As we edge closer to the “final shows” by Black Sabbath, one not unexpected thing has happened. We have an announcement of a new compilation from Universal. This will be released on October 28th, and the shows start up again in early November. The compilation is called “Black Sabbath: The Ultimate Collection”. Details below:
This is a two CD compilation from Sanctuary/BMG. I’ve written about this in the past on the site, but this means that it won’t be released domestically, as this is based off the European record contract that covers from 1970-1987, whereas the Warner/Rhino contract covers US/North America. The two territories can’t sell in each other’s area unless something special has been worked out license wise.
Anyway, this is a good cross section of the 70’s Ozzy era material. It’s not the usual Iron Man / Paranoid / War Pigs we get on things like this. Spans 31 songs, and includes the Bill Ward sung “It’s Alright”, so that alone is worth the price of admission given all the bullshit that’s gone on with Bill and the band. Check out the track listing:
The collection will come in a few versions:
- 2 CD
- 2 CD with Card Wallet Insert, Amazon UK Exclusive
- Digital
- Vinyl, 4 disc
The vinyl version will be released on November 18th. All the other versions are coming out October 28th. The vinyl version will be interesting packaging, as it will be (pre the press release) “produced in the shape of the cross”.
I did check into it, the remastering work for this is the same that was done by Andy Pearce for the Universal remaster series in 2009. So if you have those versions, you don’t really NEED this compilation, unless you’re a completist and just want it. Or, better yet, you can buy a copy, and give it to that sad friend of yours that isn’t into Black Sabbath. That works, too. :)
In the last several years, Universal/Sanctuary has released a couple of other compilations.
- 2009’s “Greatest Hits”
- 2012’s “Iron Man: The Best of Black Sabbath”
In 2012, I was told that the “Iron Man” compilation replaced the 2009 “Greatest Hits”, which was discontinued then. I was told now that the 2016 compilation won’t replace the 2012 version, so that will still be available as a single disc “Greatest Hits” compilation. Then there is of course the single disc 2006 compilation “Greatest Hits”, but that was from Warner/Rhino and is a US/North American product. Gah – I hate all these licensing oddities.
Anyway, here are some images, an ordering links (click the blue image) and whatnot for you if you want to check this out.
[ Click here for the Amazon UK Exclusive ]
Formal Press Release
BLACK SABBATH THE ULTIMATE COLLECTION
CAREER SPANNING SET RE-MASTERED and AVAILABLE on CD, DOWNLOAD and on LIMITED EDITION CRUCIFOLD (4-LP HEAVYWEIGHT VINYL)
THE MOST INFLUENTIAL METAL BAND OF ALL TIME
CD / DOWNLOAD RELEASED 28Th OCTOBER (CRUCIFOLD VINYL RELEASED 18TH NOVEMBER) ON BMG
Black Sabbath are arguably the most influential heavy metal band of all time. The band helped to create the genre with ground breaking releases such as Paranoid, an album that Rolling Stone magazine said “changed music forever”, and called the band “the Beatles of heavy metal”. Time Magazine called Paranoid “the birthplace of heavy metal”.
The band, who have been performing for over 45 years, have to date sold over 75 million records which includes over 24 platinum albums in the UK alone and over 15 million records in the United States. Black Sabbath were inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2006.
Black Sabbath were formed in Birmingham in 1968 by Ozzy Osbourne (lead vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass), and Bill Ward (drums and percussion). Originally formed as a heavy blues-rock band named Earth, the band began incorporating occult and horror-inspired lyrics with tuned-down guitars, changing their name to Black Sabbath and releasing multiple gold and platinum records in the 1970s.
Released 28th October 2016, The Ultimate Collection is curated in conjunction with the band, the 31-track collection features the band’s classic songs including Paranoid, Iron Man, War Pigs, N.I.B. and The Wizard as well as choice cuts from their classic albums and is the definitive accompaniment for all Sabbath fans as well as those with a love of hard rock.
Remastered by renowned engineer Andy Pearce (Motörhead, Deep Purple, Lou Reed, Iggy & The Stooges), the Ultimate Collection is available in multiple formats. Alongside the 2-CD and digital/HD formats, a limited edition “Crucifold” edition will follow on 18th November, a heavyweight 4 LP vinyl version produced in the shape of the cross.
