Bill Ward - Bombers (Can Open Bomb Bays)

Customer Review from Amazon.com
Just in case you never heard of him (and if you haven't, then shame on you!), Bill Ward was (is) the original drummer for Black Sabbath. He originally left Sabbath after 1980's Heaven and Hell album, but came back (very briefly) for the 1983 album " Born Again ". After he left and rejoined and left Sabbath a few more times, nothing was heard from Ward again until this album came out at the beginning of 1990. I have to admit, I did not know what to expect from this album and I was very pleasantly surprised when I finally listened to it, for it is PRETTY DARN GREAT! Who would have thought Bill Ward would have released something this unique and orginal and great? Certainly not I, but I'm awful glad he did, because I love this album and think it's the best Black Sabbath album since Born Again.
For " Ward One ", Bill surrounded himself with a (mostly) all star cast, including bassists Bob Daisley and Marco Mendoza, drummer Eric Singer, guitarist Zakk Wylde, vocalist/bassist Jack Bruce (!) and former band mate Ozzy Osbourne (!!!). Musically, I would say this album is a unique combination of Black Sabbath during their experimental " Sabotage " years, 80's heavy metal, Peter Gabriel and Pink Floyd. There are plenty of loud, jamming guitars, (courtesy of Zakk Wylde and Ward's songwriting partners Rue Phillips and Keith Lynch) and loud, pounding drums, but also a great deal of sound effects and special effects voices and keyboards and synthesizers. Ward himself takes lead vocal duties on most of the songs, and shares drumming duties with Eric Singer. Ward's drumming isn't what it used to be, but he seems to know it, which may explain why he lets Eric Singer drum on a few songs. The drumming really is not the point here, however, it's the songs, which are darn good. Bill Ward's singing isn't too bad either, though he uses a great deal of effects on his voice, either to add to the overall weirdness of the album or maybe because he wasn't too confident in his own singing ability. Ozzy takes lead vocal duties on " Bombers Can Open Bomb Bays " and on " Jack's Land ", while Jack Bruce sings (and helps write) the very soothing, melodic and peaceful " Light Up The Candles ".
I would say that the first half is much stronger than the second half. The album gets off to an incredibly strong start with " (Mobile) Shooting Gallery " . We hear synthesizers and ' special effects voices ' for the intro, then Bill sings this chant (which I think refers to the meds he was taking while in the hospital) " Ups downs reds whites continued over using, everything on lower shelf is guaranteed for self abusing ", with Marco Mendoza tossing in some bass inserts, then the guitars and drums come roaring in. This is a terrific, exciting progressive metal song and sets the tone, both musically and lyrically, for the rest of the album. After a brief, mellow musical interlude called " Short Stories " (on which Jack Bruce's son Malcolm plays piano), up comes another great track, " Bombers (Can Open Bomb Bays) ", another loud, aggressive 80's metal song, during which Ozzy gives one of his best vocal performances in years.
" Pink Clouds An Island " is an odd, but very good number, with three drummers on it and has Wylde getting in some very ' wild ' lead guitar playing. " Light Up The Candles " is one of the albums more quiet and peaceful numbers. Quite nice, actually, with a very strong vocal from Jack Bruce. " Snakes and Ladders " is a very heavy, progressive metal number and one of the srrongest tracks on the album.
The second half of the album (as I mentioned earlier) is not as good as the first half and gets a bit too weird at many times, but there are still some good music on it. The lyrics on this album deal with madness and other disturbing things and the cover shows Bill Ward dressed up in several disguises and is very much in line with the lyrics and the music on the album. I don't mean this in a bad way, but it seems like most of the words were written by Bill Ward while he was in the psych unit of a hospital, trying to kick his drinking problems.
The album ends on an unintentionally funny note with Bill Ward whistling and the saying " GOODBYE! ". A very strange ending for a very unique, wonderful album.

[@FieldMarshal93]

It is such a shame that this album was lost in time. This CD is an absolute classic, and I'm proud to say I own a copy :)

[@walpurgispalazzo]

Me too

[@eddominates]

This is like a long lost Sabbath track. Glad I found this.

[@hugostigglitz9639]

To me its a prove that Bill ward wrote some riffs to Sabbath

[@willemsterk5992]

Rock on Bill, This is one of the best albums ever!!!

