Black Sabbath Vol 4
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| Black Sabbath Vol 4 | |||||
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| Studio album by Black Sabbath | |||||
| Released | September 25, 1972 | ||||
| Recorded | 1972 at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, California | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal | ||||
| Length | 42:23 | ||||
| Label | Vertigo Warner Bros. (US/Canada) |
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| Producer | Patrick Meehan, Black Sabbath | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
| Black Sabbath chronology | |||||
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Black Sabbath Vol 4 (often shortened to Volume 4) is the fourth album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1972.
The album was originally to be titled Snowblind, after one of several songs referring to cocaine use.
Contents |
[edit] Recording
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
In June 1972, Black Sabbath reconvened in Los Angeles, California to begin work on their fourth album at the Record Plant Studios. This was the band's second album to be recorded there. The recording process was plagued with problems, many due to substance abuse issues. While struggling to record the song "Cornucopia" after "sitting in the middle of the room, just doing drugs",[1] Bill Ward was nearly fired from the band. "I hated the song, there were some patterns that were just horrible" Ward said. "I nailed it in the end, but the reaction I got was the cold shoulder from everybody. It was like 'Well, just go home, you're not being of any use right now.' I felt like I'd blown it, I was about to get fired".[2]
[edit] Music and lyrics
Volume 4 demonstrates Black Sabbath beginning to experiment with the heavy sound they had become known for. Although some songs, such as "Supernaut" and "Cornucopia" are in their trademark style, others demonstrate a soft, orchestral approach. This is exemplified by the song "Changes". Written by Tony Iommi, it is entirely in the form of a piano ballad with mellotron. Although the band had used piano on some songs previously, it had played only a minor role in the songs.
"Supernaut", on the other hand, features a loud, heavy riff played by Tony Iommi and a powerful percussion section played by Bill Ward. The lyrics evoke imagery of space exploration and are typical of those written by Butler and Osbourne. Butler's distinct influence may best be typified with the recurring motif, "I've lived a thousand years/times," found lyrically and thematically in numerous Black Sabbath songs.
At least two songs on the album reference the use of cocaine. The lyrics and title of "Snowblind" is an example of this. The band originally intended to name the album as Snowblind, but it was retitled by their record company. This was likely to avoid controversy in the American market. The song "Snowblind" also had to be re-recorded because the original version features Osbourne yelling the word "cocaine!" after each verse. On the officially released version, "cocaine" is whispered quite audibly after the first verse (approximately 41 seconds into the song). The song "St Vitus' Dance" may also be a reference to the use of cocaine.[citation needed] Chorea sancti viti (Latin for "St. Vitus' dance") is an abnormal involuntary movement disorder, vaguely comparable to dancing. An early symptom of an overdose of injected cocaine is a series of spasms, which resemble the dance. It is after this that the song was named.
[edit] Artwork
The album cover features a colourized photograph of Ozzy Osbourne with hands raised, taken during a Black Sabbath concert. The album's original release (on Vertigo in the UK, and on Warner Bros. in the US) features a gatefold sleeve with a page glued into the middle. Each band member is given their own photo page, with the band on-stage (and photographed from behind) at the very center. The album's cover art has proved iconic, and is parodied on the 1992 Peaceville Volume 4 compilation album, and the 1992 Volume Two EP by the band Sleep.
In the liner notes of Volume 4, Black Sabbath thank "the great COKE-Cola Company," another barely-hidden drug reference.[3] Also during the Volume 4 era, bassist Geezer Butler sported a sticker on his white bass that stated "Enjoy CoCaine", a parody of the slogan "Enjoy CocaCola."[4]
[edit] Release and reception
Volume 4 was released in September 1972, and while critics of the era were again dismissive of the album, it achieved gold status in less than a month, and was the band's fourth consecutive release to sell one million copies in the United States.[5] The song "Tomorrow's Dream" was released as a single but failed to chart.[6] Following an extensive tour of the US, the band toured Australia for the first time in 1973, and later Europe. Black Sabbath also appeared on England's Top of the Pops in 1973, sharing the stage with such diverse acts as Englebert Humperdink and Diana Ross.
In June 2000, Q magazine (6/00, p.69) placed Volume 4 at number 60 in its list of The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever[7] and described the album as "the sound of drug-taking, beer-guzzling hooligans from Britain's oft-pilloried cultural armpit let loose in LA." In an interview with Q magazine, Beck Hansen named the "Supernaut" riff as his all time favorite, equal with Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl". Famed rock composer Frank Zappa has named this the greatest rock track of all time. Zappa said in an interview, "I like it because I think it's prototypical of a certain musical style, and I think it's well done. Also, I happen to like the guitar lick that's being played in the background".
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward. It should be noted that the titles "The Straightener" and "Every Day Comes and Goes" are not individual songs, but rather titles for some part of the song.
[edit] Side one
- "Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener" – 8:01
- "Tomorrow's Dream" – 3:11
- "Changes" – 4:44
- "FX" – 1:43
- "Supernaut" – 4:49
[edit] Side two
- "Snowblind" – 5:33
- "Cornucopia" – 3:54
- "Laguna Sunrise" – 2:55
- "St. Vitus Dance" – 2:29
- "Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes" – 5:52
[edit] Personnel
- Ozzy Osbourne – vocals
- Tony Iommi – guitar, piano, mellotron
- Geezer Butler – bass guitar
- Bill Ward – drums
- Colin Caldwell, Vic Smith – engineering
- Patrick Meehan – production
[edit] Release history
| Region | Date | Label | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | September 1972 | Vertigo Records | |
| United States | September 1972 | Warner Bros. Records | |
| Canada | September 1972 | Warner Bros. Records | |
| United Kingdom | 1986 | Castle Commuinications | technically this is a compilation album as the final track is a live version of "Children of the Grave" taken from the Live at Last album. |
| Worldwide | 2004 | Sanctuary Records |
[edit] References
- ^ Rosen 1996, p. 73
- ^ Rosen 1996, p. 73-74
- ^ Black Sabbath Vol. 4 inner LP gatefold, page 6
- ^ http://www.black-sabbath.com/gallery_2/d/3087-2/BlackSabbath19720002.jpg Geezer Butler live onstage with Black Sabbath, January 13, 1973.
- ^ Ruhlmann, William. "AMG Biography". All Music Guide. Retrieved on 2008-02-14.
- ^ Billboard Black Sabbath chart history. Billboard.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
- ^ Rock List Music
