The Black Album [Explicit Lyrics]

1. Interlude

2. December 4th

3. What More Can I Say

4. Encore

5. Change Clothes

6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder

7. Threat

8. Moment of Clarity

9. 99 Problems

10. Public Service Announcement (Interlude)

11. Justify My Thug

12. Lucifer

13. Allure

14. My 1st Song

The Black Album,Jay-Z,Def Jam,East Coast Rap,Hardcore Rap,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rap & Hip-Hop

Average customer rating: This album defines great Rock 'N' Roll music. Dollars and (common) cents. Simply put, THIS is rock and roll! One of the best CDs ever...REMASTERED The rebirth of AC/DC

Back in Black (Deluxe Digipak) AC/DC Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Arena Rock | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Highway to Hell Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap High Voltage For Those About to Rock We Salute You The Razor's Edge ASIN: B000089RV6 Release Date: 2003-02-18

Tracks:

1. Hells Bells
2. Shoot To Thrill
3. What Do You Do For Money Honey
4. Givin The Dog A Bone
5. Let Me Put My Love Into You
6. Back In Black
7. You Shook Me All Night Long
8. Have A Drink On Me
9. Shake A Leg
10. Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution

Amazon.com essential recording

Most critics complain Back in Black, the album AC/DC recorded after the death of their original lead screamer Bon Scott, is ridiculously juvenile, obvious, snickering, bludgeoning, derivative, single-minded about sex and booze, a big cartoon. All true, of course, and--on rock 'n' ragers like "What Do You Do For Money Honey," "You Shook Me All Night Long," and the title track--all great. As Scott's replacement Brian Johnson reminds us, loud and crunchy, no-holds-barred "rock and roll ain't noise pollution...it makes good, good sense." Never trust anyone who refuses to drink domestic beer, laugh at the Three Stooges, or crank Back in Black. --David Cantwell

Album Description

AC/DC's 1980 album digitally remastered and reissued in a special digipak plus a 16 page full color booklet containing all original album art, many unpublished photos, classic memorabilia and new 2003 liner notes. Epic.

Customer Reviews:

This album defines great Rock 'N' Roll music........2007-07-30

In my opinion this album is the greatest Rock 'N' Roll album ever. I strongly recommend you to buy this if your a rock fan, it is a must have. On another note I read some of the 1 star reviews and I urge you to disregard what they have to say for a few reasons. One reason is they put some false facts in their reviews (not all but a few) which clearly shows their lack of knowledge concerning this great rock band. Also I saw some of their other reviews for other cds. They gave 4-5 stars for bands like greenday and I think Beyonce (some crap like that)though their were a few who gave great bands like Metallica 4-5 stars. One more thing is that AC/DC makes great rock music, think about it. Its powerful yet simple and usually about the definitive rock 'N' Roll topics which are women/sex, alcohol, and good times. The songs of Back In Black are great rock songs which many people love, from credible rock/metal musicians to the average person.

Dollars and (common) cents........2007-07-20

I'm going to rate this CD based on a $1 per song cost to total cost for the entire CD (Apple and Rhapsody charge $1 per song). Unfortunately, iTunes doesn't carry any AC/DC songs at the moment.
This CD is perfectly priced. 10 great songs for $10. If you don't already own the CD, the popular songs you'll know are Hells Bells, Back In Black and You Shook Me All Night Long. If you like them, then the rest of the songs on this CD won't take long to grow on you. Especially, Let Me Put My Love Into You. I promise that this CD will not disappoint.
This is one of my three favorite Hard Rock/Heavy Metal albums from the early 1980's. The other two are Judas Priest's "Screaming For Vengeance" and Def Leppard's "Pyromania".
Hope this helps.
Darium

Simply put, THIS is rock and roll!.......2007-07-11

I can't really think of anything too specific to say about "Back in Black". One day, I bought the album, listened to it and had one of the biggest musical joyrides I can recall! Critics may despise AC/DC, but that's no reason to neglect this album! In fact, this qualifies not only as being one of the biggest-selling rock albums of all time, but one of the greatest. That being said, "Back in Black" is probably the first album people will think about whenever AC/DC is mentioned, and while they have a great selection in their catalogue, this is, no doubt, their finest hour.
From the guitar crunch of the Young brothers, from Malcolm's rock-solid rhythm playing to Angus's legendary riffs, licks and solos, this no doubt qualifies as a great guitar album. Then comes in the rhythm section of Cliff Williams on bass and Phil Rudd on drums, and while Phil Rudd may not have the same chops as John Bonham, Phil still makes his drums sound larger than life, which makes for a great cornerstone of the AC/DC groove. And then...Brian Johnson. Who would have thought after such a great lead singer as Bon Scott passed away, Brian Johnson would be able to fill in his role, and fill it in greatly, as well. His voice may take some getting used to, but he definitely sounds best on this album.
In addition, the remastering is excellent. The volume is up and there's no static or unneccesary noise that ruins the sound. After all, there's nothing as disappointing as hearing a great song like it was recorded a mile away! Anyway, this album is just flat-out excellent for those who dig such a sound. Ten songs at a little over forty minutes, and a cross between a hard-rock crunch and an old-school groove for each song, AC/DC did just about everything they could right on this album.
As a summary, this album will make you forget your problems, imagine these guys on stage at night in a big, sold-out arena, playing these rockers loudly and proudly, and, of course, prove to be a testament of time and rock and roll. And remember, take no pressure from the critics. Be your own person! Rock out and feel good about it! And remember, "rock and roll ain't noise pollution...it just makes good, good sense!" Peace!

One of the best CDs ever...REMASTERED.......2007-06-27

I owned an original copy of Back in Black and played it constantly. It's an ideal CD for road trips and just incredible rock from beginning to end. I didn't think anything could possibly improve it until I heard the remastered version. Suddenly the bass comes out more, the drums are even more in your face, the vocals are clearer, it just ROCKS even more. There are plenty of bad remasters out there of various classic albums, but thankfully, this is not one of them.

The rebirth of AC/DC .......2007-05-16

Hands down the best AC/DC CD. This is the cream of the crop, and it doesn't get any better than this. To this day, each song rocks loud and hard, and vocalist Brian Johnson was never better. A must for any hard rock collection, your ears will be bleeding.

Average customer rating: Missing a Digit There are no flowers in Birmingham Sabbath finds their groove The founders of a genre No Explanation or Introduction Needed for This Masterpiece

Paranoid Black Sabbath Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music International | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Black Sabbath Master of Reality Black Sabbath, Vol.4 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Sabotage ASIN: B000002KHH Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. War Pigs/Luke's Wall
2. Paranoid
3. Planet Caravan
4. Iron Man
5. Electric Funeral
6. Hand Of Doom
7. Rat Salad
8. Jack The Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots

Amazon.com essential recording

Though most of Black Sabbath's classic material from this album ("War Pigs," "Iron Man," "Fairies Wear Boots," and the title track) can also be found on the collection We Sold Our Soul for Rock & Roll, Paranoid is essential for the completist. One of the best albums from one of the bands to define heavy metal, this album is chock-full of the best stuff from Sabbath's Osbourne years. (Where else will you be able to hear "Rat Salad?") The music isn't exactly complex, but it doesn't need to be; its importance lies in its evocative power, with which any teenager will be able to identify. --Genevieve Williams

Customer Reviews:

Missing a Digit.......2007-07-19

I believe it was Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath fame who played his guitar with the use of only three fingers. Fact or fiction?

There are no flowers in Birmingham.......2007-07-15

It's amazing that this band existed during the era of "flower power" and peace and love. On the other hand, maybe that IS the reason they existed. In any event, you should have this record, if only as a reference point for "heavy metal". I like it, even though I'm more of a jazz/blues cat.

