Dunno but I was listening to vol 4 this very morning and there's a track so very like While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Just my opinion. I think of Sabbath as the prime instigators of the genre as we know it I must say.
Black Sabbath invented heavy metal. (They also invented a couple of other genres.) They were the first heavy rock group to break lyrically and musically from the blues.
I did childcare for A.A. meetings from 1982 to 2009. One Sunday morning in 1993 I was at the Pan Pacific Park meeting room quad (grassy patch outside) waiting for kids and their parents to arrive and I saw a guy in a blue track suit standing, slouching, looking to the south. "That dude looks like Ozzy!" I thought. "That is Ozzie", I thought. The kids arrived, we went to the playground on the other side of the building. Later that year I stood behind David Bowie in the coffee line, same meeting. When he had filled his cup and turned around we made eye contact and I said "thanks for everything" and he smiled and nodded.
Many artists contributed to the sound, but Black Sabbath managed to take all of the elements, combine them all together and while they didn’t create the genre, they certainly refined it and made it popular. It’s kinda like how John Carpenter’s Halloween popularized the Slasher Film genre but it didn’t invent the genre. Other films like Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Black Christmas, and a few others certainly contributed to the creation of the Slasher genre, but Halloween was the film that perfected the formula and certainly popularized it, which spawned many imitators.
This album was the only Sabbath record(besides a few Ozzy solo albums) that I ever listened to and owned.Believe it or not, I had bought my copy used(and scratched up)at a yard sale across the street from where my family once lived!Good video as usual Abby!!!
The north and midlands of England are to blame for a disproportionate amount of grit in rock. It's the soundtrack to their lot in life, as an outlet for their rage, and ultimate kindness. Best people on earth (no I'm not from there).
This. Lots of people were playing with distortion, and the newer technical improvements meant that it could be played louder, and that brought out even more innovation as bands played within the new parameters. Metal was born of big amps, big wattage, and effects that could bring out that heavy sound.
Yes, Never Say Die, or was that 1979? Osborne was dressed and posing to appeal to his 13 year old fans, ie the ones that had grown out of Gary Glitter. The two of them had a similar kind of charisma in their Top of the Pops performances.
I am a Brummie and a Black Sabbath fanatic. I would say they created a heavier sound that grew to a distinction of newer originality that no one did achieve something like it before besides others who are involved in an earlier sound of the genre like Blue Cheer with their first two albums, yet they sound like blues type/psychedelic with lots of distortion/fuzz. Some people think Zeppelin did it earlier and Deep Purple, but Sabbath were one of the first bands to develop darker and unapologetic sounds, which was a new thing at the time. Awesome video Abby and your channel is inspiring and well documented. I've been a new subscriber for a few weeks and was blown away with your awesome dedication and passion for your videos. Also, I do recommend Geezer Butler's brilliant biography from his early beginnings to his time with Sabbath and he details a lot of great stuff.
Sabbath was the first to embrace occult themes and imagery. Those things became synonymous with metal. I think that's Sabbath's greatest contribution to the creation of Heavy Metal.
Abbie you make me fall in love with music all over again. Thanks for all you do! I hope I'm not remiss in saying after 5 days of watching your channel I have such a parasocial crush on you. :)
Electric Funeral is mind blowing!!! I was born in the 90's where heavy/doom metal was very commom yet this song hits just as the same, so dark and industrial and diabolical...again, those dudes are time travellers hahah people were dancing Disco and Sabbath was doing THIS!
In my experience "at that time" this WAS the heavy metal album that changed music. I was so inspired I used Electric Funeral for an English multi media project. I took photos of headstone at sunset and played Sabbath. After the show the audiance was absolutely silent and so was the teacher. I still consider that as a success. Some students never looked at me the same way afterwards. Another success.
"Back then," I was listening to bands like Chickenshack and The Groundhogs. My relatives and friends in Birmingham (UK) hooked me up with Black Sabbath. "War Pigs" is a definite slam on "the military/industrial complex." Thanks, Abigail.
I played this album to death in my teens. Still do today! They really cemented their image (and guitar tone) with songs like Iron Man and Paranoid but there are great 'deep cuts' like Hand Of Doom, Fairies Wear Boots. The album is front to back killer material. My favorite Sabbath album along with Masters.
I think you seriously underestimate Deep Purple Abigail, "In Rock" and "Machine Head" are early 70's hard rock masterpieces, easily the match of their famous contemporaries. They simply cannot be dismissed and must be investigated when exploring this genre of rock.
One of my favorite of the genre and era, but I can clearly understand what Ozzie Dash fronted Sabbath could do for someone that they don’t pick up in MK2 or MK3 Deep Purple music. I am pretty worn out on both currently. If I were to grab a deep purple album from my rack right now it may be a Rod Evans one honestly. Just because I am currently over saturated with early day is heavy metal or proto metal or whatever you prefer.
I prefer the theory about the Unholy Trinity of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal: Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. The heaviest rock bands that I care to listen are probably AC/DC and Metallica, I'm not really interested in black metal or death metal because of deep growling vocals. I think nowadays "metal" means far more extreme music that it was in the 1970s and 1980s.
GREAT Vinyl Monday, Abby! I can’t believe this was made in 30 hours! Dayum. ‘War Pigs’ is such a beast- the live version from Paris 1970 is a massive banger. Thanks for doing what you do! Dignan in Bellingham
You’ve earned real respect in this review. I mean you know what you’re talking about! War Pigs is the best song Sabbath ever did and that is saying a lot!
"Planet Caravan" is a timeless, beautiful track, my favorite song by Black Sabbath, though not their most typical. "War Pigs" is as timeless in its own right, tragically, though the song is a masterpiece.
The tune didn’t originate with Django Reinhardt, although he does a great version. Duke Ellington composed it in the 1930s. My favorite version is on Money Jungle, the collaboration between Ellington, Charlie Mingus, and Max Roach (which is a fantastic album). But I can totally see how Sabbath was influenced by the Django Reinhardt cover. It’s got a super thick sound.
@@MarcosElMalo2 I'm sorry, I think you must have meant to reply to another poster, as I made no mention in my comment of Django Reinhardt or the other jazz greats you cited.
@@konowd It was covered very well by Pantera in 1994, this version also promoted by a stellar music video, one of the most interesting specimens of that often dubious genre I've seen.
Cool to see im not the only younger person in to that era of music. Always found the very early years of heavy metal to be the most interesting and sabbath is my all time favorite band. If you havent heard it id reccomend Skullcrusher by Iron claw 1970. Very sabbathy, very cool cheers
Tony's fingers played a major role in creating the sound. Since he could not use his two middle fingers as effectively as his first and fourth fingers due to his accident, he started playing what we now call 'power chords'. He also tuned down to slack the strings a bit - again because of his damaged fingers. Finally, he played LOUD because he wanted to create a wall of sound to compensate for his playing style. He felt that his sound was too thin, so he increased distortion and volume. So, I would argue that Tony Iommi contributed the most towards the heavy metal sound.
Power of Zeus rocks. I found a re-press of that thing in the early 2000s. Lots of interesting records came out on Rare Earth label. Pretty Things SF Sorrow and UFO's debut were released on Rare Earth in the US for example. Thanks for another great Vinyl Monday.
I just happened to stumble on this video, so glad I did! This was great! War Pigs is one of my favorite songs of all time. Pink Floyd's "Time" is my top song though!
I bought this album when I was in North Carolina back in 1972. What an eye opener! If Geezer could have his way, he’d retitle Paranoid to Depression! He even said that in an interview once! In that same interview Ozzy said “Ummm yahm ooh ah!”😉 “We spent a whole day making our first album, our second one even took longer” sounds very Spinal Tap! Fab video Abigail! ❤❤❤
thanks! LOL gotta love ozz. he saves all his words for the stage, everything else is mumbling at best! i wouldn’t be surprised if that bit in spinal tap was inspired by the way sabbath recorded
Great job Abby. I’m very old and bought this album with cash I should have used to buy my school lunches with. There’s no obvious single winner of the “ Who Invented Heavy Metal” award in my opinion. You could even make a case for Cream, Hendrix or Zep in terms of riffs and high volume but certainly Sabbaff had the “ sound / tonality” we all recognise as typical of the genre. Stay safe, stay happy, stay you. Best wishes from England 🏴.
I love Paranoid....hell i love all the Sabbath albums....even the Dio albums (almost as much as the Ozzy stuff....in some ways more) BUT Vol. 4 is where its at! Vol. 4 is the ULTIMATE Black Sabbath record! Great vid and excellent taste in music!
There is actually a band named "Gang Green" they were part of the '80's hardcore scene in Boston....and one of the fastest band of the era.... The song "Paranoid" had a big influence on the hardcore scene that would develop in the very late '70's and into the '80's.....
Black Sabbath was a fine tuned machine during the first album and this one. They cut their teeth in Hamburg in the same clubs the Beatles played in. Same as the Beatles, they played 8 hour sets, 6 days a week. This is one of the main reasons they took so little time to record. They had it all down already, pretty much, and were masters at creating together.
I wonder how much different Black Sabbath would have been if Iommi didn't spend time in Jethro Tull. Iommi said that he learned a lot from being with them, because Ian Anderson was so demanding.
I think the original “wall purges” lyrics were about witches though right? Lyrics:”Satan sends out funeral pyre Casts the priest into the fire It's the place for all bad sinners Watch them eating dead rat's innards”
Love when you do heavy albums, and especially Sabbath! For really spooky tunes for the season, Type O Negative is essential listening(yes, I know its not in the VM wheelhouse), but you've turned me on to some great bands, so here's my go to. BOO!
I would say that Blue Cheer Album "Vincebus Eruptum" in 1968 was the first Heavy Metal album.The Second album was "Iron Butterfly "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" in 1968. They were both from California and they both had an effect on the Metal Gene in the 1970's and 1980's Wiki on the influence of Iron Butterfly Their music has found a significant impact on the international rock scenes, influencing numerous acts such as Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Rush, Alice Cooper, Mountain, Uriah Heep, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Queens of the Stone Age.
If you haven't seen the live version of War Pigs in Paris from 1970 that one everyone should check out. Its better than the album version, and is early Sabbath.
Besides Black Sabbath, there were other artists from that time who were also early practitioners of Heavy Metal such as Deep Purple (Mk. II era), Uriah Heep, Sir Lord Baltimore, Randy Holden (ex-Blue Cheer guitarist), Lucifer's Friend, Wicked Lady, Iron Claw, Budgie, Pentagram, Flower Travellin' Band, Bang, Dust and others! You can debate all you want but Black Sabbath was definitely the first TRUE Metal band in terms of sound and imagery. They are the textbook definition of what a Heavy Metal band is! I used to be in a 70s Heavy Rock/Metal/NWOBHM phase from the age of 15 to 19 so I was absolutely OBSESSED with this era of heavy music. My music taste has gotten A LOT more diverse since then but I still love this era of Rock and Metal very much! My Metal journey wouldn't have started if it weren't for Sabbath.
Tony's fingertip severing accident was a driver of their power chord dominated sound. Less need for more intricate chords. He adapted through time though and added chord intricacies as well. Added: The Groundhogs actually inspired a lot of groups.
Just discovered your channel and great video! One of my favorite proto-metal bands that I recommend you give a listen to is Andromeda. They only released one album which was self-titled in 1969. Their song "Return To Sanity" opens with a riff that's very similar to the riff that plays throughout Sabbath's self-titled track. Sabbath actually opened for Andromeda in early 1970. Lead singer/guitarist John Du Cann is probably one of the greatest guitarist you've never heard of. After the disbanding of Andromeda, John joined Atomic Rooster. Atomic Rooster member Vincent Crane was also the organist for Arthur Brown. I also recommend checking out John Du Cann's bands prior to Andromeda, The Attack and The Five Day Week Straw People. They're more psych than metal, but still really good and I cannot recommend them enough! Other proto-metal bands I'll recommend are Wicked Lady (who recorded a number of songs from 1969-1972 but remained unreleased until the 90s), Iron Claw (who recorded a number of songs from 1970-1974 but remained unreleased until 2009), Bedemon (who recorded a number of songs from 1973-1974 but remained unreleased until 2005), and Pinnacle (who released one album called "Assassin" in 1974).
