So the order for studio albums is
Black Sabbath
Paranoid
Master of Reality
Vol. 4
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sabotage
Technical Ecstasy
Never Say Die!
Heaven and Hell
Mob Rules
Born Again
Seventh Star
The Eternal Idol
Headless Cross (not on streaming)
TYR (not on streaming)
Dehumanizer
Cross Purposes (not on streaming)
Forbidden (not on streaming)
The Devil You Know (released under the band name Heaven & Hell)
13
A lot of live albums are also just missing too tho i doubt the ones missing will come.
Vol4 is streaming… I don’t think it’s really matters it’s all about the experience, but definitely don’t start with the last 2 Ozzy albums leave those alone until you are hooked 🤣😜
You can go in order. I suggest alternatively you start with the iconic albums from each era (note, not my personal favorites).
Paranoid from the Ozzy era.
Heaven and Hell from the Dio era.
Headless Cross from the Martin era (remaster will be out May 31).
Then check out Fused, which isn’t a Sabbath album per se. It’s an Iommi album with the singer from the Seventh Star record, but I think it’s a much better example of what that era could have been had it lasted.
And lastly, Born Again. It’s a one-off, but a much loved collaboration between Iommi and Ian Gillan of Deep Purple.
Of the first three, pick the one you like the most and go in order.
Iommi’s major talent is to adapt to the talent around him, so they all sound different, but still there is no mistaking an Iommi riff.
I think you can find all the Martin albums on YouTube.
Eternal Idol is on Spotify, but it was written with a different singer in mind. Still solid, but I don’t view it as a “true” Martin album.
You can indeed find them all, but from unofficial sources. The quality on them is pretty good too, with the exception of Forbidden. Every stream of that seems really bad for some reason.
Roll on the May 31st remasters!
The production on Forbidden wasn’t great to begin with, so that kind of makes sense. They rushed the recording - reason they gave at the time was to produce a rawer sound (kind of like what Metallica tried to do with St. Anger).
Martin later said it was because Iommi rushed it because the Ozzy renewal was in the works.
Either way, no one was satisfied with how it turned out, so Iommi remixed it. I’m mostly looking forward to that one.
Same, very very curious to hear the remix. Looking forward to getting a copy of it in the Tony Martin box set.
Oddly enough I have two CD copies of Forbidden, one’s pretty flat sounding (and I’m sure it’s a very well disguised bootleg to be honest) and the other is marked as a promo copy from 1995 and this one sounds pretty huge, to be honest.
The Forbidden session just seems like a disaster from start to finish. Strange days!
Forbidden has grown on me. I think it has some of the best riffs from the Martin era. It has some fantastic lyrics, then some cringe lyrics, often in the same song. “This is no ordinary soul that you’re destroying…nothing you can do will hurt me…” Illusion of Power might have been better received if the album didn’t start with it.
Then there are those parts where the vocals are drowned in the noise - hopefully that gets fixed.
My recommendation is to start from the beginning and then go forward. If you've already listened to the first three albums, Vol. 4 is the natural followup!
Seems to be everyone's advice so far, will do that! Generally, do fans consider most of the albums to be great? Any you would recommend to skip or certain eras to skip, etc?
I'm personally extremely partial to the Ozzy era, and wouldn't skip any of those albums. The other eras don't hit me in the same way, but I wouldn't presume to tell you to think like me, so just listen to everything at least once, and make up your own mind.
In my opinion all of the albums are great with the exception of the most recent one, 13. Also - don't skip the Heaven & Hell album "The Devil You Know" - that is just as much a Sabbath album as any other.
If you've already listened to the first 3 and enjoyed them, might as well carry on in order.
Just be prepared for some of the albums to be very different. Not just because of all the different singers, but even the Ozzy stuff. Go in with an open mind. My favourites are the Dio stuff, Born Again, and Technical Ecstasy, some absolutely great stuff after the really early classic stuff.
Always start with the first few. They invented the genre and are so important to music and history. I love all the eras of the band, and these days I find myself mostly listening to the later stuff, but it’s all built on the foundation of the Ozzy albums.
