Released September 25, 1976 (US), Oct 8, 1976 (UK)
Re-Released February 7, 1996
Re-Released April 27, 2004 (Black Box)
Re-Released September 16, 2009
[ Lyrics | Tour Dates ]
2009 CD [ Amazon UK | Amazon US ]
2004 Black Box [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ] | 1996 CD [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ]
MP3 [ Amazon UK ] | Original CD [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ]
Track Listing
- Back Street Kids
- You Won’t Change Me
- It’s Alright
- Gypsy
- All Moving Parts (Stand Still)
- Rock ‘N’ Roll Doctor
- She’s Gone
- Dirty Women
Writing Credits
- All songs written and arranged by Black Sabbath
Credits
- Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals
- Tony Iommi – Guitar
- Geezer Butler – Bass
- Bill Ward – Drums
- Gerald “Jezz” Woodruffe – Keyboards
- Mike Lewis – Strings on “She’s Gone”
- Produced by Robin Black
- Engineered by Rock Black & Spock Wall
- Recorded & Mixed at Criteria Studios (Miami, FL) by Tony Iommi & Robin Black
- Also Recorded at Sounds Interchange, Toronto Canada
- 1976 Mastering by Bob Hata & Tony Iommi
- 1996 Remaster by Ray Staff @ Whitfield St Studios
- 1996 Design, Booklet notes, & sleeves by Hugh Gilmour
- 2009 Remaster by Andy Pearce & Matt Wortham @ Wired Masters
- 2009 Project Management – Jon Richards
- 2009 Project Consultants – Steve Hammonds & Hugh Gilmour
- 2009 Sleeve Notes by Malcolm Dome
- 2009 Design by Hugh Gilmour
- 2012 Digital Remaster by Andy Pearce & Matt Wortham
- 2012 Vinyl Mastering by Greg Moore @ Masterpiece
Catalogue Numbers
- LP Vertigo 9124-100 (UK 1976)
- CASS Vertigo 7131-001 (EUR 1976)
- LP Warner Bros BS-2969 (US 1976)
- CASS Warner Bros M5-2969 (US 1976)
- LP Vertigo 9102-750 (UK 1976)
- LP Vertigo LP55-5638 (YUG 1976)
- CD Vertigo 9102-750BE (UK 1982)
- LP Vertigo 910-275-0 (UK 1983)
- CD Warner Bros 2969-2 (US 1987)
- CD Vertigo 838-224-2 (UK 1989)
- CD Essential ESMCD-328 (UK 1996)
- CD Castle CMTCD030 (UK 2000)
- LP Sanctuary CMHLP243 (UK 2001)
- CD Sanctuary SMRCD037 (EUR 2004)
- LP Earmark 41027 (IT 2004)
- LP Earmark 41027P (IT 2004 – Picture Disc)
- CD Rhino R2-72923-G (US 2004 – Black Box)
- CD Universal UICY-94190 (JPN 2009)
- CD Universal 2716550 (UK 2009)
- LP Sanctuary 864067 (UK 2009)
- CD Universal UICY-25124 (JPN 2011)
- LP Sanctuary 3715300 (UK 2012) – “Vinyl Collection”
Notes
- Bill Ward sings lead vocals on It’s Alright.
- It’s Alright was later covered by the 90’s rock band “Guns ‘N Roses”. You can hear a sound sample of this version on the iTunes page for that album. (iTunes not required).
- There are music videos for It’s Alright and Rock and Roll Doctor. However, they’re just staged live footage with overdubbed music; they’re not conceptual.
- Some versions of the album have Back Street Kids & All Moving Parts switched around – no idea why.
- When Bill Ward was asked about who wrote It’s Alright (which he sung), he replied with this: “I wrote most of “Its Alright” Tony worked out the solo part backing and solo, Geezer added bass and all of himself to the song. Ozzy liked the song also and supported me, as I did the vocals. I hope that clears up the argument.”
- In Feb 2008, Dan Marsicano published an article called “What the Hell happened to Technical Ecstasy”, in which he examines why this album is not as popular as it is. Dan has given permission for the article to be replicated on this site; you can read it here.
- The 1995 videogame “Rise of the Triad” had one of it’s levels named after this album by Apogee staffer and Black Sabbath webmaster Joe Siegler. The title was called “Technical Ecstasy”. In the words of Joe, “The level was full of robots, so I named it Technical Ecstasy.” A picture of the title screen for that level can be seen below.
Images
- The following image is the original back cover image. Was altered for various releases (vinyl/cd/etc).
- The following are a few CD back cover images. In order, The original 1987 US CD, the 1996 Castle Remaster, and the 2009 Universal Remaster.
