Black Sabbath: Song by Song

by Steve Pilkington

Many bands may lay claim to inventing or popularising the term `heavy metal', but few would deny that Black Sabbath have defined the genre in the minds of many, and have come to embody its popular image. From the `classic' first decade with singer Ozzy Osbourne, through the Ronnie James Dio period and the oft-overlooked later albums, the Sabbath name has always been a trademark of quality, despite some less celebrated, though often fascinating, periods. To commemorate the final retirement of the band, lifelong devotee Steve Pilkington takes the reader through every song on every one of the band's studio albums, taking in the highs and occasional lows, as well as looking at the cover artwork and stories behind the albums. He also discusses live recordings and DVD releases. The result will surely be regarded as the most exhaustive guide to the band's music yet produced, as critical opinion rubs shoulders with facts, trivia and anecdotes to provide the ultimate guide to this legendary band. Whether you are a hard core fan, or simply want a guide to what lies beyond `Paranoid', this book is for you.

Genres: Music

159 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 9, 2018

Reviews

[Gheorghe Paslariu · Rating 4 out of 5]

As the title suggests, the author takes every song from the band's official studio albums and gives them a short description, interpretation of the lyrics, sometimes a fun fact.
But you have to take this book with a pinch if salt. The author gives his personal opinion about each song and many might find it annoying at points when their favourite song is dubbed 'an album filler' or 'a throwaway'. It all comes down to personal preference in that regard considering the band's long career and many changes.
At the end there is a section dedicated to live albums and compilations. Solo albums or side projects, such as Heaven and Hell are not analysed. It is strange that The End CD was not mentioned..at all. Granted, it was a limited release but still official and with solid songs.
All in all, an enjoyable read. If you want a broader understanding of Black Sabbath, I recommend Tony Iommi's autobiography. I read Ozzy's one as well but that is more about his lifestyle and has very little information about their music.