Agree that Heaven and Hell was their best album, but it was not a Black Sabbath album at all. It was a Dio album. Dio's fingerprints are all over that album, and it is a precursor for what would come later when his band Dio began releasing albums. The sound, theme and lyrics just ooze Dio's influence. The guys in Sabbath were idiots for causing Dio to leave the band because they would have had a much greater run had he stayed as singer.
Thankfully, after he left we got all the Dio albums which are far better than anything Sabbath produced after Dio left.
I will never be convinced however that any of these albums are worth hearing ever again (Headless Cross is...sort of not *too* bad in parts).
“which is the best Sabbath album of all time” (the answer is Heaven and Hell, in case you were wondering)"
Sir I must respectfully demur: Mob Rules is the better album; Heaven and Hell probably has the best individual *songs*, but that is something else.
'I think it’s safe to say that Tony Martin was Sabbath’s most technically proficient and polished singer.'
Come come now Sir! I must again respectfully demur: RJD was the lord of HM vokal teknik; Tony Martin's failings are obvious when you listen to him singing in concert (he is mostly pretty awful).
It's gauche to mention one's own 'work' in somebody else's comment section, but I some time ago I unburdened myself by writing a THREE-PART poast on Dio (the band, the man, the light, the dark, the door, the key etc). Maybe u enjoy:
Mixed feelings. I think the tour EP which showcased a few of those songs live was better, but there was a lot of old school vibe to the record that I liked. However, it's missing something. Bill Ward. You can notice it. I kept saying while listening to Cross Purposes how much better that record would have been with Bill playing on it.
I felt the same. Although every time I've encountered Bill Ward's playing the past 25 years or so it's seemed very pedestrian. He seems to have migrated to "regular hard rock drummer" from the "bizarro Gene Krupa" he was originally. Your Sabbath familiarity exceeds mine. Have you heard the old Bill Ward in any new stuff? And if so can you tell me what? Because 70's Bill Ward is maybe my favorite drummer.
Agree that Heaven and Hell was their best album, but it was not a Black Sabbath album at all. It was a Dio album. Dio's fingerprints are all over that album, and it is a precursor for what would come later when his band Dio began releasing albums. The sound, theme and lyrics just ooze Dio's influence. The guys in Sabbath were idiots for causing Dio to leave the band because they would have had a much greater run had he stayed as singer.
Thankfully, after he left we got all the Dio albums which are far better than anything Sabbath produced after Dio left.
Nice one
I will never be convinced however that any of these albums are worth hearing ever again (Headless Cross is...sort of not *too* bad in parts).
“which is the best Sabbath album of all time” (the answer is Heaven and Hell, in case you were wondering)"
Sir I must respectfully demur: Mob Rules is the better album; Heaven and Hell probably has the best individual *songs*, but that is something else.
'I think it’s safe to say that Tony Martin was Sabbath’s most technically proficient and polished singer.'
Come come now Sir! I must again respectfully demur: RJD was the lord of HM vokal teknik; Tony Martin's failings are obvious when you listen to him singing in concert (he is mostly pretty awful).
It's gauche to mention one's own 'work' in somebody else's comment section, but I some time ago I unburdened myself by writing a THREE-PART poast on Dio (the band, the man, the light, the dark, the door, the key etc). Maybe u enjoy:
https://shadeofachilles.substack.com/p/dios-lore?r=3jr7ai
Mixed feelings. I think the tour EP which showcased a few of those songs live was better, but there was a lot of old school vibe to the record that I liked. However, it's missing something. Bill Ward. You can notice it. I kept saying while listening to Cross Purposes how much better that record would have been with Bill playing on it.
I felt the same. Although every time I've encountered Bill Ward's playing the past 25 years or so it's seemed very pedestrian. He seems to have migrated to "regular hard rock drummer" from the "bizarro Gene Krupa" he was originally. Your Sabbath familiarity exceeds mine. Have you heard the old Bill Ward in any new stuff? And if so can you tell me what? Because 70's Bill Ward is maybe my favorite drummer.
I haven't checked out his solo work unfortunately. It's on my to do list.