Black Sabbath : Never Say Die : Why it Took Me 45 Years To Like This Album

[@charlesmckinnon4872]

Never say die is a masterpiece. Loved it since it came out. I was 15.

[@daanthing6002]

Apart from the production i never understood the dislike for this album. Classic killer songs. Junior's Eyes and Airdance were always favorite Sabbath tunes.

[@janwallden9779]

This is the album I first heard from Black Sabbath and I loved it. Later I discovered the older ones but always loved this.

[@davidgould3297]

This album is fantastic. Never understood why it wasn’t liked. So it isn’t like the earlier albums. That’s a good thing. Those were their own thing. It’s better they didn’t follow formula. Shockwave is a fantastic song. Many fantastic songs here.

[@MichaelZanette]

My man! You've finally reached appreciation of this album. I've always had a soft spot for this album, it was recorded in my hometown of Toronto, Canada. I love the songs on here, especially Shock Wave, Air Dance and Swinging the Chain. I know it's a departure from their old sound but I think they could have gone forward with this direction. Also, Bill Ward's vocals on Swinging the Chain are very good, would have been interesting to see if they had gone forward as a 3 piece with Ward handling vocals, ala Genesis with Phil Collins. Anyway, glad to hear you like this album now

[@griphfunk]

This is one I came around too as well. I love what came after, but I do think that Never Say Die! is the last time that Sabbath really experimented, and it's awesome

[@stevezane68]

I loved this album and Technical Ecstasy, I think it would have been 83 that I got my hands on it, I was 15 years old. My first Sabbath Album was the best of album We Sold Our Souls for Rock and Roll. I was a fiend for them, loved the albums with Ronnie too especially Mob Rules, still love that album.

[@jonathanpearman1052]

It's good to hear you talk about these albums that were on a slippery slope critically when they were released. Either the zeitgeist had changed or critics thought these bands were getting beyond their best by date, as stated by the critics. Vol 4 was my (late 70s) entry (and still my favorite) to Black Sabbath and then Never Say Die and Technical Ecstasy. So these two sounded really good to me at the time but it wasn't til much later that I realized what Sabbath were all about and TE and NSD slipped in my ranking order for awhile but they have made a serious return to my turntable over time and listening to them with a new perspective and context where they hold up despite being different from the preceding ones..

[@styles8007]

Johnny Blade, Air Dance are my personal favorite tracks on the album. Thank you for sharing this classic album.

[@jerrygeorgopolis8015]

Thanks Phil for your insight and overview ! Good day from the U.S.A.

[@jamesmackinnon279]

I loved the story of this Phil. My story is similar . Like yourself I bought the 2 singles off the album. I also went to see Sabbath on the same tour.I went to Aberdeen gig. Yes Van Halen were amazing. I hadn't heard of them before that gig. I ended up buying the album.Still got it. However only thing is I never returned to the Never Say Die album. maybe its time I did Thanks

[@marxman00]

Great real drum sound on that album ..

[@stavivanackerson6563]

I was 12 when I first heard "JOHNNY BLADE".....It was 5 years after it's release... I was BLOWN THE F^&K AWAY MAN!!!!!!......

[@theopelarchive748]

Love this album. Love the singing, love the sound, love the lyrics. For the life of me I don't think I'll ever understand the panning it gets from fans. So guessing you'll put me right on that Phil, looking forward😉. PS love the guitar sound particularly. If you want to know what a chainsaw vomiting sounds like, listen to the guitar on this album! Lol

[@NadirJones71]

