PARANOID

The band's self-titled debut album was released in February 1970 and the success of the debut album was followed by the release (UK) of second album "Paranoid" in September the same year. The title track, released as a single in advance of the LP, hit the Top Five in the U.K., and the album went to number one there. Released in the U.S. January 1971, again preceded by the title track, which made the singles charts in November; the album broke into the Top Ten in March 1971 and remained in the charts over a year, eventually selling over four million copies, by far the band's best-selling effort. (Its sales were stimulated by the belated release of one of its tracks, "Iron Man," as a U.S. single in early 1972; the 45 got almost halfway up the charts, the band's best showing for an American single.).

Initially, this second album was about to be titled as "War Pigs" which was the song about the insanity of the Vietnam war. Unfortunately, just before they completed the album, they realized they were one song short. When the band went out for a drink Iommi said that he had an idea in terms of riff. So when they went back to the studio, within 25 minutes they wrote another song "Paranoid" added to the album. This song would later become the band's trademark as it's simple and classic. I personally like all songs featured in this album.

The band members drank, took psychedelics, and would eventually turn to cocaine, but heroin was a drug that scared them - and they put it under "Hand of Doom" (track 6 of this album). "Iron Man" is of course one of the band's trademarks especially with its appearance in "School of Rock" movie when the riffs and power chords were used to teach the student who wanted to rock.

"Paranoid" remarks an important milestone for the band as it was successful commercially and after this album, when the band returned to United States, they became headliners. They played at Fillmore East with Rod Stewart opening. As the crowd was so anxious to see their heavy metal favorite band, they booed Rod Stewart to get off stage to be able to see Sabbath on stage. Keep on rockin' ..!

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW

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