As Black Sabbath get ready to bid farewell with their The End Tour in 2016, Rhino will say hello to a set of deluxe Sabbath reissues available in the U.S. for the first time on January 22.
The label will reissue the band's first three albums--Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1970) and Master of Reality (1971)--as deluxe 2CD and 2LP sets, along with the 2002 live collection Past Lives. These collections feature the original albums, as remastered by Rhino in 2012, alongside bonus discs of rare material previously only released in U.K.-exclusive deluxe sets issued by Sanctuary Records in 2009. (The track list for the band's self-titled debut has been rearranged to reflect the original U.S. pressing on Warner Bros., swapping out "Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games with Me)" for its original non-LP B-side, "Wicked World"; "Evil Woman" thus features on the bonus disc.)
The three original members of Black Sabbath--singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi and bassist Geezer Butler (original drummer Bill Ward declined to participate due to a contract dispute)--released 13, their 19th studio album, in 2013. The End Tour will take them through North America, Australia and Europe from January to September 2016.
Black Sabbath: Deluxe Edition (Sanctuary 2700817 (U.K.), 2009 - reissued Warner Bros./Rhino, 2016)
Amazon U.S.: 2CD / 2LP
Amazon Canada: 2CD
Disc 1: Original U.S. album (Warner Bros. WS 1871, 1970)
- Black Sabbath
- The Wizard
- Wasp/Behind the Wall of Sleep/Bassically/N.I.B.
- Wicked World
- A Bit of Finger/Sleeping Village/Warning
Disc 2: Bonus material
- Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games with Me) (from U.K. pressing - Vertigo VO 6, 1970)
- Black Sabbath (Studio Outtake - Regent Sound Studios, 11/17/1969)
- Black Sabbath (Instrumental - Regent Sound Studios, 11/17/1969)
- The Wizard (Studio Outtake - Regent Sound Studios, 11/17/1969)
- I.B. (Alternate Version - Regent Sound Studios, 11/17/1969)
- Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games with Me) (Alternate Version - Regent Sound Studios, 11/17/1969)
- Sleeping Village (Intro) (Alternate Version - Regent Sound Studios, 11/18/1969)
- Warning (Part 1) (Studio Outtake - Regent Sound Studios, 11/18/1969)
Paranoid: Deluxe Edition (Sanctuary Records 1782444 (U.K.), 2009 - reissued Warner Bros./Rhino, 2016)
Amazon U.S.: 2CD / 2LP
Amazon Canada: 2CD
Disc 1: Original album (Vertigo/6360 011 (U.K.), 1970/Warner Bros. WS 1887 (U.S.), 1971)
- War Pigs/Luke's Wall
- Paranoid
- Planet Caravan
- Iron Man
- Electric Funeral
- Hand of Doom
- Rat Salad
- Jack the Stripper/Fairies Wear Boots
Disc 2: Bonus material, Regent Sound Studios - 6/16-17/1970
- War Pigs (Instrumental)
- Paranoid (Alternate Lyrics)
- Planet Caravan (Alternate Lyrics)
- Iron Man (Instrumental)
- Electric Funeral (Instrumental)
- Hand of Doom (Instrumental)
- Rat Salad (Alternate Mix)
- Fairies Wear Boots (Instrumental)
Master of Reality: Deluxe Edition (Sanctuary 2701106 (U.K.), 2009 - reissued Warner Bros./Rhino, 2016)
Amazon U.S.: 2CD / 2LP
Amazon Canada: 2CD
Disc 1: Original LP (Vertigo 6360 050 (U.K.)/Warner Bros. BS 2562 (U.S.), 1971)
- Sweet Leaf
- After Forever
- Embryo
- Children of the Grave
- Orchid
- Lord of This World
- Solitude
- Into the Void
Disc 2: Bonus material
- Weevil Woman '71
- Sweet Leaf (Studio Outtake)
- After Forever (Studio Outtake Instrumental)
- Children of the Grave (Studio Outtake)
- Children of the Grave (Studio Outtake Instrumental)
- Orchid (Studio Outtake)
- Lord of This World (Studio Outtake)
- Solitude (Studio Outtake)
- Into the Void (Spanish Sid) (Studio Outtake)
Past Lives (Sanctuary/Divine 06076 84561-2, 2002)
Amazon U.S.: 2CD / 2LP
Amazon Canada: 2CD
Disc 1: Live At Last... (unofficial bootleg released as NEMS BS-001 (U.K.), 1980)
- Tomorrow'sDream
- Sweet Leaf
- Killing Yourself to Live
- Cornucopia
- Snowblind
- Children of the Grave
- War Pigs
- Wicked World
- Paranoid
Tracks 1-5 recorded at the Hardrock, Manchester - 3/11/1973
Tracks 6-9 recorded at the Rainbow, London - 3/16/1973
Disc 2: TV and radio performances
- Hand of Doom
- Hole in the Sky
- Symptom of the Universe
- Megalomania
- Iron Man
- Black Sabbath
- I.B.