[@johnny3d962]

I used to have the album, This is amazing I found it thanks to your KZbin channel. Very cool, man I love this song.

[@messman5847]

God bless Bill Ward!

[@themotleycook3453]

Very underrated

[@PDXCHawk]

Was lucky to see and tape the perhaps one time this video was on the original Headbanger's Ball. What a pleasant shock to hear amidst Anvil and Trixter. Bought the album immediately.

[@juliesherman7783]

Dan Cossette I miss Headbangers Ball, I used to record them..on VHS🤣..still have them!

[@stacyblue1980]

LOVE YOU MR. WARD 🙏🌻

[@amarparis17]

@metaliommimetal Yes, this album rooks. fortunately Bill Ward was known as black sabbath's drummer, this gem never would been released instead while this record is so ahead of most of 80's hard rock productions!

[@shaunhailey1]

such an underestimated classic

[@PDXCHawk]

@Eternityflows Good luck, it's been out of print so long. I have a cassette of it shrinkwrapped in the basement, I'll never open it. Cheers to the poster, this is very high quality audio.

[@MadMax-oq9te]

Great artistic freedom allowed very seldomly by big labels. Enjoy the ride...I have for years.

[@Allmanbrosfanatic]

I like Bills solo albums.

[@Orygunner67]

Such an awesome album and it all started with Jack's land for me.... Many many moons ago my sons... 😎

[@terrycuyler5659]

I love this I wish I could find a darn copy of the CD that wouldn't cost me an arm and a leg and require mwe to mortgage my soul.

[@nadroj138]

great tune. completely under rated

[@BelleHammer]

Damb This Album ROCKS!!

[@metaliommi]

killer riff

[@chipreid873]

One of my favorite Ozzy songs.

[@jfrog324]

thankyouthankyouthankyou for posting all this bill ward- it was a favorite album as a teen and lost to me- been lookin for years just to hear it :)

[@4IAMATITOK]

Forgive me father for what I am about to do! great cd

[@johnscorpion4114]

I miss Ozzy and Iommi together. That was the sound.

[@fluffydolly]

ultra kool bought on cassette when 1st out .......great post!!!!!

[@JohnMichaelOzbourne]

Was proud of Bill

[@moates9]

Wow, I totally forgot about this tune, thanks man! Classic

[@dirlewagner]

I have the vinyl version. Not very easy to find today i guess...

[@EdselMike1980]

This sounds to me like it would have fit very comfortably on Ozzy's Ultimate Sin album. It's also a little reminiscent of Diary of a Madman in a particular part of the guitar progression.

[@nickjherran]

BOTH!!!!!

[@canal8895]

Unbelievable!!

[@aleksandrscheffler7062]

Ozzy rarely writes lyrics, hell, he has a history of having bassists write lyrics for him, aka Geezer Butler and Bob Daisley

[@zigmonger6646]

So what's your point u fucking DOLT

[@me_angelo]

@@zigmonger6646 easy bro...

[@zigmonger6646]

Yeah sure ok. ...easy bro!!! I can do easy bro!!! No problem.

[@heinrichvonwicker168]

@@zigmonger6646 I love Ozzy, but he's claimed to write lyrics for a lot of shit he actually didn't write. That's just plain wrong! The people who wrote the songs we love deserve credit...

[@zigmonger6646]

@@heinrichvonwicker168.....OK so maybe Ozzy or some people who defend Ozzy exaggerated his participation in the songs...... and I used that word participation primarily to point out that the reverse of him claiming too much credit that would be him having no credit which isn't true... so he did come up with some lyrics....and melodies a lot of the time and one can also say that since the music came out under his name from that reference point he can say he wrote it... so my point is just that he doesn't deserve all the credit, but he doesn't deserve no credit , which statements that are worded like yours give the impression that that's what you believe, let's say in your tone, if one could detect a tone from the printed word, I'm not saying you said it....but your tone suggests Ozzy deserves none of the credit.

