Sabbath's "Born Again" album

[MartinBarre]

Anyone else like it? I can't understand why it's so under-rated. It's a great album. Gillan's screams are amazing, and the sound is as heavy as it ever was.
It's not as good as "Heaven and Hell", and it's less straightforward than what they did with Dio, but it's an intense, brilliant album. "Zero The Hero" is as heavy as fuck, a great song. And not many bands have come up with a song title as good as "Disturbing The Priest".

I just read this line in an interview with Ian Gillan from the time and it made me laugh out loud. I don't know if Coverdale's a cock or not, but it made me laugh anyway:

Alright Gillan! When David Coverdale was in Finland, he said that you are a nice guy to drink with, but it was sad to see you joining Black Sabbath.
- Coverdale said that? He's a prick. I don't know anyone who likes him. Probably his mother doesn't like him either.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WL_svZmiGWw

More info here:

http://home.swipnet.se/sabbath83/

[StukaJU87]

I like it. My favorite song is off the record is "Trashed".

[MartinBarre]

Here's what Gillan said about the Spinal Tap/Stonehenge thing. This can't be true is it?

"On the last day of the rehearsal we're wondering what this dwarf is doing hanging around backstage. When we do the dress rehearsal the dwarf emerges in a red leotard, long yellow finger nails and little yellow horns. He's going to be the baby. Then we hear this horrendous screaming sound - they've recorded a baby's scream and flanged it-and suddenly; we see this dwarf crawling across the top of Stonehenge, then he stands up as the baby's scream fades away and falls backwards off this 30 foot fiberglass replica of Stonehenge onto a big pile of mattresses. Then dong, dong - bells start toiling and all the roadies come across the front of the stage in monk's cowls, at which point War Pigs starts up. By now we can see the kids are either in stitches or wincing in horror. After spending 40 grand a day to achieve all this, someone had economized by not actually trying out the dry ice in the afternoon run through. So as I stride confidently towards my prompt book, not even knowing the first word of the song, I'm suddenly shocked to see a chest-high cloud of dry ice is berating me to the front of the stage. So there I am after this big opening, kneeling down, swatting the air and trying to read me line, popping my head above this cloud every now and then. Someone shouted "It's Ronnie Dio!""

[toejam]

I have that on vinyl and was just listening to it a few weeks ago.

[MartinBarre]

I like it. My favorite song is off the record is "Trashed".

That, Zero The Hero, and Hot Line are all classic songs.

[toejam]

Here's what Gillan said about the Spinal Tap/Stonehenge thing. This can't be true is it?

Indeed true. Spinal Tap was a spoof movie about bands that shit like that happened to.

[MartinBarre]

Indeed true. Spinal Tap was a spoof movie about bands that shit like that happened to.

Hehehe, I'm not sure if you're having a laugh there - I might be in the backwaters of Scotland, but we DO get TV and moives here!
I know what happens in the classic film, I was wondering ig Gillan's dwarf story could be true!

[Robert Hendrix]

I loved that album. Unfortunately, I gave all my vynyl away years ago (without thinking) and I have yet to find a copy on CD

[horns666]

G&R's Paradise City...is the "Zero the hero" riff.

My singer and always wanted to cover "Disturbing the Priest"..by far my favorite track.

[phill_up]

Amen, Amen, +1+1... Zero the Hero is a bad bad MoFo'. I think toni never really tried to push himself off as the hot rod guitar player but concentrated on Black Sabbath as a band and it shows!

Check the bass line out on this song just for the hell of it "clicky"

[sevser]

Great songs...They just need to do somthing with the mix and mastering...like...a lot of work! I am sure it could be done...So friggin muddy!

[MartinBarre]

Gillan says the original mix was miles better than what was released. Apparently there's some demos kicking around that prove it. I'd like to hear them, but to be honest, the shitty production kinda makes it.
Like the first Iron Maiden album. Could you imagine it without that shitty sound?

[toejam]

Hehehe, I'm not sure if you're having a laugh there - I might be in the backwaters of Scotland, but we DO get TV and moives here!
I know what happens in the classic film, I was wondering if Gillan's dwarf story could be true!

I'm pretty sure Ian's story is true. I vaguely remember something about it years ago.

[Evol]

I loved this album, from start to finish, Ian added that "haunting" effect to Sabbath and it all tied in nicely as entire theme ran it's course from song to song. The instrumentals really helped set the mood too.

Heck, I even like the Seventh Star album with Glen Hughes too, but I'm biased like that.

I just love the dark and evil feel. Tony can do no wrong in these eyes and ears.

[sevser]

How do you feel about the Ray Gillan "Eternal Idol" demos?