Black Sabbath was one of my early favorite bands, with a few of those early albums being the first I ever owned. I remember buying 4 of the first 5 albums for 50 cents each from a school mate’s older brother (along with Kiss Alive), when I was maybe 11. So I played these albums like crazy back then. The original Black Sabbath had such a unique sound between Tony Iommi’s riffs – which songs were almost always based around, Geezer Butler’s huge bass sound that usually doubled up the guitar, Ozzy’s distinctive vocals – the guy may not have been the greatest singer, but NOBODY sounded remotely like him, and then Bill Ward’s jazz influenced drum style, and (again) no other drummer sounded like Bill, especially on those early albums. And songs were not simply based on one riff, Sabbath had the ability to make things so much more interesting and epic, often with big changes in tempo or direction mid-song, sometimes multiple times in the same song, with totally different styles and new riffs. The band recorded 8 albums throughout the ’70s, with Paranoid being their biggest one, which featured “Paranoid”, as well as classics “War Pigs” and “Iron Man”. Over the years tho’ some of those songs have been played to death, so it was a no-brainer for me to not include them all here. Sabbath had some interesting, some scary, and some bad album covers back then. I gotta say it was Ozzy’s Speak Of The Devil 2LP live set that was a huge deal for me as well. Although it wasn’t Black Sabbath, he did do a pretty thorough set of Sabbath classics, and it would be the first time for me hearing tracks from a few Sabbath albums I didn’t have (like Never Say Die and Sabotage). Despite the band’s first few being hailed as their best, I have more of an attachment to a few of those later albums. By the time time I had those early Sabbath albums in my new collection, at a young age, this original line-up was well over, but I was happy to have seen the band (minus Bill Ward in 2015).

So, leaving my own picks for Black Sabbath’s best below, plus my album ranking below.

1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

2. You Won’t Change Me

From Technical Ecstasy, tho I’m sure ranks low among Sabbath ’70s fans, I like most of it. The added use of keyboards (courtesy of Gezz Woodruffe) on various tracks adds a lot of color and feel to songs here without necessarily losing any heaviness. Love the organ riff throughout this one, the piano in the mix, and Iommi’s guitar sound and solo.

3. Hole In The Sky

Sabotage has a few killer rockers, kinda more hard-rocking, faster, and less doomy. This one being my favorite here, with the band just jumping right into that big sounding riff & beat. Just my opinion, but I think Ozzy sounds at his best on this album and the next one (Technical Ecstasy).

4. Sweet Leaf

Following the coughing, a classic riff kicks off the band’s 3rd album Master Of Reality. Well written and produced, Huge sound on this album. This one never gets old.

5. N.I.B.

From the band’s debut. Sabbath had such a sound early on that no one else came close to. Such a distinctive bass intro, followed by the riff, just classic.

6. Snowblind

Volume 4 seemed to be the band’s doomiest record (IMO), slower paced and very dark musically and lyrically. This track, about cocaine, is my favorite here.

7. Back Street Kids

Another from Technical Ecstasy. A great opener. Love how this one chugs along, slightly brighter sounding, killer guitar solo, and then it all comes to quick close.

12. Symptom Of The Universe

Another from Sabotage, (again) with the band just getting right into it, like the beginning of thrash metal. Interesting change of direction 3 quarters of the way through tho’, like back to a bit of a hippy tune.

8. Junior’s Eyes

From the last album with Ozzy. Again, the band trying something different, tho (for me) it doesn’t all work here, but this one stands out.

10. War Pigs

The first song off the band’s massive 2nd album, Paranoid. This one being slow, dark, and crushingly heavy for the time with that sound based around Tony Iommi’s riff. Kinda like a follow up to the band’s self titled opener from the debut.

11. Dirty Women

Another great track from Technical Ecstasy. Just dig the big sound on this, Ozzy’s vocals, especially after the break and things pick up, followed by Iommi’s lengthy soloing as the song plays out, just epic.

12. Thrill Of It All

Another riff driven rocker from Sabotage. Dig how the track picks up, keyboards in the mix, and Ozzy sounding at his best on this album. “Oh yeah – Oh Yeah!”

13. Children Of The Grave

From Master Of Reality, just a cool riff and with Bill Ward’s drums, sound like this song marches along, which suits the lyrics, I guess.

14. The Wizard

That first Sabbath album had some outstanding and different things going, including this with Ozzy’s harmonica intro, followed by a classic heavy song.