Ok, now this is freaky: as I sit here watching the end of your video where you reveal next week’s album, I just happen to have it sitting in my lap, preparing to enter it into my Discogs account (I picked up this vintage copy recently that a label on the outer bag identifies as a “censored” version, but playing the start of the second song I discovered it’s actually uncensored, which I consider an unexpected bonus.)
WOW you have some gold on your hands! i can imagine some kid in the 60s snuck an uncensored copy home in a censored sleeve. my back in the USA is a similar deal, i got an uncensored US copy. but you’ll hear more about that…and maybe high time too…next week
Paranoid is special as it is so many things: Sabbath's best album, Sabbath's signature album, and Sabbath's most successful album. And they hit a commercial peak without dumbing down anything about their style, message or attitude. These things rarely intersect. Truly a charmed work. I maintain that if Sabbath didn't actually "invent" heavy metal, they were the first band to consistently produce heavy metal. Unlike their peers like Led Zeppelin, they never really play the blues. They took the tools that Cream used and created a unique style of heavy rock that didn't refer directly back to the blues. It's a couple of steps removed. Other bands did this occasionally but Sabbath made a career of it.
Hey Abby, fun video as always! Check out "Population II" album by guitarist Randy Holden. It was recorded in 1969 before Black Sabbath's first LP. Randy played in the San Francisco band Blue Cheer in 1968 and early 1969. I attended many concerts back then in SF, LA, NYC, and London, and Blue Cheer were the heaviest bandI heard--certainly the LOUDEST. They never got the recognition they deserve. They were playing heavy psych music in 1966 and even heavier in 1967 when MC5 were still playing Stones-style garage rock, but by late 1968, some of Blue Cheer's live music definitely had the first "heavy metal" sound. In fact, there was no name for it back then. Guitarist Leigh Stephens left Blue Cheer and was replaced by Randy Holden who brought a darker, wicked sound to the band which foreshadowed the '70s metal sounds. You wouldn't know that just by listening to Blue Cheer albums. The LP "Population II" will give you an idea. I just wish the drums were louder in the mix. There was also an obscure early metal band from England but can't remember their name right now.
Great video paranoid use to be my all time favorite black Sabbath album but Sabbath bloody Sabbath is my all time favorite but paranoid is still a great album and in my opinion blue cheer invented heavy metal when they did summer time blues but that's my opinion keep it up Abby ❤❤❤❤ and I can't wait to testify
I agree . Rat Salad is Moby Dick . But Moby Dick is Cream's Jam called Toad. Also I think Black Sabbath invented Doom Metal but Judas Priest and Iron Maiden added all the bells and whistles that we recognize as metal today
I think the cover works better for Paranoid. If you're suffering from extreme (possibly drug-induced) paranoia, that's the kind of guy you'd expect to jump out of the bushes at you in the middle of the night. I own an oscillator. It belonged to my dad so I have a sentimental attachment to it. It makes the quiet bloopy noises on Planet Caravan (which for a long time I though was a flute). Ozzy's voice on the beginning of Iron Man was actually filtered through a ring modulator (same as Tony's guitar solo on Paranoid). And that's my nerd-out for the day. I'll show myself out.
The first metal band debate’s sorta trivial, mostly because before Sabbath,”louder” was indicative of projection but not quite the ending sound. Loudness did give us the happy byproduct of organic distortion but the desire to add more distortion also made it possible to not have to be loud in order to sound “loud”. It definitely set apart the folkier bands from the more rock bands. With that said, while Sabbath is known for being the first to popularize what became known as metal, even Ozzy said Motörhead edges them out by about 3-6 months. Charles Mingus deserves a little more mention being an early catalyst to metal’s foundation w/ the baseline to “Haitian Fight Song”
Man how awesome someone else gets it. I always think of Mingus as the Sabbath or Beethoven of jazz/bop . Heavy and metal are two separate things really .Heavy began before we even had language when the guys who could not carry a tune as well as others started banging on rocks.
The who "invented" heavy metal question is always fun to me. You find these bands you've never heard of making stuff as heavy as Sabbath and sometimes even before Sabbath. Of course Sabbath is probably the answer to the question for a full album, but I like to think the song 'Futilist's Lament' by High Tide from 1969 is the first metal song. They sound like Sabbath with a mix of Doors which sounds weird, but makes a lot of sense once you hear it
Even Pink Floyd (yes I know... PINK FLOYD) had "The Nile Song" 3 months before Black Sabbaths Black Sabbath Definitely not "heavy metal" but definitely part of the rising wave😉
Now I know that you know Astronomy Domine, careful with that axe Eugene, set the controls and saucerful of secrets To my mind they were heavy as f!?K for the times. But have you heard one in a million by floyd from 1967. Never released, But played in their jam band era. Listen to it and then compare it to electric funeral by Sabbath. I reckon Floyd beat Sabbath to metal by 3 years.
If Melvins can cover it in the early 90s and make little to no adjustments, the song is probably quite heavy. Let’s not pretend it sounds anything like another tune by then, possibly ever but definitely not on the More soundtrack soon after…
I’ll have to check out Power Of Zeus’s someday. Not sure where heavy metal began. But it became obvious with Black Sabbath’s debut. “Oh noooooooooooooooo!”
Black Sabbath at its best, obscure, violent, heavy. With creepy lyrics that have a very deep meaning. Not sure if there is an answer for who invented metal but definitely Black Sabbath marked the path to follow. I always thought that the cover was a weird picture of a flame or something and then one day I was staring at it and saw a face on it, and I was like What the... Not sure if it's a good or bad cover but definitely is an iconic picture.
