This morning it was announced that the Heaven & Hell and Mob Rules albums are being re-released in March in new “Deluxe Editions”. This is both CD & vinyl. I’ve asked a few questions ahead of time, so I’ll have a few comments here based on things that I asked. Also is the press release, some images, etc…. Here goes.
My comments
- This release is by Rhino, and is intended for the USA/North American markets (domestically).
- I’ve been told BMG will be releasing these as well, but not concurrently. BMG will release them elsewhere in the world later in 2021.
- This is not to be confused with the Deluxe Editions released by Universal back in 2009. That was a separate release, and is not the same as this.
- The albums have been remastered for this 2021 release. The person doing the remaster work is Andy Pearce.
- The press release mentions a “remix” for “The Mob Rules”. This appears to be just a remix of the song “The Mob Rules”, and not the whole album. I’ve been told the remix was also done by Andy Pearce.
- The track listings for vinyl & CD are slightly different (insofar as the extra goes). A complete list in in the press release below.
Here are some pre-order links here in the US..
- Heaven & Hell 2LP [ Rhino | Amazon US ]
- Heaven & Hell 2CD [ Rhino | Amazon US ]
- Mob Rules 2LP [ Rhino | Amazon US ]
- Mob Rules 2CD [ Rhino | Amazon US ]
- Heaven & Hell Digital [ iTunes US | Amazon Music US ]
- Mob Rules Digital [ iTunes US | Amazon Music US ]
Press Release
BLACK SABBATH
HEAVEN AND HELL AND MOB RULES
DELUXE EDITIONS AVAILABLE MARCH 5
2-CD And 2-LP Versions Of First Black Sabbath Albums With
Ronnie James Dio On Vocals Feature Newly Remastered Audio
Along With Rare And Unreleased Music
Live Versions Of “Heaven And Hell” And “The Mob Rules”
Available Today As Digital Singles
LISTEN NOW
LOS ANGELES – Singer Ronnie James Dio joined Black Sabbath in 1979 which resulted in two back-to-back classic albums: Heaven And Hell and Mob Rules. On those memorable albums, Dio’s soaring tenor and gothic songwriting were the perfect foil for the band’s bone-crushing mix of razor-sharp riffs, intense grooves, and dark imagery.
Rhino salutes the long shadow cast by this short-lived lineup with newly remastered versions of both albums expanded with rare and unreleased music. HEAVEN AND HELL: DELUXE EDITION and MOB RULES: DELUXE EDITION will be released separately on March 5. Each album will be available on 2-CDs ($19.98), or a 2-LPs ($31.98). Due to space constraints, both vinyl editions include a selection of bonus material from the CDs. The music will also be available via digital download and streaming services the same day. A rare live version of “Heaven And Hell” and a previously unreleased live version of “The Mob Rules” are both available today as digital singles. Click HERE to listen now.
Dio joined Black Sabbath for the first time in 1979 and quickly found kindred spirits in guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. When Heaven And Hell was released in April 1980, the album was met with effusive reviews for the band’s return to form on metal masterpieces like “Neon Knights” and the title track. The album reached #9 in the U.K. and #28 in the U.S., where it was also certified platinum.
HEAVEN AND HELL: DELUXE EDITION adds several bonus tracks that have never been released in North America, including versions of “Children Of The Sea” and “Die Young” recorded live in 1980 in Hartford, CT. The set concludes with live rarities like “E5150” and “Neon Knights” that originally appeared in 2007 on the Rhino Handmade’s limited edition collection, Black Sabbath: Live At Hammersmith Odeon.
To follow-up Heaven And Hell, the group returned to the studio in 1981 to begin recording Mob Rules, with drummer Vinny Appice joining the band for the first time. Released in October 1981 and certified gold, the album was another Sabbath classic, including standouts like “The Sign Of The Southern Cross,” “Turn Up The Night” and the title track.
MOB RULES: DELUXE EDITION boasts an expansive selection of rare and unreleased recordings. Along with additional tracks from Live At Hammersmith Odeon, the collection also includes a newly mixed version of “The Mob Rules.” The cherry on top is an entire concert recorded in 1982 in Portland, OR. Highlights include stellar performances of “Neon Knights” “Heaven And Hell” and “Voodoo.”
The Dio-fronted lineup disbanded in 1982 but reunited a decade later to record Dehumanizer and tour before going on hiatus again. The group came together again in 2006 to record three new songs for Rhino’s era-spanning collection, Black Sabbath: The Dio Years. The collaboration led to a highly anticipated world tour in 2007 where the group was billed as Heaven And Hell. Their final album of new material, 2009’s The Devil You Know, again demonstrated the musical bond between the band members was unparalleled.
