Track Listing

1. War Pigs
2. Paranoid
3. Planet Caravan
4. Iron Man
5. Electric Funeral
6. Hand Of Doom
7. Rad Salad
8. Fairies Wear Boots

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #3483 in Music
• Released on: 2008-02-26
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Running time: 42 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
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

CD Description
PARANOID proved to be Black Sabbath's most focused, consistent, and successful record. Leaving behind the amorphous, extended jams of their debut for focused songs and a more structured sound, Black Sabbath virtually wrote the book on heavy metal with the ominous, unforgettable riffs, thunderous rhythms, and dark themes on this release. There are some up-tempo rockers, the famous title track for one, but for the most part PARANOID oozes along like a bad dream, as on the slinky, creepy opener, "War Pigs", or the lumbering thud of "Iron Man" (which boasts one of the most indelible electric guitar riffs in rock history).
The album's title is apt: PARANOID is filled with an edgy aggression and lyrics about war,insanity, death, and destruction. Ozzy Osbourne's flat, affectless voice merges perfectly with Tony Iommi's fuzzed-out,sledgehammer power chords and the bruising bass and drum lines to create an intense, freaky, horror-show universe. There are elements of blues-rock and psychedelia (the floating "Planet Caravan", in particular), but Black Sabbath basicallyinvents here what would become one of the most popular genres of music in the latter 20th century and beyond. Even after the millions of heavy metal albums that have followed in its wake, PARANOID stands as an all-time classic.

Customer Reviews

Sabbath find their niche
Black Sabbath's second album develops the self-penned heavy rock contained on their debut and does away with the obvious blues influences. Tony Iommi's murderous, downtuned guitar prowls through what is a mostly slowish collection of tracks. The hit title track is the only high-tempo song. Ozzy Osbourne delivers lyrics that combine fragmentary remarks on war, drugs and nuclear threat with references to the occult and the grisly, largely in a voice that evokes dread. There's the odd digression, such as 'Fairies Wear Boots', which appears to reveal a sense of humour. Otherwise, this is music to spook you.

Heavy metal is an over-used term. Hard rock is probably a better description for much of the early 1970s, but Black Sabbath are a rare
exception. Their music is closest of its era in type to what emerged from the so-called 'New Wave Of Heavy Metal' onwards. They're not subtle, apart from on the mystical 'Planet Caravan', and their lyrics are not intellectual or possessed of different nuances, but the mood they achieve is intense and powerful. 'Paranoid' is their first classic album.

The Classic Sabbath Album
Black Sabbath were the fathers of modern Heavy Rock (Zeppelin never claimed to be 'heavy'...just 'Rock' incidentally)and this album contains some of their greatest tracks...Paranoid, Warpigs, Fairies.. Having ownes all the Sabbath on vinyl for the past 20 years, I'd say that if you only have enough for one Sabbath album, get this one..chapter and verse of 1970s British Heavy Rock.

Dominant Classic Metal
1970's self-titled debut gave Black Sabbath acclaim, albeit relatively low-key. It showcased a unique and wonderful sound - something far heavier and darker than any other metal band around. Later in that year the band released "Paranoid" to surprising colossal acclaim, propelling the band into both European and US stardom. This rise bewildered leagues of music fans against the band's supposed satanic proclamation, stupidly labelling them Satan worshippers and disregarding the music on offer. "Paranoid" trampled over the naysayers, planting the band into legendary status.

Most of the songs on "Paranoid" have become timeless classics. The title track is the song that everyone who doesn't know Sabbath, or doesn't really know classic metal and rock, knows. Supposedly written as a last ditch thing in the recording studio, the song's overt simplicity and various catchy hooks has become the public face for Sabbath. Ask a group of 40 year old mothers and I bet some, if not most, will know the song, or at least the lead riff. While I don't rank the song as particularly great Black Sabbath, I believe it to be a testament to their ability - their sound is so unique and wonderful, the simplest of Iommi riffs and most slapdash lyrics from Ozzy are elevated, boosted by a sense of raw energy and passion throughout. Obviously Ozzy leads this from the front, booming his voice from the get-go with the fabulous opener "War Pigs/Luke's Wall", one of my favourite Sabbath songs, galloping through sections, swaggering through riffs, solos and police sirens. The song is Black Sabbath at their best.

"Paranoid" is a wonderfully consistent album, flowing from song to song, and boasting no filler. While many of the songs have become anthems, such as the title track, "War Pigs" and the monolithic "Iron Man", the album has plenty to offer as a whole. "Hand of Doom" is up there with the best moments in the album, containing a great galloping sense and trademark Iommi riffing. "Fairies Wear Boots" is another underrated Sabbath song, and another that could have easily hit the mainstream popularity as others.

Many people have loosely thrown the abuse of Satan worshippers at Sabbath, and most particularly Ozzy Osbourne. Yes, he did bite a live bat on stage, but as he has said in countless interviews and retrospect programs - it was a stage mix up, and he was under the impression of it being rubber, as planned. Yes, the album imagery is dark and intense, but this was their image, it was their aesthetic style of branching out and creating an identity, a menacing identity. Lyrically, confusion seems to be in the band's interest in the occult, with the band members, and especially Geezer Butler having experienced bizarre experiences in their earlier lives. The obscure lyrics were easily misinterpreted, and even the less obscure ones, such as the poignant Vietnam War attack in "War Pigs", in which Ozzy paints a gloomy portrayal of humanity, with Satan "laughing" as he watches. Hardly proclaiming Satanism. While thousands of fans have argued as I am, the "evil" stigma became something of a tag, wrongly giving the band a controversial and mysterious label. It is for this that I can concede the criticism proved a double edged sword, as it certainly boosted the bands legendary persona.

"Paranoid" broke into mainstream success, giving the band ultimate stardom, and creating endless influence for the metal genre and many of its offshoots. Fans of classic rock should pick up this album, and discover the wonderful journey of Sabbath's lengthy and stellar discography.