Black Sabbath Vol. 4 (often shortened to Volume 4) is the fourth album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 1972. The album was originally to be titled Snowblind, after one of several songs referring to cocaine use, and features several Sabbath classics, such as "Tomorrow's Dream," "Snowblind," "Supernaut" and "Changes."
Recording
In June 1972, Black Sabbath reconvened in Los Angeles, California to begin work on their fourth album at the Record Plant Studios. The recording process was plagued with problems, many due to substance abuse issues. While struggling to record the song "Cornucopia" after "sitting in the middle of the room, just doing drugs",[1] Bill Ward was nearly fired from the band. "I hated the song, there were some patterns that were just horrible" Ward said. "I nailed it in the end, but the reaction I got was the cold shoulder from everybody. It was like 'Well, just go home, you're not being of any use right now.' I felt like I'd blown it, I was about to get fired".[2] Despite the copious amounts of cocaine, the band produced another first-rate album that pushed the boundaries of heavy metal and would influence countless bands. However, the seeds were planted for what would eventually be the excessive demise of the classic Sabbath lineup. As Butler told Guitar World in 2001, "Yeah, the cocaine had set in. We went out to L.A. and got into a totally different lifestyle. Half the budget went on the coke and the other half went to seeing how long we could stay in the studio...We rented a house in Bel-Air and the debauchery up there was just unbelievable." In the same interview Ward opined, "Yes, Vol. 4 is a great album but listening to it now, I can see it as a turning point for me, where the alcohol and drugs stopped being fun."
Music and lyrics
Volume 4 demonstrates Black Sabbath beginning to experiment with the heavy sound they had become known for. Although some songs are in their trademark style, others demonstrate a soft, orchestral approach. This is exemplified by the song "Changes". Written by Tony Iommi, it is entirely in the form of a piano ballad with mellotron. Although the band had used piano on some songs previously, it had played only a minor role in the songs.
At least two songs on the album reference the use of cocaine. The lyrics and title of "Snowblind" is an example of this. The band originally intended to name the album as Snowblind, but it was retitled by their record company.[citation needed] This was likely to avoid controversy in the American market. The song "Snowblind" also had to be re-recorded because the original version features Osbourne yelling the word "cocaine!" after each verse. On the officially released version, "cocaine" is whispered quite audibly after the first verse, approximately 41 seconds into the song (During live performances Osbourne would again scream the word at the top of his lungs).
Artwork
The album cover features a monocolor photograph of Ozzy Osbourne with hands raised, taken during a Black Sabbath concert. The album's original release (on Vertigo in the UK, on Warner Bros. in the US and on Nippon Phonogram in Japan) features a gatefold sleeve with a page glued into the middle. Each band member is given their own photo page, with the band on-stage (and photographed from behind) at the very centre. The reissues on WWA and NEMS duplicated both the gatefold sleeve and, unusually, the pages.
The album's cover art has proved iconic, and is parodied on the 1992 Peaceville Volume 4 compilation album, the 1992 Volume Two EP by the band Sleep, and the 2007 album Vol. 1 by the band Church of Misery.
In the liner notes of Volume 4, Black Sabbath thank "the great COKE-Cola Company," another blatant drug reference.[3] Also during the Volume 4 era, bassist Geezer Butler sported a sticker on his white bass that stated "Enjoy CoCaine", a parody of the slogan "Enjoy CocaCola."[4]
Converse shoes relased a limited edition of a pair of Converse shoes with the Vol. 4 cover.
Release and reception
Volume 4 was released in September 1972, and while critics of the era were again dismissive of the album, it achieved gold status in less than a month, and was the band's fourth consecutive release to sell one million copies in the United States.[5] It reached number 13 on Billboard's pop album chart.[6] The song "Tomorrow's Dream" was released as a single but failed to chart.[7] Following an extensive tour of the US, the band toured Australia for the first time in 1973, and later Europe. Black Sabbath also appeared on the UK's Top of the Pops in 1973, sharing the stage with such diverse acts as Engelbert Humperdinck and Diana Ross.
The album had been reissued twice as a budget release called Children of the Grave with a live version of said song.
In June 2000, Q magazine (6/00, p.69) placed Volume 4 at number 60 in its list of The 100 Greatest British Albums Ever[8] and described the album as "the sound of drug-taking, beer-guzzling hooligans from Britain's oft-pilloried cultural armpit let loose in LA." In an interview with Q magazine, Beck Hansen named the "Supernaut" riff as his all time favourite, equal with Neil Young's "Cinnamon Girl".[citation needed] Famed rock composer Frank Zappa has named this the greatest rock track of all time. Zappa said in an interview, "I like it because I think it's prototypical of a certain musical style, and I think it's well done.[citation needed] In 1999, Thrash metal band, Overkill, covered the song "Cornucopia" for their Coverkill album.
Nu Metal band System of a Down covered "Snowblind" for the Black Sabbath tribute album Nativity in Black II.
Track listing
All songs written by Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward
Side one
- "Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener" – 8:01
- "Tomorrow's Dream" – 3:11
- "Changes" – 4:44
- "FX" – 1:43
- "Supernaut" – 4:49
Side two
- "Snowblind" – 5:33
- "Cornucopia" – 3:54
- "Laguna Sunrise" – 2:55
- "St. Vitus Dance" – 2:29
- "Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes" – 5:52
Personnel
Sales accomplishments
|
RIAA certification[9] (United States)
| Date |
Designation |
Total Sales |
November 6,
1972 |
Gold |
500,000 |
October 13,
1986 |
Platinum |
1,000,000 |
|
CRIA certification[10] (Canada)
| Date |
Designation |
Total Sales |
September 1,
1977 |
Gold |
50,000 |
September 1,
1977 |
Platinum |
100,000 |
|
References