My first two Sabbath albums were Heaven and Hell and Never Say Die (both in '83 at age 11) and I just assumed they were Sabbath classics.......so imagine my surprise years later when I discover that in the press only one gets all the love. What?! It is not only my favourite Sabbath album but it is one of my favourite albums by anyone, period. It has a musical maturity and a real sense of melancholy about it. It's like somewhere deep down those 4 guys new they were never going to do this again and they didn't (I include 13). It has hidden depths only matched for me, by Sabotage but whereas that album is defined by a kind of manic rage, Never Say Die has both a sense of wonder and like I say, a deep melancholy. And in 'real life' I have never spoken to any Sabbath fan who doesn't like it. Respect to Don Airey also for his wonderful playing. His magical runs in the pre-chorus of Over to You paired with Ozzy's great yearning vocal melody really breaks my heart. Pure magic. I'm so glad you got there Phil!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

The album that becomes the doorway into a band always remains special. Thank you for sharing - Phil

[@NadirJones71]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Not so with On Parole! Heaviest band in the world?? How confusing was that! But yes, your theory usually holds true....(actually it is pretty good).

[@hajosteffen1793]

My BS -as you called it- "starting point" was back in 1970 - so I bought all coming albums in chronological order and of course "blind". I purchased "Never say die" in the week they did their german tour. I had no idea about their support Van Halen and was more than surprised how the audience enjoyed them instead waiting for the BS set that evening..... Best memory for me personally was, that in thoose days it was possible after the show to wait for the band to come out for the waiting limousines. Tony gave me 5 minutes as a very private interview whie Ozzy and Geezer were waiting for him. So the Never say die aera still is special for me before realizing that it was the Swan song of my early heroes.

[@twatson4887]

Thank you for this, just discovered your channel. I am going to revisit this, I went down the Van Halen, Motorhead path.

[@xanadoooo]

Hi Phil, My splatter vinyl copy was a RSD 2023 release 🤘

[@justinesorel6325]

I've been listening to a poor quality CD of Never Say Die in my car for the last few weeks and I love this album. The first seven songs are fantastic ( I must confess, I always skip the last two tracks, though... sorry Bill). I also like the album cover and sleeve artwork. Thankfully, the blue splatter on clear viinyl LP I bought is a decent pressing and sounds crystal clear. Excited to hear your review, Phil : )

[@styrmugnsell4560]

Spot on! The last two tracks are the only tracks that 's not so good. And the covers great!

[@Oakenshield69]

Loved this, thank you Phil!

[@artefaktedasjournalfurbauk8159]

It's a gem, quite a melancholic album. Loved it always, from 1978 'til now. At 1st I heard it in a radio broadcasting show in '78 in the age of 4. The 2nd listening was after its buy in 1992. I feel remembered just like "I know that", it's quite familiar. Since this situation I listened to it very often. And you and your descriptions make me starting rebuy this album.

[@glennkirchens7970]

You mention entry point. For me, 1980 14 years old, im at a friends place and his older brother puts on SOSfRnR, and I was blown away. The next day, I buy a Black Sabbath album, Heaven and Hell is on the rack as a new release, I didn't know any better. It was Dio and I was hooked. I has the old Columbia house deal where you got 10 albums for a penny 😅. Anyway I ordered every Sabbath albulm available. Now I'm obsessed as I was in 1980. Thank you for sharing your Sabbath journey with us.

[@TeamLuka]

Thank you, Phil! A wonderful review! I always liked Swinging the Chain, but I was with you in my first impressions of Breakout. It sounded like a rudderless piece of filler just thrown in completely out of place even on an experimental album. I've since warmed up to it in recent years. I look forward to the Sabbath albums ranking list.

[@JWD1992]

I really like Never Say Die. It is not as "metal" as their classic run of albums, but I find the songs are pretty good in a different way than usial. It is very interesting hearing your own story about reacting to the album in real time, and with Van Halen exploding onto the scene. Honestly, I can really now understand why the album has the reputation it does. Fascinating. I admit I do not care for Technical Ecstasy, but hearing that you are a fan makes me want to give it another chance.