- Finally is this coverage image from the original US cassette tape release of the album
Video
NOTE: These lyrics are verified against the lyrics that appear in the “Black Box” booklet. Those lyrics were gone over by Geezer Butler (who wrote most of them anyway) for that set, and for that reason should be considered definitive.
Back Street Kids
I’m just another back street kid
Rock ‘n roll music is the only thing I really dig
Can’t stop the music going round inside my head
I’m a rock ‘n roll soldier, gonna play it until I’m dead
Nobody I know is gonna take my rock ‘n roll away from me
Sitting in the back seat of a shiny limousine
Living in a taxi can’t remember where I’ve been
Playing my music, sitting in my hotel room
Writing about the stars and thinking about the hand of doom
Nobody I know will ever take my rock ‘n roll away from me
Living life comes easy if you know which way you’re going
Got to see yourself in others’ eyes, surprised?
Living like I want to don’t come easy, but I’m trying
Sorting out what’s true and what are lies, it’s wise
Brought up in a back street living with the salt of the land
Seems that now my music’s paying off my tax demands
So listen to the music, want to see you getting so high
‘Cause I’m a back street rocker and I will be till the day I die
Nobody I know will ever take my rock ‘n roll away from me
You Won’t Change Me
I’m just a man and I am what I am
Nobody will ever change my ways
I don’t need money and I don’t need no lies
I only need to live for today
But I’d like to talk things over with you
I want to hear the things you say, today
Although you won’t change me anyway, oh no way
I wish you’d come and see me, I’d like to hold you
I want to set my mind all free
You understand me woman, you give me time
But I don’t need no sympathy
Still I wonder what it’s like to be loved
Instead of hiding in myself
Nobody will change me anyway, no no way
Nobody’s gonna change my world
That’s something too unreal
Nobody will change the way I feel
So listen to me now hear what I say
Please give me time and maybe love
If there’s a God up there, well I hope he helps me
I need him now to set me free
‘Cause it may be that it’s over for me
If you don’t hear the things that I say, today
Nobody will change me anyway, no no way
Nobody’s gonna change my world, that’s something too unreal
Nobody will change the way I feel
It’s Alright
Told you once about your friends and neighbours
They were always seeking but they’ll never find it
It’s alright, yes it’s alright
Where to go and where to see
It’s always been this way and it can never be
It’s alright, yes it’s alright
Give it all and ask no return
And very soon you’ll see and you’ll begin to learn
That’s it’s alright, yes it’s alright
Don’t you know that it’s so good for you
You can be making love and see it all go through
But it’s alright, yes it’s alright
Gypsy
Watched the universe at the end of another day
Fatalistic ships from a distant shore
In the back of my mind I could feel she was standing there
Like the feeling you have
When you’ve been there before
She was a gypsy woman
She was as cold as the day
She said I’d got it coming
And then she took me away
She took me through the shadows of her sunken dream
I thought it’s over for me, she wasn’t all she seemed
She took my hand and then she started to speak
She told me she’d had the call
With eyes of fire that were burning my soul
She looked into her crystal ball
She read my fortune then she read my mind
She didn’t like my thoughts at all
She showed me shadows, a spectre of life
My soul just wanted to scream
She stared so deeply into my eyes
That’s when I fell into a dream
When I awoke in bed she lay beside me
And she read me with her eyes, she said
So you wanna be a gypsy, come on now
Gypsy woman you’re the devil in drag
You are the queen of all hell
You took my body, now you’re wasting my soul
You’ve got me under your spell
And as the sun shines on another day
You’re gonna take my mind as well, it’s over
So you wanna be a gypsy, come on now
All Moving Parts (Stand Still)
Super animation, turning on a nation
And they’re saying all moving parts stand still
Since he was elected, adrenalin injected
Hear him saying all moving parts should kill
Just like the hero he’s got them all on the run
Yes he’s won
Since he passed the motion
They’re building in the ocean
And he’s saying all men should all be free
What a combination, peace and radiation
And he’s saying free men should fight for me
Just like his momma, he seems to get his pleasure from pain
And the rain, ain’t that strange?
Very strange
I like choking toys
You’ve got to see me before you meet the boys
Teacher’s burnt the school
He’s had enough of sticking to the rules
People stop and see
He’s got to be more decadent than me
Just to pass the time
He gets his kicks from licking off the wine
Pretty silly ladies
All Cynthia’s and Sadie’s
Call him and he takes their numbers down
Says he is a woman
Should have seen it coming
And she’s saying she’s married to a clown
Just like a lady she’ll keep you guessing through the night
Not tonight, well I might, oh alright!
