Ah yes, Paranoid. That one Sabbath's song that everybody knows, played in every radio around the globe. Currently at 1.3 BILLIONS streams on Spotify only. The song known to people who don't even know who Ozzy and Black Sabbath are.
In the rare case that you don't know what I'm talking about, here it is:
Nowadays it's well known by Sabbath's fans that Paranoid was a filler song. Ozzy and bandmates already wrote the full album - which is the second of their career, published in 1970 - when the producer (or the label, I don't remember) told them that they had space in the record for another song. So they wrote Paranoid on the spot, a simple and short song to throw inside and that ended up being their most universally recognized success. Maybe actually because it's so simple and short, who knows...
But that's the same reason in my opinion that makes this song the worst of that album. Basically every other song in the album is at least ten times better than this one. I don't want to limit myself at this album only, so here's three other less known tracks from Black Sabbath discography.
FAIRIES WEAR BOOTS - PARANOID
This is a perfect example to hear the amazing riff-writing abilities of Sabbath's guitarist Tony Iommy. Contrary to Paranoid, but more in line with the usual songwriting process of the band, Fairies Wear Boots is 6+ minutes long and is composed by a sequel of killing guitar riffs that makes it sound like a music suite, 4 songs in one.
Starting with that iconic arpeggio with a delay effect that doubles every note. Something pretty amazing and mind blowing at the time.
And what can we say about the bassist Geezer Butler doing its own thing while Iommy is soloing? In a time with no backing tracks and in a band with just one guitar, having a great bassist was super important to get the right groove and fill those rhythmic parts!
CHILDREN OF THE GRAVE - MASTER OF REALITY
How heavy can you play in 1971? The answer is "Children of the grave" heavy. A galloping riff from both guitar and bass, driven by the drum work of mister Bill Ward. The ability of Ozzy to create these easy to sing-along phrases is incomparable. And when the song is half-way through, it slaps you in the face with a satanic riff from the depth of hell 🔥
You could think the lyrics are dark and hateful. Instead the song is about the hope for a younger generation to reject hate from the older one and fight for a better world and a society based on love and generosity.
Actually many many Sabbath's and Ozzy's songs are about loving each other to create a better world. No satanism here, sorry bigot Christians...
BLACK SABBATH - BLACK SABBATH
If we try to find the song that started heavy metal it's not so easy. In the 60s (and even before) we already had some pretty heavy songs from bands like The Beatles, The Who, Deep Purple but also some musicians from the classic rock n roll and blues scene. Think about the darkness of "I put a spell on you" by Screamin'Jay Hawkins...
But the song Black Sabbath, opening the first Black Sabbath album called Black Sabbath is for sure what started a whole new genre: DOOM METAL.
While people argue about the beginning of heavy metal, doom was already there in 1969. Extremely slow tempo, cursed riff, heavy like a black hole. Imagine being in 1969, put this album on your turntable and the first thing you hear is this song. I guess it was fuckin' scary to death!
And that's it about Ozzy and Black Sabbath from me. I'm working on something with my brother to pay our tribute to the Prince of Darkness and it will be out for the next #vibes competition so stay tuned, follow me for more and let me know in the comments your favourite Sabbath's songs other than Paranoid 🤘
🦇 RIP OZZY OSBOURNE 🦇
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