We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll

We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll
Compilation album by Black Sabbath
Released	December 1, 1975 (U.K.) February 3, 1976 (U.S.)
Recorded	1969–1975
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	73:52
Label	NEMS Warner Bros. (US/Canada) Vertigo (Europe)
Producer	Rodger Bain, Mike Butcher, Patrick Meehan, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath chronology
Sabotage (1975) We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll (1975) Technical Ecstasy (1976)

We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll is a compilation album by Black Sabbath, originally released on December 1, 1975 in the UK and then on February 3, 1976 in the U.S.

Album information

When Black Sabbath signed with NEMS, the label which would release their 1975 album Sabotage in the UK and Europe, NEMS acquired the band's back catalogue and wasted little time compiling this release. Although the band had six studio albums to its name at this point, this compilation drew heavily on the first four albums: this would also be a feature of most of the Osbourne-era compilations later released.

The original UK gatefold album, with a matte finish, had centre pages featuring shots of the band but this was omitted on reissues, which came in a glossy-finish sleeve. Additionally, the original record retained Geezer Butler's bass solo before "N.I.B", but this would be edited from later issues. Some U.S. copies of the LP do not actually include "Wicked World" on the label or on the record itself, though it does appear on the cover. In the UK, "Wicked World" had been only a B-side and was relatively obscure.

Despite the album being an official release, Iommi has been quoted as saying that the first time the band knew of it was when asked to autograph copies which fans presented after concerts.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	(C)
Rolling Stone

It was certified Silver in the UK by the BPI on October 1, 1976. In the US the RIAA certified the album as Gold on February 7, 1980, Platinum on May 13, 1986 and 2x Multi-Platinum (generally known as 'Double Platinum' outside the offices of the RIAA) on March 16, 2000.

Track listing

The following is the track listing on the original record/cassette release. All songs written by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward except where noted.

1. "Black Sabbath" (from Black Sabbath)
2. "The Wizard" (from Black Sabbath)
3. "Warning" (Aynsley Dunbar, John Moorshead, Alex Dmochowski, Victor Hickling) (from Black Sabbath)
4. "Paranoid" (from Paranoid)
5. "War Pigs" (from Paranoid)
6. "Iron Man" (from Paranoid)
7. "Wicked World" (from U.S. release of Black Sabbath/ B-side to UK "Evil Woman" single)
8. "Tomorrow's Dream" (from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4)
9. "Fairies Wear Boots" (from Paranoid)
10. "Changes" (from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4)
11. "Sweet Leaf" (from Master of Reality)
12. "Children of the Grave" (from Master of Reality)
13. "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath)
14. "Am I Going Insane (Radio)" (from Sabotage)
15. "Laguna Sunrise" (from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4)
16. "Snowblind" (from Black Sabbath, Vol. 4)
17. "N.I.B." (from Black Sabbath)

When the album was released on CD, due to space restrictions, the tracks "Wicked World", "Warning" and "Laguna Sunrise" were omitted on the US version. On the UK version "Wicked World" was omitted, the bass solo intro for "N.I.B." was cut, and "Children of the Grave" was shortened to 0:43 (the outro of the song). The CD was later remastered and reissued as a 2CD set, restoring the original track listing and the bass solo intro for N.I.B.

Personnel

• Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals, harmonica, synthesizer
• Tony Iommi – guitar, keyboards, flute
• Geezer Butler – bass, mellotron
• Bill Ward – drums, percussion, backing vocals

Release history

Region	Date	Label
United Kingdom	December 1, 1975	NEMS
United States	February 3, 1976	Warner Bros. Records
Canada	1976	Warner Bros. Records
United Kingdom	1996	Castle Communications
United Kingdom	2004	Sanctuary Records