Rock ‘n’ Roll Doctor
Well I’m sick and tired of hearing ’bout the
world and it’s hangups
Gonna get myself together
Take a ride downtown
Gotta see my Rock ‘n’ Roll doctor
Gotta see my Rock ‘n’ Roll doctor
Gotta see my Rock ‘n’ Roll doctor
Gotta see him, see him today
He’s gonna blow me away
He makes me happy when I’m feeling down
Take away my worry takes away my frown
Gotta see my Rock ‘n’ Roll doctor
Gotta see my Rock ‘n’ Roll doctor
Gotta see my Rock ‘n’ Roll doctor
Gotta see him, see him today
He’s gonna blow me away
If you wanna feel groovy
Give the doctor a call
Doctor rock will help you anytime at all
Gotta see my Rock ‘n’ Roll doctor
Gotta see my Rock ‘n’ Roll doctor
Gotta see my Rock ‘n’ Roll doctor
Gotta see him, see him today
He’s gonna blow me away
She’s Gone
I’ve been a long long time, waiting for you
I didn’t want to see you go
And now it’s hurting so much, what can I do?
I wanted you to be my wife
The days are passing slowly, since you’ve gone
Your memories are all I have
I sit here waiting but you’ll never show
Without you I can’t carry on
You said you’d always love me, all of my life
And then you said your last goodbye
Why the sudden change, why all the lies?
I should have seen it in your eyes
The endless hours of heartache, waiting for you
My summer love has turned to rain, oh the pain
The silent emptiness of one-sided love
My life means nothing now you’re gone
Dirty Women
The neon lights are shining on me again
I walk the lonely streets in search of a friend
I need a lady to help me to get through the night, through the night
If I could find her, then everything would feel alright
The sleepy city is dreaming the night time away
Out on the street I watch tomorrow becoming today
I see a man he’s got take away women for sale, yes for sale
Guess that’s the answer
Cause take away women don’t fail
Oh dirty women, they don’t mess around
Oh dirty women, they don’t mess around
You’ve got me coming
You’ve got me going around
Oh dirty women, they don’t mess around
Walking the streets I wonder will it ever happen
Gotta be good ’cause then everything will be o.k.
If I could score tonight then I will end up laughing
A woman for sale is gonna help me save my day
There is a slight mistake in the lyrics of “It’s Alright” .
“It’s always been this way and it can never be” Instead of “this” – it’s “that” .Anyway,the album is good and the site is perfect!
I love technical ecstasy! it is my musical ecstasy! i tell you! it was tthe first sabbath album that i bought anf the second heavy metal album that i listened. being the first one led zeppelin II. technical is perfect and i will love it forever.
A really unique album, with a great sound and several great great moments. Even if they were obviously trying to fit in more with the times, at least thematically. Meaning lots of songs about the rock and roll decadent lifestyle. But then again, they were certainly living it! Iommi shines on it, yet this is the only album where Geezer sounds like he phoned it in.
I love the Storm Thurgenson art work. And the blue prints of the robot male and female feet on the inner sleeve, with the weird red on blue lyrics printed. Its equally great that they carried that blueprint idea on to the Never Say Die inner sleeve as well. I really like the directions they were going in at the end of the original band. Its sad to me that it was not more appreciated at the time. They got little respect and their fans were generally portrayed in the media as drugged out losers and outsiders. That has all changed for sure. I get a lot of satisfaction seeing the respect they get now, especially Iommi. They were always my favorite band, and I always telling people that they really needed to listen more closely, not prejudge them. The 70s were kind of paradoxical that way.
I just Pre-Ordered 180 gram copy from amazon.com
The most underrated Sabbath album, and one of my favorites. It’s more rocky than what one would expect, but it has some great songs. Gypsy, You won’t Change Me, It’s Alright, All moving parts. And that’s just to name a few. Hardcore sabbath fans seem to be the only ones who really talk about it. Which is a shame, because it’s really not that bad. It’s actually good. Damn good.
I’ve Always categorize the Ozzy Era in 4 different “sub-eras” when it comes to the Music style and their progression.
Era 1 (68-70): The early demos.
Era 2: Black Sabbath. Paranoid & Master of reality
Era 3: Vol 4, SBS & Sabotage
Era 4: Technical Ecstasy & NSD
First of all, this album is probably the most underrated piece in the whole Sabbath catalogue from the seventies. As I’ve mentioned in earlier comments, I love all eight albums and all of them are holy to me.
With that said, I can continue with my analysis of Technical Ecstasy in absolute honesty.
