Album number six is 1975’s SABOTAGE. If you put a gun to my head and I had to pick a favorite Black Sabbath album, this would be the one - presently. If I had to choose a favorite song, it would also be on this album. The documentary on YouTube I linked above does a fine job describing what was happening with the band at this time, but I’ll give you the short version. The band had a horrible parting with manager Patrick Meehan, Jr. and decided to manage themselves, which I’m sure you can imagine is stressful. The band was mired in legal battles. Drummer Bill Ward, at the ripe old age of 26, suffered his first heart attack (he, along with the other three guys, are all fortunately still with us). Basically, the band had no money, were having some health issues and were continuing their spiral into drug abuse. Sounds like so many other bands of this era. In spite of all this, they created another classic album.
Like I stated in the SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH review, only one of the last four original line up albums would be as heavy as the first four and that album would be SABOTAGE. It also maintains the progressive qualities of the last album and the two that follow. It’s that combination, the best of both worlds which is why I rank SABOTAGE as the best. There are some extremely heavy parts on this album, heavier, in parts, than anything Black Sabbath or anyone else did by 1975. There are also moments of adventure and beauty sprinkled throughout that really make this album a winner. Another thing to note is that SABOTAGE is the last of what is generally considered to be the classic era of the original line up. There are two original line up albums to go after this and I will give my opinions on those albums versus the general consensus, but that’s for next time. Just know for now, this is considered the last classic, by most people, of the Ozzy era. 1970 - 1975, which I believe coincides with Elton’s consensus classic era. Onto the track by track.
“Hole in the Sky.” Fantastic opener. A real heavy guitar and bass sound can be heard on this song and it fortunately carries throughout the entire album. Another case where there is heaviness involved yet Geezer and Bill still swing mightily. I love the fact Metallica played this song at the Black Sabbath induction ceremony in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame. Really high Ozzy vocals - actually, Ozzy’s best vocals are on this album. I think they’re almost too good as if you listen to some live concerts from this tour, he has trouble hitting these notes live. I think it’s one of the reasons the band tended to play the earlier stuff in the reunion area, but we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Great song. Next.
“Don’t Start (Too Late)” What is this, forty nine seconds? Well, it’s cool, multi tracked and harmonized acoustic Iommi guitar playing. It’s gives a momentary mellow mood and listen to this in headphones to appreciate the multiple parts coming out of the different speakers. An intro to the mighty…..
“Symptom of the Universe” Holy friggin shiitake mushrooms. The is the heaviest song ever written as of 1975. Though not pure thrash, it has that intensity and is a forbearer. Classic opening tritone riff and when Iommi hits those three chords after it, Bill Ward’s drum playing can only be described as being inspired from Animal of The Muppets. Also love that other heavy riff Iommi plays where Butler and Ward hit the well timed accents and Ozzy is no doubt flashing peace signs in synch too when played live. This all sounds way ahead of its time. Ozzy’s vocals are again incredible and being seventies Sabbath, what do you do when writing the heaviest song of its time? End it by playing flamenco like acoustic guitar, bossa nova rhythms and Ozzy singing impassioned hippie love child lyrics. Pure brilliance.
“Megalomania.” Oh what, you think they’re going to stop being awesome there? Hell no. Now we get the nine and a half minute mind melter known as “Megalomania.” A song about delusion and madness, the track starts moody and mellow. I love the way Ozzy’s first line fades in and repeats for each verse, such a cool effect. Cool lead guitar, melodic bass, tasteful percussion, fascinating lyrics. After a few minutes of this awesome atmosphere, we get a few bars of piano rock followed by Bill pounding on the mighty cowbell. What then follows is what I consider to be the greatest Tony Iommi riff ever. Seriously, dig that riff. It gets more mighty when the rhythm section followed by Ozzy’s vocals, kick in. Four men, while going through Hell outside the music, still maintaining that undeniable chemistry when they play together. Again, pure brilliance.
“Thrill of It All” A really cool, melodic, multi layered guitar song with fantastic lyrics and fantastic guitar soloing in the end. Also some prominent synthesizers here, a good track to open side two. My least favorite song on the album (not counting the forty nine second instrumental) but still a very solid track. Just a situation where everything that surrounds it is incredible, which takes us too…..
“Supertzar” Plenty of vocals on this one but none of them Ozzy’s. The vocals belong to the English Chamber Choir. There’s a hilarious story, repeated in the documentary, that one day Ozzy walked into the studio, saw the choir and thought he was in the wrong place. An amazing piece of music, basically classical music backed by heavy metal instrumentation. There’s harp on this one too. I’m not a big hi tech stereo equipment guy, but one day I heard SABOTAGE on vinyl at a friend’s on big speakers and this track sounded especially amazing in that environment. One other thing to add is that for several future tours, Black Sabbath would use “Supertzar” as their piped in intro music as they were heading on stage. An awesome piece of music that makes the hairs on my arms stand.
“Am I Going Insane (Radio)” A synth dominated pop track about mental instability that a lot of fans dislike. Not me though, I love this song. I love the lyrics, melodic elements, the atmosphere of the synths, the bass and drums and The Beatles like instrumental section in the middle. Ozzy himself wrote this one. There was down time between the previous album and this one and Ozzy, for the first time, flirted with going solo. This song was the result. He would eventually leave the band but we’re not there yet. The song ends in some multi tracked demented laughter which also bleeds into the next and final track known as….
“The Writ” My favorite Black Sabbath song ever. Lyrically written by Ozzy again, this is about as venomous as Sabbath ever sounded as this is seething anger at now estranged manager Patrick Meehan, Jr. The documentary I linked to above, which just came out a few months ago, gave me more insight on the situation and some of the lines now make even more sense to me as a result. Musically this song is an epic. Starts out with Geezer’s wah-wah pedaled bass line before crashing into the more dynamically intense verses. Ozzy’s vocals are again incredible, at his absolute peak. When the verse ends, it goes back into that soft Geezer line with some cool backward recorded cymbals on the drums accented in certain spots, definitely showing off that studio experimentation. The song eventually progresses into this really beautiful mellow part with amazing melody and again, harpsichord. Worthy of The Beatles here, Ozzy’s singing continues to impress and the lyrics in this part turn reflective and then with a sign of hope through all the BS they are going through as a band. An absolute epic and masterpiece.
Some copies of this album end with a little throw away bit called “Blow On A Jug” Just Ozzy and Bill messing around in the studio singing a drunk pub song on the piano. Serves the same purpose as “Her Majesty” on ABBEY ROAD. The CD version I bought in 1994 does not contain this. Subsequent versions I have bought is box sets and deluxe editions do and I believe it’s available on all streaming services.
So there it is, SABOTAGE. Hope you guys enjoy this one, I rank it with The White Album and MASTER OF PUPPETS as my favorite albums of all time. Don’t expect you to like it that much, but I’m curious what you guys will think.
Oh, and that album cover? The story behind it is classic. Ozzy in a kimono and Bill Ward wearing his wife’s tights and Ozzy’s underwear underneath because he had nothing else to wear. This is covered in the documentary too. A cover that is great and awful at the same time.