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 four times platinum by the RIAA and contains some of the band's best-known signature songs, including the title track, "Iron Man" and "War Pigs".
[edit] Background and recording
After the release of their 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 to fulfill the record label's request for a single.
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]
The song "Iron Man" was originally entitled "Iron Bloke". Upon hearing the main guitar riff for the first time, Ozzy Osbourne remarked that it sounded "like a big iron bloke walking around". The title was later changed to "Iron Man".[2]
[edit] 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.[3] At the time, the band felt that the song was lighter, with the potential to become a single.[4] Additionally the band's label felt the title track was more marketable as a single.
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.
[edit] Release, reception and legacy
In the decades succeeding its initial distribution, Paranoid has been regarded by many as Black Sabbath's best album, and by some the best heavy metal album of all time.[5] 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 October 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 grading it a C−, though admitting that the band took "heavy to undreamt-of extremes."[8] However, modern-day music critics are much more favourable towards the album than those of the time. Allmusic's Steve Huey 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"[6] and Ben Mitchell of Blender calling it "the greatest metal album of all time".[7]
- In 1989, Kerrang! magazine listed the album at No. 39 among the "100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums of All Time".[12]
- 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.[13]
- In 2006, the album was ranked number 6 on Guitar World magazine's list of The Greatest 100 Guitar Albums of All Time.[14]
- In 2010, Paranoid was covered as part of the Classic Albums documentary series, which examines albums "considered the best or most distinctive of a well known band or musician or that exemplify a stage in the history of music".
[edit] Track listing
All lyrics written by Geezer Butler, except "Fairies Wear Boots" by Ozzy Osbourne, all music composed by Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward.
| 1. |
"War Pigs" |
7:55 |
| 2. |
"Paranoid" |
2:47 |
| 3. |
"Planet Caravan" |
4:30 |
| 4. |
"Iron Man" |
5:58 |
| 5. |
"Electric Funeral" |
4:47 |
| 6. |
"Hand of Doom" |
7:07 |
| 7. |
"Rat Salad" |
2:29 |
| 8. |
"Fairies Wear Boots" |
6:13 |
| 1. |
"War Pigs" (instrumental) |
8:00 |
| 2. |
"Paranoid" (alternate lyrics version) |
2:50 |
| 3. |
"Planet Caravan" (alternate lyrics version) |
6:01 |
| 4. |
"Iron Man" (instrumental) |
5:57 |
| 5. |
"Electric Funeral" (instrumental) |
4:52 |
| 6. |
"Hand of Doom" (instrumental) |
7:14 |
| 7. |
"Rat Salad" (alternate mix) |
2:29 |
| 8. |
"Fairies Wear Boots" (instrumental) |
6:16 |
- Disc three features original, alternate and demo takes from Regent Sound Studios.
- 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.
- The Castle Communication edition (1986) featured a live version of "Wicked World". This later appeared on Past Lives
[edit] Personnel
- Black Sabbath
|
- Additional personnel
|
[edit] Charts
|
|
| Country |
Certification |
| Canada (CRIA) |
Platinum[18] |
| United States (RIAA) |
4× Platinum[19] |
|
[edit] 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 |
WS 1887 |
| 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 |
| Japan |
25 August 2010 |
Universal Music |
SHM-SACD |
UIGY-9034 |
| Japan |
24 November 2010 |
Universal Music |
SHM-CD |
UICY-20039 |
- ^ Rosen 1996, p. 57
- ^ Classic Albums - Paranoid, by Isis Productions/Eagle Rock Entertainment
- ^ "The 100 greatest albums". Channel 4. Archived from the original on 26 January 2005. http://web.archive.org/web/20050126162306/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.
- ^ http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/black-sabbath
- ^ a b Huey, Steve. "Review Paranoid". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r1999. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ a b Mitchell, Ben. "Review Paranoid". Blender. Alpha Media. http://www.blender.com/guide/back-catalogue/52465/paranoid.html. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Review Paranoid". Robert Christgau. http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=6409. Retrieved 7 September 2009.
- ^ Black Sabbath - Paranoid - Metal Storm
- ^ [1]
- ^ Stagno, Mike. "Review Paranoid". www.sputnikmusic.com. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/8751/Black-Sabbath-Paranoid/. Retrieved 18 November 2011.
- ^ Kaye, Don (21 January 1989). "Black Sabbath 'Paranoid'". Kerrang!. 222. London, UK: Spotlight Publications Ltd..
- ^ "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/artist/p3693. 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.
[edit] References
- Rosen, Steven (1996). The Story of Black Sabbath: Wheels of Confusion. Castle Communications. ISBN 1-86074-149-5
[edit] External links
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Studio albums |
|
|
| Live albums |
|
|
| Compilations |
|
|
| Unofficial albums |
|
|
| Singles |
|
|
| Videos |
|
|
| Related |
| Articles |
|
|
| People |
|
|
| Bands |
|
|
| Tributes |
|
|
|
|
|
|
[11]