- Behind the Wall of Sleep
- Fairies Wear Boots
Tracks 1 and 5-9 recorded at The Olympia, Paris - 12/20/1970
Tracks 2-4 recorded at the Asbury Park Convention Hall, Asbury Park, NJ - 8/6/1975
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Heaven in Black: Black Sabbath's Late Period Albums Collected for 'Anno Domini' Box
Dear Little Buttercup: Rhino's "Start Your Ear Off Right" Features America, The Doors, Grateful Dead, "Three Amigos," More
I remember can't quite recall but a number of these classic Sabbath albums were reissued with bonus tracks
a few years ago and i wonder too if Rhino competed the extras too, in other words a carbon copy.
These days I think it is Rhino's lot in life only to do what has already been done.
I have the Black Box remasters - would anyone like to comment on just the audio difference between the two - i.e. is it worth re-buying these new ones?
I have heard that the black box set which I have as well as UK versions of deluxe expanded CDs is an inferior sound compared to the reissues. With the exception of Paranoid three cd deluxe which has a Quad mix dvd that is in my opinion the best sound you will ever hear of Paranoid bar none.
thanks - I will check them out
TC & Bob in regards to these upcoming Sabbath reissues this will be the second time, at the moment can't quite recall the dates that they first arrived i'll go for 2012. I wonder too if the track listings will be exactly the same as the "new" editions. Well i have had the box set now for around 3 years contrary to what people think i guess it does sound quite good, as i have a pretty good sound system, i must admit i can't really judge what's
best for the listeners and the fans.The original vinyl i don't have, and i would imagine cd copies when they first
arrived way back in '83? and now 2016 editions hmmm. The good thing there is amazing glossy 40 page "black
book" on their history with lyrics in the "Black Box"
Bob i also have the Black Box set, your initial thoughts on the B.B? Is it worth getting them again if the sound is better hmm?
There is a lot of discussion over a number of websites and forums about the sound quality of the Black Sabbath CDs. I don't have vinyl, so can't comment on that. I do have the Black Box editions. I felt, at the time (2004) that these were the best sounding Sabbath discs that I had heard so far - I had the Castle remasters, and the original discs up to that point. All the discs have had plus and minuses, but overall, I still think the Black Box editions have the edge. These new Special Editions, released tomorrow, are using the 2012 masters worked on by Andy Pearce for the iTunes digital downloads and the promise is that they are the best sounding you will ever hear. But how will that translate to physical CD is the unknown. So I have ordered Master of Reality to try; I think it is the densest and grungiest of the early lot - so I figure if this sounds better than the BB edition, then I will be all in for the other two. And also, when you get into finer detail, and you are concerned about audio, having a really good and balanced system is so key. It is really so subjective in the end. We shall see how this all turns out.
Thanks Bob for your feedback, with these new reissues due within a day or so, there is another format i have tried recently but i think the jury is still undecided about the sound & the quality of the discs too, although the discs are very expensive i have a number of classic albums that are on shm-cd and directly from Japan and the great thing too they have lyrics, Hotel California,Cosmos Factory,Steely Dan, Gaucho they sound
amazing too, i must admit they're tempting it's rare that i will repeat, although i may have best of albums,
Eagles, Creedence & Steely Dan, but it's good to buy their classic albums, your take on shm-cd's? Last year
bought Toto's "Hyrda" on sacd it's sounds excellent, as suggested we want the best possible sound, would love
to have everything in 5.1 surround sound?
These are another couple of topics that stir the pot.