Thanks for yet another grate vidio. I found you channle on Friday, and have now watched about 1/3 of it. And I am learning stuff about music I have been into for years, And finding some new band to listen to looking forward to trying out m?5 as never heard of them, Possibly because I am British. One thing I think, (and would love to be corrected / comment on by our dear Abigail, as I consider you a scholar ) Is most of the band here that have a few writers in the band normally 1 will wright one song, another will write a different song And other members may contribute ideas to that song, where as sabbath each did there part own part on most of there songs, making the fairly unique. Queen is the only band to have a number 1 single written one each of its members individually Keep up the good work, St Cecilia. Aka Abigail
for a time the MC5 were bigger in england than they were in the states: atlantic didn’t promote their second album over here but they promoted the hell out of it in europe. that album got into the hands of future members of the clash, the sex pistols, etc. - cue the accidental birth of punk!
I sort of agree the album is front loaded but after just skipping to the side 2 every time recently I think it just makes this album perfect for me, better than any early zeppelin record
Thanks for the heads up on Power Of Zeus, never heard of them but based on your tiny snippets, it was enough for me to order the cd (I've got no more room for vinyl I'm afraid) I look forward to the MC5's album. Do you know of any good books/documentaries on the music of Detroit? So much great music came out of that beat up forgotten city in the 70's. Sabbath in another life could easily have come from there. Cheers..
A lot of people don’t know Ed Van Halen was a big Sabbath fan and he and Tony kept in touch over the years. I think they even jammed together, would love to hear that
@@abigaildevoenot exactly, it's John Bonham playing the drums on Supernaut. He was best friends with Bill Ward but the rest of Zeppelin thought Sabbath was beneath them.
you should do twin fantasy!! ik its not that old only like 12 years old, but its great and imo it has had a huge influence on 2010's underground indie rock
i have a soft spot for car seat headrest, i unironically think drunk drivers killer whales and the ballad of the costa concordia are 2 of the best songs ever written. there’s always a chance for a modern month feature!
I think this was the start of metal, something very different at the time, yet still stands it’s ground today ☠️ Only saw them live once, but what a concert that was, the penultimate show at the O2 👍
"War Pigs, Electric Funeral, Rat Salad, and Fairies wear boots" are my most favorites, mainly because of the drumming and long instrumentation of the songs.
Tony losing the tips of his fingers in 1965 in a pressing plant. That’s the start of heavy metal ! Lol. And having to make plastic tips on his fingers to play the guitar. Plus slacking the strings easier to play. Gave him a unique sound no one else had ! I wonder if he sued the plant for negligence and they said to him - “ sorry mate we did you a favour “ ! Lol
I know that they didn't invent it but it surprises me that in this debate, the Pink Floyd song The Nile Song from the More Soundtrack album released in 1969 isn't brought up. if you ask me its a lot heavier than Helter Skelter by a long shot and is a crushing song yet no one mentions it
In 1967 pink Floyd wrote a song called one in a million. It isn't very good, but it is a very early doom metal song. And surprisingly the riff sounds the same as electric funeral from Sabbath over 3 years later. Floyd amongst other early bands has to be talked about as a proto metal.
It was a New York music critic back in the day, writing in his collumn about what he thought after seeing Led Zeppelin live, it sounded like heavy metal falling from the sky! And the term heavy metal was born.
so who/what DID “invent” metal anyway? comment below!
Sabbath invent metal. But Judas Priest made metal gain popularity.
Dunno but I was listening to vol 4 this very morning and there's a track so very like While My Guitar Gently Weeps. Just my opinion.
I think of Sabbath as the prime instigators of the genre as we know it I must say.
The Kinks, Blue Cheer. Some say Link Wray ("Rumble")
Black Sabbath invented heavy metal. (They also invented a couple of other genres.) They were the first heavy rock group to break lyrically and musically from the blues.
I’ve Always Though That In - A - Gadda - Da - Vida Started Metal With That Killer Fuzz Tone
a favorite comment i made years age about black sabbath was "Who knew there were that many bass lines?"
I did childcare for A.A. meetings from 1982 to 2009. One Sunday morning in 1993 I was at the Pan Pacific Park meeting room quad (grassy patch outside) waiting for kids and their parents to arrive and I saw a guy in a blue track suit standing, slouching, looking to the south. "That dude looks like Ozzy!" I thought. "That is Ozzie", I thought. The kids arrived, we went to the playground on the other side of the building. Later that year I stood behind David Bowie in the coffee line, same meeting. When he had filled his cup and turned around we made eye contact and I said "thanks for everything" and he smiled and nodded.
I’m not sure any one band created metal but Sabbath most certainly put it on the map
Many artists contributed to the sound, but Black Sabbath managed to take all of the elements, combine them all together and while they didn’t create the genre, they certainly refined it and made it popular.
It’s kinda like how John Carpenter’s Halloween popularized the Slasher Film genre but it didn’t invent the genre. Other films like Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Black Christmas, and a few others certainly contributed to the creation of the Slasher genre, but Halloween was the film that perfected the formula and certainly popularized it, which spawned many imitators.
This album was the only Sabbath record(besides a few Ozzy solo albums) that I ever listened to and owned.Believe it or not, I had bought my copy used(and scratched up)at a yard sale across the street from where my family once lived!Good video as usual Abby!!!
Great outfit today, as it goes perfectly with the album in question.
The north and midlands of England are to blame for a disproportionate amount of grit in rock. It's the soundtrack to their lot in life, as an outlet for their rage, and ultimate kindness. Best people on earth (no I'm not from there).
The boring answer is nobody invented metal. Many people contributed to its development over a period of time, same with every other genre or art form.
yup, and genres are almost completely arbitrary too. we can’t really agree on what music is either. it’s all just good vibrations
It’s like fire. It just happened
This. Lots of people were playing with distortion, and the newer technical improvements meant that it could be played louder, and that brought out even more innovation as bands played within the new parameters. Metal was born of big amps, big wattage, and effects that could bring out that heavy sound.
Yeah but Black Sabbath is such a heavy metal name 😅 🖤
I always say it was the will of the people.
