• Voto:
Questo "greatest hits" è uno dei meno conosciuti dei Sabbath ed è incentrato sui primi 5 dischi della storica hard rock band, ovvero gli album migliori della loro discografia, quelli della formazione originale: Ozzy Osbourne alla voce, il geniale Tony Iommi alla chitarra, Billy Ward alla batteria e Geezer Butler al basso.
E' una raccolta ben preparata, anche se pecca anch'essa come molti "greatest hits" in circolazione della mancanza di tracce live o di un paio di rarità che valgono l'acquisto di un "greatest hits" o di un "best of", comunque la scelta dei brani è azzeccata.
Si parte con la bellissima "Paranoid", classico del gruppo e anche della carriera solista di Osbourne, hard rock cadenzato e coinvolgente, nata come una canzone-riempitivo "Paranoid" è diventata uno dei pezzi più famosi dei Black Sabbath, c'è il classico timbro vocale di Osbourne e lo splendido lavoro della chitarra di Iommi, breve (2 minuti e 53 secondi)ma d'effetto. Si continua con la bellissima "N. I. B. ", ha delle parti di basso praticamente stupende, una delle canzoni più "dure" dei Sabbath è un heavy rock roccioso, dalla batteria incalzante e dai riff magici, direttamente dallo splendido e omonimo esordio. La vena più "progressive" dei Sabbath (quelli del "Vol. 4" insomma, album da molti considerato rock progressivo più che hard rock) è rappresentata dalla famosa piano-ballad "Changes", professionalmente arrangiata con archi e con un Ozzy estremamente pacato, canzone emotiva e triste.
Dal quinto lavoro dei Sabbath si pesca ovviamente la title-track ("Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" per chi non lo sapesse), brano a metà tra riff corposi heavy metal e intermezzi jazzati, uno dei migliori lavori della band, ovviamente un classico, assolo da manuale per un Iommi super-ispirato, Osbourne declama i suoi testi posato, lascia che sia la musica a prendere vigore. Altro grande classico direttamente dal secondo album è "Iron Man", 5 minuti e 58 secondi di puro heavy rock, cadenzato, dagli immortali riff di chitarra, un lavoro di batteria incisivo e preciso, una canzone che ha fatto la storia del rock, così come la successiva "Black Sabbath", la canzone che da il nome al gruppo è una traccia di hard rock intriso di psichedelia, oscura e inquietante, se si chiudono gli occhi si pensa davvero di essere in un sabba con tanto di streghe e caproni, lenta e scandita dai versi malefici di Osbourne, in pieno stile "film horror". La lunga "War pigs" (ancora da "Paranoid"), è un pezzo rock dall'introduzione lenta e dall'ottimo lavoro di basso, Osbourne davvero in forma, dopo i primi 2 minuti il ritmo si fa più incalzante, una canzone eccellente che si lascia ascoltare in tutti i suoi 7 minuti e 57 secondi.
L'acustica "Laguna Sunrise" è , come "Changes", tratta dal "Vol. 4" ed è un pezzo strumentale dominato dalle chitarre acustiche, dalle belle melodie, ma abbastanza marginale e inopportuna per un "greatest hits", sempre dalla quarta fatica del Sabba Nero è tratta "Tomorrow's Dream", meno progressive del resto dell'album ma con comunque belle parti jazzate, ma il riff portante è più in linea con i precedenti lavori, assolo bellissimo che riconferma la professionalità di un chitarrista come Tony Iommi, si conclude con due estratti dal terzo disco "Masters Of Reality" ovvero la discreta "Sweet Leaf", un po' ripetitiva ma piacevole e "After Forever" che si presenta un pezzo frizzante e carico, lo confermano i buoni lavori di chitarra, basso, batteria e voce, insomma tutti e 4 vanno alla grande !
Questa raccolta svolge il suo ruolo di base, ovvero dà una buona panoramica sulla discografia dei Black Sabbath fino a "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", ma come ho già detto qualche traccia live o qualche chicca rara non sarebbe stato sbagliato aggiungerle.
Arrivederci da thetrooper !
Elenco tracce e testi
01 Paranoid (02:50)
Finished with my woman
'Cause she couldn't help me with my mind
People think I'm insane
Because I am frowning all the time
All day long I think of things
But nothing seems to satisfy
Think I'll lose my mind
If I don't find something to pacify
Can you help me
Occupy my brain?