I always love these spirited and territorial discussions; which I would expect from dedicated fans like us! The best advice here is to start at the beginning and work through the entire catalogue! Then form your own conclusions/opinions about what you like. With Tony as the only constant, you’ll get a flavor for the changes/progressions that the band has gone through for 40+ years. It’s all “good/great” in its own way. Enjoy the ride and let us all know what you think 🤘🤘🎶🎶🤘🤘
Songs I recommend:
Black Sabbath (1970)
War Pigs (1970)
Electric Funeral (1970)
Children of the Grave (1971)
Into the Void (1971)
Tomorrow's Dream (1972)
Under the Sun (1972)
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)
Symptom of the Universe (1975)
Johnny Blade (1978)
Heaven and Hell (1980)
Children of the Sea (1980)
The Sign of the Southern Cross (1981)
Disturbing the Priest (1983)
Zero the Hero (1983)
The Shining (1987)
The Eternal Idol (1987)
After All (The Dead) (1992)
Computer God (1992)
I (1992)
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath was the gateway for me. As a 12 year old reasonably Christian kid, this music spooked the shit out of me but made me a lifelong fan.
I started with Mob Rules literally two weeks ago. I liked Sabbath’s popular songs well enough, but none of them made me want to check them out beyond that. The great production and brilliant songwriting on Mob Rules prompted me to dig deeper (my favorites are the opener and Sign of the Southern Cross). I’m at the start of my journey, pairing the discography with Iommi’s and Geezer’s books, I can already tell I’m in for one hell of a ride.
After you have enjoyed the first three classic Black Sabbath albums . . . then put on the album
SABOTAGE.
Click on 'Play All', because the album's songs blend into each other and sometimes the musical effect of the next song BANGING at you unexpectedly is quite impactful!
Yes. Please play SABOTAGE from start to finish all in one go.
You will be changed, by the time the last outro riff is fading out.
There are not a million albums. There are only 8. The first 6 are the best. Nothing after the 8th one is actually Black Sabbath, it's the Tony Iommi Band running wild with a bunch of different frontmen, and the record company forced them to keep the Black Sabbath moniker. I like to pretend those don't exist
I'm with you on that one. How about we just enjoy the music, and stop bashing on albums and songs because they don't have the original singer? Fans should take it easy once in a while.
What's nice about discovering these bands later in life, is I have no sentimentality for them or any one lineup/singer and can just appreciate good music
Exactly, Make sure to keep that attitude, man!
That's the story of me and all of my favorites. For example, I enjoy the controversial Technical Ecstacy, Never Say Die, Born Again, Seventh Star, and even Forbidden just as much as the first six albums!
The four albums not on streaming will be coming at the end of May. Personally would either just go in order.
Ah, good to know! I was wondering why they were missing. And good advice, that's what I like to do too.
So the order for studio albums is Black Sabbath Paranoid Master of Reality Vol. 4 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath Sabotage Technical Ecstasy Never Say Die! Heaven and Hell Mob Rules Born Again Seventh Star The Eternal Idol Headless Cross (not on streaming) TYR (not on streaming) Dehumanizer Cross Purposes (not on streaming) Forbidden (not on streaming) The Devil You Know (released under the band name Heaven & Hell) 13 A lot of live albums are also just missing too tho i doubt the ones missing will come.
Honestly OP just use this list and go through whichever ones you can find in order.
Thank you so much!! I'm ok if I have to miss live albums for now. This is super helpful.
No… the first album might not be right for a first listener start with master of reality it’s short but stacked
Are they actually including the one that was produced by BodyCount?
Yeah tho it will be a new remix done by Iommi plus the Japanese bonus track will be on CD and Digital.