From now on, I'm calling it 'Iron Bloke'.
i fully endorse this
They were on Top of the Pops in 1978 as well. They used to have all sorts of people on, even Judas Priest and Motorhead.
Yes, Never Say Die, or was that 1979? Osborne was dressed and posing to appeal to his 13 year old fans, ie the ones that had grown out of Gary Glitter. The two of them had a similar kind of charisma in their Top of the Pops performances.
Don't forget Girlschool.
Going to check out Power of Zeus today. Appreciate this album getting the Abby treatment!
Ha ha you are the best. Black Sabbath is one of my top 4 favorite bands! Mondays are now my favorite day!
I am a Brummie and a Black Sabbath fanatic. I would say they created a heavier sound that grew to a distinction of newer originality that no one did achieve something like it before besides others who are involved in an earlier sound of the genre like Blue Cheer with their first two albums, yet they sound like blues type/psychedelic with lots of distortion/fuzz. Some people think Zeppelin did it earlier and Deep Purple, but Sabbath were one of the first bands to develop darker and unapologetic sounds, which was a new thing at the time. Awesome video Abby and your channel is inspiring and well documented. I've been a new subscriber for a few weeks and was blown away with your awesome dedication and passion for your videos. Also, I do recommend Geezer Butler's brilliant biography from his early beginnings to his time with Sabbath and he details a lot of great stuff.
Sabbath was the first to embrace occult themes and imagery. Those things became synonymous with metal. I think that's Sabbath's greatest contribution to the creation of Heavy Metal.
I am ready. I AM so ready. It won't even take me one second to decide, brothers and sisters.
Abbie you make me fall in love with music all over again. Thanks for all you do! I hope I'm not remiss in saying after 5 days of watching your channel I have such a parasocial crush on you. :)
I just thought you would film it and here you are! Love Paranoid!
I like your Ozzy impression.
Electric Funeral is mind blowing!!! I was born in the 90's where heavy/doom metal was very commom yet this song hits just as the same, so dark and industrial and diabolical...again, those dudes are time travellers hahah people were dancing Disco and Sabbath was doing THIS!
In my experience "at that time" this WAS the heavy metal album that changed music. I was so inspired I used Electric Funeral for an English multi media project. I took photos of headstone at sunset and played Sabbath.
After the show the audiance was absolutely silent and so was the teacher. I still consider that as a success.
Some students never looked at me the same way afterwards. Another success.
"Back then," I was listening to bands like Chickenshack and The Groundhogs. My relatives and friends in Birmingham (UK) hooked me up with Black Sabbath. "War Pigs" is a definite slam on "the military/industrial complex." Thanks, Abigail.
Take a bow Birmingham. Wow is this the first time I've heard the 'hogs' mentioned in these pages. Thank Christ for the Bomb is a 10.
Thank you abigal for turning me on to a new band ive never heard of from my fav era of music... Power of zues...🤘😈🍀
I played this album to death in my teens. Still do today! They really cemented their image (and guitar tone) with songs like Iron Man and Paranoid but there are great 'deep cuts' like Hand Of Doom, Fairies Wear Boots. The album is front to back killer material. My favorite Sabbath album along with Masters.
Excellent video Young Lady. And i never been much of a Black Sabbath listener. Good job.
Abby, your chanell is one of the best, if not the best music chanell on youtube. You are amazing!
I think you seriously underestimate Deep Purple Abigail, "In Rock" and "Machine Head" are early 70's hard rock masterpieces, easily the match of their famous contemporaries. They simply cannot be dismissed and must be investigated when exploring this genre of rock.
One of my favorite of the genre and era, but I can clearly understand what Ozzie Dash fronted Sabbath could do for someone that they don’t pick up in MK2 or MK3 Deep Purple music. I am pretty worn out on both currently. If I were to grab a deep purple album from my rack right now it may be a Rod Evans one honestly. Just because I am currently over saturated with early day is heavy metal or proto metal or whatever you prefer.
I prefer the theory about the Unholy Trinity of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal: Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath. The heaviest rock bands that I care to listen are probably AC/DC and Metallica, I'm not really interested in black metal or death metal because of deep growling vocals. I think nowadays "metal" means far more extreme music that it was in the 1970s and 1980s.
Great review loved the insight on the heavy metal , great job . This still one of my favorites!
GREAT Vinyl Monday, Abby! I can’t believe this was made in 30 hours! Dayum. ‘War Pigs’ is such a beast- the live version from Paris 1970 is a massive banger. Thanks for doing what you do!
Dignan in Bellingham
Good show, I really enjoyed this one 🤟
Yet another entertaining review, looking forward to the next one!. Thank you.🦂
one of my favorite all time albums for sure.
You’ve earned real respect in this review. I mean you know what you’re talking about! War Pigs is the best song Sabbath ever did and that is saying a lot!
"Planet Caravan" is a timeless, beautiful track, my favorite song by Black Sabbath, though not their most typical. "War Pigs" is as timeless in its own right, tragically, though the song is a masterpiece.
The tune didn’t originate with Django Reinhardt, although he does a great version. Duke Ellington composed it in the 1930s. My favorite version is on Money Jungle, the collaboration between Ellington, Charlie Mingus, and Max Roach (which is a fantastic album).
But I can totally see how Sabbath was influenced by the Django Reinhardt cover. It’s got a super thick sound.
@@MarcosElMalo2 I'm sorry, I think you must have meant to reply to another poster, as I made no mention in my comment of Django Reinhardt or the other jazz greats you cited.
One of their best deep cuts
@@konowd It was covered very well by Pantera in 1994, this version also promoted by a stellar music video, one of the most interesting specimens of that often dubious genre I've seen.
I actually listened to the first four Black Sabbath albums for the first time this month for Halloween
The mighty BLACK SABBATH ALWAYS 🤘
Cool to see im not the only younger person in to that era of music. Always found the very early years of heavy metal to be the most interesting and sabbath is my all time favorite band. If you havent heard it id reccomend Skullcrusher by Iron claw 1970. Very sabbathy, very cool cheers
that mc5 video is gonna be awesome
Another nicely put together outfit! And bangs work for you !!!
