Paranoid

Black Sabbath were one of those bands from my youth it seemed totally impossible to like, they were for older, rockier types than a young entrant to the world of music. They also seemed terrifying with their mystical connection with the dark arts.So, buying this album aged 43, I felt pretty secure that I would not suddenly start eating the heads of bats or burning churches down in rage whilst spouting the words of Paranoid backwards.Right, to the music. Stone wall classic is a well used description, but it fits the bill. Ozzie sings each and every song with a tenderness and power that I had no idea he could, having truthfully only seen him as a TV former alcoholic. The man can sing, the band could play like demons and this album is an incredible experience from track one to the finale.Drugs, paranoia, war and more are covered with some of the finest musicianship you are likely to hear. The band are as tight as hell, the guitar playing is magnificent and the overall feeling is dark, but with much more lightness of touch than I would imagine.Stand out tracks, nope, can't help, it is an ALBUM, one of those old fashioned art works that has a start and end, with a track order that you have to follow to get the full effect. Kind of not the best news for the digital throwaway generation, but hey, live with it.If you like music you need this album, whether a fan of rock, indie, punk, whatever, just buy it, grab a bottle of fine red and sit back late in the evening and play this on repeat.Outstanding.

One of the best albums they ever did, so pleased I've now got it.

Arrived on time, good price good condition👍

Excellent album

Paranoid is not only the defining album for Black Sabbath, it is also a defining point for the metal genre as a whole. Iommi's riffs, as ever, are strong on tracks such as Electric Funeral, Fairies Wear Boots and War Pigs. Not to mention the ever strong, instantly recognisable songs Iron Man and title track Paranoid. Planet Caravan shows a new depth and creativity to the band with a mellow riff and soft delivery from Ozzy. As you would expect from a Black Sabbath album Butler's expert lyric's help to inspire and conjure up emotions effortlessly. Even on the track Hand of Doom, in which Butler's bass guitar riff is foremost, Ozzy's performance of the lyric's, that were written in relation to the returning Vietnam veterans turning to drugs, continue to feel relevant to this day. Bill Ward's drumming on the album is a masterclass in how to play with both technique, flair and power all culminating in the instrumental track Rat Salad in which Ward shows his chops with a truly awe-inspiring solo: a must listen for any drummer including myself!Paranoid propelled Black Sabbath to monumental heights, inspiring an untold amount of musicians worldwide and continues to do so. Do not allow yourself to go any longer without this album in your life as it truly has the potential to inspire with ease.

Excellent album I remember first listening to the vinyl original back in 1970 funny how War Pigs still is as good now as it was then , I finally know what Fairys wear Boots is about and listening to Paranoid as an encore when I saw them makes it all the better

Whist Black Sabbath just can not be denied the adulation they deserve as pioneers and producers of rock/metal at its best, Paranoid has to be their greatest work. Sure they've done loads of brilliant stuff but Paranoid is an album where every track is simply awesome, it's all lean, not a speck of aural fat to be heard. So much has been written and said about Paranoid, what could I add?The reason for my review is to do with the fact that there are a lot of cd versions knocking about, some a bit on the dodgy side, the version I have is 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd. SMRCD032. Now I'm no sound engineer but I know what I like and this version sounds fantastic, the music is sharp, crisp and it rocks, Ozzy's vocals are clear and where they should be in the mix. Like the original album there are 8 tracks, no extras and that suits me fine, perfect, the way it was meant to be. After some of the muddy versions I've come across I would recommend you know the version you intend to buy, this one's a corker.

Sometimes I think I'm living my life in reverse. I was at school when this came out and a couple of years later it was regularly belted out in the sixth-form common room on a Dansette record player that was plugged into a Marshall amp. Probably quite a good way to listen in retrospect, but at the time I just didn't get it. Nor did I get Deep Purple's Machine Head or a whole load of Led Zeppelin that has subsequently joined my collection. But then I watched a recent BBC film on Paranoid and its making. The band - even Ozzy - came over as a nice bunch of lads. I guess that's what a healthy dose of middle age does for you. But the music.......Somehow, hearing the inside story just added that extra something to the story and when I found out that the CD was only a fiver, well how could I resist? Phrases such as "all-time classic", "groundbreaking" and "genre-defining" can be bandied around all the time but they're obviously true here. And while we still have wars, then "War Pigs" is always going to be relevant.A word of praise for this CD re-issue. You get a reproduction of the original gatefold sleeve, together with what looks like the original inner photo. Plus, curiously, what looks like the back cover of a Spanish edition. And the CD is printed up like the original LP label. Most important, though, the sound transfer is top notch and when you do a bit of headbanging with headphones on, you can really hear what good players these guys are.