Oh yeah
I need someone to show me
The things in life that I can't find
I can't see the things that make true happiness
I must be blind
Make a joke and I will sigh
And you will laugh and I will cry
Happiness I cannot feel
And love to me is so unreal
And so as you hear these words
Telling you now of my state
I tell you to enjoy life
I wish I could but it's too late
02 Iron Man (05:55)
Has he lost his mind
Can he see or is he blind
Can he walk at all
Or if he moves will he fall
Is he alive or dead
Has he thoughts within his head
We'll just pass him there
Why should we even care
He was turned to steel
In the great magnetic field
When he traveled time
For the future of mankind
Nobody wants him
He just stares at the world
Planning his vengeance
That he will soon unfurl
Now the time is here
For Iron Man to spread fear
Vengeance from the grave
Kills the people he once saved
Nobody wants him
They just turn their heads
Nobody helps him
Now he has his revenge
Heavy boots of lead
Fills his victims full of dread
Running as fast as they can
Iron Man lives again!
03 Changes (04:43)
I feel unhappy, I feel so sad
I've lost the best friend, that I ever had.
She was my woman, I love her so.
But it's too late now, I've let her go.
I'm going through changes.
I'm going through changes.
We shared the years, we shared each day.
In love together, we found a way.
But soon the world, had it's evil way.
My heart was blinded, love went astray.
I'm going through changes.
I'm going through changes.
It took so long, to realize.
And I can still hear her last goodbyes.
Now all my days, are filled with tears.
Wish I could go back, and change these years.
I'm going through changes.
I'm going through changes.
04 Fairies Wear Boots (06:15)
Goin' home late last night
Suddenly I got a fright
Yeah I looked through a window
and surprise, what I saw
A fairy with boots tried dancin' with a dwarf
All right now!
Yeah fairies wear boots and you gotta believe me
Yeah I saw her, I saw, and I tell you no lies
Yeah fairies wear boots and you gotta believe me
I saw her, I saw her with my own two eyes
All right now!
Yeah fairies wear boots and you gotta believe me
Yeah I saw her, I saw her, I tell you no lies
Yeah fairies wear boots and you gotta believe me
I saw her, I saw her with my own two eyes
All right now!
So I went to the doc' to see what he could give me
He said son, son, you've gone too far
'Cause smokin' and trippin' is all that you do
Yeah!
05 War Pigs (07:56)
Generals gathered in their masses
Just like witches at black masses
Evil minds that plot destruction
Sorcerers of death's construction
In the fields the bodies burning
As the war machine keeps turning
Death and hatred to mankind
poisoning their brainwashed minds
Oh Lord yeah!
Politicians hide themselves away
They only started the war
Why should they go out to fight
They leave their role to the poor
Time will tell on their power minds
Making war just for fun
Treating people just like pawns in chess
Wait 'till their judgment day comes
Now in darkness world stops turning
Ashes where their bodies burning
No more war pigs have the power
Hand of God has struck the hour
Day of judgment God is calling
On their knees, the war pigs crawling
Begging mercy for their sins
Satan laughing spreads his wings
Oh Lord yeah!
06 Never Say Die (03:50)
People going nowhere, taken for a ride
Looking for the answers that they know inside
Searching for a reason, looking for a rhyme
Snow White's mirror said "partners in crime!"
Don't they ever have to worry?
Don't you ever wonder why?
It's a part of me that tells you
Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die
Never, never, never say die again
Sunday's satisfaction, Monday's home and dry
Truth is on the doorstep, welcome in the lie
All dressed up in sorrow, got no place to go
Hold back, `till it's ready, taking it slow
Don't they ever have to worry?
Don't you ever wonder why?
It's a part of me that tells you
Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die
Never, never, never say die again
Don't you ever say die
Don't you ever say die
Never say die
Panic, silver lining, writing's on the wall
Children get together, you can save us all
Future's on the corner, throwing us a die
Slow down, turn around, everything's fine
There's no need to have a reason
There's no need to wonder why
It's a part of me that tells you
Oh, don't you ever, don't ever say die
Never, never, never say die again
07 Children of the Grave (05:17)
Revolution in their minds
The children start to march
Against the world in which they have to live
And the hate that's in their hearts
They're tired of being pushed around and told just what to do
They'll fight the world until they've won and love comes flowing through
Children of tomorrow live in the tears that fall today
Will the sun rise up tomorrow bringing peace in any way?
