Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)

Posted by Nostalgiaholic | on December 23, 2007

This album has accompanied me through so many good times, bad times, and long walks in the night that it practically qualifies as my brother, therapist, and best friend all in one.

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Album Release Date : December 1973

Label : World Wide Artists

Producer : Will Malone

Band : Ozzy Osbourne (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitars/piano/organ/flute), Geezer Butler (bass guitar/mellotron), Bill Ward (drums), Rick Wakeman (keyboards/synthesizer)

Tracks : (All tracks by Black Sabbath)

“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath“
“A National Acrobat“
“Fluff“
“Sabbra Cadabra“
“Killing Yourself to Live“
“Who Are You?“
“Looking for Today“
“Spiral Architect“

This is one of albums that you can throw on at any gathering of people and everyone will dig it… guaranteed. Already assured of acceptance in this day and age because of their legacy, Black Sabbath could grab people’s attention by their musicianship alone back in the day. I can’t quite remember where I was, or who I was sparking up with when I first heard it, but without a doubt, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath became the soundtrack of my every waking moment from then on.

This is one of those albums that is so special that I actually give it out as a Christmas present, believing that no matter what type of music the recipient may listen to… This album will somehow change their life for the better. True story.

Sabbath’s fifth album represented not only a musical departure in style from their previous albums (Keyboards !!!???? OH GOD NO !!!), but a shift in production value and lyrical focus as well. Classic rock and heavy metal historians have long been divided as to weather Ozzy and the boys from Birmingham, England “sold out” and “mellowed” on this landmark piece of rock history. Without diving into the deep-end of this bloodbath, I’d like to suggest that despite the addition of keyboards and synthesizers, Tony Iommi’s one-man-world-war guitar attack was as powerful and feedback-laden on this album as any other… And along with Blue Cheer’s Vincebus Eruptum, represents the Alpha and Omega of Stoner Rock and Roll !!!

From the opening tribal, chugging rhythm on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, the name of the game is EPIC. Honestly, listen to it with headphones, jaw agape, and wonder how it’s possible that a single, demur little English dude with no fingertips (Toni Iommi) creates that focused, yet immense guitar sound.

A National Acrobat follows, delving into the shadowy, and drug-addled world of Ozzy Osbourne’s brain in search of lyrical brilliance. backed up by thundering bass and pure stoner wah wah pedal-driven fuzz, this track actually forces you to spend over six minutes of paranoid hallucination with the Ozzman and company, and love it ! I won’t lie, this song is one of my favourite songs of all time by any artist. It has such a great hook, I can’t believe it never made it on to any Black Sabbath greatest hits compilations.

Being the considerate dudes that they are, Sabbath reigns in the Dinosaur rock for one track and offers up a chance to wipe the drool from your chin and float around in Fluff. Gentle acoustic guitar and electric harpsichord-style noodling explore your now tenderized brain in much the same fashion as Sabbath’s earlier Planet Caravan.

After that pit-sop it’s back into the action with the straight-ahead rockabilly of Sabbra Cadabra. Once again featuring Rick Wakeman from the band Yes on piano, the track showcases the band more relaxed and in tune with their earlier musical influences like the Yardbirds and Cliff Richard and the Shadows.

During the recording of their last album Vol. 4, poor ‘ol bassist Geezer Butler was laid up in hospital for a case of complete liver failure (go big, or go home!). Due to the band’s excessive drinking on tour, Butler had come down with a case of the Keith Richards, and while in bed, wrote the lyrics for the next track Killing Yourself to Live. Despite the grim lyrics, a cruising guitar line gives this song (and track 7, Looking For Today) a breezy warmth as if driving along an sunny ocean-side highway… In the Batmobile…

What…? I’ve just always wanted to drive the Batmobile… geez…

All the forces of darkness combine to bring it all back home on Spiral Architect. A hypnotic Zeppelin-esque acoustic opening gives way to a galloping sabbath classic. Definetly the most polished song on the LP, it takes everything great about the old fuzzed out Sabbath and surrounds it with a triumphant candy coating. Ozzy bleats out mind-bending philosophy while Iommi’s guitar weaves in and out each chorus creating a sonic tapestry that deserves the synthesized applause that finishes off the song, and the album.

“Of all the things I value most in life. I see my memories and feel their warmth and know that they are good… You know that I should!” – Spiral Architect

Okay, I know I’ve loved all over this album, and I’m sorry my critical objectivity is about as believable as a “Last Tour Ever!” flyer for a Rolling Stones concert. Well… okay… I’m not fond of the track Who Are You? But hey, it’s short.

This album has accompanied me through so many good times, bad times, and long walks in the night that it practically qualifies as my brother, therapist, and best friend all in one. It lead me to nab Ozzy Osbourne’s No Rest For The Wicked, and begin my long obsession with darker, rougher music. Of course it wasn’t the dark side I was after when I first touched stylus to pitted vinyl… It was that warm fuzzzzzzzzzz.

Much Love…

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