BLACK SABBATH

Symptom Of The Universe: The Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978)

$31.98 CD

In the ’70s, before the house and kids, Ozzy Osbourne fronted the band that launched a thousand riffs. This two-disc collection celebrates his reign with 29 tracks of vintage Sabbath, including the rare non-LP single “Evil Woman,” available for the first time in the U.S. Packaged in a special embossed slipcase with two digi-packs and a full-color booklet, which includes authoritative notes by Sabbath historian Mick Wall and photos from the bands's personal archives.  

Black Sabbath grew out of the late-’60s blues-rock tradition typified by bands such as Cream, Blue Cheer, and The Yardbirds. Embracing muscular riffs as they veered from standard blues constructions, Sabbath sowed the seeds of heavy metal.  

In 1969 four teenagers from the north of England -- Tony Iommi (guitar), Bill Ward (drums), John “Ozzy” Osbourne (vocals), and Terence “Geezer” Butler (bass) -- formed a band that would briefly be known as Polka Tulk. After a short stint as Earth, they finally settled on a suitable moniker in Black Sabbath, the title of a novel by occult writer Dennis Wheatley. In early 1970 they released their debut single, “Evil Woman (Don’t Play Your Games With Me).” By the end of the year, their eponymous LP was a fixture on both the U.K. and U.S. charts. While critics didn’t know what to make of this menacing new sound, Sabbath’s fan base was growing by leaps and bounds. Their 1971 follow-up, Paranoid, sold more than four million copies and remains one of the cornerstones of hard rock.  

Black Sabbath’s trademark sound continued to pound through 1971’s Masters Of Reality and 1972’s Vol. 4. With their fifth consecutive masterpiece, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, their creative scope widened to include additional instrumentation and more elaborate production. But Sabbath’s increased musical experimentation brought creative differences, and after three more studio albums, Ozzy left the band to pursue a solo career, the immense success of which still resonates through Ozzfest, MTV’s The Osbournes, and the music of generations of kids who love to rock.

Selection # 73772

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