15. Megalomania

Over 9 and a half minutes of epic Sabbath. Bill Ward kills it here, along with Ozzy’s performance being a highlight here,

16. Sabbra Cadabra

From Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Quick and catchy riff opening this one. Love the change of pace mid way through with the addition of Rick Wakeman on keyboards. I had a tough time picking another from this album, aside from this, “Killing Yourself To Live” and “A National Acrobat” are favorites here.

17. Electric Funeral

Preferring the non-hits from Paranoid, this slower doomy number, with (as always) Iommi’s riff being the main focus, and with a cool mid-song change in direction before coming back to the riff. Ozzy’s delivers the song’s sinister lyrics so fitting.

18. Supernaut

Love the continual riff going here, along with Ozzy’s vocals and Bill Ward bashing it out all the way through.

19. After Forever

The 2nd track from Master Of Reality. Lots of classic songs here, such as “Into The Void” and “Lord Of This World”, but I always dug this one. Religious lyrics, posing questions.

20. Johnny Blade

Strange – synthesizers opening a Sabbath song, instead of a big riff. But another favorite from Never Say Die. Excellent, but very different, as the band seemed to be looking for new ideas near the end of the ’70s.

Next up: Never Say Die, Gypsy, Black Sabbath, Wheels Of Confusion, A National Acrobta.

BLACK SABBATH 70s ALBUM RANKING

There’s been times where any Sabbath album from this era has been my favorite, even briefly, but my first choice has always been at the top. This is MY own ranking, based on what I like and listen to most these days, and get that (like many of us), this could change drastically next year.

Master of Reality – to me, just the most solid Sabbath album track to track. On other Sabbath albums of the 70s, there always seems to be something I either can’t get in to or just doesn’t fit. Plus, that huge sound going here with Tony’s guitar from “Sweet Leaf” right through to “Into The Void”.

Technical Ecstasy

This album always ranks low amongst the Sabbath 70’s albums, but I really like it. I like the production, the keyboards used without taking away from the weight of the Sabbath sound, and Ozzy sounds great here. I love most of this, even don’t mind the Bill Ward ballad (though I have no idea why a band with such a distinctive lead singer would have someone else sing such an oddity on album). Lyrically, a bit less doomy, and almost more rebellious at times, with songs like “You Won’t Change Me”, “Back Street Kid”; plus “Gypsy” and “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)”.

Sabotage

Love Sabotage for the big 3 kick ass rockers here, being “Symptom Of The Universe”, “Thrill Of It All”, and “Hole In The Sky”, plus the epic “Megalomania”. A few things on side 2 tho I’ve just never gotten in to, but maybe one day.

Volume 4

This album has a lot going on, just thinking about it. A fairly dark album, musically and lyrically, but so much good stuff from “Wheels Of Confusion”, “Snowblind”, “Supernaut”, “St Vitus Dance”…. I can do without “Changes” though.

Black Sabbath

I remember getting this and hearing this when i was like 10 or 11, and it being so heavy, dark, almost scary (especially the song “Black Sabbath”). Kinda not right that I’ve got it so far down my list, but I’d heard it so much, and a few things I never got into. Years later I would get the first Lucifer’s Friend album, an interesting comparison, but no one sounded as evil as Black Sabbath did on this debut.

Paranoid

The band’s 2nd and commercial break through, due to “Paranoid” becoming a hit single. A bit more consistent than the debut, IMO, and though I love this album, I don’t know if I ever need to hear “Paranoid” or “Iron Man” again.

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Bringing this album home at such a young age, I think I kept it a bit hidden due to the cover, not wanting to answer any questions. But the lead off title track just blew me away, still my favorite 70s Sabbath track. I remember getting Speak Of The Devil (and subsequent Sabbath reunion live albums), and being disappointed that Ozzy didn’t sing the song in full…if at all on some). But, kind of a grey sound to this album beyond that, though there is a number of excellent tracks – “A National Acrobat”, Killing Yourself To Live”, “Sabbra Cadabra”, and I always liked “Fluff”, an odd instrumental ballad.

Never Say Die

I think I heard the song “Never Say Die” on Speak Of The Devil first, and then finally getting this album, and wondering why it sounds almost sloppy or something. But I did really dig this album for a brief period with songs like “Johnny Blade”, “Junior’s Eyes”, “Shock Wave” and even the jazzy “Air Dance”, but not a fan of a few things (sax on Sabbath album!?), and the overall sound of this record.