My take on SHM CDs is that the material makes little difference to the overall sound. What makes the difference in the Japanese pressings, SHM or not, is often they are mastered and pressed with what seems to be greater care and with audio first and foremost in mind. I have not always had the best sound from Japanese pressings, but more often than not, when comparing to the domestic version, the Japanese pressings win. But again, I think it is the way they do it, and the way they treat the source materials. Their packaging is usually second to none also. When getting the best audio is really at the top of the list, you can usually count on The Japanese CDs to give you what you want.
As far as 5.1, I like it sometimes, but for me, I have a far superior system for stereo, so I lose the benefit of the 5.1 on lesser gear. So the whole immersive experience is there, but the detail and sheer audio enjoyment is lessened for me. And to be clear, I use my gear to LISTEN to music; I don't put a CD on to hear my gear. I hope I never cross into that strictly audiophile world.
Hi again Peter
I just opened the new Master of Reality Deluxe Cd and did an audio comparison to the Black Box Version. I am disappointed. Through my system, the Deluxe is quite flat sounding, with a dullness and an energy that is lacking compared with the BB version. To be more specific, even the coughing sequence at the beginning of Sweet Leaf trails off and doesn't hold up in the mix. The bass in the Deluxe is not as distinct, and the guitar leads are not as precise (meaning you can hear the plucking of the strings and with greater clarity). I would say that if you want the extras, the Deluxe is ok, but I wouldn't upgrade the others for the sake of the audio and will stick with the Black Box versions.
Bob a huge thanks for your feedback, like your self it sounds as though you have a pretty decent sound system.
Although we have the B.B. set and upon your initial reaction you are disappointed with the result. The thing
that cracks me up with so many recent updates of our fave bands and all of these deluxe super deluxe editions
and anniversary discs and i bet there will be many more, are they really worth it in the end? I think sometimes we are lead into a false sense of security where the artist and the record Companies not as though
there are many left, suggest that these new editions are far superior to the original releases? Bob as you have
M.O.R. and you are annoyed, will that put you off buying the rest of them? To me there is nothing worse than
when the excitement builds and we get let down. When i do read reviews and any negativity and rightly so
that does put me off. Is there a decent booklet in the album or is it just plain?
The booklet is really good - very detailed examination of the LP plus the goings-on of BB at the time, with some archival photos. The second disc is mainly outtakes and alternate versions, which I have no interest in. For the record, extra discs in sets like this interest me if they have decent live recordings, or studio tracks originally left off but album worthy. Again, my main interest is improved audio. I walked into my local HMV store yesterday and all three were on sale, way less than Amazon Canada, so I took a chance and bought all three for a huge savings. But I only opened one, and that is my loss, but will be returning the other two unopened for a refund. My advice is to try one, and listen for yourself, if you are willing to take the monetary risk.
I am frankly getting tired of having my hopes built up and being disappointed. I have become a fan of Steven Wilson's remixes, a very different process, but he has the knack of preserving the original sound and making it better to my ears. As an example I have used in a past Blog I created for such things, the latest Jimi Hendrix remasters were decent, but what got me excited was on the bonus disc when Eddie Kramer was giving an example at the mixing desk during various track playbacks, Suddenly, Redding's bass and Mitchell's drums came alive in the mix. In my view, this wasn't a bad thing - you could just hear more of what was going on without tampering with Hendrix's guitar parts. I contend that I would rather hear clearly what was going on, even if that is not how it sounded on the vinyl all those years ago. The source material is there, and there is a way to get it out and available in so many recordings. I am always craving a remix of the classics, something Wilson is doing on at least some of my desert island discs.
Bob could not agree with you more I am a fan of Steve Wilson's remixes & remasters on a number or reissues.
As i am a huge Jethro Tull fan i was more than happy with the results of a number of their classic and not so classic albums. Even better were a number of Yes's reissues which were quite good. With Steven Wilson's input with Jethro Tull & Yes and a number of progressive rock artists, although we will never know,
and i guess we can only speculate i wonder what the results would have been if he was approached to do the
recent Sabbath albums? Bob what's your take on the Dio, Tony The Cat Martin albums? & the one off Glenn Hughes & Ian Gillan fronted Sabbath? There is some good material in some of the albums and not so good.