00:00Black Sabbath is a seminal band in the history of rock music.
00:04The band played a brand of hard rock that would tragically spawn much of the regrettable heavy metal slash death metal music of recent years.
00:14Black Sabbath's music in their early years, however, was majestic hard rock rooted in the blues and played with skill and precision.
00:22The band, comprised of singer Ozzy Osbourne, guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward, came out of Birmingham, England in 1968.
00:36The band's first four albums were all outstanding efforts and all remain classics of the hard rock genre.
00:42The band's eponymous debut, Black Sabbath from 1970, was a showcase for the fine guitarist Iommi and the haunted tense vocals of Osbourne.
00:52The album is spellbinding from start to finish, especially on the title track Black Sabbath and The Wizard.
01:00The band's sophomore release, Paranoid from 1970, was the equal to the impressive debut and features some progressive rock influences such as the track Electric Funeral.
01:12The album's best-known track, Iron Man, is possibly the weakest track on the album.
01:18Master of Reality from 1971, another classic of the genre, followed next.
01:24It contained the classic marijuana anthem, Sweetly.
01:28Sabbath next released Vol. 4 in 1972, an album that is much more experimental and includes the frequent use of synthesizers.
01:39The best track here is the ballad Changes, featuring an unforgettable vocal performance by Osbourne.
01:46Black Sabbath would release another decent album, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath from 1973, before their descent to heavy metal mediocrity and the eventual departure of Ozzy Osbourne.
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