The Best of Black Sabbath

:"Several different compilations over the years have been released under the name "The Best of Black Sabbath". None of these are "official" releases, meaning none of them were ever released on the band's actual label with the band's consent and knowledge. This article covers the one released in 2000."

Infobox Album | Name = The Best of Black Sabbath
Type = Compilation album
Artist = Black Sabbath


Released = 2000
Recorded = 1970-1983
Genre = Heavy Metal
Length = 1:58:15
Label = Sanctuary Records
Castle Music
Producer = ???
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:sqcm963ohep3 link]
Last album = "Reunion"
(1998)
This album = "The Best of Black Sabbath"
(2000) | Next album = "Past Lives"
(2002) |

"The Best of Black Sabbath" is a 2000 compilation album by Black Sabbath released on the Sanctuary Records Label. It spans a total recording period from 1970 to 1983, begins with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals, ends with Ian Gillan, former Deep Purple vocalist heading the band, begins with "Black Sabbath" in 1970, and ends with the album "Born Again" in 1983. The band omitted the later work that included Ronnie James Dio fronting the album "Dehumanizer" but did include his work on the album "Heaven and Hell" and The Mob Rules in the compilation. They also omitted Tony Martin's work from the collection, whom they fired at various times during the 90s.

As this album is a compilation album released by a record label, and not by "Black Sabbath management", it is not considered an official Black Sabbath album, and isn't in their official catalogue of albums. There are roughly half a dozen albums released through Black Sabbath's career all with the same album title. None of which were released by the band, but were some sort of record label compilation like this one is.

The album includes over twenty-five of Black Sabbath's greatest works, including "Paranoid", The title track on the Paranoid album; "Iron Man" from the same album; "N.I.B.", from their debut album; "War Pigs" and "Electric Funeral".

Track listing

The track listing shows the song title first after the track number. Then it cites the album from whence the song appears, and finally its duration. All songs written by Iommi/Butler/Ward/Osbourne except where noted.

Disc one

#"Black Sabbath" (Iommi/Butler/Osbourne/Ward), from "Black Sabbath"
#"The Wizard", from "Black Sabbath"
#"N.I.B.", from "Black Sabbath"
#"Evil Woman (Don't Play Your Games With Me)" (Larry Weigand), from "Black Sabbath"
#"Wicked World", from "Black Sabbath"
#"War Pigs", from "Paranoid"
#"Paranoid", from "Paranoid"
#"Planet Caravan", from "Paranoid"
#"Iron Man", from "Paranoid"
#"Electric Funeral", from "Paranoid"
#"Fairies Wear Boots", from "Paranoid"
#"Sweet Leaf", from "Master of Reality"
#"Embryo" (Iommi), from "Master of Reality"
#"Children of the Grave", from "Master of Reality"
#"Lord of This World", from "Master of Reality"
#"Into the Void", from "Master of Reality"

Disc two

#"Tomorrow's Dream", from "Vol. 4"
#"Supernaut", from "Vol. 4"
#"Snowblind", from "Vol. 4"
#"Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", from "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"
#"Killing Yourself to Live", from "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"
#"Spiral Architect", from "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"
#"Hole in the Sky", from "Sabotage"
#"Don't Start (Too Late)", from "Sabotage"
#"Symptom of the Universe", from "Sabotage"
#"Am I Going Insane (Radio)", from "Sabotage"
#"Dirty Women", from "Technical Ecstasy"
#"Never Say Die", from "Never Say Die!"
#"A Hard Road", from "Never Say Die!"
#"Heaven and Hell" (Dio/Butler/Ward/Iommi), from "Heaven and Hell"
#"Turn Up the Night" (Dio/Butler/Iommi), from "Mob Rules"
#"The Dark/Zero the Hero" (Gillan/Butler/Ward/Iommi), from "Born Again"

Album cover

The album cover features in the foreground four filled sarcophagi, which are in fact graves dating back to the 11th century. The location is at Heysham, North West England overlooking Morecambe Bay. In the background the sun is setting, so apparently it is at dusk. It has a "The Best of Black Sabbath" title which appears in a Greek style font. On the back of the liner notes, and misc. there is a silhouette of Geezer Butler playing in the moonlight.

Personnel

1969-1979

The albums that this line-up is featured on are "Black Sabbath", "Paranoid", "Master of Reality", "Vol. 4", "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", "Sabotage", "Technical Ecstasy", and "Never Say Die!".

*Ozzy Osbourne, Vocals, Harmonica (Only track 2 on disc I)
*Tony Iommi, guitar, piano, etc.
*Bill Ward, drums
*Geezer Butler, bass
*Rodger Bain, producer ("Black Sabbath", "Paranoid", and "Master Of Reality")
*Patrick Meehan, producer ("Vol. 4")
*Mike Butcher, co-producer ("Sabotage", "Technical Ecstasy", "Never Say Die!")
*Robin Black, co-producer ("Sabotage", "Technical Ecstasy", "Never Say Die!")

1980

The album that this line-up is featured on is "Heaven and Hell".

*Ronnie James Dio, vocals
*Tony Iommi, guitar
*Bill Ward, drums
*Geezer Butler, bass

1981-1982

The album that this line-up is featured on is "Mob Rules".

*Ronnie James Dio, vocals
*Tony Iommi, guitar
*Vinny Appice, drums
*Geezer Butler, bass

1983-1984

The album that this line-up is featured on is "Born Again".

*Ian Gillan, vocals
*Tony Iommi, guitar
*Geezer Butler, bass
*Bill Ward, drums