Tony's fingers played a major role in creating the sound. Since he could not use his two middle fingers as effectively as his first and fourth fingers due to his accident, he started playing what we now call 'power chords'. He also tuned down to slack the strings a bit - again because of his damaged fingers. Finally, he played LOUD because he wanted to create a wall of sound to compensate for his playing style. He felt that his sound was too thin, so he increased distortion and volume. So, I would argue that Tony Iommi contributed the most towards the heavy metal sound.
Sounds like Warner Bros was "Paranoid," not Black Sabbath. Great deep dive Abby! Always. 🤘☮
Power of Zeus rocks. I found a re-press of that thing in the early 2000s. Lots of interesting records came out on Rare Earth label. Pretty Things SF Sorrow and UFO's debut were released on Rare Earth in the US for example. Thanks for another great Vinyl Monday.
Abby, speaking of S.F Sorrow.
Hand of doom is such a great song .
I just happened to stumble on this video, so glad I did! This was great! War Pigs is one of my favorite songs of all time. Pink Floyd's "Time" is my top song though!
I bought this album when I was in North Carolina back in 1972. What an eye opener!
If Geezer could have his way, he’d retitle Paranoid to Depression! He even said that in an interview once! In that same interview Ozzy said “Ummm yahm ooh ah!”😉
“We spent a whole day making our first album, our second one even took longer” sounds very Spinal Tap!
Fab video Abigail! ❤❤❤
thanks! LOL gotta love ozz. he saves all his words for the stage, everything else is mumbling at best!
i wouldn’t be surprised if that bit in spinal tap was inspired by the way sabbath recorded
I think you’re right!❤
Great job Abby. I’m very old and bought this album with cash I should have used to buy my school lunches with. There’s no obvious single winner of the “ Who Invented Heavy Metal” award in my opinion. You could even make a case for Cream, Hendrix or Zep in terms of riffs and high volume but certainly Sabbaff had the “ sound / tonality” we all recognise as typical of the genre. Stay safe, stay happy, stay you. Best wishes from England 🏴.
I love Paranoid....hell i love all the Sabbath albums....even the Dio albums (almost as much as the Ozzy stuff....in some ways more) BUT Vol. 4 is where its at! Vol. 4 is the ULTIMATE Black Sabbath record!
Great vid and excellent taste in music!
There is actually a band named "Gang Green" they were part of the '80's hardcore scene in Boston....and one of the fastest band of the era....
The song "Paranoid" had a big influence on the hardcore scene that would develop in the very late '70's and into the '80's.....
You made my day with Power of Zeus.
THANK YOU !
As Ozzy would say: OH, YEAH!, Abby!
"Old Man Going" by The Pretty Things is from 1968 and sounds very proto-metal
Great song that
Defecting Grey too!
Yes it’s a nice song but not metal at all.
@spellman007 Yes, not metal. Hence "proto-metal"
Black Sabbath was a fine tuned machine during the first album and this one. They cut their teeth in Hamburg in the same clubs the Beatles played in. Same as the Beatles, they played 8 hour sets, 6 days a week. This is one of the main reasons they took so little time to record. They had it all down already, pretty much, and were masters at creating together.
"Sabbath just took us by the hand and led us to the monolith." FOOK YEAH!
I wonder how much different Black Sabbath would have been if Iommi didn't spend time in Jethro Tull. Iommi said that he learned a lot from being with them, because Ian Anderson was so demanding.
I think the original “wall purges” lyrics were about witches though right?
Lyrics:”Satan sends out funeral pyre
Casts the priest into the fire
It's the place for all bad sinners
Watch them eating dead rat's innards”
sir lord baltmore and dust , both deserve a mention here
Love when you do heavy albums, and especially Sabbath! For really spooky tunes for the season, Type O Negative is essential listening(yes, I know its not in the VM wheelhouse), but you've turned me on to some great bands, so here's my go to. BOO!
lol i listened to so much type O negative in high school
😄
@@abigaildevoe
I would say that Blue Cheer Album "Vincebus Eruptum" in 1968 was the first Heavy Metal album.The Second album was "Iron Butterfly "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" in 1968. They were both from California and they both had an effect on the Metal Gene in the 1970's and 1980's
Wiki on the influence of Iron Butterfly
Their music has found a significant impact on the international rock scenes, influencing numerous acts such as Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Rush, Alice Cooper, Mountain, Uriah Heep, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Queens of the Stone Age.
Ever really listen to the whole In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida lp? There is like one other heavy track, the rest is flowers and beads and "are you happy!" :)
@@natemendsen1629 I used to own the LP back in the 1980's.I got it at a used record store.
Blue Cheer and Iron Butterfly are hard rock or heavy rock, not metal. Metal is when the singer plays second fiddle to the guitar riffs.
If you haven't seen the live version of War Pigs in Paris from 1970 that one everyone should check out. Its better than the album version, and is early Sabbath.
Love Planet Caravan...Black Sabbath was a band that was wayyy better than I thought.
It's my favorite Black Sabbath track. Pantera did a wonderful cover of the song in 1994 (great music video to accompany that one as well).
Besides Black Sabbath, there were other artists from that time who were also early practitioners of Heavy Metal such as Deep Purple (Mk. II era), Uriah Heep, Sir Lord Baltimore, Randy Holden (ex-Blue Cheer guitarist), Lucifer's Friend, Wicked Lady, Iron Claw, Budgie, Pentagram, Flower Travellin' Band, Bang, Dust and others! You can debate all you want but Black Sabbath was definitely the first TRUE Metal band in terms of sound and imagery. They are the textbook definition of what a Heavy Metal band is!
I used to be in a 70s Heavy Rock/Metal/NWOBHM phase from the age of 15 to 19 so I was absolutely OBSESSED with this era of heavy music. My music taste has gotten A LOT more diverse since then but I still love this era of Rock and Metal very much! My Metal journey wouldn't have started if it weren't for Sabbath.