Sabbath finds their groove.......2007-07-11

Many would argue that this is the best Sabbath collection ever created. I would agree in that this is the Black Sabbath showcase, the mold, the direction for which all later releases would follow. Where the superb debut album lacked direction, "Paranoid" picks up the slack: Ozzy found his vocal style niche, and the album's production and sound were now nailed down; we now hear well structured, polished songs rather than extended, sometimes aimless jams. It is hard not to compare this to the debut album since they were released within such a short period of time. To be fair, "Paranoid" almost sounds like a different band. That's not to say the first album was poorly made, just different, perhaps even a bit more creative....Sabbath finding their way. Some may actually prefer the more raw debut effort, with it's "dirty" loose jam feel. With Paranoid, it's almost as if Sabbath were brought in off the street and given a shower, fresh new clothing, haircuts and a shave; the band was now flying in formation, and as a result, the songs as a whole are just a bit more listenable than the prior effort. Although most have heard this album countless times since its release, to this day it is hard to deny the magnitude of the triple punch of War Pigs, Paranoid, Iron Man and then Fairies Wear Boots on side two when first heard. Side one of the vinyl, with the exception of "Planet Caravan" goes down as downright brilliant, albeit some may say musically overly simplistic. The lesser known songs are also a treat, such as "Electric Funeral". All in all, no hard rock record/cd collection should be without "Paranoid".

The founders of a genre.......2007-06-24

There is absolutely no reason this album should not be rated 5 stars. It should be 6 stars, probably 7. Its Sgt Pepper for metal.

Tony Iommi lost the ends of his fingertips, he shouldn't even be able to play the guitar. I imagine they'll make a movie out of this fact someday. For those of you who wonder how someone with prosthetics plays, he downtuned his guitar (the 'heavy' sound) and played riffs. These two things established the sound of an entire genre that the world now labels as 'metal'. Can anyone other band lay claim to something like that?

Ozzy gets extremely lucky, first with Iommi, then Rhoads, now Wylde.

Anyway, even if you don't dig metal as much as me or anyone else, you might still enjoy this. War Pigs, Paranoid, and Iron Man. The most famous Sabbath songs, all on one little disc thats so old you can get it dirt cheap now.

War Pigs also showcases on of the best guitar solos ever.

No Explanation or Introduction Needed for This Masterpiece.......2007-06-21

If every single C.D. in the world was to be wiped off the earth, but I was allowed to keep just one album, "Paranoid" would be that album. That's how strongly I feel about this album, and that's how utterly vital I believe this band is and how much I respect Black Sabbath. Ozzy, Tony, Geezer, and Bill were (and still are) four hard-working, blue-collar gentlemen, who appreciated a good tune and a stiff drink as much as you or I. They respected the `peace and happiness' thing that all the other bands were singing about, but they wanted the other side of life (the dark and depressing side) to make an appearance as well. Their environment and lives were shown through the music that they created (which was very misunderstood), and it definitely worked for A LOT of people. Say what you want about the band, whether you praise and exalt them or ridicule their guts out, because not one solitary person can deny Sabbath's contributions to the metal genre and their influence on every single metal band in the business...PERIOD! Since their inception, Sabbath have been creating historical and monumental work, significantly making their mark on the music industry in more ways than one could ever imagine. And what makes me sick is the so-called metal fans saying stuff like "oh yeah, Paranoid's an okay album, but it's just so overrated" or "sure the songs on there are {hip} enough, but they get overplayed so much it's repulsive". Hell, if anything, Paranoid doesn't get ENOUGH credit in our society, and about the songs being overplayed, chew on this thought. Those of you who agree with this reviewer, remember the very first time you heard Paranoid. Whether that golden year was in 1970, '80, '90, 2007, or whatever, just close your eyes and think back to the feelings you felt when this inexplicable album was spinning. The throbbing your neck endured after head banging to the title track, the raspy and sore feeling in your throat after singing along to "War Pigs", the chills and goose bumps you got when the main riff for "Electric Funeral" was underway, or how about the disappointment of having to buy new speakers after "Iron Man" blew out your old ones. Yes, all of those feelings (and many more) are why you immediately adored this album and in turn treasured it in your hearts forever. I'm here, not to urge everyone to buy this album (because if you truly love metal, then you already own this), but to restore the admiration that one should feel about this incredible album, and to reinstate the motto that Sabbath started so long ago: "We sold our souls for rock n roll"!

Average customer rating: The Dio Years, not something that should be overlooked! ... Don't Own "The Dio Years" But This is What I Think it Could've Been ... It's about time New Dio-Sabbath songs \m/

The Dio Years Black Sabbath Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Snakes & Arrows United Abominations Black Rain Live in Munich 1977 HELLYEAH ASIN: B000NA77YO Release Date: 2007-04-03

Tracks:

1. Neon Knights
2. Lady Evil
3. Heaven & Hell
4. Die Young
5. Lonely Is The Word
6. The Mob Rules
7. Turn Up The Night
8. Voodoo
9. Falling Off The Edge Of The World
10. After All (The Dead)
11. TV Crimes
12. I
13. Children Of The Sea (Live)
14. The Devil Cried
15. Shadow Of the Wind
16. Ear In The Wall

Amazon.com

The idea of Black Sabbath without Ozzy Osbourne was a form of metal sacrilege in 1980, at least until people heard Ronnie James Dio belt out "Oh no, here it comes again..." to open the reformed band's Heaven and Hell. Dio's low-growl had a yowl, squaring frightfully with Tony Iommi's more reined-in crunch. And Sabbath was reborn, playing faster than they had with Ozzy and drawing crowds. Five tracks from Heaven make it to this set, where four from successor, Mob Rules, show up. The winners from each: "Neon Nights" and "Turn Up the Night," both quick, hefty wailers, steamrolling on sheer riffing tonnage. Dehumanizer rekindled the Sabbath/Dio marriage in 1992, showing speed metal's intervening influence--and the band holds up well, racing atop Vinnie Appice's iron-armed drums and Iommi's relentless, intentionally range-limited riffs. Then there are the three new tracks, all benefiting from 2006's richer low-end production and metal's return to a slower grind--where Iommi is more thrilling doling out sludge, as on "Shadow of the Wind," where chords sound slo-mo and blessedly narrow in range. Yes, "Ear on the Wall" closes the set in a hurried, fast- (not speed-) metal vibe, but at best the band is deliberately mid-tempo, making a raucous noise you're happy for after all these years. --Andrew Bartlett

Album Description

Honoring the time Ronnie Dio spent with the band, Black Sabbath's hits "Neon Knights," "Lady Evil," and "Die Young" are featured on this compilation spanning 1980-2006. David Ling contributes liner notes and live versions of "Children of the Sea" and "Country Girl" are showcased.

Customer Reviews:

The Dio Years, not something that should be overlooked!.......2007-07-31

The Mob rules, Lady Evil and TV crimes are just some of the many diamonds that shine and sparkle from the Dio years. Always in the shadow of Ozzy, particularly when Ozzy Osbourne's solo career got off to a great start, Dio was never quite able to establish himself as the "next great singer" of Black Sabbath, but regardless of people's feelings of loyalty towards Oz, Ronnie James Dio still has to be recognized for his own style and signature voice during his tenure with Black Sabbath. I am glad that this CD has been released and have been enjoying it a lot since purchasing it. The quality is top notch and this really is, in my mind a great collection of the best Dio material that comes from the Black Sabbath sessions.

... Don't Own "The Dio Years" But This is What I Think it Could've Been ..........2007-07-27

"The Dio Years" was released this past (April) to promote the up-coming reunion with Dio and the other members of Black Sabbath, who are simply calling themselves "Heaven & Hell" these days. Well, since I don't own
this CD, I can't really tell you about it that much, but I do have most
of the tracks on this set minus the three new ones.

Here is a list of tracks which should've been included, but were excluded
due to time constraints, and the fact that this sampling of the Dio era
of Sabbath is presented on only a single disc:

Children of the sea (studio version from HEAVEN & HELL)
Wishing Well
Sign of the southern cross
Country Girl (MOB RULES)

Computer God
Time Machine
Too Late
Master of Insanity
Letters From Earth (alternate mix) (DEHUMANIZER)

Neon Knights (LIVE)
Heaven and Hell (LIVE VERSION WITH DIO's RANT)
Slipping Away (LIVE W. DRUM SOLO)(LIVE AT HAMMERSMITH ODEON)

I don't think I'm gonna get this one, even if I can find it used.
However, I own the Re-mastered Editions of the three Sabbath/Dio albums
from the 1980's, as well as DEHUMANIZER (1992). ... And I'm
waiting for the new Live album "Live from Radio City Music Hall" by
the Heaven & Hell Project (Iommi + Dio + Butler + Appice), which will hit the shelves on August 28th, 2007.

