Tuesday, May 22, 2012

PURPLE SABBATH - The Black Sabbath Born Again Demos 1983



I think it's weird that everyone is talking about Sabbath reforming sans Bill Ward. Who the heck cares in 2012? Ozzy is a ghost of his former self, they play exactly zero deep cuts. Who get excited for this shit? Internet metal nerds? Dad? I don't know.

Let's take it back and look at what was up with Sabbath in 1983. Singer Ronnie James Dio just left the band along with then-drummer Vinnie Appice to start their own band Dio. The story goes: he had an epic battle with Iommi about the mixing of Live Evil (lol divas). Original Sabbath drummer Bill Ward was coaxed back in and the new singer was none other than the legendary Ian Gillan of Deep Purple fame. 

The result? Well thats up for debate. To me Born Again is up there with Vol 4. and Masters as one of their heaviest records. I love Ian Gillan's voice. Love it. Jesus Christ Superstar is one of my favorite rock records ever (Gillan plays Jesus, n00bs) and (in my opinion) his vocals worked perfectly with Iommi's evil riffage. The album was not received well by the public and generally trashed by the music press. I think thats weird. It totally rules. WTF, people?  

Ian said he never fit in with the band and he hated the album cover. I once read he smashed a whole box of records in his home because he was so disgusted. Also I guess this version of Sabbath inspired the 'Stonehenge' scene in This Is Spinal Tap. Check out this awesome story:

The album was apparently the victim of a terrible mix that had something to do with humidity + master tapes. Thats why what I'm posting here is so important. This is the unmixed, unmastered demos for the album (+ 1 song) that somehow surfaced in 2004 and it's fucking rad. This album has never received an official release on CD which is weird but fuck it. These demos are better anyway. One of my faves.

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7 comments:

  1. Clint BMay 22, 2012 at 8:12 PM

    Have you ever seen the videos they made for this album? SO choice!

    ReplyDelete
  2. PatrickMay 23, 2012 at 12:52 AM

    I still can't say that I've quite come to a final opinion on Born Again, but I'll agree wholeheartedly on JC Superstar being amazing. I grew up on that shit thanks to a God-bothering dad who grew up in the '70s.

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  3. bradMay 23, 2012 at 4:46 PM

    Fuck critics, this album rules! there is a 2 cd official reissue that came out last year.

    ReplyDelete
  4. G O DMay 27, 2012 at 10:03 AM

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    ReplyDelete
  5. east kansas bangerMay 27, 2012 at 9:09 PM

    Black Sabbath is the Bible of heavy. The first album is the old testament, Heaven and Hell is the new testament and that would make this demo the Dead Sea Scrolls.

    ReplyDelete
  6. SpiralArrayMay 28, 2012 at 8:21 PM

    Have you ever actually listened to Live Evil? The mix is fucking awful. Dio and Iommi should have had words over that bloated turd of a live album. Anyways, nice post.

    ReplyDelete
  7. stonerphonicJune 1, 2012 at 9:36 PM

    Illcon ruined Sabbath's life...

    ReplyDelete