Black Sabbath's Paranoid album released today - TIMH

Black Sabbath has had some awful album covers and this is one of them. Sabbath has also had some outstanding albums and this, for many people, is the best. Released in the U.S. today in 1971, “Paranoid” was recorded only four months after the band’s debut album yet is Sabbath’s highest charting and highest selling album. It reached #12 on the album chart and has sold over five million copies.

“Paranoid” contains only eight songs, three of which most rock fans are familiar with – “War Pigs”, “Paranoid” and “Iron Man”. The remaining five songs are not quite as widely known to the general public but are revered by metal fans of all stripes. The album as a whole is one of the most influential in the history of metal. A veritable who’s who of top bands from multiple metal genres have covered songs off the album, including Slayer, Pantera, Megadeth, Black Label Society, Faith No More, Danzig, Orange Goblin, Marilyn Manson, Avenged Sevenfold, Type O Negative, and William Shatner.

The three most popular songs on the album each have interesting back stories. The lead track, “War Pigs”, is a decidedly anti-war opus that was originally titled “Walpurgis”. Written by bassist Geezer Butler, the song’s iconic opening line, “Generals gathered in their masses, just like witches at black masses”, lost some meaning due to the change of the title of the song. In European folklore Walpurgis Night is celebrated on April 30 and on that night there were large gatherings of witches across the countryside. That Butler’s lyrics still carry so much weight despite the original analogy being rendered mute is a testament to just how killer the song is.

The second track on the album, “Paranoid”, was a last minute addition. The band only had seven songs prepared and the record label wanted another. Guitarist Tony Iommi hammered out the main riff and general structure in less than an hour and the band filled in the rest. The song was the first single off the album and Sabbath’s second biggest hit, reaching #61 on the chart. Oddly enough, the B-side to the single was “The Wizard” which is a track off the band’s first album.

When singer Ozzy Osbourne first heard the lumbering riff for “Iron Man” he quipped that it “sounded like a big iron bloke walking around“. Butler ran with the idea and penned lyrics that employ a twist worthy of O. Henry and are a just a bit deeper than they appear upon first listen. A man goes into space, returns through a magnetic field and is turned to steel (I guess Iron Man sounded better than Steel Man). While in space he sees the future and witnesses mankind’s destruction. Once back on earth he tries to warn everybody but he has been turned mute and the people mock him. This angers the Iron Man so he kills everybody and generally makes a mess of things, thus fulfilling his own vision.

This record is worth another listen if you’ve heard it hundreds of times and it’s worth a listen if you’re only familiar with one or two songs. If you’re into exceptional drumming take a listen to Bill Ward on “Rat Salad”. If you associate Sabbath with only heavy music check out the ethereal “Planet Caravan”. Looking for a swinging jazzy metal acid flashback? Drop a tab of “Fairies Wear Boots”.

“Rat Salad”: