Thank you for saying that! Look at one of the comments I had to respond to? The person wrote Sabbath Bloody Sabbath only has like 3 good songs on it? I said No Way!!! Every song on that album to me is great! I just don't understand people sometimes. I'm a drummer and appreciate good music. And I don't understand how someone can say that Sabbath ran out of steam before making Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage!!!!
@@user-gd1ru7er5tI first heard this album when it was released in 1973. I was 12 at the time! I listened to it only last week as a now 63 yr old and loved every moment and could remember how I felt the first time hearing it. A true masterpiece in my eyes and ears 👍❤️
For the first time, I have to disagree with you guys, btw i do love your channel. I saw Sabbath live in 1974, 1976, and was blessed to see the End tour 2017. There’s a reason they played Under the Sun as the 2017 end tour encore, trust me, you’d know why if you witnessed this track live. You must revisit this album again, it will eventually strike a heavy chord in you, trust me. You really need to realise that living through the metamorphosis and growth of Sabbath from their birth in 1970, it can never be replicated by spinning a few discs 50 years later. Unfortunately like we did in the 70s, you need to adjust to change. Volume 4 was the template for Heavy metal going forward.
I can live without FX & Changes but otherwise, this is a great Sabbath album. They just need to hear it more often, it is tough to follow those first 3 albums but Vol 4 is still in my rotation.
I hear you on the first 3 albums, they are A+ efforts and industry standards, they came out and obliterated everyone by Masters of Reality. So Volume 4 was a difficult album to make, trying to maintain their standard as Kings of Metal while moving their music forward, it did not help they were coked out of their minds at the time. I still think it is a mostly.great album, with some quibbles with a couple tracks. I still.give it an A as it became a classic album in its own way and grows on you with repeated listening. Wheel of Confusion/The Straightener is one of their best tracks, period. Onto Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 2 years off and a slightly progressive approach while keeping the Sabbath sound created another great record and a solid A effort that stood the test of time. Sabbath still rules! Enjoy. 🎶🎸🎤🎸🎹🎶
Ozzy made eight studio albums with the Sabbs from 1970 until 1978. You've got four albums to go with "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)", "Sabotage (1975)", "Technical Ecstasy (1976)" and "Never Say Die (1978)". The latter two are considered "bad" albums by a lot of "fans". I like 'em. A lot. Ozzy was kicked out of Sabbath in 1979 (for, oh-irony, substance and alcohol abuse) and replaced by Ronnie James Dio who had slammed the door on Rainbow a while earlier. Their first album was "Heaven And Hell (1980)" and to me sounded like a Rainbow album but with Tony Iommi on guitar instead of Ritchie Blackmore. The follow-up was "Mob Rules (1981)" which sounded much more like a proper Black Sabbath album to my ears. Cheerio lads.
La & Che are very astute, you guys pick up on everything! I do think they were trying to expand their sound possibly on this record...I did not like it at first either. Now it's my favorite! Hope it grows on your guys too over time. And I LOVE Under The Sun...🌞
Sabbath with Ozzy ran for about ten years. The next record is Bloody Sabbath, which I would consider to be among their best. Sabotage as well. They hit a nice stride in the middle part of their recording careers.
Supernaught, Snowblind and Wheels of Confusion are the stand outs on 4. The rest are ok. Those three shine!! Bloody Sabbath is stronger overall. Love your reactions Laa and Chee!!
Are you serious? Saabbath Bloody Sabbath has maybe 3 really good songs. Same with Sabotage. The first four albums are the great ones and all you need. And these dudes criticism of this album should be about the albums after this. This one is maybe thier greatest one. It’s not sludgy or heavy as the previous. It’s more hard rock than metal. After this album is when they began to run out of steam.
@@michaellast1224Bro, no disrespect because I love all the previous albums your talking about, but Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage are unbelievably great albums. You really think Sabbath Bloody Sabbath has only a couple of good songs? No way!!! The only song that is questionable is Who Are You!!!? But I love it! And Sabotage is great from The Thrill Of It All to The Writ, Symptom Of The Universe! I could go on and on!!! No pissing contest here, but I think you ask most all Black Sabbath fans, you'll get the same response as mine!!!
@@user-gd1ru7er5t I give bloody sabbath 3 great songs:sbs.spiral architect and sabbra cadabra. And you mentioned all the good ones from Sabatoge: hole in the sky. Symptoms of the universe and thrill of it all. Everything else is shippable
@@user-yh2is6us1s Yes, Spiral Architect, Looking for Today, Killing Yourself To Live, A National Acrobat, the song Sabbath Bloody Sabbath! C'mon that album rules!!!!!
Don't worry your about to listen to 2 of the Best Black Sabbath Albums coming up next. They were regrouping doing this album. Tons of drugs and alcohol, tons of touring. But they got their shit together for the next 2 albums. Cause my favorite songs off this album are Snowblind and Under The Sun.
got like 4 more albums with Ozzy before Dio starts his two album run with Sabbath. Each one has a couple of bangers and songs that laid the foundaton for other metal genres. Sabotage has one of my favorite songs Symptom of the universe on it.
Even waiting for this o e. Just got off from work and seen this was up. Love you guys...keep going with sabbath. You will realize that they progress I to different things.❤❤❤SB
For me 1 agree with u guys , except , snowblind and supernaut ty guys i think u will like sabbath bloody sabbath album the next one better!!! luv u guys!!!
La and Che, please let the album brew a bit. There are some awesome tracks. Just got to let it simmer and cook through. Also the album Heaven and He'll with Ronnie James Dio is awesome. He was a powerhouse vocalist. Ozzy, with Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake was a legendary lineup. The Blizzard of Oz and Diary of a Madman albums are a staple for all metal fans. Randy Rhoads was one of a kind and is sorely missed. Enjoy your journey of discovery.
My first time hearing this song....I get what you're saying about the beginning of the song. I had a hard time getting into it but the ending of the song was fire.
I love you guys... to my, under is top 5 of sabbath songs but The problem is than you listen all the albums in 2 months... you must wait... sabbath albums are like good wine.... get better and better with time ... cheers from Argentina
They were already having management problems and went LA to record this album. Tony mostly produced this one himself and it was also the bands introduction to cocaine ( and shitloads of it ). Hence the song “ Snowblind “. I love all 8 Ozzy era albums and, to me, each one has its own unique personality.
I've often wondered if this album comprised of cut songs from earlier albums, or songs that were never really fleshed out, and they scraped it all together and released it.
Next 2 albums Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage are the beginnings of Prog-Metal. You will be quite surprised and happy. I totally appreciate your taking the time on your channel to go song for song with my favorite band, and you havent even got to my favorites yet woo hoo!!
La and Che, this album grows on you. If you listen to it from start to finish I think you'll have a different perspective. They could have done without FX and maybe there was pressure to have a certain amount of song time but it's still one of my favorite albums to play when I'm not sure what I'm in the mood for and then it kicks my ass. In any case, you guys are great reactors and love that you find entire albums to react to.
What a freaking good album ... you 2 should have been in high-school with my gang.. then you have played all their albums a bzillion times... on to SBS
Gentleman fantastic reaction. You guys are right this was not one of there bangers. In my opinion there were only 3-4 songs that I thought were off the chain. The previous 3 albums were loaded with great songs in my opinion. Vol 4 was released in September 1972. It was the first album by Black Sabbath not produced by Rodger Bain; guitarist Tony Iommi assumed production duties. Patrick Meehan, the band's then-manager, was listed as co-producer. All in gentlemen love your genuine knowledge and perspective on shit that other reactors have no clue about thank you for your professionalism keep up the phenomenal work thank you…
Everyone says this about this album because it sounds like the songs were all different styles which does set a flow and groove so people are taken back.
I love you guys... to my, under is top 5 of sabbath songs but The problem is than you listen all the albums in 2 months... you must wait... sabbath albums are like good wine.... get better and better with time ... cheers from Argentina
You both are spot on as to your analysis of Volume 4. For me too, Volume 4 was always a disconnected album (but certainly not their worst during the Ozzy era), maybe because of all the coke they were doing during the recording of it.. or they just hit a road block with there tried and true writing approach and methods - who knows?? Anyway, as @neillenet291 mentioned already, on to their 5th and next album and for money their best Ozzy era album, "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath". Give it a thorough listening to front to back, its flow is miles ahead of Volume 4, and there is not a bad song on it. Also, it doesn't sound anything like the first three albums, which is a good thing in my opinion. It shows their maturity and desire to progress in their musicianship. Sabbath's 6th album, "Sabotage" is worth running through as well, but then I'd skip the last two Ozzy era albums and go straight to Heaven & Hell with Ronnie James Dio on vocals. Just my two cents.
Im impressed. You guys are good. Ozzy was definitely coked out of his mind by this point. Other mebers too were partying hard. I could be wrong but it was the band putting up with ozzy at this point. They grew apart eventually and this alb osnt as cohesive and fiery as earlier albums. I dont even own a copy lol
To me, the first three Sabbath albums are golden... After that, they were hit or miss until Ronnie James Dio arrived on the scene. Still, there are some true gems on the later Ozzy-led albums. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is in my top three for all-time Sabbath jams.
Today we typically focus on the tracks we really like. In ancient times,lol, we listen to the whole album because it took you on a ,cliche incoming, journey. A great dj set does the same thing.
Ned from Spain here you giants. For me the biggest problem with this album is the muddy mix. Especially Bill Wards drum sound. It's real thin and flat and the cymbals are like broken ashcans. Remember these guys were also constantly touring while writing and recording plus whatever mischief they got into. In any case I love this album as much as the rest. Give it time and maybe it'll grow on you. Peace, love and good health La n Che.
They were coked out of heads while recording this album. Ozzy talked about having a laundry detergent box filled with cocaine delivered to the studio while they were recording.
The mixes were off and the remixes should have corrected it. Plus they were in LA doing LOADS of cocaine handed to them on a silver platter. The songs were about disjointed not going in one direction like master and paranoid. Still I could get into half which are bangers. Sabbath bloody is breath of fresh air going more progressive.
Good reaction guys! I personally love this album, but can understand your critiques. This album had some undeniable classics, but as an entire work - the previous 3 were superior. There's still 4 more albums with Ozzy to go...VERY curious on your reactions to the next two: Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage - their experimental, progressive & at times 'symphonic' side will be revealed - still heavy though! Cheers!
Very perceptive boys , as a 70 yr old diehard black sabbath fan, this was my least favorite out of the 1st 6 albums, I'm sure you will really appreciate, sabbath bloody sabbath and sabotage....ozzy was on for 2 more albums, total of 8..basically til the late 70s and actually put out an album about 9-10 years ago with ozzy, but no bill ward...very good, considering their age.....you'll love the Ronnie James did Era also..
I think it's the most raw of their albums, at least the first classic six albums. The self-production and cocaine probably factors in, too. The next two albums are fun, way more proggy.
You 2 could not be more wrong about this album. It is a slightly slower pace in some songs leading up to the crescendo!!!!!!! This is a more refined Sabbath. You should hear the whole thing first, then comment. There are some of Sabbaths greatest songs on this album. I should know, been listening to it for 50 years.
@@AirplayBeats you need to hear the whole album. 1 song does not jusitfy your response. you have just heard it for the first time, i have been listening to it for 50 years. Give it a few listens and you might understand the diverse direction some of their music.
Ozzy was fired in 1978-1979. Both Black Sabbath (with new vocalist: Dio) and The Blizzard Of Ozz (which became: "Ozzy"-see: The Amboy Dukes > Ted Nugent as comparison.) released albums in 1980. They were considered to "be in competition," at that point. A lot of people (completely ineptly and unfairly!) discount that last album he did with them: Never Say Die [🔥🔥🔥🔥🤘🤘], but: they are wrong. it is one of the more excellent albums they put together (even WITH its weak/"questionable" spots). -Another "difficulty" (at that time -besides every member of the band being addicted and affected) was: they hired a hungry, young band of take-no-prisoners blazers to open most of the tour for them. Those cats??: a certain Van Halen. ...so: yes: the legend is: Black Sabbath was getting "blown off the stage" most nights (in many people's eyes). 🤷🤷😛 Vol. 4 was always "dismissed" a bit, by most listeners (fans included), I never understood that (i.e.: why), at first,. but the longer you listen to it, yes: the more you hear the "haphazard," "unconvincing" attitude of the thing. It has a few great cuts and then "middle-of-the-road," mainly. ...there's also, these, primary facts: Black Sabbath Vol. 4 First album that the band recorded outside of England [in California]. Album recording budget: $25,000 Cocaine "budget": $200,000 -No matter how much you, personally, like or dislike the album ...you can, absolutely, hear the effects! ...This led to their return to England for the follow-up (and a personal "re cordoning/pulling-together), which resulted in: Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath. That album was a personal/personnel "re-cordoning" of the individuals in eh band as well as the band as a unit. It is much more cohesive (and more introspective, as well). ...in many manners: "reflective of the first 3 albums" (moreso). That album was considered, even at the time (and, certainly, within a few years and then decades - certainly "now"-in what would be "a historical context") something of "a comeback album" for the band. Given that they were not commercially popular or considered "that successful," this meant a great deal. I would argue that: during the initial run of the band [Black Sabbath with Ozzy, prior to: next-band-which-became-(was-forced-into)-solo-career. (Approx.: 1969-1978)], Black Sabbath reached the peak of their popularity with Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath and the successive tour.
They grew, musically, on this album. I don't hear them forcing *anything* , or going through the motions, at all. The "classic Sabbath sound" songs on Vol. 4 are killer, and the songs which show a broadening in their sound are great too. The sound quality *isn't* great, because the band largely produced the album, themselves, and they were doing a lot of cocaine at the time, but Vol. 4 is one of my very favorite Sabbath albums!
Tony started getting more into the production on this album but also, they started figuring out how much they were getting ripped off by their manager. In an interview, Gezer said they started getting tax bills for the money their manager was making. I still love'm though. Have you heard anything from their album 13? It doesn't disappoint.
This was the cocaine album, and the template for stoner rock. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but I prefer it to Masters of reality, which many people cite as their favourite. The next album Sabbath bloody sabbath marks a distinct change of style with the inclusion of keyboards on some of the tracks introducing a prog-ier sound with deeper lyrics,it also has a cleaner production
I’ve never understood the hype around Vol 4 personally either. It’s not really one of their more creative albums, and it really suffers from poor production quality imo. As many others have said by now their next album, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, is absolutely epic! It’s so much different from this one. It’s my all time favorite Black Sabbath album.
You have some interesting insights here. The band was not having issues with each other at this point.. They were still tight. It was the producers and managers that were screwing them over took all of the fun out of being Sabbath, but the mixing bowls were full of coke and hookers all around hid the corruption. This is very much a Coke driven album. By the next album (the one that you are going to start) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, they had regained control of their career and began to understand how badly they had been screwed. Their anger, frustration, and introspection are on full display in the music of the album. That will be the last of the Happy Sabbath albums.
Nailed it guys. They're still great but the magic is fading. There are fleeting moments on this and subsequent albums but they never recapture the alchemy of the early stuff. It's like they had to start analysing and thinking about the formula instead of doing by instinct. As someone said below 4 albums in 3 years. Who could keep that up?
Hitting the nail on the head Che, it’s too polished in some ways, almost like they’re going thru the motions. “Robotic”. This is like a great Sabbath cover band lmao. That doesn’t mean it’s bad, it’s just not the same. There are some bangers but….Bill Ward is still beast mode the whole time though.
The reason why it may sound different to you guys first of all they were using newer equipment but the second part is that they were coked out of their mind during the recording session of this album they stayed using cocaine and that was something new to them so they graduated from just using marijuana to much harder drugs doing this particular time of this album
I think the adjective you guys are reaching for is "coked out." There was a lot of excess going on, and if memory serves, Tony complained in his biography that Geezer and the other guys were not bringing a lot of song ideas to the table, it was largely on him to come up with song after song after song, so that might be where the disconnect you guys are hearing is coming from . I've been listening to Black Sabbath ever since I was a little kid in the 90's, I think this album is a grower, something of a dark horse - it doesn't stand out as prominently compared to the first three, but if you keep revisiting it, it will get it's hooks in you. Love your all's reactions, here's to several more Sabbath albums from you two - Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is going to knock you out!
This is a favorite to so many. I agree with you, though. For me, it is lacking compared to the first 3. I hear alot of repetition that doesn't work as well as the originals. The next one is a masterpiece.
Che says it's a little off? Wonder if the fact that they had their noses filled with Peruvian marching powder had anything to do with it? Personally, I love all the original Sabbath albums before Dio. But that's just me. I think you'll like the next two a lot, and then it starts the real dive downward.
Suggestion: Before you get to the Dio stuff, please check out Rainbow with Dio to see why he was an excellent addition. Ot wont be dangerous it will be mind blowing.
Guys, this is their 4th album (kinda obvious), there is still 4 albums with Ozzy, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabotage, Technical Ecstasy, and lastly, Never Say Die. Dio became the lead-singer for Sabbath and they recorded 2 albums, Heaven and Hell and Mob Rules. It's different, but many love the Dio years - but not my favorites. They had a few lead singers after that (IMO some were absolutely terrible) , the 80's weren't kind to Sabbath. So the best of Black Sabbath were their first 10 albums ( with albums 7 and 8 being only mediocre )
I completely agree with you. Volume 4 does not compare to their first 3 albums, which are by far their best and classics. When I bought this album back in ‘72-73 I could never really get into it except for Supernaut. I never bought another Sabbath album after this one. I can listen to the first three at any time. Good, honest reaction.
For me Vol 4 has great tracks opening and closing each side, but the rest is mediocre by Sabbath standards (though I like Laguna Sunrise personally). Wheels of Confusion, Supernaut, Snowblind, Under the Sun are strong, though I might be biased because of Geezer's heavy great lyrics on some these. You need to go thru Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage, they're classics from the early years.
My two favorite bands 4th albums have so many similarities, Sabbath Vol 4 and Zeppelin lV. Both albums have great songs, but the mix and sound quality on half the songs are not great and it's tough to follow some of the bass lines and kick drum patterns with the muddy mix. Still love them tho...
Vol 4 never been one of my favourites, but have been important musically. It has influenced a lot of heavy metal bands and doom metal bands. Me I prefer their first album, sabbath bloody Sabbath, Sabotage and Never say Die. Paranoid is also good, but songs like Iron Man and the title track aren't that good in my opinion.
☮️Great. THANK YOU. Please check out these…. The look of Love by Dusty Springfield Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing by Chris Isaak Genius of love by Tom Tom Club Wired for Sound by Cliff Richard Unchained Melody, by Norah Jones Everybody’s Gotta learn sometime by The Korgis Do it again by Steely Dan Pink Panther theme by Henry Mancini I feel for you by Chaka Khan Stone fox chase by Area code 615 Light flight by Pentangle Into your arms by Nick Cave Pop Muzik by M National express by the Divine comedy Do you know the way to San Jose by Dionne Warwick Little Willy by the Sweet Missionary Man (album version) by The Eurythmics Message in the Box by World Party El Paso, by Marty Robbins Les Fleurs by Mini Ripperton Fisherman’s Blues by Waterboys Cry by Godley and Cream They Long to be close to you by the Carpenters Stones by Neil Diamond You are my love by Liverpool express The Universal by Blur Living on an island by Status Quo Have you heard part 1/the voyage/have you heard part2 by The Moody Blues Way Down by Elvis Presley Talking out of Turn by The Moody Blues (never seen one single reaction to this song) Moonlight Mile by The Rolling Stones (never heard it play on any radio)
Perhaps the issues with this particular album stemmed from the ridiculously heavy drug use the band engaged in during the recording process. It's said the album cost $75,000 to make and they spent $80,000 on cocaine alone. Great way to end the album with this one tho.