There's nothing spookier than nuclear war. This was a great choice to end this series on!
In depth and detailed, as always.
Tony's fingertip severing accident was a driver of their power chord dominated sound. Less need for more intricate chords. He adapted through time though and added chord intricacies as well. Added: The Groundhogs actually inspired a lot of groups.
Just discovered your channel and great video! One of my favorite proto-metal bands that I recommend you give a listen to is Andromeda. They only released one album which was self-titled in 1969. Their song "Return To Sanity" opens with a riff that's very similar to the riff that plays throughout Sabbath's self-titled track. Sabbath actually opened for Andromeda in early 1970. Lead singer/guitarist John Du Cann is probably one of the greatest guitarist you've never heard of. After the disbanding of Andromeda, John joined Atomic Rooster. Atomic Rooster member Vincent Crane was also the organist for Arthur Brown. I also recommend checking out John Du Cann's bands prior to Andromeda, The Attack and The Five Day Week Straw People. They're more psych than metal, but still really good and I cannot recommend them enough!
Other proto-metal bands I'll recommend are Wicked Lady (who recorded a number of songs from 1969-1972 but remained unreleased until the 90s), Iron Claw (who recorded a number of songs from 1970-1974 but remained unreleased until 2009), Bedemon (who recorded a number of songs from 1973-1974 but remained unreleased until 2005), and Pinnacle (who released one album called "Assassin" in 1974).
Ok, now this is freaky: as I sit here watching the end of your video where you reveal next week’s album, I just happen to have it sitting in my lap, preparing to enter it into my Discogs account (I picked up this vintage copy recently that a label on the outer bag identifies as a “censored” version, but playing the start of the second song I discovered it’s actually uncensored, which I consider an unexpected bonus.)
WOW you have some gold on your hands! i can imagine some kid in the 60s snuck an uncensored copy home in a censored sleeve.
my back in the USA is a similar deal, i got an uncensored US copy. but you’ll hear more about that…and maybe high time too…next week
I find it absolutely unbelievable that 3 of the greatest songs of all time are all on the same album. War Pigs, Iron Man, and Paranoid.
War Pigs sounds like something written by a 6th grader.
Paranoid is special as it is so many things: Sabbath's best album, Sabbath's signature album, and Sabbath's most successful album. And they hit a commercial peak without dumbing down anything about their style, message or attitude. These things rarely intersect. Truly a charmed work.
I maintain that if Sabbath didn't actually "invent" heavy metal, they were the first band to consistently produce heavy metal. Unlike their peers like Led Zeppelin, they never really play the blues. They took the tools that Cream used and created a unique style of heavy rock that didn't refer directly back to the blues. It's a couple of steps removed. Other bands did this occasionally but Sabbath made a career of it.
I agree. Paranoid, then Vol.4 for me.
Just an FYI, Django Reinhardt also had a crippled fretting hand. It was disfigured in a fire.
Enjoyed this review.
Abbie is so cool ❤
Hey Abby, fun video as always! Check out "Population II" album by guitarist Randy Holden. It was recorded in 1969 before Black Sabbath's first LP. Randy played in the San Francisco band Blue Cheer in 1968 and early 1969. I attended many concerts back then in SF, LA, NYC, and London, and Blue Cheer were the heaviest bandI heard--certainly the LOUDEST. They never got the recognition they deserve. They were playing heavy psych music in 1966 and even heavier in 1967 when MC5 were still playing Stones-style garage rock, but by late 1968, some of Blue Cheer's live music definitely had the first "heavy metal" sound. In fact, there was no name for it back then. Guitarist Leigh Stephens left Blue Cheer and was replaced by Randy Holden who brought a darker, wicked sound to the band which foreshadowed the '70s metal sounds. You wouldn't know that just by listening to Blue Cheer albums. The LP "Population II" will give you an idea. I just wish the drums were louder in the mix. There was also an obscure early metal band from England but can't remember their name right now.
Great video paranoid use to be my all time favorite black Sabbath album but Sabbath bloody Sabbath is my all time favorite but paranoid is still a great album and in my opinion blue cheer invented heavy metal when they did summer time blues but that's my opinion keep it up Abby ❤❤❤❤ and I can't wait to testify
Someone I knew from that time period, said he never really heard the term "Heavy Metal" until late 1970's and early 80's.
I agree . Rat Salad is Moby Dick . But Moby Dick is Cream's Jam called Toad. Also I think Black Sabbath invented Doom Metal but Judas Priest and Iron Maiden added all the bells and whistles that we recognize as metal today
Love the 60's vibes! ☮️
Great video as always!
I think the cover works better for Paranoid. If you're suffering from extreme (possibly drug-induced) paranoia, that's the kind of guy you'd expect to jump out of the bushes at you in the middle of the night.
I own an oscillator. It belonged to my dad so I have a sentimental attachment to it. It makes the quiet bloopy noises on Planet Caravan (which for a long time I though was a flute). Ozzy's voice on the beginning of Iron Man was actually filtered through a ring modulator (same as Tony's guitar solo on Paranoid). And that's my nerd-out for the day. I'll show myself out.
I own an orgone accumulator if that helps? 💀
Have to set up a sonic attack then @@LANCSKID
@@TerenceShortman Yes, perhaps so. Unfortunately, my Android Replica is playing up again … oh, it’s no joke … 💀
I gotta say this dress was made for all things Sabbath.
The first metal band debate’s sorta trivial, mostly because before Sabbath,”louder” was indicative of projection but not quite the ending sound. Loudness did give us the happy byproduct of organic distortion but the desire to add more distortion also made it possible to not have to be loud in order to sound “loud”. It definitely set apart the folkier bands from the more rock bands. With that said, while Sabbath is known for being the first to popularize what became known as metal, even Ozzy said Motörhead edges them out by about 3-6 months. Charles Mingus deserves a little more mention being an early catalyst to metal’s foundation w/ the baseline to “Haitian Fight Song”
Man how awesome someone else gets it. I always think of Mingus as the Sabbath or Beethoven of jazz/bop . Heavy and metal are two separate things really .Heavy began before we even had language when the guys who could not carry a tune as well as others started banging on rocks.