Must they live in the shadow of atomic fear?
Can they win the fight for peace or will they disappear? Yeah!
So you children of the world listen to what I say
If you want a better place to live in spread the word today
Show the world that love is still alive you must be brave
Or you children of today are children of the grave yeah!
08 The Wizard (04:25)
Misty morning, clouds in the sky
Without warning, a wizard walks by
Casting his shadow, weaving his spell
Flowing clothes, tinkling bell
Never talking
Just keeps walking
spreading his magic
Evil power disappears
Demons worry when the wizard is near
He turns tears into joy
Everyone's happy when the wizard walks by
Never talking
Just keeps walking
spreading his magic
Sun is shining, clouds have gone by
All the people give a happy sigh
He has passed by, giving his sign
Left all the people feeling so fine
Never talking
Just keeps walking
spreading his magic
09 Snowblind (05:29)
What You Get Aint What You See
Things That Don't Come Easily
Feelin' Happy In My Pain
Icicles Within My Brain
(Cocaine)
Somethin' Blowin' In My Head
Winds Of Ice That Soon Will Spread
Death Would Freeze My Very Soul
Makes Me Happy Makes Me Cold
My Eyes Are Blind But I Can See
The Snowflakes Glisten On The Tree
The Sun No Longer Sets Me Free
I Feel The Snow Place Freezing Me
Let The Winter Sun Shine On
Let Me Feel The Frost Of Dawn
Fill My Dreams With Flakes Of Snow
Soon I'll Feel The Chilling Glow
Don't You Think I Know What I'm Doing
Don't Tell Me That It's Doing Me Wrong
You're The One Who's Really A Loser
This Is Where I Feel I Belong
Crystal World With Winter Flowers
Turns My Days To Frozen Hours
Lying Snowblind In The Sun
Will My Ice Age Ever Come?
10 Sweet Leaf (05:04)
Alright now!
Won't you listen?
When I first met you, didn't realize,
I can't forget you or your surprise
You introduced me to my mind
And left me wanting you and your kind.
Oh yeah
I love you. Oh, you know it.
My life was empty, forever on a down,
Until you took me, showed me around
My life is free now, my life is clear
I love you sweet leaf though you can't hear
Oh yeah!
Come on now - Try it out!
Straight people don't know what you're about,
They put you down and shut you out
You gave to me a new belief,
And soon the world will love you sweet leaf
Oh yeah baby!
Come on now! Oh yeah!
Try me out baby!
Alright! Oh yeah-ah!
I want you part of this sweet leaf!
Oh yeah!
Alright, yeah, yeah, yeah, oh try me out
I love you sweet leaf, oh
13 Black Sabbath (06:18)
What is this that stands before me
Figure in black which points at me
Turn 'round quick and start to run
Find out I'm the chosen one
Oh, no
Big black shape with eyes of fire
Telling people their desire
Satan sitting there, he's smiling
Watches those flame get higher and higher
Oh, God--please help me
Oh, no--no
Child cries out for its mother
Mother screaming in the fire
Satan points at me again
Opens the door to push me in
Oh, no
Oh, God
Is it the end my friend
Satan's coming 'round the bend
People running 'cause they're scared
You people better go and beware
No, no
Please, God--no
14 N.I.B. (06:06)
Some people say my love cannot be true
Please believe me, my love, and I'll show you
I will give you those things you thought unreal
The sun, the moon, the stars all bear my seal
Oh yeah!
Follow me now and you will not regret
Leaving the life you led before we met
You are the first to have this love of mine
Forever with me 'till the end of time
Your love for me has just got to be real
Before you know the way I'm going to feel
I'm going to feel
I'm going to feel
Oh yeah!
Now I have you with me, under my power
Our love grows stronger now with every hour
Look into my eyes, you will see who I am
My name is Lucifer, please take my hand
Oh yeah!
Follow me now and you will not regret
Leaving the life you led before we met
You are the first to have this love of mine
Forever with me 'till the end of time
Your love for me has just got to be real
Before you know the way I'm going to feel
I'm going to feel
I'm going to feel
Oh yeah!
Now I have you with me, under my power
Our love grows stronger now with every hour
Look into my eyes, you will see who I am
My name is Lucifer, please take my hand
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