Paranoid (album)
Paranoid is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Released in September 1970, the album was the only one by the band to top the UK Albums Chart, and as a result is commonly identified as the band's Magnum Opus. Paranoid has been certified seven times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry and contains some of the band's best-known signature songs, including the title track, "Iron Man" and "War Pigs".
Background and recording
After the release of their eponymous debut album in February 1970, Black Sabbath returned to the studio in June that year, again with producer Rodger Bain, to record their second album. The album was recorded at Regent Sound Studios and Island Studios in London, England. The album's eponymous single "Paranoid" was written in the studio at the last minute.
As drummer Bill Ward explains: "We didn't have enough songs for the album, and Tony just played the "Paranoid" guitar lick and that was it. It took twenty, twenty-five minutes from top to bottom."[1]
Album title and artwork
The album was originally titled War Pigs, but allegedly the record company changed it to Paranoid, fearing backlash from supporters of the ongoing Vietnam War.[2] At the time, the band felt that the song was lighter, with the potential to become a single.[3] Additionaly the studio felt the title track was more marketable as a single. However, the band's visual interpretation of a "war pig" was still featured on the cover; a distorted, eerie photograph of a bearded man with a sword and shield jumping out from behind a tree.
The original UK vinyl release was in a gatefold sleeve. The inner of the gatefold had a black and white photo of the band, posed outdoors on a grassy hill, and was their first appearance on album artwork. To spread the original picture over the gatefold, Ozzy Osbourne was separated from the other members of the band and a section of the grass was copied and dropped into the gap. This is only readily apparent if one compares it with the original photograph.
Release, reception and legacy
In the decades succeeding its initial distribution, Paranoid has been regarded by many as Black Sabbath's best album, not to mention the best heavy metal album of all time[1]. The "Paranoid" single, released before the album, reached number four in the UK. Pushed by its success, the album hit number one in the UK, and is the only Black Sabbath album to have done so. The US release was held until January 1971, as the Black Sabbath album was still on the charts at the time of Paranoid's UK release. The album broke into the top twenty in the US in March 1971, and would go on to sell four million copies in the US alone. Paranoid's chart success in the US allowed the band to tour there for the first time in December 1970. This spawned the release of the album's second single "Iron Man", and although it failed to reach the top 40, "Iron Man" remains one of Black Sabbath's most popular songs. In addition, it is considered to be Vertigo's breakthrough release.
Like its predecessor the album was panned by music critics of the era, with Robert Christgau referring to it as "camp, like a horror movie" and grading it a C-.[6] However, modern-day music critics are much more favourable towards the album than those of the time. Such as, Allmusic's Steve Huey, who cites Paranoid as "one of the greatest and most influential heavy metal albums of all time", which "defined the sound and style of metal, more than any other record in history"[4] and Ben Mitchell of Blender calling it "the greatest metal album of all time".[5]
- In 1999, Q magazine (12/99, p. 170) included it in their list of The Best Gothic Albums Of All Time, writing that, "[Black Sabbath] stamped their bombastic and doom-laden imprint on British rock forever."
- In 1999, Vibe (12/99, p. 162) included it on their list of 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century.
- In 2003, the album was ranked number 130 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[7]
- In 2006, the album was ranked number 6 on Guitar World magazine's list of The Greatest 100 Guitar Albums of All Time.[8]
Track listing
All songs credited to Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
Original LP
- Side one
- "War Pigs" – 7:55
- "Paranoid" – 2:47
- "Planet Caravan" – 4:30
- "Iron Man" – 5:58
- Side two
- "Electric Funeral" – 4:47
- "Hand of Doom" – 7:07
- "Rat Salad" – 2:29
- "Fairies Wear Boots" – 6:13
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CD Issue
- 2009 deluxe edition disc three
- "War Pigs" (instrumental) – 8:00
- "Paranoid" (alternative lyrics) – 2:50
- "Planet Caravan" (alternative lyrics) – 4:34
- "Iron Man" (instrumental) – 5:56
- "Electric Funeral" (instrumental) – 4:52
- "Hand of Doom" (instrumental) – 7:07
- "Rat Salad" (alternative mix) – 2:30
- "Fairies Wear Boots" (instrumental)– 6:14
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- Notes
- On the North American edition of the album, the songs "War Pigs" and "Fairies Wear Boots" were entitled "War Pigs/Luke's Wall" and "Jack The Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots", respectively.
- Disc one of the 2009 deluxe edition of the album featured the original album on CD, while disc two featured the 1974 quadraphonic mix of the album on DVD.
- The Castle Communication edition (1986) featured a live version of "Wicked World" which is 18:51 long.
