We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll

Infobox Album
Name = We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll
Type = compilation
Artist = Black Sabbath


Released = December 1 1975
Recorded = 1969–1975
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 73:52
Label = NEMS
Warner Bros. (US/Canada)
Producer = Rodger Bain, Mike Butcher, Patrick Meehan, Black Sabbath
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:nu5f8qxpbtx4 link]
*Robert Christgau (C) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=6411 link]
Last album = "Sabotage"
(1975)
This album = "We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll"
(1975)
Next album = "Technical Ecstasy"
(1976)

"We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll" is a compilation album by Black Sabbath, originally released on December 1, 1975 in the UK and then in February 1976 in the U.S.

Album information

When Black Sabbath signed with NEMS, the label which would release their 1975 album "Sabotage" in the UK and Europe, NEMS acquired the band's back catalogue and wasted little time compiling this release. Although the band had six studio albums to its name at this point, this compilation drew heavily on the first four albums: this would also be a feature of most of the Osbourne-era compilations later released.

The original UK gatefold album, with a matte finish, had centre pages featuring shots of the band but this was omitted on reissues, which came in a glossy-finish sleeve. Additionally, the original vinyl retained Geezer's bass solo before "N.I.B" but this would be edited from later issues. Some U.S. copies of the LP do not actually include "Wicked World" on the label or on the vinyl itself, though it does appear on the cover. In the UK, "Wicked World" had been only a B-side and was relatively obscure.

Iommi has been quoted as saying that the band knew nothing of the album until asked to autograph copies which fans presented after concerts, although it was an official release.

Reception

The RIAA certified the album as Gold on February 7th 1980, Platinum on May 13th 1986 and 2x Multi-Platinum (generally known as 'Double Platinum' outside the offices of the RIAA) on March 16th 2000.

Track listing

The following is the track listing on the original record/cassette release. All songs written by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward except where noted.

ide one

#"Black Sabbath" (from "Black Sabbath")
#"The Wizard" (from "Black Sabbath")
#"Warning" (Aynsley Dunbar, John Moorshead, Alex Dmochowski, Victor Hickling) (from "Black Sabbath")

ide two

#"Paranoid" (from "Paranoid")
#"War Pigs" (from "Paranoid")
#"Iron Man" (from "Paranoid")
#"Wicked World" (from U.S. release of "Black Sabbath"/ B-side to UK "Evil Woman" single)

ide three

#"Tomorrow's Dream" (from "Black Sabbath, Vol. 4")
#"Fairies Wear Boots" (from "Paranoid")
#"Changes" (from "Black Sabbath, Vol. 4")
#"Sweet Leaf" (from "Master of Reality")
#"Children of the Grave" (from "Master of Reality")

ide four

#"Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (from "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath")
#"Am I Going Insane (Radio)" (from "Sabotage")
#"Laguna Sunrise" (from "Black Sabbath, Vol. 4")
#"Snowblind" (from "Black Sabbath, Vol. 4")
#"N.I.B." (from "Black Sabbath")

When the album was released on CD, the tracks "Wicked World", "Warning" and "Laguna Sunrise" were omitted due to CD space restrictions. In the UK, the CD was later remastered and reissued as a 2CD set, restoring the original track listing and the bass solo intro for N.I.B.

Personnel

*Ozzy Osbourne - lead vocals, harmonica, synthesizer
*Tony Iommi - guitar, keyboards, flute
*Geezer Butler - bass, mellotron
*Bill Ward - drums, percussion, backing vocals