It's about time.......2007-07-26

To me Ozzy era Sabbath was the greatest band EVER ! Dio era Sabbath was (and currently as Heaven And Hell) is an awesome band . This compilation is great "greatest hits" of the Dio years. The Dio Sabbath albums were all very good . Heaven and Hell , Mob Rules and the very under rated Dehumanizer are all first rate classic metal . This Rhino cd , "The Dio Years" does a great job of representing those 3 albums . The only bad choice of songs on this cd (in my opinion) is the Live Evil version of Children Of The Sea. I think they should have put the studio version on here instead. There was no need to represent Live Evil , yes it was a decent album , but the studio version is much much stronger. The 3 new songs are all classic Dio era Sabbath songs . Get this cd !

New Dio-Sabbath songs.......2007-07-25

Basically this is very good selection from the four Dio sung Sabbath albums, however, some of my favorites are missing. But the major advantage is the three new songs, which are just fabulous. Classic Sabbath tones, dark, mystical but also feels like the last Dio album called Dehumanizer.

\m/.......2007-07-24

If you like the classic Sabbath with Dio then this is a no brainer to purchase. You get the remastered classics plus 3 new songs. I would have paid the 10.99 just for the new songs. They are very good. I wish Sign of the Southern Cross and Country Girl had been included on the CD.

Average customer rating: THE GREATEST BAND EVER the ozzy years Black Box! nice box! The greatest black box ever

Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970-1978) Black Sabbath Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Heavy Metal | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Box Sets at 30% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Alternative Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Heaven And Hell Complete Studio Recordings Metalogy The Mob Rules Dehumanizer ASIN: B0000DII8S Release Date: 2004-04-27

Tracks:

1. Black Sabbath
2. The Wizard
3. Wasp/Behind The Wall Of Sleep/Bassically/N.I.B.
4. Wicked World
5. A Bit Of Finger/Sleeping Village/Warning
6. Evil

Tracks:

1. War Pigs/Luke's Wall
2. Paranoid
3. Planet Caravan
4. Iron Man
5. Electric Funeral
6. Hand Of Doom
7. Rat Salad
8. Jack The Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots

Tracks:

1. Sweet Leaf
2. After Forever
3. Embryo
4. Children of The Grave
5. Orchid
6. Lord Of This World
7. Solitude
8. Into The Void

Tracks:

1. Wheels Of Confusion/The Straightener
2. Tomorrow's Dream
3. Changes
4. FX
5. Supernaut
6. Snowblind
7. Cornucopia
8. Laguna Sunrise
9. St. Vitus' Dance
10. Under The Sun/Every Day Comes And Goes

Tracks:

1. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
2. A National Acrobat
3. Fluff
4. Sabbra Cadabra
5. Killing Yourself To Live
6. Who Are you?
7. Looking For Today
8. Spiral Architect

Tracks:

1. Hole In The Sky
2. Don't Start (Too Late)
3. Symptom Of The Universe
4. Magalomania
5. The Thrill Of It All
6. Supertzar
7. Am I Going Insane (Radio)
8. The Writ

Tracks:

1. Back Street Kids
2. You Won't Change Me
3. It's Alright
4. Gypsy
5. All Moving Parts (Stand Still)
6. Rock 'N' Roll Doctor
7. She's Gone
8. Dirty Women

Tracks:

1. Never Say Die
2. Johnny Blade
3. Junior's Eyes
4. A Hard Road
5. Shock Wave
6. Air Dance
7. Over To You
8. Breakout
9. Swinging The Chain

Tracks:

1. Black Sabbath (Promo Clip)
2. Paranoid (Live At The Beat Club)
3. Iron Man (Live At The Beat Club)
4. Blue Suede Shoes (Live)

Amazon.com

One can make the case that the Beatles, while the most important band of all time, wasn't the most influential. Decades after Black Sabbath laid down the commandments of heavy metal--lyrically, not for the squeamish; musically, dynamic and resolutely heavy--their impact remains improbably undiminished. One needed only to hear the first notes of the eponymous track on their eponymous 1970 debut to know that a new régime had arrived. And while one could (and should!) have mocked them, they would not be stopped. Black Box includes the eight albums recorded between 1970 and 1978 by the founding lineup--Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, Ozzy Osbourne, and Geezer Butler--in one suitably weighty package. Forgoing bonus tracks (aside from an entertaining but brief four-track DVD extra), the box is rounded off with an impressive 80-page booklet. While the foursome was considerably less fearsome by the time they checked out with Never Say Die, more than half of this collection represents heavy metal with a lasting impact. --Steven Stolder

Customer Reviews:

THE GREATEST BAND EVER.......2007-07-26

This is the band that is responsible for heavy metal as we know it . This is the GREATEST band to ever record ! This 8 cd box set is all you will ever need . I have been a huge Sabbath fan since first hearing Master Of Reality back in about 1973 . Here you get 8 amazing cd's with remarkable remastered sound that will blow you away. Since there is really no need to discuss Black Sabbath , Paranoid , Master Of Reality , Volume 4 , Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage , every metal fan knows these cd's as the classic's that they are. There is still 2 more very under rated cd's here . Technical Ecstacy and Never Say Die. Not enough people recognize these cd's , but I truly like both of them . True they are not the classic type Sabbath that the other 6 are . They are still excellent , heavy , hard rockin' albums . Technical Ecstacy has the great Back Street Kids , You Won't Change Me , Gypsy and All Moving Parts . Never Say Die has the great title track along with Shockwave , Juniors Eyes , Hard Road and Over To You . These are 2 cd's that should not be pushed to the side . If you own this box set or plan on buying it , check out these 2 forgotten Sabbath cd's . As usual , with all Rhino box sets this is a first rate effort . The box is beautiful , the book is amazing ,it contains all the lyrics , a great memo and some excellent photos. This is worthy of 10 stars .

the ozzy years .......2007-07-20

wow the box set is the best ever if u dont own any black sabbath cds with ozzy and not sure were to start id say by this althouth this is not all of ozzys work wheres past lives i mean this is all the studio stuff but all in all this is an amazing box the book has a little histiroy photos and a bouns dvd the dvd has four songs on it by this if u are an black sabbath fan u wont regret it

Black Box!.......2007-07-19

Black Sabbath's gotta be one of my favorite bands now. I wanted to get some of their records and the "Black Box" seemed like a good starting point.

Black Sabbath, in my opinion created some of the most brilliant songs, ever! True music enthusiast should at least own their first 4 albums.

For the people thinking the "Black Box" is a rip off, think about it. You get the first 8 Black Sabbath CDs, that's $80+ if you get them individually, (and the ones in the box set are remastered too), and a sexy velvet hardcovered biography of the history of Black Sabbath, all inside a blackend box that could of been crafted by Satan himself, all for around $60. I don't see how this is a rip off...

nice box!.......2007-07-14

here we have it all 8 sabbath records with ozzy fronting, nothing new whats so ever we have all heard these songs before but let me tell you it sounds fresh, remastered you hear little things in the songs you may have missed before. one thing that i would like to clear up is upon purchasing this box set i was reading other reviews and noticed someone stated that the medley tracks mainly on the selt titled album had been seperated into individual tracks, this is not the case they are still medleys. maybe they changed it for different pressings of the box set (highly unlikey) but it matters not this is black sabbath how it was intended.

The greatest black box ever.......2007-06-16

The reason I bought this is because if I ever wanted to experience Black Sabbath then I should just get this and listen to all the albums that Ozzy was on. Boy was I in for a ride! I have listened to the albums from beginning to end and there are key tracks that I had loved on each album but then hearing them along side with the other tracks makes them even more attractive. Like the segue of "Am I Going Insane" with "The Writ" and many others. I absolutely LOVE this box set. The SUEDE book goes through each album and track explaining them which is cool and i watched the dvd and it's very good just makes you wanna trip out and watch.

So if your thinking of getting this then DISH out the money and get it. It's totally worth the price!

Average customer rating: Thank God for granting me Moment of Clarity and that which ensued His best work besides 'Reasonable Doubt' The Black Album The Black album: One of the best Hip hop albums in a while!! Most Overrated of all times!