🌠🐻 oooh ABBY BEAR ! Good one !!!
1:58 Great Ozzy impression by Abbie 😂
thank you i really channeled my inner ozz for that one
Great, now i wont be able to sleep just thinking about this !
The who "invented" heavy metal question is always fun to me. You find these bands you've never heard of making stuff as heavy as Sabbath and sometimes even before Sabbath. Of course Sabbath is probably the answer to the question for a full album, but I like to think the song 'Futilist's Lament' by High Tide from 1969 is the first metal song. They sound like Sabbath with a mix of Doors which sounds weird, but makes a lot of sense once you hear it
I love the B-side!
Even Pink Floyd (yes I know... PINK FLOYD) had "The Nile Song" 3 months before Black Sabbaths Black Sabbath
Definitely not "heavy metal" but definitely part of the rising wave😉
Now I know that you know Astronomy Domine, careful with that axe Eugene, set the controls and saucerful of secrets To my mind they were heavy as f!?K for the times. But have you heard one in a million by floyd from 1967. Never released, But played in their jam band era. Listen to it and then compare it to electric funeral by Sabbath.
I reckon Floyd beat Sabbath to metal by 3 years.
If Melvins can cover it in the early 90s and make little to no adjustments, the song is probably quite heavy. Let’s not pretend it sounds anything like another tune by then, possibly ever but definitely not on the More soundtrack soon after…
I’ll have to check out Power Of Zeus’s someday.
Not sure where heavy metal began. But it became obvious with Black Sabbath’s debut.
“Oh noooooooooooooooo!”
Black Sabbath at its best, obscure, violent, heavy. With creepy lyrics that have a very deep meaning. Not sure if there is an answer for who invented metal but definitely Black Sabbath marked the path to follow.
I always thought that the cover was a weird picture of a flame or something and then one day I was staring at it and saw a face on it, and I was like What the... Not sure if it's a good or bad cover but definitely is an iconic picture.
I heard recently that Ozzy said the Iron Man into into a Leslie rotating speaker, I heard the story it was a fan too
Thanks for yet another grate vidio.
I found you channle on Friday, and have now watched about 1/3 of it. And I am learning stuff about music I have been into for years,
And finding some new band to listen to looking forward to trying out m?5 as never heard of them, Possibly because I am British.
One thing I think, (and would love to be corrected / comment on by our dear Abigail, as I consider you a scholar )
Is most of the band here that have a few writers in the band normally 1 will wright one song, another will write a different song
And other members may contribute ideas to that song, where as sabbath each did there part own part on most of there songs, making the fairly unique.
Queen is the only band to have a number 1 single written one each of its members individually
Keep up the good work, St Cecilia. Aka Abigail
for a time the MC5 were bigger in england than they were in the states: atlantic didn’t promote their second album over here but they promoted the hell out of it in europe. that album got into the hands of future members of the clash, the sex pistols, etc. - cue the accidental birth of punk!
Great content!! Would love for you to do Vol 4.
Yes. I was there.
I sort of agree the album is front loaded but after just skipping to the side 2 every time recently I think it just makes this album perfect for me, better than any early zeppelin record
Thanks for the heads up on Power Of Zeus, never heard of them but based on your tiny snippets, it was enough for me to order the cd (I've got no more room for vinyl I'm afraid)
I look forward to the MC5's album. Do you know of any good books/documentaries on the music of Detroit? So much great music came out of that beat up forgotten city in the 70's.
Sabbath in another life could easily have come from there. Cheers..
A lot of people don’t know Ed Van Halen was a big Sabbath fan and he and Tony kept in touch over the years. I think they even jammed together, would love to hear that
there's tape out there somewhere of a black sabbath/zeppelin jam session, i'd love to hear that too
Holy shit that would be metal nirvana (not the band). The label used to bill Sabbath as “Louder Than Zeppelin”
@@abigaildevoenot exactly, it's John Bonham playing the drums on Supernaut. He was best friends with Bill Ward but the rest of Zeppelin thought Sabbath was beneath them.
you should do twin fantasy!! ik its not that old only like 12 years old, but its great and imo it has had a huge influence on 2010's underground indie rock
i have a soft spot for car seat headrest, i unironically think drunk drivers killer whales and the ballad of the costa concordia are 2 of the best songs ever written. there’s always a chance for a modern month feature!
Yes. Invented in Birmingham, England. To be exact Aston. Which is about 2 hours away from me.
I think this was the start of metal, something very different at the time, yet still stands it’s ground today ☠️
Only saw them live once, but what a concert that was, the penultimate show at the O2 👍
"War Pigs, Electric Funeral, Rat Salad, and Fairies wear boots" are my most favorites, mainly because of the drumming and long instrumentation of the songs.
Tony losing the tips of his fingers in 1965 in a pressing plant. That’s the start of heavy metal ! Lol. And having to make plastic tips on his fingers to play the guitar. Plus slacking the strings easier to play. Gave him a unique sound no one else had ! I wonder if he sued the plant for negligence and they said to him - “ sorry mate we did you a favour “ ! Lol
I know that they didn't invent it but it surprises me that in this debate, the Pink Floyd song The Nile Song from the More Soundtrack album released in 1969 isn't brought up. if you ask me its a lot heavier than Helter Skelter by a long shot and is a crushing song yet no one mentions it
In 1967 pink Floyd wrote a song called one in a million. It isn't very good, but it is a very early doom metal song. And surprisingly the riff sounds the same as electric funeral from Sabbath over 3 years later.
Floyd amongst other early bands has to be talked about as a proto metal.
probably because a lot of people totally forget about more (myself included!)
It was a New York music critic back in the day, writing in his collumn about what he thought after seeing Led Zeppelin live, it sounded like heavy metal falling from the sky! And the term heavy metal was born.
I thought it was Hendrix.