returned to the recording studio, all but one track ("Neon Knights") had already been written for the album. Craig Gruber claims that it is his bass playing that appears on the album. Gruber also claims that it was he who brought in the music for "Die Young", although he is not credited for it.
Bill Ward says he has "no memory" of making the album, due in part to his alcoholism. It is unclear how much of the album, if any, was actually written by bassist Geezer Butler or drummer Bill Ward.
Black Sabbath: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Tony Iommi (guitar); Geezer Butler (bass); Bill Ward (drums).
Additional personnel: Geoff Nicholls (keyboards).
Recorded at Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, Florida and Studio Ferber, Paris, France.
Produced And Engineered by Martin Birch.
Track Listing:
1. Neon Knights - 3:53 2. Children of the Sea - 5:34 3. Lady Evil - 4:26 4. Heaven and Hell - 6:59 5. Wishing Well - 4:07 6. Die Young - 4:45 7. Walk Away - 4:25 8. Lonely Is the Word - 5:51
Heaven And Hell (1980) (WARNER BROS. RECORDS)
ReplyDeleteBlack Sabbath
Album Description:
HEAVEN AND HELL is the ninth studio album by the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1980.
While Black Sabbath remained one of heavy metal's top concert draws throughout the late 70's, the band's albums of the era proved to not be on par with its earlier work. This creative weakness was what caused vocalist Ozzy Osbourne to split from the band in 1979 to launch a highly successful solo career. Sabbath used the opportunity to refocus its direction, eventually replacing the group's batty frontman with ex-Rainbow member Ronnie James Dio. The new line-up's first album, 1980's HEAVEN AND HELL, proved to be Black Sabbath's most successful (both commercially and artistically) in a long time. The opening number, "Neon Knights," remains one of Sabbath's most ferocious, while "Children of the Sea" alternates between dark, brooding metal and a gentle melodicism that's stressed even further on "Lady Evil" and "Die Young."
Geoff Nicholls of Quartz also joined the band as a possible replacement for Geezer Butler who had not been around through most of the writing sessions and was going through a divorce at the time. When Butler decided to stay with the group, Nicholls switched to keyboards. Nicholls remained as Black Sabbath's keyboard player for over twenty years, usually playing live shows from off-stage. Former Elf and Rainbow bassist Craig Gruber also rehearsed with the band. Gruber's involvement appears to be a point of debate. In a 1996 interview, Tony Iommi mentions that Gruber played with the band for "a bit". Gruber has stated that his time with the band was much more substantial and that he only left the group once Butler decided to return. Drummer Bill Ward completed this album and toured with the band through August, but drinking and other personal factors would eventually prevent him from completing the BLACK AND BLUE TOUR which featured Black Sabbath and Blue Oyster Cult. Ward's mid-tour replacement Vinny Appice would become an official member.
The exact origins of much of this album's material is still a topic of debate. Osbourne apparently attempted to record some of what would become "Heaven and Hell" before being fired; all of this material was scrapped. Sabbath had in fact begun demoing material with singer Ronnie James Dio before Osbourne was formally fired.
The song "Children of the Sea" was written by Dio and Iommi during their very first session. When Butler returned to the recording studio, all but one track ("Neon Knights") had already been written for the album. Craig Gruber claims that it is his bass playing that appears on the album. Gruber also claims that it was he who brought in the music for "Die Young", although he is not credited for it.
Bill Ward says he has "no memory" of making the album, due in part to his alcoholism. It is unclear how much of the album, if any, was actually written by bassist Geezer Butler or drummer Bill Ward.
Black Sabbath: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Tony Iommi (guitar); Geezer Butler (bass); Bill Ward (drums).
Additional personnel: Geoff Nicholls (keyboards).
Recorded at Criteria Recording Studios, Miami, Florida and Studio Ferber, Paris, France.
Produced And Engineered by Martin Birch.
Track Listing:
1. Neon Knights - 3:53
2. Children of the Sea - 5:34
3. Lady Evil - 4:26
4. Heaven and Hell - 6:59
5. Wishing Well - 4:07
6. Die Young - 4:45
7. Walk Away - 4:25
8. Lonely Is the Word - 5:51