Personnel
- Black Sabbath
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- Additional personnel
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Charts
| Chart (1970) |
Peak
position |
| Norwegian Albums Chart[9] |
5 |
| UK Albums Chart[10] |
1 |
| Chart (1971) |
Peak
position |
| US Billboard 200[11] |
12 |
|
| Country |
Certification |
| Canada (CRIA) |
Platinum[12] |
| United States (RIAA) |
4× Platinum[13] |
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Release history
| Region |
Date |
Label |
Format |
Catalog |
| United Kingdom |
18 September 1970 |
Vertigo Records |
LP album |
6360 011 |
| Europe |
September 1970 |
Vertigo Records |
LP album |
6360 011 |
| United States |
7 January 1971 |
Warner Bros. Records |
LP album |
3104-2 |
| United Kingdom (reissue) |
December 1973 |
WWA |
LP album |
WWA 007 |
| United States (reissue) |
1975 |
Warner Bros. Records |
LP album |
WS4 |
| United Kingdom (reissue) |
January 1976 |
NEMS |
LP album |
NEL 6003 |
| United Kingdom (reissue) |
28 February 1996 |
Castle Communications |
Compact Disc |
ESMCD302 |
| United Kingdom (reissue) |
2004 |
Sanctuary Records |
Compact Disc |
SMRCD032 |
| United Kingdom (deluxe) |
30 March 2009 |
Sanctuary Records |
Double CD+DVD |
1782444 |
See also
References
- Rosen, Steven (1996), The Story of Black Sabbath: Wheels of Confusion, Castle Communications, ISBN 1-86074-149-5
Notes
- ↑ Rosen 1996, p. 57
- ↑ "The 100 greatest albums". Channel 4. http://www.channel4.com/entertainment/tv/microsites/G/greatest/albums/1-25.html. Retrieved 7 September 2004.
- ↑ Tice, Russell H. (1 January 1999). "Classic Tracks: Black Sabbath's "Paranoid"". Mix. http://mixonline.com/mag/audio_classic_tracks_black/. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Huey, Steve. "Review Paranoid". Allmusic. http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wifoxql5ldte~T1. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Mitchell, Ben. "Review Paranoid". Blender. Alpha Media. http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/52465/paranoid.html. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Christgau, Robert. "Review Paranoid". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=6409. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ↑ "The RS 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. 18 November 2003. http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5938174/the_rs_500_greatest_albums_of_all_time/2. Retrieved 31 August 2009.
- ↑ Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Albums of All Time at Rate Your Music
- ↑ "Discography Black Sabbath". norwegiancharts.com. http://norwegiancharts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
- ↑ "Chart Stats - Black Sabbath". Chart Stats. http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=2203. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
- ↑ "Black Sabbath > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:gifoxqw5ldse~T5. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
- ↑ "Search Certification Database". Canadian Recording Industry Association. http://cria.ca/cert_db_search.php. Retrieved December 19, 2009. Note: User must manually define 'title' search parameter as "Paranoid".
- ↑ "Search Results". Recording Industry Association of America. December 19, 2009. http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=Paranoid&artist=Black%20Sabbath&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
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Black Sabbath |
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Tony Iommi • Ozzy Osbourne • Geezer Butler • Bill Ward
Ronnie James Dio • Vinny Appice • Geoff Nicholls • Tony Martin • Ian Gillan • Glenn Hughes • Ray Gillen • Neil Murray • Cozy Powell • Bev Bevan • Jo Burt • Terry Chimes • Bob Daisley • Bobby Rondinelli • Eric Singer • Dave Spitz • Dave Walker |
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| Studio albums |
Black Sabbath • Paranoid • Master of Reality • Black Sabbath Vol. 4 • Sabbath Bloody Sabbath • Sabotage • Technical Ecstasy • Never Say Die! • Heaven and Hell • Mob Rules • Born Again • Seventh Star • The Eternal Idol • Headless Cross • Tyr • Dehumanizer • Cross Purposes • Forbidden
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| Live albums |
Live Evil • Cross Purposes Live • Reunion • Past Lives • Live at Hammersmith Odeon
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| Compilations |
We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll • The Collection • The Sabbath Stones • Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978 • Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970–1978) • Greatest Hits 1970–1978 • The Dio Years • The Rules of Hell
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| Unofficial albums |
Live at Last • The Sabbath Collection • The Ozzy Osbourne Years • Under Wheels of Confusion • The Best of Black Sabbath • Club Sonderauflage
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Singles
and other songs |
"Evil Woman" • "N.I.B." • "Paranoid" • "Iron Man" • "War Pigs" • "Fairies Wear Boots" • "Sweet Leaf" • "Children of the Grave" • "Changes" • "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" • "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" • "Dirty Women" • "Never Say Die!" • "Neon Knights" • "Heaven and Hell" • "Die Young" • "The Mob Rules" • "Turn Up the Night" • "Trashed" • "No Stranger to Love" • "TV Crimes" • "Psycho Man" • "The Devil Cried"
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| Videos |
Never Say Die • Black and Blue • The Black Sabbath Story, Vol. 1 • The Black Sabbath Story, Vol. 2 • The Last Supper • Inside Black Sabbath - 1970–1992 • Black Sabbath's Paranoid • Rock Review • In Their Own Words • Hangin' with Heaven and Hell
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| Related articles |
Discography • Members • Heaven & Hell (tour) • Mythology • In These Black Days • Nativity in Black • Martin Birch • Born Again Tour 1983
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 Book:Black Sabbath ·  Category:Black Sabbath ·  Portal:Heavy metal |
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