Seventh Star

Seventh Star
Studio album by Black Sabbath
Released	28 January 1986
Recorded	1985 at Cheshire Sound Studios, Atlanta
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	34:55
Label	Vertigo Warner Bros. (US/Canada)
Producer	Jeff Glixman
Black Sabbath chronology
Born Again (1983) Seventh Star (1986) The Eternal Idol (1987)

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Seventh Star is the twelfth studio album by Black Sabbath, released in January 1986.

It was originally written, recorded, and intended to be the first solo album by guitarist Tony Iommi, but due to label pressures and the prompting of band manager Don Arden, the record was billed as Black Sabbath featuring Tony Iommi. Glenn Hughes, ex-Deep Purple bassist and vocalist, was lead singer but did not play bass on this release.

Album information

As was the case with it's predecessor, Born Again, this album was not originally intended to be a Black Sabbath record. It was last-minute pressure from the record label to stamp the Black Sabbath name onto it due to the belief that it was more likely to sell records with the already famous name. Because of this, its sound is a drastic (and intentional) departure from trademark Sabbath sound. Many of the songs have a very hard rock sound, while some contain a bluesy feel (especially "Heart Like a Wheel"). Seventh Star was the first album to feature long-time keyboardist Geoff Nicholls as an official band member.

The promo-single and video version of "No Stranger to Love" had additional harmony vocals added by Hughes to make it more "radio-friendly". Actress Denise Crosby, who would later portray Tasha Yar in Star Trek: The Next Generation, was in the video.

There was a tour for the album, but Hughes only performed at the first few shows. Hughes was sacked five dates into the tour, and replaced by Ray Gillen, who completed both the North American and European legs of the tour, though several dates in the US were cancelled.

Glenn Hughes has performed "No Stranger to Love", "Seventh Star" and "Heart Like a Wheel" at some of his live concerts.

It peaked at number 78 on the Billboard 200 chart.

As with Black Sabbath's previous album, Born Again, Seventh Star has never officially been released on CD by Warner Bros. for the US and Canada. However, it is offered for sale as a download by Apple's iTunes service in these regions.

Seventh Star was re-released in Europe on November 1, 2010, in a special edition 2 disc set. Disc 2 includes a concert recorded in 1986, with Ray Gillen performing vocals for the band. In addition, the single version of No Stranger to Love was included as a bonus track on disc 1.

Track listing

All music credited to Tony Iommi, though additional lyrics were written by Glenn Hughes, Geoff Nicholls and Jeff Glixman.

Side one

1. "In for the Kill" – 3:48
2. "No Stranger to Love" – 4:28
3. "Turn to Stone" – 3:28
4. "Sphinx (The Guardian)" – 1:12
5. "Seventh Star" – 5:20

Side two

6. "Danger Zone" – 4:23
7. "Heart Like a Wheel" – 6:35
8. "Angry Heart" – 3:06
9. "In Memory..." – 2:35

2010 Deluxe Edition Disc 1 Bonus Tracks

10. "No Stranger To Love" (Single Remix)

2010 Deluxe Edition Disc 2

Recorded at Hammersmith Odeon in London, on 2 June 1986, featuring Ray Gillen performing vocals

1. "The Mob Rules"
2. "Danger Zone"
3. "War Pigs"
4. "Seventh Star"
5. "Die Young"
6. "Black Sabbath"
7. "N.I.B."
8. "Neon Knights"
9. "Paranoid"

Personnel

• Glenn Hughes – vocals (on "Original Version" and "Disc 1")
• Tony Iommi – guitar
• Dave Spitz – bass guitar
• Geoff Nicholls – keyboards
• Eric Singer – drums
• Gordon Copley – bass guitar (on "No Stranger to Love")
• Ray Gillen – vocals (on "2010 Deluxe Edition - Disc 2")

Release history

Region	Date	Label
United Kingdom	28 January 1986	Vertigo Records
United States	1986	Warner Bros. Records
Canada	1986	Warner Bros. Records
United Kingdom	1996	Castle Communications
United Kingdom	2004	Sanctuary Records

External links

• Seventh Star entry at black-sabbath.com
• 20th Anniversary article about the album