[@stanferraro4130]

It is great to hear about your "history" with this album. I received "Tech. Ecst." as a birthday present in '76, and did not like their new sound, so I sort of wrote them off and got into other types of music. I did not hear this album until '88-'89, and I thought that it was good (except for the last two tracks), many bands from that era were changing their style and exploring different sounds (for example: Yes, Gentle Giant, Genesis, Jethro Tull, David Bowie...etc.) . It is a risky thing to do, the die-hard fans seem to be negative when a band tries something different, but to my mind, it is always great to hear something new and fresh.

[@davidgidman7561]

Following on from Vol 4 and Masters of reality, Sabotage and Technical Ecstasy you can hear the band maturing. Stunning album that never gets old. I was so excited to see them on TOTP as a young teenager, I love all their albums but they seem to peak right there. Ozzy leaves, a string of singers follow, then Ozzy comes back, apparently he hates the album and Never say die is dead and forgotten. Their best album by far imho. Although, TE isn’t far behind!

[@jasongaylor2232]

I've always liked the record and think it's better than anything they did after "Born Again".

[@martincrockett7113]

Glad you've finally got into it Phil! It was always great to me from the off. I remember thinking at the time it was simply a more modern sounding Sabbath. Hard Road is very Quo-like but nevertheless is one of my favourites. Air Dance has elements similar to Brand X thanks to Don Airey and Iommis saturated guitar tone is glorious. Ozzy was always a master of melody and is on top form even though we now know he was out of it most of the time. I saw them on the preceding tour where the support was a band called Nutz, absolute rubbish, so at least you got Van Halen!😂Keep up the great content. Cheers

[@coachlarry6773]

To me Never Say Die is the most underrated Sabbath album of all time imo

[@officialwillieg2001]

I didn’t like it either the first few times round, then it grew on me. Needs a remix in my opinion, I don’t think Iommi cares much about the album to bother… Good video, zero reason to be sorry in my opinion.

[@stephendutch1760]

Black Sabbath was the first major band I ever saw live, back in 1978 on the 'Never Say Die' tour, I loved it..... don't think Van Halen supported them though - shortly afterwards I saw Rush on the 'Hemispheres' tour.

[@FVD]

Haven't listened to the album as much as the others but it's definitely not too bad a record either. Could certainly use a remix if this gets the boxset treatment like Technical Ecstasy and Steven Wilson did a great job remixing that too. If Forbidden can be redeemed, then Never Say Die! can as well!

[@styrmugnsell4560]

I love the sound and production on this album. I think the guitars are ok, and the drum-sound is good. Clean and direct. Technical ecstasy is more "muddy". Both albums is great, but they are very different from each other. Favorite songs: Juniors eyes, Air Dance, Johnny Blade, Shock Wave, Never say Die. And I agree on that the last song on the Sabbath/Ozzy-albums is often great: Dirty Women, The Writ, Spiral architect etc. So that's a disapointment with "Never say die!" Thanks for a great video.

[@StephenBaird-cp1fc]

I've got the version that came with Technical Ecstasy on cd

[@erickenyon4457]

I liked it on 1st listen….😀

[@sadossolutions8222]

This album never worked for me coming off CD. its only when I bought the vinyl the whole thing clicked.

[@holysmoke8439]

It took me til 85

[@747jono]

I really think Ozzy sounds good on this TBh not a big lover of his voice bit too whiney at times. Glad to have given it some more love ❤❤❤

[@RichusRkr]

I love this album except for those last 2 tracks. It's such a great album that falls flat to me at the end. It sounds like they had to find a couple of filler tracks to finish side 2 to complete the LP

[@gerrylambert5225]

Entry point Paranoid single Master of Reality album

[@ronnienose8608]

Always preferred this album to Technical Ecstasy, which I still think is the weakest with that lineup.

[@franciskocher200]

😄👍

[@uhfch2358]

Tony Stark likes this album.

[@J-kn1or]

I hated it as well as a teen, now I love it, although there are a couple bum tracks

[@keepitgreasey1]

All the appreciation for this album here? Let be honest it is the worst sabbath album with Ozzy. Poor production and if you asked me they were all very stoned when recording this album. The first song is the best because it sounds commercial.