CD Disc One Tracklist
BMGCAT2CD83
1. Paranoid
2. Never Say Die
3. Iron Man
4. Black Sabbath
5. Children Of The Grave
6. Fairies Wear Boots
7. Changes
8. Rat Salad
9. Sweet Leaf
10. War Pigs
11. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
12. Hole In The Sky
13. Symptom Of The Universe
14. Spiral Architect
15. Rock ‘N’ Roll Doctor
CD Disc Two Tracklist
1. Dirty Women
2. Evil Woman, Don’t Play Your Games With Me
3. A Hard Road
4. Lord Of This World
5. Into The Void
6. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
7. Snowblind
8. Tomorrow’s Dream
9. The Wizard
10. N.I.B.
11. Electric Funeral
12. Embryo
13. Killing Yourself To Live
14. Am I Going Insane
15. Wicked World
16. It’s Alright
Vinyl Tracklist
BMGCAT4LP83
Side 1
1. Paranoid
2. Never Say Die
3. Iron Man
4. Black Sabbath
Side 2
5. Children Of The Grave
6. Fairies Wear Boots
7. Changes
8. Rat Salad
Side 3
9. Sweet Leaf
10. War Pigs
11. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Side 4
12. Hole In The Sky
13. Symptom Of The Universe
14. Spiral Architect
15. Rock ‘N’ Roll Doctor
Side 5
16. Dirty Women
17. Evil Woman, Don’t Play Your Games With Me
18. A Hard Road
Side 6
19. Lord Of This World
20. Into The Void
21. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
22. Snowblind
Side 7
23. Tomorrow’s Dream
24. The Wizard
25. N.I.B.
26. Electric Funeral
Side 8
27. Embryo
28. Killing Yourself To Live
29. Am I Going Insane
30. Wicked World
31. It’s Alright
Digital Tracklists
(Standard BMGCATDIG83 / MFiT BMGCATIDIG83 / HD BMGCATHDIG83 )
1. Paranoid
2. Never Say Die
3. Iron Man
4. Black Sabbath
5. Children Of The Grave
6. Fairies Wear Boots
7. Changes
8. Rat Salad
9. Sweet Leaf
10. War Pigs
11. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
12. Hole In The Sky
13. Symptom Of The Universe
14. Spiral Architect
15. Rock ‘N’ Roll Doctor
16. Dirty Women
17. Evil Woman, Don’t Play Your Games With Me
18. A Hard Road
19. Lord Of This World
20. Into The Void
21. Behind The Wall Of Sleep
22. Snowblind
23. Tomorrow’s Dream
24. The Wizard
25. N.I.B.
26. Electric Funeral
27. Embryo
28. Killing Yourself To Live
29. Am I Going Insane
30. Wicked World
31. It’s Alright
THE END – UK TOUR DATES:
Black Sabbath who are currently on their global ‘The End’ arena tour (billed as the final tour by the greatest metal band of all time) arrive in the UK this January.
Jan 20th 3Arena, Dublin – Ireland
Jan 22nd Manchester Arena, Manchester – UK
Jan 24th The SSE Hydro, Glasgow – UK
Jan 26th First Direct Arena, Leeds – UK
Jan 29th The o2, London – UK
Jan 31st The o2, London – UK
Feb 2nd Genting Arena, Birmingham – UK
Feb 4th Genting Arena, Birmingham – UK
There is also the Paranoid Super Deluxe Box Set to be released shortly.
Wasn’t expecting yet another compilation. BMG are now distributed by Warners putting much of the catalogue under the same roof worldwide. I only just found the first album on Irish NEMS LP. Now that was a surprise! As for this one, I would consider it but it’s more of the same to me. Well assembled however.
Universal had to sell Sanctuary along with Mute to BMG when they bought much of EMI.
I think you’ll find BMG and Warner Bros/Rhino are separate deals for different territories. Come to think of it the BMG deal is confusing – some CD’ s released with BMG and/or Sanctuary/Universal CD’s/Packaging!!!
Does anybody understand the BMG deal ?
One of my favs is missing ” Supernaut “
Useless compilation. Where are the songs of The End? Appear some day in the next compilation??? What a shame!!!!
Simple – BMG do not have the rights to the 13/End songs.
God-Fucking-Forbid They Put The Songs In Chronological Order…
It’s Really Not That Difficult…
what is the point of this cd anyone into black sabbath has this stuff pure money making racket give us something new that’s all we want as fans and that has been too few and far between over the years and i don’t mean another poor live album from the current tour as ozzy is just way past his best and not unlike dlr in van halen cannot do the bands performance justice
all versions of sabbath are awesome even born again and i am no great fan of gillan
Set up a website or use this website – fans and four original members of band vote.