This album was released about 14 months after their latest one “Sabotage”, and on that one you could actually hear in which direction the band was going. Especially on the B-side of it. As an active musician myself, I have to say that Sabbath (as most bands from the seventies) was incredible when it came to releasing records. Sure, it wasn’t like nowadays when you could spend a year in the studio for 10 songs, but sabbath didn’t just record, they toured almost constantly. They didn’t have the time to really sit down and think about the direction of the sound. At least they had less time to do that, and the records sort of came out the way they did.
In my opinion, you could definitely hear on this record that Sabbath tried harder to fit in the times (kind of started a little in Vol 4, and forward). From their point of view, I guess it was the safest way to go. But you have to bear in mind what in the beginning made Sabbath the best band in the world. They didn’t try to fit. They didn’t suite the “bubble-gum one hit wonder fans”. When they started, they were an anomaly, and therefore they stood out. Sadly with Technical Ecstasy, they somehow fell for the trends a little bit too much.
The opener “Back Street kids”, with the up-tempo beat is wonderful. No other song on this record would be a better one to start up with. Strangely, I kind of feel that it is the closest Sabbath ever would get to Punk rock, which was the “new evil anomaly in music” this year 1976. Especially in Europe.
The next two songs slow the record down. “You won’t change me” is actually not bad, but in my ears it’s a ballad, followed by a ballad; “It’s alright”. The later one is not bad either, Bill does a great job with the vocals, but it’s definitely a step into a “Beatles” kind of sound. When I listen to the Sabbath catalogue chronologically, I kind of loose the red line here. But it’s never the less an interesting track, and a bloody great and unique song, but it would fit better on one of my Cat Stevens LP: s if you ask me.
It’s great to hear Bills opening beat on the toms and hi-hat on the next track “Gypsy”. Finally something up-tempo again, and this one is… well decent, nothing more.
The B-side opens with “All moving parts”, and is in some way Sabbaths “Funk-Disco” song. Somehow I actually like it. I think its most because of Geezers absolutely great performance. I mean, listen to the bass throughout the song. It’s awesome.
Hope I don’t step on someone’s toes here, but “Rock ‘n’ roll doctor”? Come on… I know many like this song. It’s an “easy listening” song, with a classic rock n’ roll riff in the verses, but to me it’s no originality left at all here. I’ve always sort of dissed this one, sadly.
“She’s gone” is another ballad. In my ears the third one, and at least one ballad too much for a Sabbath album. But it’s actually the best ballad on the album, and the “serious vibe” of their music sort of comes back.
“Dirty women”. Oh man, without this track, it wouldn’t be a worthy Sabbath album. It’s bloody great, and I understand why they choose it to represent this album live, even in these days. The outro with Tony’s solos is marvelous and epic. A perfect ending to the album.
It’s sad, but this record in my opinion is a bit too straggly and incoherent for a Sabbath album. Underrated? YES, it’s bloody underrated. As I’ve said, it’s still a loveable album, but compared to the previous six albums, especially the five first, it’s a little disappointing in my ears, and you can actually hear that things started to fall apart in the band. Therefore I categorize Technical Ecstasy in my “Era 4” above. The beginning of the end.
God bless Black Sabbath!
After almost 30 years of putting this album on only occasionally, I’ve finally realized that this album is fucking great! To be honest, I’m glad it’s taken this long. I feel like an unreleased gem has been unearthed! I’ve dug RNR Doctor for years, and I’ve gone from thinking that Dirty Women was good to realizing it’s fantastic! But I actually think every song here is great, or at least real, real good. Yes it has a tight, “disco-y” production value, so what? It beats the treble-y, almost hissy Never Say Die!, which for over 30 years I’d been proclaiming was better than Ecstasy. I was wrong.
Bills best drum sound of any Sabs album. The kit really powers each track and the dense kick drums pummel through everything. I love to hear a full drum kit. This is the album for that. Bills drum tracks on NSD are superb too but they don’t have the excellent production of TE. This albums always been an underdog to many people, not to me, I love it as much as NSD.
The Technical Ecstasy album is one of the most criminally under rated Black Sabbath albums in history and one of the most under rated Ozzy-era albums along with Never Say Die. Technical Ecstasy has some of Tony Iommi’s finest moments and some amazing drumming by Bill Ward. Dirty Women, You Won’t Change Me, All Moving Parts Stand Still and Gypsy are masterpieces. She’s Gone is also a great ballad and masterpiece. Technical Ecstasy deserves more attention.
Underrated album, IMO Ozzy never made a bad Sabbath Album. Sure there were some better than others but in the end all of them were solid. m/
Underrated Masterpiece m/
Criminally underrated Black Sabbath album imo too. I cannot deside wich BS album is the best, between Sabotage and Bloody, but Ecstasy is my beloved one.