PARANOID BLACK SABBATH

‘Paranoid’ contains several of the band’s signature songs, including “Iron Man,” “War Pigs” and the title track, which was the band’s only Top 20 hit, reaching number 4 in the UK charts.

Black Sabbath returned to the studio with producer Roger Bain in June 1970, just four months after their debut album was released. ‘Paranoid’ crystallized the band’s writing process, with Iommi initiating the ideas with his charred riffs, Ozzy (Osbourne) working on a melody, Geezer providing drive and the majority of the lyrics, and Bill Ward locking into a set of often pounding rhythms beneath Butler’s bass rumble. Most of the songs on ‘Paranoid’ evolved during onstage improvisational jams.

‘Paranoid’s chart success allowed the band to tour the US for the first time in October 1970, which spawned the release of the album’s second single “Iron Man.”

As of 2014, ‘Paranoid’ is Black Sabbath’s best-selling album, having sold 1.6 million copies in the US since the beginning of the SoundScan era.

Now reissued on 180gm vinyl

Though most of Black Sabbath’s classic material from this album (“War Pigs,” “Iron Man,” “Fairies Wear Boots,” and the title track) can also be found on the collection We Sold Our Soul for Rock & Roll, Paranoid is essential for the completist. One of the best albums from one of the bands to define heavy metal, this album is chock-full of the best stuff from Sabbath’s Osbourne years. (Where else will you be able to hear “Rat Salad?”).