Technical Ecstasy

Infobox Album
Name = Technical Ecstasy
Type = studio
Artist = Black Sabbath


Released = September 25 1976
Recorded = Criteria Studios
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 40:35
Label = Vertigo
Warner Bros. (US/Canada)
Producer = Black Sabbath
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|2|5 [http://allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:g8jgtq4ztu4a link]
Last album = "We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll"
(1975)
This album = "Technical Ecstasy"
(1976)
Next album = "Never Say Die!"
(1978)

"Technical Ecstasy" is a 1976 album from heavy metal band Black Sabbath.

Album information

"Technical Ecstasy" continued the band's separation from its signature doom and darkness that had been such a trademark of the band's early career. While the album's lyrics dealt with topics such as drug dealers, prostitution, and transvestites, the music itself was seldom dark, and tracks like "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" and "It's Alright" (the latter sung by drummer Bill Ward—a decision supported by Ozzy Osbourne), were very different from Black Sabbath's earlier recordings. Also, the band continued experimenting with keyboards and synthesizers more so than previous albums. The track "She's Gone" features orchestrations.

Osbourne left the band briefly following the release of the album. He would eventually rejoin for the follow-up album, "Never Say Die!".

The cover art is designed by Hipgnosis and is meant to represent two robots having sex. Osbourne once described it as "two robots screwing on an escalator." [ [http://www.black-sabbath.com/faq/faq.html#faq44 Black Sabbath FAQ] , retrieved 2 April 2007]

The UK release had a two-sided lyric/credit-insert.

"Gypsy", "Dirty Women", "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" and (briefly) "All Moving Parts (Stand Still)" were played live on the supporting tour.

"It's Alright" was often covered live by Guns N' Roses, and included in that band's "" album.

Track listing

All songs written by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne.

ide one

#"Back Street Kids" – 3:47
#"You Won't Change Me" – 6:42
#"It's Alright" – 4:04
#"Gypsy" – 5:14

ide two

#"All Moving Parts (Stand Still)" – 5:07
#"Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" – 3:30
#"She's Gone" – 4:58
#"Dirty Women" – 7:13

Personnel

*Ozzy Osbourne – vocals
*Tony Iommi – guitar
*Geezer Butler – bass guitar
*Bill Ward – drums, lead vocals on "It's Alright"
*Gerald Woodruffe – keyboards

Release history

References