Black Sabbath : Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules 2LP Remastered Vinyl Editions - Review 

My very first concert was Heaven and Hell tour. I was 16 very last weekend of Summer break in Aug 1980 at Aloha stadium Hawaii. It was actually a three group all day event called Summer 80 blowout. First was Molly Hachet, then Blue oyster cult and finally as the sun was setting; the sky was a magnificent array of twilight colors. Four skydivers parachuted down from the sky and landed at the back of the stage as if to imply that the band arrived via parachutes. Then a giant puffs of smoke rose up from behind the stage as the famous coughing of Sweet leaf blasted on the speakers. Then the band appeared and started to play it. As this was happening; people around me started to light up joints and passed it around. Not only was it my first concert but it was the best! I thought Blue oyster was good, especially their Godzilla but every single song of Sabbath blew everyone else away. It seemed like it was only yesterday. I can’t believe it was 43 years ago!

Personally, I think Mob Rules should never be remixed, it sounds fantastic as it is, really ballsy for 1981!

I’m happy with the 2009 remasters I have, always preferred Mob Rules out of the both. Won’t surprise me if Mob Rules get rereleased again but the whole album is remixed. Great video Phil 😊

4th best album by black sabbath

You described exactly the problem I again ran into. I am a big fan of BS since 1970 and did not stop to collect every new edition which ends in having several parallel collections of Vinyl and CDs (except 13) - And having learned nothing from the past, bought again the latest H&H double CD, just to find out that I should better have ordered a Pizza instead. Next time when there will be a "new" re-re-re-remasterd version I will wait for your review. In nearly all cases you are spot on in my personal opinion. As always Thanks so much!

I saw them on The Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules tour. Support band in Newcastle in 1980, Shakin Street, were excellent. I bought their album after I saw them.

I have bought the remasters, I have listened to my original pressing and the remaster of Heaven and Hell is audibly more compressed, the mid to highs in the sound spectrum are not as clear as the original, my ears are good, I am a musician and a hifi enthusiast, the original mastering of this album was completely perfect, quite revolutionary at the time of its release, the bass being so prominent, I have not yet found a remastered album apart from the Zeppelin remasters that sounds better, as soon as the tapes go though digital processing inevitably something is lost, vinyl is unique in its short signal path … As to the extras, I have most of them, two versions edited and the full version of Heaven and Hell is a bit mad, I have the original twelve inch single, The whole Portland gig is available on Amazon, semi bootleg, vinyl and cd, cool video, I will subscribe, I got to see the Heaven and Hell tour, and Mob Rules, and another eight gigs across the years. I recently renewed my original Heaven and Hell, paid around £60 for a mint copy, they are out there. Have not done a direct comparison with Mob rules yet. I like those licks you were playing at the end, I sing, cheers for your hard work. Cheers from a fellow Sabbath fan.

Hello Phil. The heaven and hell reissue is very impressive. I had a cassette of this album circa 1981 which has long deteriorated. Forced to throw it away.

Just picked both of these up .. haven’t stopped playing them for the last week or so . Unbelievably good albums .. some great riffs here as good as any earlier albums ..next stop will be live evil..👍

Thanks for that informative piece. I have my original cassettes of both albums, CDs and the 'Mob Rules' LP. I am eagerly await the newly remastered 'Born Again' when it comes out, because the original production of that excellent album was shoddy. Tony Iommi reported a while back that the original tapes have been found, so that should be worth the wait.

Great Video as always Phil, Two excellent albums. Yes if your a big Sabbath fan then these are worth getting hold of, these were both released last year in the US on the Warner label. They are the ones I havecopies of, which I probably got hold of around 12 months ago. They are exactly the same as the ones you have just reviewed. The 1980 Hartford concert is from an FM radio broadcast, and you can get hold of the complete show on a double Vinyl LP, in excellent quality (One of those grey area releases) on the Fallen Angel Label. The 1982 Hammersmith concert was a standalone release in the US (The full show again) back in 2011, this was limited to 3000 pressings, so it is a bit harder to come bye and commands a steep price. Thanks for the review, keep them coming.

Hi Phil all the tracks on the Heaven Hell 2cd release has been previously released across the 2 sanctuary 2010 deluxe

Hi Phil, first of all congratulations on such an amazing channel and content, I only discovered your channel when I wanted some information on the new Live Evil deluxe Boxset, needless to say, I ended up buying that Boxset the following day 😊. My question to you is this, I Have both 'Heaven and Hell' and 'Mob Rules' on vinyl but mine are the RHINO version that came out in 2021 I believe; do you if there is any difference with this new BMG version?? I paid a fortune getting both shipped from America (I live in Ireland). Any info would be great. Thank you

Sometimes theres a lot of Version and it can be hell knowing what one to buy, but it's going to be heaven when you are spinning the one you go with.

Dio-Sabs era is my favourite. When I heard H&H & Mob.. we’re being repackaged again, before the dust had settled on the last lot, over a ‘Born Again’ Tony Martin era boxset, including 18:25 the ‘Forbidden’ remix. It’s great though for new fans, kicking off their Dio-Sabs journey, but I won’t buy them as I have all I need. If the Craig Gruber’s H&H tracks ever appear or the film footage (future dvd release) for ‘Live Evil’ then I’ll splash the cash! I won’t ever get into the Ozzy vs Dio era online conversations.. life’s too short.

Good points Phil and it is confusing which version is what. I got Heaven and Hell when if first came out on record. The original cover was much lighter and looked better - you could see more detail such as the playing cards etc. But I returned it to the record store twice because the first 2 copies were warped/jumped. The 3rd copy played fine but was in the darker cover which I didnt like but has been used since. So that's always been a gripe for 42 years now! Is it right that returns to the store still counted towards sales....? Always liked the drawing of the band on the back and thought it was unique until I saw the Rainbow cover of Long Live RNR. Hmm.... Production on H&H was very good but drums seem rather too "tidy" now. Mob Rules always felt light in comparison - had that on cassette. Cheers!

I know this is heresy but I preferred Dio era Sabbath to the Ozzy fronted one.

I honestly feel that we've been robbed by not having Heaven and Hell as super deluxe box set. These are masterpieces, I already have them and have added them with the CDs. I'm not a sound genius, can't tell the the difference between original and new mix, which to me the late and great Martin Birch did everything to make it sound as it is, and that means it's perfect. As for no Ozzy no Sabbath, I don't by that, I'm a huge Black Sabbath fan. And I love all singers, and as I always tell my friends when it comes to Black Sabbath Lord Iommi is Black Sabbath, as long as he's playing the guitar...then that's all that it matters.

I want a Re Mix Super Deluxe version of Live Evil

I remember Heaven and Hell being well received at the time. I liked it well enough, and bought it, but somehow it never moved into my "love" category. There's a definite dividing line between the Ozzy Years and the rest, and I can't erase it from my mind. I'm not saying it's not Sabbath, because it is. However, for me at the time, Dio was coming off the two classic Rainbow albums of the debut and Rising - so he belonged there. Plus, sword and sorcery lyrics aren't something I particularly dig. Still, it certainly rocks, and all these years later it probably deserving or a rebuy. Mob Rules? I didn't buy it at the time, and so really have no attachment to that one at all.

Phil, should I pick up some new copies on cassette?😅😎

Hallo Phil!! 2 Mastepieces!!🤘🏼 But, why didn’t You bought Mob Rules When it came out!!?? Where You Busy with Handsome Beast at that time… Just Wondering… Cheers!!🖤💀👍

Hi Phil,never listen this record,i have all the records with Osborne,that's all 😞🤗