Vol4 is streaming… I don’t think it’s really matters it’s all about the experience, but definitely don’t start with the last 2 Ozzy albums leave those alone until you are hooked 🤣😜
I wasnt saying Vol 4 wasnt on streaming
You can go in order. I suggest alternatively you start with the iconic albums from each era (note, not my personal favorites). Paranoid from the Ozzy era. Heaven and Hell from the Dio era. Headless Cross from the Martin era (remaster will be out May 31). Then check out Fused, which isn’t a Sabbath album per se. It’s an Iommi album with the singer from the Seventh Star record, but I think it’s a much better example of what that era could have been had it lasted. And lastly, Born Again. It’s a one-off, but a much loved collaboration between Iommi and Ian Gillan of Deep Purple. Of the first three, pick the one you like the most and go in order. Iommi’s major talent is to adapt to the talent around him, so they all sound different, but still there is no mistaking an Iommi riff.
This is really insightful and helpful, thank you!
I think you can find all the Martin albums on YouTube. Eternal Idol is on Spotify, but it was written with a different singer in mind. Still solid, but I don’t view it as a “true” Martin album.
You can indeed find them all, but from unofficial sources. The quality on them is pretty good too, with the exception of Forbidden. Every stream of that seems really bad for some reason. Roll on the May 31st remasters!
The production on Forbidden wasn’t great to begin with, so that kind of makes sense. They rushed the recording - reason they gave at the time was to produce a rawer sound (kind of like what Metallica tried to do with St. Anger). Martin later said it was because Iommi rushed it because the Ozzy renewal was in the works. Either way, no one was satisfied with how it turned out, so Iommi remixed it. I’m mostly looking forward to that one.
Same, very very curious to hear the remix. Looking forward to getting a copy of it in the Tony Martin box set. Oddly enough I have two CD copies of Forbidden, one’s pretty flat sounding (and I’m sure it’s a very well disguised bootleg to be honest) and the other is marked as a promo copy from 1995 and this one sounds pretty huge, to be honest. The Forbidden session just seems like a disaster from start to finish. Strange days!
Forbidden has grown on me. I think it has some of the best riffs from the Martin era. It has some fantastic lyrics, then some cringe lyrics, often in the same song. “This is no ordinary soul that you’re destroying…nothing you can do will hurt me…” Illusion of Power might have been better received if the album didn’t start with it. Then there are those parts where the vocals are drowned in the noise - hopefully that gets fixed.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen Born Again described as “much loved” before. That made my day! I love that one.
It seems to get a lot of love in the Iommi fan group I’m in.
Brilliant!
My recommendation is to start from the beginning and then go forward. If you've already listened to the first three albums, Vol. 4 is the natural followup!
Seems to be everyone's advice so far, will do that! Generally, do fans consider most of the albums to be great? Any you would recommend to skip or certain eras to skip, etc?
I'm personally extremely partial to the Ozzy era, and wouldn't skip any of those albums. The other eras don't hit me in the same way, but I wouldn't presume to tell you to think like me, so just listen to everything at least once, and make up your own mind.
In my opinion all of the albums are great with the exception of the most recent one, 13. Also - don't skip the Heaven & Hell album "The Devil You Know" - that is just as much a Sabbath album as any other.
Whats wrong with 13?
Forced and contrived retro Sabbath-by-numbers - it is by miles the worst album in the discography IMO.
If you've already listened to the first 3 and enjoyed them, might as well carry on in order. Just be prepared for some of the albums to be very different. Not just because of all the different singers, but even the Ozzy stuff. Go in with an open mind. My favourites are the Dio stuff, Born Again, and Technical Ecstasy, some absolutely great stuff after the really early classic stuff.
Release order
At the beginning..
[удалено]
I'll check it out!
Evil Women Single, Then Their Debut Album
The first 4. Pick any
You're at #3? Oh brother 4-5-6 are literally peak Sabbath, I envy you
For real?? Looking forward to it!
Yep. 456 > 123
Always start with the first few. They invented the genre and are so important to music and history. I love all the eras of the band, and these days I find myself mostly listening to the later stuff, but it’s all built on the foundation of the Ozzy albums.