CD 1 – fans pick 2 favourite tracks from first 8 Ozzy albums.
CD 2 – band pick 2 favourite tracks from first 8 Ozzy albums.
Majority votes win = 2 CD’s (16 tracks each CD, CD 1 Fans choice, CD 2 Bands choice). Surely a more representative ‘Ultimate Collection’.
If this collection really wanted to be worthy of being called The Ultimate Collection, it could have taken a clue from Alice Cooper (Original Group) with their ‘Old School’ box set: release a compilation with nothing but demos (several of which are different from those previously made available on youtube, etc.),rare previously released tracks and unreleased album outtakes, etc. Virtually 0 songs which come directly from their previously released studio albums.
Ted
You’re right Ted, that was a VERY pleasant surprise. It seems pretty clear from past interviews that Black Sabbath, in any of its incarnations, was never a band to have a lot of stuff just ‘lying around’ like that. Also seems there’s not a lot of live stuff piled up either. I’d love to see a triple-disc set, or maybe a quad, of Dallas, San Antonio and Seattle 1982, sort of like Deep Purple’s ‘Live In Japan’ set from 1993.
Problems I have:
1). “Don’t Start (Too Late)” isn’t here to be between “Hole in the Sky” and “Symptom of the Universe” (“Don’t Start”‘s not even a minute long, for Christ’s sake!)
2). “Behind the Wall of Sleep” and “N.I.B.” aren’t next to each other, as are “Embryo” and “Children of the Grave” (I mean, they play them together all the time in concert, and they’re right next to each other on their albums!)
3). Too much Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die for my tastes.
4). I really feel like “Orchid” should be here, since “Lord of this World” is. Same goes for “Solitude” with “Into the Void”, although my feelings on that aren’t quite as strong.
5). Where THE FUCK is “Under the Sun”? It’s easily the heaviest song from their first four albums, and I cannot think of why the hell it wouldn’t be here!
My thoughts:
1) People are so used to hearing the short instrumental track in between those 2 songs that it doesn’t make sense to exclude it. Even less so given it’s length.
2) See my 1st point just above except for the short instrumental length parts re. Behind the Wall of Sleep and N.I.B..
3) I agree, and they should have only included Never Say Die and Dirty Women; the only way it would have made sense to include more songs from TE and NSD is if they included Johnny Blade and maybe You Won’t Change Me.
4) I agree.
5) Yes, a very heavy track and there are many songs on this compilation that UTS is superior to.
Ted
We’ve all got all the albums, probably purchased each one at least ten times for one reason or another. It’s interesting to see another attempt by another label to piece together some sort of all-encompassing two-disc set (which is obviously impossible). Let’s not pretend the label is doing us some sort of disservice by not including songs that we already have anyway. It was a nice try. The best comp of all, to me, is still “We Sold Arseholes For Rock & Roll”.
Everybody just relax. You already have every Sabbath song. It is jus
t record companies cashing in.
It is very good, I bought it and love listening to it driving. It is close to being their best 31 Ozzy era songs. It’s only too bad they haven’t played most of them live the last 40 years. I would have included either Johnny Blade or Juniors Eyes from their most underrated album ever, Never Say Die.
I have always like the song – after forever . I really don’t like much of the last few albums they made from 75 to 78 . This is just crazy all these record company want more money .
GREED IS GOOD! I look at it this way. This cd (sealed) cost me $13.66 shipped from England. Compare that to a $1,500 VIP package with the band for 45 seconds! NO WAY EVER
After forever – Sure it’s a great song. Let’s face it, ALL of Paranoid could have been on it too but it defeats the purpose of a compilation. As it is, I could have replaced several songs from the first three LPs with ones from the last 5. What does it matter, we all have all of them anyway. What goads me the most out of sheer laziness on the band’s part is playing the same 13 or 14 songs EVERY night for a f**king year. This isn’t a Shakespeare play! You can do other songs!
What’s going on with those geezers? Any chance they will get back together with Geoff Nichols, or whoever it was that sang on Seventh Star. Seventh Star is a great album.
Sorry, I meant Glenn Hughes.
The one and only song that I really don’t like is of course on here. Rock and roll doctor. This is the only song in the entire sabbath catalogue that I skip whenever it starts. I’d like to see more greatest hits Martin years, (got sabbath stones), or a post ozzy/Dio remastered greatest hits with more than 10 songs.
This double CD has now been released in the US by Warner Bros/Rhino.
These collections do no justice.One is better off getting the full albums of Sabbath.