[@jimekberg]

I rank it as number 6 of all their albums, 13 is their worst easily.

[@kevinhodgson8508]

I've been a huge fan of this album since 1978 !

[@craigryan3069]

I just have 2 words to say why I have always loved this album: Air Dance. Sheer bliss...... Always considered the first 10 Albums they did as superb. I never rated Technical Ecstasy or Never Say Die! any less than the others. They are just examples of a band expanding & progressing their musical palate.

[@stanferraro4130]

Yeah love that multi-track gtr intro. along with the great piano playing. Sadly people say negative things about "T.E. and "N.S.D." ..People complain if a band does the same style and if they experiment with different ideas, they get a lot of negativity in both situations...."the curse of longevity".

[@lookslikerocknroll58]

Air dance is an overlooked prog classic

[@rolandconnor575]

A genuinely moving tribute to this band's completion of the Big Six original albums. Hi Phil, your new Sabbath friend from the states, I have told you part of my story in my personal relationship with the band starting with meeting Ozzy in his hotel room in July of 1975 until the passing of their tour manager, my long time friend, in 1992. I was 15 in 1970 when I heard the first album, saw them in 1972 for Master of Realty tour (they have one of my photos of that night on their website in the "history" section, saw the Bloody Sabbath tour and then after forming a connection with some of them by getting in a car accident in front of their hotel, the "touring as a guest" saga began. I believe your description of Never Say Die is spot on, but, my own preferences of the first six are: Sabotage a "10", Bloody Sabbath a "9.5" Volume 4 "9.2", Master of Reality "9", the first two tied at "8.5", Technical Ecstasy "8.0" and Never Say Die "7.5". just a general ranking based on an in your face first time reaction. I was on the Never Say Die tour, and yes, Van Halen blew them off the stage, Sabbath knew it, especially Ozzy would wanted to be like Diamond Dave but knew it was best to stay in the lane he had formed for himself. One moment during a Van Halen soundcheck I approached Eddie and boldly asked him what his views were on Blackmore, he said, and I quote "He has always been an influence, but should play with his band more instead of blasting out a solo then retracting back into his own world". Interesting, Ritchie is still the king though. I love parts of Never Say Die, I really like Air Dance. Mark Forster sent me a 45 of Hard Road that was not available in the states. I will sum up by saying, Sabbath's music (like Van Halen's first album) changed the world at that time. Your reflections bring so much back to light and vivid recollection, I truly appreciate your channel so much. thank you, Pat Renau

[@luckygibbo1]

Great album One of the best Hard Road Juniors Eye Love it

[@patrick2420]

This album sounded like a precursor to Ozzy's solo career. Very pop but still dark and somewhat heavy. Great record all around. Everyone played superbly.

[@treeduck3705]

I've always liked this album, I don't get the hate for it. Ok it's not as good as the first six albums for sure but it's still a really good album.

[@MetalMan73100]

Good on you, Phil. It´s all Black Sabbath, whether fronted by Ozzy, Dio, Gillan, Tony Martin or whoever. Great episode, and I may even be tempted to give Never Say Die a spin, having sworn off that album decades ago.

[@JimBagby74]

It took me about 25 years. As a teenager, I didn’t get it because all I wanted was “More Vol. 4” basically. But as an adult, on a hot summer day about 4 or 5 years ago, it just hit me. “Over to You” in particular. But there’s a lot to enjoy. I think Tony’s solo on “Junior’s Eyes” is a monster.