HEAVEN AND HELL: DELUXE EDITION
2-CD Track Listing
Disc One: Original Album (2021 Remaster)
- “Neon Knights”
- “Children Of The Sea”
- “Lady Evil”
- “Heaven And Hell”
- “Wishing Well”
- “Die Young”
- “Walk Away”
- “Lonely Is The Word”
Disc Two: Bonus Tracks
- “Children Of The Sea” – Live B-Side Of “Neon Knights” *
- “Heaven And Hell” – Live B-Side Of “Die Young” *
- “Lady Evil” – 7” Mono Edit (unreleased on CD)
Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT (August 10, 1980)
- “Neon Knights” *
- “Children Of The Sea” *
- “Heaven And Hell” *
- “Die Young” *
Hammersmith Odeon, London (Dec 31, 1981- Jan 2, 1982)
- “E5150”
- “Neon Knights”
- “Children Of The Sea”
- “Heaven And Hell”
2-LP Track Listing
Side One
- “Neon Knights”
- “Children Of The Sea”
- “Lady Evil”
- “Heaven And Hell”
Side Two
- “Wishing Well”
- “Die Young”
- “Walk Away”
- “Lonely Is The Word”
Side Thee
- “Children Of The Sea” – Live B-Side Of “Neon Knights” *
- “Heaven And Hell” – Live B-Side Of “Die Young” *
- “Lady Evil” – 7” Mono Edit (unreleased on CD)
- “Neon Knights” – Live 1980 *
Side Four
- “Children Of The Sea” – Live 1980 *
- “Heaven And Hell” – Live 1980 *
- “Die Young” – Live 1980 *
MOB RULES: DELUXE EDITION
2-CD Track Listing
Disc One: Original Album (2021 Remaster)
- “Turn Up The Night”
- “Voodoo”
- “The Sign Of The Southern Cross”
- “E5150”
- “The Mob Rules”
- “Country Girl”
- “Slipping Away”
- “Falling Off The Edge Of The World”
- “Over And Over”
Bonus Tracks
- “The Mob Rules” – Heavy Metal Soundtrack Version
- “Die Young” – Live B-Side Of “Mob Rules” 7” *
- “The Mob Rules” – New 2021 Mix **
Live At The Hammersmith Odeon London (31/12/81 – 2/1/82)
- “Country Girl”
- “Slipping Away”
- “The Mob Rules”
- “Voodoo”
Live At Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR, April 22, 1982
- Intro **
- “Neon Knights” **
Disc Two: Bonus Tracks
Live At Portland Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR, April 22, 1982
- “N.I.B.” **
- “Children Of The Sea” **
- “Voodoo” **
- “Black Sabbath” **
- “War Pigs” **
- Drum Solo **
- “Iron Man” **
- “The Mob Rules” **
- “Heaven And Hell” **
- Guitar Solo **
- “Sign Of The Southern Cross/Heaven And Hell” – Reprise **
- “Paranoid” **
- “Children Of The Grave” **
2-LP Track Listing
Side One
- “Turn Up The Night”
- “Voodoo”
- “The Sign Of The Southern Cross”
- “E5150”
- “The Mob Rules”
Side Two
- “Country Girl”
- “Slipping Away”
- “Falling Off The Edge Of The World”
- “Over And Over”
Side Three
- “The Mob Rules” – Heavy Metal Soundtrack Version
- “Die Young” – Live B-Side Of “Mob Rules” 7” *
- “The Mob Rules” – New 2021 Mix **
- “Sign Of The Southern Cross/Heaven And Hell” – Reprise **
Side Four
Live At The Hammersmith Odeon London (31/12/81 – 2/1/82)
- “Country Girl”
- “Slipping Away”
- “The Mob Rules”
- “Voodoo”
* previously unreleased in North America
** previously unreleased
I’m confused!!! Are all the new tracks (previously unreleased) available on the Double CD versions??? Do you have to buy both the CD’s and the Vinyl of both releases to get everything previously unreleased???
Bloody Record Companies!!!
Also, you haven’t mentioned the imminent release of the Vol 4 Super Deluxe Box Set (out in February).
David.
I believe the CD releases will contain all of the tracks – both previously released and unreleased – while the vinyl releases, as stated in the press release above, will contain a selection of the bonus tracks available on the CDs.
I also was going to state that the upcoming Vol. 4 Super Deluxe release hasn’t been formally announced in this website.
Ted
“I also was going to state that the upcoming Vol. 4 Super Deluxe release hasn’t been formally announced in this website.”
So? It’s my site, I can choose what I want to talk about or not. Remember, this site isn’t my reason for existing. If I find the time between life, kids, and work, I’ll update. If I don’t, I don’t. Never once claimed to be the exhaustive source for every single thing that happens.
Never said you were, but having said that , it is major Sabbath news.
David.
… and it is mentioned here in a rather large review I did.
I write when I feel like writing. :)
Are the two available digital download tracks only available through digital download or are they tasters from the actual CD/Vinyl releases???
David
Both, if I understand your use of “tasters”.
The Mob Rules release is unique, but from having a brief look at the Heaven And Hell track list I don’t believe that is – it appears exactly the same as the Universal/Sanctuary 2010 release. I was hoping we might get more substantial releases like the Paranoid And Vol 4 Super Deluxe releases with every Sabbath release, it doesn’t look as though that is going to happen – that may change of course.
David.
Yeah – scratch that comment about Heaven And Hell – having looked again, there are added tracks from 1982 that weren’t on the Universal/Sanctuary release., my mistake. So, that begs the question why are Mob Rules Tour tracks on the Heaven And Hell release? They could have used the Black And Blue tracks, for example, that would have been a better and proper fit. I repeat – Bloody Record Companies!!
David.
Hi there,
So no one really needs that anymore.
Remastered over and over again, with some scraped together live tracks.
Bloody hell!! These record companies should finally get their butts up and bring out Headless Cross, Tyr and Cross Purposes that are still missing. God damn it, some fool has to hold the rights to the albums, so go there, buy them and finally get the albums out. And while we’re at it: Where are the remixes of Born Again and Forbidden that have been announced for ages?
I’m really sick of it now!
Best regards
Then don’t buy them Bruce. Nobody’s forcing you to do so.
Does this mean the previous Deluxe Edition of Mob Rules with the Live At Hammersmith Odeon album will be discontinued? If it is, then could that mean Live At Hammersmith Odeon will be re-released again as it’s own album? This time, as a non-collectors edition.
No plans to re-release Hammersmith.
Last time I checked the BMG rebadges of 2009-2011 Deluxe Editions were still available in stores in EU.
Why Rhino slapped Dio-era only HAmmersmith tracks there instead of replacing them with Portland on Mob Rules is beyond me…
I have a question about the authenticity of the Portland show. A now defunct website sabbathlive.com by Rob Dwyer had stated that the Portland show was actually the Hoffman Estates show. Here’s the archived page from the Wayback Machine:
http://web.archive.org/web/20080417181014fw_/http://sabbathlive.com/lists/81MR-aud.html
“4/22/82 Memorial Coliseum Complex Portland Fake show – See 8/31/82
Hoax alert! This is just a copy of the DDT version of Hoffman Estates 8/31/82. Someone is obviously desperate for trades…Guillaume Roos: “I started listening to the Portland 04/22/82 show I got a few days ago and something struck me from the very beginning. This recording starts with the DDT intro. Then the show begins and sounded familiar to me. I checked the DDT list of releases and they only had 2 shows from 1982 – the Madison Square Garden show and the Hoffman Estates. At this point of my research, Dio asked to the crowd where they were exactly and if it wasn’t close to Chicago. So I guessed it wasn’t New York. I compared with my copy of Hoffman Estates and these two are the same. I can see why people get fooled as Dio never names the actual city there playing in, but he clearly mentions Illinois, not Oregon.”
So is the Portland show real?
We will have to see when the full show is out, this could be a recording Black Sabbath held onto and not a fan bootleg
Rob Dwyer’s statement was referring to an audience recording. The Portland show that is going to be released is a soundboard recording. Both have absolutely nothing to do with each other. One track from the upcoming Portland release is on Youtube, so if you like, you can compare it to the Hoffman Estates recording yourself. But there’s really nothing to worry about.
It’s a nice opportunity to have both on vinyl
Thanks to Damian and Sabbath Black.
I pre-ordered both of these from Am@zon, only because the purchase price included mp3 rips of each song. What I got were not from the 2021 releases. Had to chat with them for over an hour with five different reps before I ended up having to buy the digital copies and get refunded (with a gift card).
H&H arrived on 3/5 and MR on 3/7. They both sound fantastic. The Portland show is definitely authentic, not a boot.