The Black Album Jay-Z Manufacturer: Def Jam ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD East Coast | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Gangsta & Hardcore | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music Pop Rap | Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Music $9.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rap & Hip-Hop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $9.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The Blueprint Reasonable Doubt Vol. 2, Hard Knock Life Blueprint 2: The Gift & The Curse Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter ASIN: B0000DZFL0 Release Date: 2003-11-14

Tracks:

1. Interlude
2. December 4th
3. What More Can I Say
4. Encore
5. Change Clothes
6. Dirt Off Your Shoulder
7. Threat
8. Moment Of Clarity
9. 99 Problems
10. Interlude
11. Justify My Thug
12. Lucifer
13. Allure
14. My 1st Song

Amazon.com

If The Black Album is truly Jay-Z's last statement before retirement, he at least goes out near the top of his game. While it probably won't be remembered as his best album, The Black Album is his most personal to date and features some of his most compelling writing. Jay-Z is defiant and defensive here--he's trying to make sure his legacy is properly acknowledged, although he can get a bit heavy-handed at times. Still, he's rarely been more incisive or insightful in his rhymes, exposing his own childhood struggles on songs like "December 4th" while slapping at his haters with "What More Can I Say" and the cutting "Threat." Longtime Jay-Z collaborators Just Blaze and Kanye West churn out outstanding production, especially Blaze, whose beats for "December 4th" and "Public Service Announcement" are among the album's best. Newcomers Aqua and the Buchanans represent well also but Eminem's minor-key drone for "Moment of Clarity" is mired in mediocrity. Jay might fade to black after this one but his last shot doesn't miss. --Oliver Wang

Customer Reviews:

Thank God for granting me Moment of Clarity and that which ensued.......2007-06-06

As this is the only Jay-Z album I own, I can't rank it against his others as many reviewers have done. I confess that I bought it for 99 Problems and Dirt Off Your Shoulder so I'd have some of the more accessible MTV-branded "hip-hop" to add to my party mixes. They're funny songs that everyone knows and it doesn't kill me to have them in my repertiore.
There is certainly no shortage of self-adulation and overproduction here that have become the unfortunate hallmarks of Jay-Z tracks. That said, there is also evidence that he knows what real hip-hop is all about, he just chooses to go a different route (which kinda hurts more than the ignorance of garbage rappers).
The best and most fun song on the album, and the lone track that earns its three stars, is Moment of Clarity where he does take hip-hop back to the battle rap, and he is the king of using backhanded compliments to ellicit a response. He specifically calls out two of hip-hop's greats (who I'm sure he properly respects) with the lines "If skills sold, truth be told, I'd probably be lyrically Talib Kweli. Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense, but I did five mil, I ain't been rhymin like Common Sense..." Kweli and Common come back at him on Ghetto Show (from Kweli's excellent The Beautiful Struggle) with "If lyrics sold, then truth be told, I'd probably be just as rich and famous as Jay-Z. Truthfully I want to rhyme like Common Sense, next best thing I'll do a record with Common Sense." It's just too much fun to imagine behind the scenes of that good-natured (read: no gun references or idle death threats) throwdown. I love it and am grateful to Jigga for laying it down. Surely Kweli and Common are, too.

His best work besides 'Reasonable Doubt' .......2007-05-17

This is not the classic that 'Reasonable Doubt' is, but it was the best album Jigga had put out since then. Even though I found 'The Blueprint' to be slightly overrated, I was still very impressed with his "retirement" album. Besides having three huge singles that managed to be popular yet still great ('Change Clothes', 'Dirt Off Your Shoulder', and '99 Problems', the third one mentioned being my favorite), there are other hot tracks on here as well. Jay-Z gets personal throughout this album, and there is a lot of bragging, but he definitely backs it up here on tracks like 'Moment of Clarity', 'Public Service Announcement', and 'Justify My Thug'. The only cuts I weren't feeling were 'December 4th' and the Kanye West-produced 'Lucifer' (warning: this particular track features a whack, annoying beat and boring rhymes). Otherwise, this is a fine effort by Jay-Z and an essential album for any Jigga or hip-hop fan in general. Cop it!

The Black Album.......2007-04-10

this is one of my favorite JAY-Z albums of all time the beats are amazing & the producers that he worked on are well respected he worked with the likes of EMINEM DJ QUIK TIMBALAND KANYE WEST PHARRELL WILLIAMS RICK RUBIN JUST BLAZE not just the beats but the lyrics on this album are pretty good as well this is my 2nd favorite JAY-Z album it is well worth the money great lyrics great beats overall this album to me is a classic

The Black album: One of the best Hip hop albums in a while!! .......2007-04-05

The best Jigga Album yet!! After this one maybe Roc La familia Album. N.Y.C Stand up !!! Bx 1luv!!

Most Overrated of all times!.......2007-02-26

Most Overrated of all times! Jay-Z been set to be the greatest of all time, by that MTV Show.. but thats just stupid, Jay-Z is in my top Ten, but Nr. 1.. you gotta be kidding me?

anyways, even tho he overrated he came hard with this album.. its above average, dope dope production, and hard hitting genius lyrics from Jigga-man.. i cant deny that, so he get's 4 out of 5... i like this album very much..!

Average customer rating: Heavy, brutal, rock. An otherwise perfect album marred by one basic flaw. Way before its time Ozzy-era Sabbath's Best! The Birth Of Heavy Metal?

Black Sabbath Black Sabbath Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Dynasty | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music Similar Items: Paranoid Master of Reality Black Sabbath, Vol.4 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Sabotage ASIN: B000002KB8 Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Black Sabbath
2. The Wizard
3. Wasp / Behind The Wall Of Sleep / Bassically / N.I.B.
4. Wicked World
5. A Bit Of Finger / Sleeping Village / Warning

Amazon.com essential recording

Some might claim that this 1970 debut is the definitive Black Sabbath record. While the gothic overtones of the opening track, "Black Sabbath" (thunderstorms and foreboding church bells introduce Ozzy Osbourne's howl and Tony Iommi's sludgy guitar), and the raucous defiling of Cream on "N.I.B." were thrilling then (and remain so now), there is too much wanking here to really qualify the collection as the must-have Black Sabbath record. (That prize would have to go to Paranoid.) But the blues-heavy riffs of "The Wizard," the soon-to-be-famous chord-progression stylings on "Wasp," and the grunge-boogie of "Wicked World" allow it to stand as a solid testament to the deep and lasting influence the band has had over the years. --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews:

Heavy, brutal, rock........2007-07-18

From the very beginning, Black Sabbath were loud, dark, powerful, and heavy as hell. Released in 1969, their self-titled debut is, for all practical purposes, the first true heavy metal album, combining the hard rockin' sounds of groups like Cream, Vanilla Fudge, and Blue Cheer with Ozzy Osbourne's demonic moan to form one eardrum-shredding package. Tony Iommi's corrosive guitar riffs form the heart of the band's sound, fusing hot-wired blues with sludgy rock 'n' roll and weird alternate tunings to form a doom-laden musical atmosphere. Terrence "Geezer" Butler's chugging bass playing and Bill Ward's lopsided, storming drums seal the deal, and the result is an absolute monster of a rock act.

As a statement of purpose, this album hits the nail on the head. The title track features a spine-crushing riff and a dense, murky rhythm, all of which underpins Ozzy's dark, apocalyptic vocal performance. "The Wizard" is lighter on its feet, but the tune still packs a heck of a punch: It's a rollicking blues-rocker with a great harmonica solo and some flailing rhythms. "A Bit of Finger/ Sleeping Village/ Warning" is a gigantic chunk of smoldering blues-metal, with a stomach-churning bass line and some of Osbourne's most deliciously paranoid lyrics. The other extended medley, "Wasp/ Behind The Wall Of Slip/ Bassically/ N.I.B." is a brutal showcase of the band's sound at its most extreme. The track boasts some violently distorted guitars, stomping rhythms, and lyrics that sow the seeds for heavy metal's fascination with Satanism and the occult. The "N.I.B." section is particularly nasty, thanks to its strutting, Zeppelin-esque guitar riff.

Still, the album isn't exactly perfect. "Wicked World" is particularly weak- it's a boring, repetative number with some really lame guitars (except for the somewhat jazzy intro) and Ozzy trying a bit too hard to be socially concious. Iommi's soling during "Warning" overstays its welcome by about four minutes, as the guitarist noodles around aimlessly without actually building towards anything.

Still, those are small complaints- Black Sabbath's debut is a really freaking good rock album, and an important part of any complete heavy metal collection. Crank it, baby!