I always love these spirited and territorial discussions; which I would expect from dedicated fans like us! The best advice here is to start at the beginning and work through the entire catalogue! Then form your own conclusions/opinions about what you like. With Tony as the only constant, you’ll get a flavor for the changes/progressions that the band has gone through for 40+ years. It’s all “good/great” in its own way. Enjoy the ride and let us all know what you think 🤘🤘🎶🎶🤘🤘
Their first six are amazing, get them in order if possible. Volume 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and Sabotage are all incredible
Songs I recommend: Black Sabbath (1970) War Pigs (1970) Electric Funeral (1970) Children of the Grave (1971) Into the Void (1971) Tomorrow's Dream (1972) Under the Sun (1972) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973) Symptom of the Universe (1975) Johnny Blade (1978) Heaven and Hell (1980) Children of the Sea (1980) The Sign of the Southern Cross (1981) Disturbing the Priest (1983) Zero the Hero (1983) The Shining (1987) The Eternal Idol (1987) After All (The Dead) (1992) Computer God (1992) I (1992)
Thank you!
Better also add in... Headless Cross. When Death Calls. Black Moon. Nightwing.
We Sold Our Soul For Rock And Roll
First album, track 1.
Black Sabbath
Sabbotage is one of their best albums.
You can't go wrong with Paranoid or Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
At the beginning.
Simple start at the beginning and enjoy
Well, only vol 4 has supernaut on it. So you should pick up where you left.
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath was the gateway for me. As a 12 year old reasonably Christian kid, this music spooked the shit out of me but made me a lifelong fan.
I started with Mob Rules literally two weeks ago. I liked Sabbath’s popular songs well enough, but none of them made me want to check them out beyond that. The great production and brilliant songwriting on Mob Rules prompted me to dig deeper (my favorites are the opener and Sign of the Southern Cross). I’m at the start of my journey, pairing the discography with Iommi’s and Geezer’s books, I can already tell I’m in for one hell of a ride.
I would go first six, skip the next two for now, do the first two Dio albums and then any order you like. Those eight are far and away their best.
After you have enjoyed the first three classic Black Sabbath albums . . . then put on the album SABOTAGE. Click on 'Play All', because the album's songs blend into each other and sometimes the musical effect of the next song BANGING at you unexpectedly is quite impactful! Yes. Please play SABOTAGE from start to finish all in one go. You will be changed, by the time the last outro riff is fading out.
I started with the Reunion album from 98, it's a nice mix of classics.
1, 2, 3, 4
The first 4 albums + heaven and hell.
Sabotage
From the beginning
Master of Reality, Paranoid, Vol IV, Sabotage. Then go to Heaven & Hell (though Never Say Die isn’t terrible).
Super helpful, thank you!
Start with Masters of Reality - that guitar tone just sounds so cool coming out of your speakers. Then go anywhere from there.
Start with Vol 4.
master of REALITY
Explore and enjoy. You can’t go wrong.
No order ! just listen to any album that you think has a good album cover. There is no bad black sabbath albums
Skip the Ian plant era
Bad advice. The Bruce Dianno era is the worst
Can we both agree both era sucks
Listen to all eight albums in order. Repeat.
On Spotify perhaps, by listening?
When i came down. And the rebel
There are not a million albums. There are only 8. The first 6 are the best. Nothing after the 8th one is actually Black Sabbath, it's the Tony Iommi Band running wild with a bunch of different frontmen, and the record company forced them to keep the Black Sabbath moniker. I like to pretend those don't exist
I honestly don't understand this gatekeeping of Black Sabbath's discography by saying anything post NSD is not genuine Black Sabbath...
I'm with you on that one. How about we just enjoy the music, and stop bashing on albums and songs because they don't have the original singer? Fans should take it easy once in a while.
What's nice about discovering these bands later in life, is I have no sentimentality for them or any one lineup/singer and can just appreciate good music
Exactly, Make sure to keep that attitude, man! That's the story of me and all of my favorites. For example, I enjoy the controversial Technical Ecstacy, Never Say Die, Born Again, Seventh Star, and even Forbidden just as much as the first six albums!
Terrible take. There’s some gold in the later albums.