[@andresospina2814]

Bill Ward - Bombers (Can Open Bomb Bays) Listen my son, One thing I've learned And I know it. Bombers can open bomb bays Love all you can This precious thing Called your own life. Remember, bombers can open bomb bays. Might you meet somebody That has your mother's eyes and smile. Might you meet them, Don't blow them away. Don't hurt them, just hold them, Make someone happy. The things you do, it's up to you, Try being happy. And I say I can believe it, And I do. I do believe there's hope for you. You There's hope for you. You There's hope for you Listen my son, I'm in a war And I know it, Remember, bombers can open bomb bays. Complimentary worship May close your many open doors. Might you be cool, Don't get blown away, Don't hurt you, just hold you And make you happy. The things you do, it's up to you Try being happy. And I say I can believe it, And I do. I do believe there's hope for you. (Repeat Bridge Twice)

[@felipemarin2364]

mera chmba neasss‼

[@waynegram8907]

What is the guitarist name on this bill ward song? it sounds like randy rhoads. They should have done a whole album in this style

[@GangstaLink]

There is a difference between lyrics and VOCAL MELODY. Ozz, for the most part, only wrote vocals melodies. Geezer wrote 99% of lyrics in Sabbath until 1980.

[@aleksandrscheffler7062]

Iommi and to a lesser extent, Butler. But Iommi was the only original member to be featured on all 20 Sabbath albums (yes, I am including The Devil You Know although the moniker is Heaven And Hell). Butler was featured on all the Sabbath albums with Ozzy and Dio, plus Born Again with Ian Gillan and Cross Purposes with Tony Martin. Bill Ward was on every Ozzy album except the recent one, plus Heaven and Hell with Dio and Born Again with Ian Gillan. Ozzy has only been on 9 of the 20 albums

[@kevinz8930]

Awsome

[@jetclean]

Fucking nice!!

[@BLZofOZZ]

Its by Bill, Ozzy and Zakk are just featured

[@natejaxson7612]

Ozzy rips here!

[@cefirod21]

Awesome song, but, what is the name of the album? sorry, im newbie

[@cefirod21]

"ward one"

[@whyismynametaken123]

Actually ozzy contributed by writing the melodies that he sang. The beauty of sabbath was that there really was no boss and everyone did their share. If you don't believe me just listen to all the old recordings of spread over youtube with ozzy singing gibberish with effed up melody lines, which is typically what most singers do as they're working out a melody. Iommi didn't start pushing to get things done till around vol.4 / sbs when everyone was completely fucked on drugs.

[@JudasAngel666]

@FieldMarshal93 Not through Torrents it is.

[@davevrox3023]

THE Crips stole my boom box. L.A. I was glad my rent a car wasn't stolen. I wonder if they listened. 🤔✌🤘💖💣💥

[@GangstaLink]

Are you sure about that? That goes against all history. And i know for a fact that Geezer wrote the song Paranoid, as well as Fairies, HOD, and Iron Man. So the only song that he COULD'VE written on Paranoid is Planet Caravan. War Pigs was already written, and Electric Funeral is also obviously Geezer's work.

[@GangstaLink]

Also, the lyrics he thought up, were just place holder lyrics. You can hear them in Paranoid (alt lyrics). He's just good being able to randomly make words fit with a vocal melody. But he mainly sung about love, and girls.

[@BLZofOZZ]

My bad Zakk Isn't in this song but he is on the album

[@bertpar68]

BLZofOZZ Zack is playing guitar on this song

[@cefirod21]

my bad, is "ward no", you never heard this song before and that what you say, im shamed

[@DRAGONSHEADNORTH1177]

until yoko got her grubby claws in the mix

[@Fraevo10]

What do you know? Bill Ward is keeping a straight 4/4 beat which he claims he could never do

[@lasha77]

whom is this song performed by Bill or Ozzy?

[@bertpar68]

jhonjoedepartmentoftacoz Ozzy doing lead vocals

[@facaseulivro]

Both...

[@tinfoilhatter]

OH WOW I KNOW THAT VOICE, RIGHT? AND THAT GUITAH, SOUNDS REAL FAMILIAR, MATE~~~

[@4IAMATITOK]

Go Yankees! OCT. 18 2017

[@georgeadams350]

Hah. The Cardinals, only team more successful. In the original format, National League. The Yankees had the d.h. before anyone, and have done almost nothing with it. They spend more than anyone until the Dodgers, this year, and still have massive failure seasons, every year. Blah. Real baseball doesn't come from bug cities with no fields.