An otherwise perfect album marred by one basic flaw........2007-06-20

Musically this is a 5-star album and I agree with most of the glowing reviews, with one caveat. The people who mastered this onto CD made one glaring and idiotic mistake- they burned 7 songs onto 5 tracks. I do not consider "Wasp", "Bassically" or "A Bit of Finger" to be separate songs- they are intros but "Behind the Wall of Sleep" and "NIB" ARE two separate songs. Ditto for "Sleeping Village" and "Warning". There is no reason or excuse for the two separate songs to be glued together onto single tracks. If you want to hear "Warning" (my favorite Sabbath song) or "NIB" by itself you have to pretend you are listening to a tape and fast-forward through several minutes,which would not have been necessary had the execs paid attention to what they were doing.

To fix the problem, you would have to rip the album to the computer and edit the sound files-I did. Because this fix is possible I would still recommend this album to someone reading the reviews, but the way it had been mastered- with separate songs glued together onto single tracks, was annoying and stupid. When CDs came out the same people who mastered this album mastered the 2-record "We Sold Our Soul" anthology onto 1 CD by cutting out "Warning" A decision which gave my favorite Sabbath song the shaft.

Way before its time.......2007-06-08

The eponymous "Black Sabbath" debut is the gothic grandaddy of them all. This release gets 5 stars not only for the music, but also for it's influence on so many other bands over the years. There is a refreshing simplicity to the production of this album, as evident in the absence of keyboards or extensive multitracking. What we are treated to are almost "live" in the studio recordings, created by 4 hungry musicians who probably had no idea what they were on to. The idea of making this record as dark and gothic as it is was a brilliant and original idea for the time, although it has been duplicated so many times that later generations of listeners may take the ingenuity for granted. For example, the opening track, "Black Sabbath" is so rich in gothic heaviness that even King Diamond would flee with devil's tail between legs. Even Ozzy's voice sounds much deeper, earthy, and sinister than later releases. Other songs, such as the classic "Wizard", complete with Ozzman's harmonica, capture an uncommon groove that is tough to come by with Sabbath. The classic "NIB" is a perfect closer to side one of the vinyl. The album cover art is especially creepy,mysterious, and very appropriate. Overall, this album sowed the seeds of what would later become heavy metal.

Ozzy-era Sabbath's Best!.......2007-04-27

From the opening of the title track to the final track, this CD is the blueprint for all heavy metal bands. The guitar of Tony Iommi and the bass stylings of Geezer Butler and the vocals of Ozzy himself, this is one CD all metal fans should be acquainted with. If you are young and looking to start a band, get familiar with this CD. You will get a history lesson here.

By trhe way, I did not forget the great drumming by Bill Ward. This disc is Sabbath's finest hour with Ozzy!

The Birth Of Heavy Metal?.......2007-04-15

Most people would herald Black Sabbth's self-titled debut as the true birth of the Heavy Metal genre and they're probably right. Here were are treated to some of the heaviest, most darkly-clad hard rock of all time. Recorded in 1969 in a little back-street studio in Birmingham in a 24-hour period, the newly dubbed Black Sabbath (formerly called Earth)took their year of pub-playing and tedious practicing and transfered it to vinyl. This is near perfection.

Black Sabbath - One of the all-time classic heavy tunes. Their signature song (along with Paranoid). Thunder and rain. Churchbells ringing. They set the tone for destruction, doom & devil-tinged macabre.

Wasp/Behind The Wall Of Sleep/Bassically/N.I.B. - The better of the two song suites that grace Black Sabbath. Filled with great, memorable riffs. Ozzy belts through the mixed lyrics while Iommi shreds. May have been more coherent as individual songs. Bassically is Geezer showing off. The best part of this is N.I.B. Many think that this stands for Nativity In Black, but Ozzy said it was actually a nickname for Sabbah drummer Bill Ward. Nib, because his beard looked like the nib of a fountain pen. Someone added the periods to make it look like an acronym and bingo, a rock myth is born. The riff is heavy and hooking. This is shades of Sabbath to come. Iommi is one of the great riff-writers of all time. My name is Lucifer...please take my hand.

The Wizard - Ozzy on harmoica A playful, rocking sorcery tune. This was a long-time Sabbath staple. Another driving riff by Iommi. Classic.

Wicked World - One of my personal favorites. Iommi kicks out the jams and the steamroller that was Sabbath takes over. Heavy, dark, and shredding. This is a great song!

A Bit Of Finger/Sleeping Village/Warning - The other song suite on Black Sabbath. At over 14 minutes, this was is lttle too ponderous. The accoustic into to Sleeping Village with Ozzy's haunting singing is eerie but to light. Into A Bit Of Finger (don't ask me why they labeled Sleeping Village second when it's the first part of the song????) which is just Iommi jamming along with the band. It rocks but for a little too long. Seems like an impromptu jam session recorded for posterity. Shrouded in pounding riffs with inteludes of creepiness. Back to lyrics. Then back to jamming. The problem with this song suite is that it's very hard to ascertain what is what. It's one very long mixed song and that's hard to digest. Where the previous suite was broken down into distinct sections, this is garbled.

Overall, one of the greatest Heavy Metal albums of all time, and perhaps it's starting point. But it's not perfect simply because the last 14+ minutes is too dreary. Paranoid would refine the Sabbath sound to perfection sans the expanded jam sessions. Dark, creepy, filled with every killer, pounding riff you could ask for. Black Sabbath sounded like a band that worked very hard at crafting their material well and built up a tightness with tons of constant practice. They honed their music playing live in the pubs of Birmingham and then recorded it for all the world to hear. Classic!

Dig it!!!

Average customer rating: Best lyrics ever written??? Black Sabbath Inspired. genius The best of the rest....4.5 stars Black Sabbath is reborn; 4.5 stars

Heaven And Hell Black Sabbath Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Mob Rules Dehumanizer Holy Diver The Last in Line The Mob Rules ASIN: B000002KKS Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Neon Knights
2. Children Of The Sea
3. Lady Evil
4. Heaven And Hell
5. Wishing Well
6. Die Young
7. Walk Away
8. Lonely Is The Word

Amazon.com

After kicking vocalist Ozzy Osbourne out of the band in 1978, Black Sabbath knew they would have to strike back with a powerful record if they were to retain their credibility. They recruited Elf vocalist Ronnie James Dio, whose melodramatic vibrato shuddered with menace, and in 1980, they released Heaven and Hell, their most potent offering since Master of Reality. Faster and more theatrical than Sabbath's earlier oeuvre, Heaven and Hell features the dynamic seven-minute title track, which builds from a lazy throb to a high-octane roar, and the dynamic "Die Young," which segues from an uptempo saunter to a flamboyant midsection strangely reminiscent of Queen. Although the album helped build Sabbath a younger, more enthusiastic fan base, Dio only remained with the band for one more studio album, after which Sabbath's star slowly began to fade. --Jon Wiederhorn

Album Description

1996 reissue on Castle of their top 30 1980 album for WarnerBrothers, remastered from the original master tapes and withfaithfully restored artwork. Eight tracks, including 'Neon Knights', 'Lady Evil' and 'Heaven And Hell'.

Album Details

Black Sabbath's 1980 Album Highlighting Rainbow's Ronnie James Dio on Vocals. Digitally Remastered and Reissued in 1996. Includes Original Art, Liner Notes and Track Sequence. Is Home to the Standout Tracks "Neon Knights", "Children of the Sea" plus Six More. Also Includes an Essay by Hugh Gilmour.

Customer Reviews:

Best lyrics ever written???.......2007-07-24

Ozzy's gone, replaced by Ronnie James Dio from Rainbow, resulting in an ambitious theme with some of the very best song lyrics in tmy extensive Rock collection, with music to match.

Underappreciated by a market that was hoping for more of the same, maybe they should have changed their name? You know, people feel very stongly about religion, even if it's apathy, so this was about as much risk-taking as any group will EVER take.

Obviously, I think it worked out - it's nearly 30 years later and I'm still quite taken with the lyrics. At least try "Children of the Sea", where the symbol-laden lyrics aren't merely the best in my entire collection, but may be deemed of historical significance in future religious history. It's not merely an important album, but great Rock! The finest piece of art I'll ever own.

Black Sabbath Inspired........2007-05-23

Tony Iommi plays great on this album. It was the last album before he changed his tone & style to now using a wah wah on every solo... to bad.
Drummer Bill Ward finally has a big bass drum sound & Geezer Butler plays bass excellent as always.
Thanks to Martin Birch for his excellent production in capturing this inspired band. Ronnie James Dio sings excellent as well.

genius.......2007-05-18

This album is pure genius, and, despite its age (it's now 27 years old!) it hasn't dated at all, which is unusual for a heavy rock album. If the album was released today, it couldn't sound any fresher.

The introduction of RJ Dio took 'the worst band in the world' and made them tight, with actually 'catchy' songs that people could listen to, something Osbourne has yet to accomplish.

This album would be included in any 'Top 100 Albums of All Time' if it were done by Deep Purple, Queen, or Led Zeppelin. The fact that it's not means that it never will. This is a shame.

The best of the rest....4.5 stars .......2007-05-17

I usually don't bother with post-Ozzy Sabbath, but when the fans stopped giving Dio the finger long enough to listen to this in 1980, they realized they had a masterpeice on their hands. Unlike it's successor, the overblown "Mob Rules", Heaven and Hell still had a good amount of '70's hard rock style to keep it out of the '80's excess department. That's not to say the songs are just average. Indeed, these are classics in their own right and go down with the best Ozzy and company had to offer in the '70's. Dio is in top form, and provided a fresh new sound for the rest of the band to use as a springboard to launch these new songs. Later releases would build on and recycle "Heaven and Hell", but ultimately Sabbath would never be this good again.

Black Sabbath is reborn; 4.5 stars.......2007-05-12

This could easily have been the last gasp for Black Sabbath. Following the artistic and commercial failure of their previous two releases (both of which were abysmal) and the ousting of Ozzy Osbourne (the group's most identifiable member from a media perspective) it seemed that Sabbath was on the skids with no way out. Ronnie James Dio was chosen as Osbourne's successor, having recently parted company with Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow. The little man with the big voice almost single-handedly pulled Sabbath's career out of the gutter, and in 1980 the mighty Sabs released Heaven And Hell, one of the all-time heavy metal classics.

Anybody who expects this to sound like early Sabbath classics like Paranoid or Masters Of Reality might as well not spend their money. Certainly there are echoes of early Sabbath here, but the addition of RJD to the songwriting team gave the band a much-overdue makeover. There tend to be more up-tempo tunes on a Dio-era Sabbath album, and Dio's sword-and-sorcery lyrical approach is quite a change as well. Another major difference is that while Osbourne would usually follow Tony Iommi's guitar riffs and call them vocal melodies Dio prefers to sing a melody that counterpoints the riff rather than doubling it. The fresh approach seems to rejuvenate the band and Geezer butler (bass), Bill Ward (drums), and Tony Iommi (guitars) deliver performances that are head and shoulders above the tired-sounding musicmanship on the previous two releases. Dio also seems to take inspiration from his new compatriots, singing with an edginess that was never quite there in Rainbow and would be his trademark sound for years to come. Rainbow's old producer Martin Birch was called in to oversee the process, resulting in a crisp, vital sounding recording.

Many of the songs here are timeless classics that are still regular features of Dio's concert performances and were for Sabbath as well until the ill-advised reunion with Osbourne. Some high points include the fast-paced opener "Neon Knights", the light-yet-heavy "Children Of The Sea", the hard-rocking "Die Young", and the slow, mournful "Lonely Is The Word". Then there's the title track, which is one of those tunes that really has to be heard to be believed. An epic in the best sense of the word; when it's over you can't believe that seven minutes have passed. I subtracted half a star because there is a little bit of filler here. Lady Evil is interesting but in no way does it stand up to most of the other songs on the album, and Walk Away is just fluff. But the rest of the album is so unbelievably great that it's pretty easy to ignore.

If you're a metal fan and don't have this album you need to rectify the situation immediately. Add to cart NOW!

Average customer rating: Hard To Beat Next strike...Still deadly!!!!! Mob Rules...five stars...a classic. Masterful follow-up to a revolutionary album. MOB RULES RULES!

The Mob Rules Black Sabbath Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music $7.99 and Under | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Pop | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Classic Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Rock | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Blowout Music | Stores | Music All Blowout Music | Blowout Music | Stores | Music $7.99 and Under | Prices | Blowout Music | Stores | Music More Titles at Least 25% Off | Blowout Music | Stores | Music Dynasty | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music Similar Items: Heaven And Hell Dehumanizer Holy Diver The Last in Line Sabbath Bloody Sabbath ASIN: B000002KMY Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Turn Up The Night
2. Voodoo
3. The Sign Of The Southern Cross
4. E5150
5. The Mob Rules
6. Country Girl
7. Slipping Away
8. Falling Off The Edge Of The World
9. Over And Over

Customer Reviews:

Hard To Beat.......2007-05-28

Certainly a staple in any metal/hard rock fan's catalog; A near perfect album on every front, from the powerful, legendary vocal style of Dio, the intricate basswork of Butler, the tasteful yet busy drumming of Appice, and some of the best guitarwork Iommi has done to date. 'Voodoo' has always been my personal favorite here, but every track is highly listenable, inspiring, and what Black Sabbath are all about. Who other than Dio can get away with singing "Bring me your children, they'll burn..." or "You were a fool, but that's cool, it's alright..." with such menace and emotion, as opposed to making those lyrics sound totally laughable? Classic stuff.

Next strike...Still deadly!!!!!.......2007-04-29

This was the album that attracted me to the Dio-fronted Sabbath. At first it seems to follow the blueprint set by Heaven and Hell, being a blend of fast tracks (Turn Up the Night, Mob Rules), ballads (Sign of the Southern Cross, Falling Off the Edge of the World) and midtempo rockers (Slipping Away, Country Girl). Martin Birch again produced this album. Nevertheless, the sound of the album is distinguishably gloomier, than its predecessor's. As founding drummer Bill Ward departed in the middle of the Heaven and Hell tour, ex-Rick Derringer's drummer Vinny Appice was recruited to the drum stool. The album's mood set by the brilliant cover art (Greg Hildebrandt's painting originally called "The Mob Dream") is also different than on Heaven and Hell. Some songs such as Country Girl and Voodoo show bluesy approach reminding of old Sabbath. There is also almost psychedelic bass-based intro to the title track, later used in the live show. The band seems to stick to the proven formula while expanding it on new approaches of the songwriting. Dio-penned lyrics once again are fitting greatly to the music, although this time they seem to be more down to earth. With two albums under their belt, they toured extensively, incorporating many new as well as classic songs in the live set as shown on the Live Evil album. Sadly, as the position of Dio in the band became more established this ultimately led to the clash of egos that ended this lineup a year later. While the original version of Black Sabbath always will be the ultimate one, this incarnation produced great music, and proved to be relevant and influential enough to inspire two eventual stints: the Dehumanizer album and tour and the recent Heaven and Hell 2007 tour.

Mob Rules...five stars...a classic........2007-04-15

"Voodoo", "Over and Over", "Sign of the Southern Cross", "Falling Off the Edge of the World", etc.... From beginning to end, this album rocks. An all-time favorite.

Man...Dio + Sabbath is the best ever....

Masterful follow-up to a revolutionary album........2007-03-28

It is always difficult to follow up masterpieces. Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell album with their new vocalist Ronnie James Dio at the helm shot them right back into stardom, garnering critical acclaim both musically and sales-wise. However, what everyone was curious about was whether Heaven and Hell was going to be a one-off achievement, and if not, how the band would top it without original drummer Bill Ward who had left due to health problems. He was replaced by Vinnie Appice, who put in an unbelievable performance, making Mob Rules the timeless masterpiece it is.

In many ways, particularly its track-listing, Mob Rules tends to mirror its predecessor, and even though both "Turn Up the Night" and "Voodoo" are excellent cuts, they fall slightly short off the mark in comparison to the one-two punch start of Heaven and Hell. However, contrary to popular opinion, I happen to think this album actually surpasses the first Dio-era record, most notably because of its more in-your-face mix treatment (by the legendary Martin Birch) and rawer musical landscape. New drummer Vinnie Appice proves to be an excellent substitute, and his drum fills on this album are among heavy metal's best. The drumming on "The Sign of the Southern Cross" is stunning. Appice never lets go and supplies a strong rhythmic backbone to Iommi's sledgehammer riffage, accentuated by a fuzzed-out keyboard arrangement courtesy of Geoff Nicholls (now listed as a full-time member in the credits). Dio's vocals are among his most diverse, going from innocent, almost whisper-like sections to rousing high registers. No other metal band had written such a dynamic song before 1981, and Iommi's run-out lead simply tears the roof. "The Sign of the Southern Cross" is the greatest Dio-era Sabbath song ever.

On the whole, Geezer Butler serves to thicken Iommi's rhythm parts on the album, but the predominantly dissonant instrumental "E5150" sees weird collection of sounds built around his screeching bass guitar, smothered by sizzling keyboards and eventually darker-than-black guitar effects -- it is a frightening experience. Also, the remarkable interplay of "Slipping Away" has awesome bass lines coming through its addictive chorus, punctuated by yet another mindblowing drum performance. The title track, while great, fails to leave as strong a lasting effect as that of Heaven and Hell, but "Country Girl" is a fantastic mix of powerful vocals and hook-laden rhythms. The slowed-down middle of the the song with beautifully harmonised guitar tracks (excellent production job!) and backing vocals is sublime. And Dio's voice kills.

Unlike the first two songs, Mob Rules closes on a very high point, with the criminally overlooked "Falling Off the Edge of the World", bridging Sabbath's old, doomy side with their new-found, guitar-driven aesthetic. It kicks off with solid doomy riffery sinking the piece deep into pits of hell before launching into a rocking metal anthem, complete with a crazy solo. However, it is with the final track "Over and Over" that Iommi lays down quite possibly his longest lead solo, amidst crashing cymbals and a powerful snare sound (which would later on be copycatted by hundreds of doom metal acts in the late 80's). The funereal main riff of this song is pure bliss, and worth checking out the album alone. No one - I repeat - no one can emulate Iommi's unique riffing style, which made Black Sabbath one of the most important bands on the planet.

In terms of historical significance, Heaven and Hell is still unmatched and remains the band's renaissance. To me, the band, having toured extensively for almost a year, matured to another level in composition and therefore had a better view of honing their sound. Mob Rules is equally satisfying and overall a more consistent disc to these ears. That said, if you've never heard Dio-period Sabbath, get Heaven and Hell first -- you'll have to pick up Mob Rules after hearing it anyway.

MOB RULES RULES!.......2007-03-22

MOB RULES IS DIO'S 2ND ALBUM AND IT'S A
ROCK CLASSIC. THEY DON'T MAKE EM LIKE
THIS ANYMORE AND RARELY THEN BACK THEN.
TITLE TRACK MOB RULES IS A KILLER WITH
SIGN OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS ONE OF THE
HEAVIEST SONGS EVER! MY FAVORITE IS
COUNTY GIRL. GREAT SPOOKY ROCKER. THE
ENTIRE ALBUM MIGHT NO BE AS GOOD AS
HEAVEN AND HELL BUT THEN AGAIN WHAT IS?
SORRY OLD SABBATH FANS DIO WAS BEST!

Average customer rating: The Best Black Sabbath Album Sabbath's heaviest and most influential album So, you thought Paranoid was depressing? . . . The Bible Of Heavy Metal Music. The trio comes to an end

Master of Reality Black Sabbath Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Britain | British Isles | Europe | International | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music British Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Album-Oriented Rock (AOR) | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music Dynasty | Warner Brothers Records | Stores | Music Similar Items: Black Sabbath Black Sabbath, Vol.4 Paranoid Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Sabotage ASIN: B000002KDO Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Sweet Leaf
2. After Forever
3. Embryo
4. Children Of The Grave
5. Orchid
6. Lord Of This World
7. Solitude
8. Into The Void

Amazon.com essential recording

Black Sabbath's first two releases, Black Sabbath and Paranoid, were more than groundbreaking, they were earth-shattering, exposing the public to a brutal new form of noise pollution termed heavy metal. But it was the band's third album, Master of Reality, that cemented the group as blackened wizards of doom and gloom. Just listen to the echoing cough and sludgy guitar riff of the opening track "Sweet Leaf" and compare it to anything that existed at the time. Not only were Black Sabbath heavier than Deep Purple or Vanilla Fudge, they were also more experimental and controversial, exploring themes of darkness, drugs, and depravity that others dared not address. The heaviest and most influential disc of Black Sabbath's career, Master of Reality featured proto-metal sludge like "Children of the Grave" and "After Forever," which served as a blueprint for a legion of musicians including '90s Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Smashing Pumpkins. --Jon Wiederhorn

Album Description

Japanese digitally remastered reissue of 1971 album packaged in a miniature LP sleeve.

Album Details

Japanese Limited Edition in an LP-STYLE Slipcase.

Customer Reviews:

The Best Black Sabbath Album.......2007-07-25

I am a huge fan of the Ozzy, Dio, Gillan, and Hughes eras of Black Sabbath. But I don't think that this particular album was ever surpassed in their repetoire. Master of Reality is not only the best Sabbath album, but the most representive of their innovations.

On Master of Reality, the band showcased how much their originally blues-based sound was being transformed. As opposed to the first two albums (which, though Classic in their own way, were often heavier-than-thou incarnations of Cream, Hendrix, Zeppelin, and Deep Purple), Master of Reality sets the blueprint for sludge-based Doom Metal...there's no album which compares to it at the time...there may NEVER be an album to match it in the heavy metal genre, period. Its revolutionary quality was unmatched even by such trend setters as Master of Puppets, Reign in Blood, Under the Sign of the Black Mark, or Under a Funeral Moon.

The song "Solitude" has been cited as the weak link here, but I only partly agree. "Solitude" isn't a Classic track, but serves its purpose far better than its cousin-tracks "Planet Caravan" from Paranoid, or "Sleeping Village" from the eponymous album. "Solitude" sets a standard of dynamic on this album which proves devastatingly effective. After the apocalyptic masterpiece that is "Lord of this World", "Solitude" is definitely a bit perplexing upon first listen. But there is no denying how much MORE effective the brilliant "Into the Void" is following such a mellow, flute-coloured song. You HAVE to hear it between "Lord of This World" and "Into the Void" to get the full effect of the incomparably effecting work.
Another fascinating variable on this album is the last solo section of "Lord of This World"; which seems to take a proto-Romantic era String Quartet form with its layered guitars...you have to HEAR this piece to fully understand how authentically progressive it is on a "strictly musical" level. Those men in Black Sabbath (well, at least Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler) were tremendous musicians; at times shackled by both the expectations of their public and record label.
Get this album before any other by Black Sabbath.

Sabbath's heaviest and most influential album.......2007-06-07

Black Sabbath are without a shadow of a doubt one of the greatest and most influentual heavy metal bands of all time, and they're also one of my all time favorite heavy metal bands as well. Man I just can't praise this band enough. 1971 was no doubt a big year for Sabbath. They released their second album "Paranoid" which was a true masterpiece and one of the greatest metal albums ever, and in the same year they released what is considered the band's heaviest, most influential, and best album of their career, "Master of Reality". This album gave birth to the doom/gloom, sludge, and stoner metal subgenres, and it's also cited as an influence by many stoner and sludge metal bands as well. This album would also be the third and final Black Sabbath album to be produced by Rodger Bain. The lyrical themes on "Master of Reality" included: drugs (mostly marijuana), solitude, war, and theology. Every song on here is just fantastic. Ozzy Osbourne's vocals are just awesome on here. Guitarist Tony Iommi does some of his most heaviest riffs on this album, and his solos are really cool too. This guy is truly one of metal's greatest and most legendary guitarists. Bassist Geezer Butler and drummer Bill Ward's rhythm section is really solid, nice solid bass lines from Geezer and great drumwork courtesy of Bill as well.

The opening track "Sweet Leaf" starts off with an echo of coughs, and then breaks with a slow heavy sludgy riff and hard heavy drums. That riff on the song is just extremely catchy, and a great solo by Tony is included as well. This is truly one of the best songs on here. Lyrically this song of course deals with you guessed it: marijuana. Track two "After Forever" features some really cool bass work from Geezer, some nice catchy riffs and another cool solo from Tony. Another one of my favorites. "Embryo" is a 28 second guitar interlude which leads into to track four "Children of the Grave" This is my favorite song on the entire album, and it features some more catchy and heavy riffs throughout, a groovy drum beat, and of course another great solo, killer bass, and great vocals by Ozzy. I've been learning the riffs to this song on my guitar recently. "Orchid" is antoher short, but nice instrumental with some nice accoustic chords. "Lord of This World" has a slow sinister drum beat, as well as some groovy bass lines, more heavy sludgy riffs, and cool solos from Tony. Track seven "Solitude" is a nice soft accoustic ballad with some nice singing vocals from Ozzy, nice slow bass from Geezer, and of course Tony plays a flute solo which I found tearjerking yet very cool. The lyrics on this song deal with yeah, you guessed it: solitude. The closing track "Into the Void" starts off with some slow heavy doom like riffs. During the 3 minutes mark, the songs breaks into a faster pace with faster riffs, hard hitting drums, but then shifts back to the slow heavy riffs at the 3:36 mark. Another cool guitar solo from Tony near the end is also included too.

The song list and the ratings:

1. Sweet Leaf (5:04) - 5/5
2. After Forever (5:25) - 5/5
3. Embryo (0:28) - 5/5
4. Children of the Grave (5:17) - 5/5 My favorite song
5. Orchid (1:31) - 5/5
6. Lord of This World (5:26) - 5/5
7. Solitude (5:02) - 5/5
8. Into the Void (6:11) - 5/5

See every song on here gets a 5 out of 5.

The bottom line is this: If it weren't for Black Sabbath and this album, we wouldn't have the doom/gloom, stoner and sludge metal subgenres. This album my friends, is a true heavy metal masterpiece, and it makes a great addition to your metal collection. So anyways if you're a fan of Black Sabbath, heavy metal, hard rock, or just good music in general like I'am, Master of Reality is an absolute must have in your collection. Enjoy!!

LONG LIVE BLACK SABBATH!!
LONG LIVE HEAVY METAL!!

So, you thought Paranoid was depressing? . . ........2007-05-24

If anyone was under the illusion that Black Sabbath could get no blacker than they did on Paranoid, a shivery album with titles like War Pigs, Electric Funeral, and Hand of Doom... well, Master of Reality quickly dispatched such a notion. Songs like Children of the Grave and Lord of This World live up to their names both lyrically and musically. Except for Solitude, a very mellow but no less depressing interlude featuring Bill Ward on vocals, and Tony Iommi's inclusion of two go-nowhere-but-thankfully-short instrumentals, Master of Reality is the near perfect storm of metal with all the thunder and lightning you can take. Beginning with Sweet Leaf, an insidiously memorable tribute to Ozzy's love affair with the unholy weed, and ending with Into the Void, an indictment of everything wrong with the world (but which includes a hopeful, if somewhat improbable escape plan), it's all a metalhead could want. If not Sabbath's finest hour (I would bestow that honor on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath), it's definitely a close second.

The Bible Of Heavy Metal Music........2007-05-23

This Album is such a MasterPiece, the writing & doomy riffs of Tony Iommi, to the odd timing of Bill Wards classic Heavy Metal drum style.
This album will go down in history as the Bible of Heavy Metal.
Ozzy sings excellent & Geezer Butlers uncanny ability to wrap his bass lines around Tonys Crushing chords. Every Song rocks.
Many dont know this album features Bill Wards 1st song he sang on.
Today with remastered technology the production is excellent.
This album taught me how to play guitar.

The trio comes to an end.......2007-05-19

Believe it or not, Black Sabbath with the later days of zOzzy, started using synthesizers, lame names, and had some ____________ reviews. I don't care about critics, but I can't believe that someone like Black Sabbath would make a cover such as Technical Esctasy. At least they started out great.

This one has no singles, but it's still a 10 in my book. IT's not as good as Paranoid (I wouldn't ________ count on it), but it's got the same stuff that you want from Black Sabbath:Sludgy riffs, vocals, thick as _____ basslines, and everything else. The lyrics are cool, I like the lyrics because it's not satanic. Even though there are plenty of refrences to satan, Ozzy just uses satan to sybolize evil, not say anything good about him. ____, even Ozzy himself said that Black Sabbath was a hippy band, and they were into peace and love. They even started as a blues rock band, and they got the idea to make scary music after preforming next to a horror movie theater.

Every song is good, and Orchard, Embryo, and Solitude make sure the album dosen't get monotonus (and I still don't __________ think that it would). Sweet Leaf is a well known song, not as much as Iron Man. yeah, the riffs aren't as catchy, but it still has some more good riffs. I think if you are into heavy metal, you need this anyway. DOn't stop with one BS album!

Let me just say this: I hate Dio. He along Bruce Dickinson, King Diamond, and every other ________ falsetto singer (I don't think Rob Halford is one, that's why I like Priest) makes me wanna gouge my ears out. Therefore, I won't get their other albums, because I don't want to hear a _______. Iron Maiden are bad without Dickinson.

Whiny ________ voices aside, that's just my _________ ranting. yeah, I know, save it for the one star review of Holy Diver. But seriously, I reccomend getting this.

Average customer rating: AWSOME....LEWIS BLACK DOES IT AGAIN one of todays greatest comedians Lewis Black is a very funny man Best of Lewis Black Lewis Black's best CD

The White Album Lewis Black Manufacturer: Stand Up Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Country Comedy | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Comedy & Spoken Word | Miscellaneous | Indie Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: The End Of The Universe Rules of Enragement The Carnegie Hall Performance Lewis Black - Unleashed Luther Burbank Performing Arts Center Blues ASIN: B00004U4ST Release Date: 2000-10-01

Tracks:

1. Wisconsin
2. The Fall, Hurricanes and Weathermen
3. The Ozone, Sunblock, The Flu and NYQUIL
4. Miami and Las Vegas
5. F**k, New York, Los Angeles
6. TV Pilot
7. IHOP (The International House of Pancakes)
8. Heavens Gate
9. Bill Clinton and Oral Sex
10. The Impeachment
11. Education in Arkansas
12. Other Idiots from Arkansas

Album Description

Comedian Lewis Black, best known for his caustic yet hilarious social commentary as a commentator on Comedy Central's Daily Show, unleashes nearly an hour of his insightful material on this CD. Recorded just shortly before Thanksgiving 1999, we catch Lewis on one of his incredible tirades against all things inane and moronic, be it the weather person, or Bill Clinton's definition of "is."

Customer Reviews:

AWSOME....LEWIS BLACK DOES IT AGAIN.......2007-05-07

What is there to say about the greatest comic out there today. This is very funny and very worth the price. I have every one of his albums and video's and they are all worth it.

one of todays greatest comedians.......2007-01-29

All of Lewis Black's material is hilarious but this is his best cd. You will laugh during the entire cd.

Lewis Black is a very funny man.......2007-01-19

His topical ranting style is hillarious and intellegent. I think I have listened to this album at least 20 times and am not tired of it.

Best of Lewis Black.......2005-12-30

I've heard a lot of Lewis Black and I feel this is probably his best.

Lewis Black's best CD.......2005-11-01

I think this is Lewis Black's best... it has some of the funniest stuff I've heard from him.. I really recommend you buy this album!

Dance Music:

1. The Cell Series [Enhanced]
2. The Cell Series [Enhanced]
3. The Devil Made Me Do It [Explicit Lyrics]
4. The Devil Made Me Do It [Explicit Lyrics]
5. The Epidemic [Explicit Lyrics]
6. The Freestyle Kings Volume II - Lil Flip [Explicit Lyrics]
7. The Mighty U. M. [Explicit Lyrics]
8. The Turnaround: A Long Awaited Drama [Explicit Lyrics]
9. The W.E.T. EP [Explicit Lyrics] [EP]
10. Urban Renewal Supplement 1.5

Dance Music

dance music

Dance Music

Bristol Street

Jan Welmers: Minimal Music for Organ

Happiest Time of the Year [CD-single]

Carolina Shout

In The Beginning

Keep on Steppin'

Hispanic Folk Songs

Janácek: Famous male choruses/ Ríkalda

In the Air

Edición Especial

Jazz Offerings from South Africa

If It's Love [Import]

Music: 700 Deep [Explicit Lyrics]

Law & Order

Guilty: 30 Years Of Randy Newman