[@danneeson7056]

Never Say Die was a slight improvement over the bummer of the summer of 1976, Technical Ecstasy. ( 1979 was a disaster, In Through The Out Door and The Wall were even more disappointing). Black Sabbath still had a good live show when I saw them in December of 1976, but the late 70's brought change to the music scene and you could sense the power drain from the heavy bands of the earlier 70's and soon we were awash in disco, punk, no wave and regay. You are correct Phil, the entry point for you're musical experience is how you relate to a band or musical genre. For me it was hearing The Guess Who's (still Chad Allen and the Expressions) version of Shakin All Over in early 1965 that turned me into a rock n roll fan. Whole Lotta Love on the A.M. radio in 1969 as my introduction to L.Z. and listening to Sabbath's Paranoid in 1971 at high school with the new term "heavy metal" being heard.. Cheers.

[@bassbugyt]

At the time to me this album reflected the post punk. New Wave vibe that was around. It’s Sabbaths indie album. Spot on about the harmonies on Hard Road & the title track + Juniors Eyes are standouts.

[@dannyjoebrown4611]

Hoping they do the re-issue/remix treatment to this like Technical Ecstasy. LOVE this album. Junior's Eyes is as good a song as they ever did.

[@bogdog1755]

45 years, are you kidding..? This album is fantastic. You are forgiven

[@stevetobin7495]

Much maligned but still a good album and better sound than technical

[@Mikesmallfanclub]

Hi Phil yeah it’s a hard album to like I bought this album when it first came out and hated it and gave it away or swapped it for something else at the time but came across a decent copy some years later in a charity shop and just like you I thought I’d give it another shot still struggled with it but as time went on came to like it not the greatest Sabbath album but good enough to have back in my collection, loved your story behind this album Phil not boring at all, cheers Phil.

[@zenswrd7815]

Air Dance is awesome! It's kind of progressive in my opinion.

[@michaelhasse2568]

Ask Tony iommi to remix never say die, I think it would be awesome.

[@Mike-aka747]

There’s stories of Iommi having to pull EVH and telling Him to stop using the Sabbath blueprint for live shows. 😂. I don’t believe the VH always upstaged Sab stories. Judging by the Hammersmith performance Sabbath was a well oiled powerful machine….even with all the internal Problems.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

It’s hard to explain what it was like when the first VH album arrived in 1978. Without any radio play, it was just word of mouth. In Birmingham where I lived in every pub, club, on the bus, at work it was all everyone was talking about. As this was without knowing what the band were like live. When Dave Lee Roth and Eddie appeared on that stage two weeks later it was life changing. Whoever VH had supported I think the result would have been similar.

[@Mike-aka747]

@@NowSpinningMagazine I get it. VH were incredible for that time I could imagine I was only 4-5 at that time. My music was The disco era Bee Gees and Andy Gibb🤣🤣. And Kiss was on the radar. Hard rock wouldn’t come to me for another 4 years at least. Rush’s Signals was my turning point. Well anyways I’ve heard the stories some say VH did blow them away. I’ve always thought Sabbaths’ 1978 live performance video was a display of a band in total fire. It wasn’t like they were messing up or anything. Ward Iommi and Butler were masters of their weapons at that time and always had me thinking “there’s no way VH could blow these guys off the stage” even Iommi has said he didn’t noticed VH blowing them away either. But you have to figure the amount of excess the man was experiencing too back in those days. Maybe he forgotten. Cheers mate! Great video. Interesting to hear your timeline w/that album. 🤘

[@thewurm9177]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Hi Phil. I grew up in the San Gabriel Valley region of Southern California where VH originated (Pasadena) and I was lucky to have seen them as a teen a few times before they got signed by Warner Bros. Back then, the area was a hotbed for talent, especially flashy lead guitarists (Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Carlos Cavazo, Kurt James, Terry Kilgore, Greg Leon...I could go on). There was definitely a palpable air of competitiveness between bands.The best bands were the ones that had a "we'll blow them off the stage" approach, like they were fighters headed into the ring. VH had several years of playing large back yard parties and high school shows, which honed them to the bombastic amazing band you first saw. Sabbath were (and still are) my favorite band, so I was actually relieved when I went to a large summer show at Anaheim Stadium with Sammy Hagar, Van Halen, Sabbath and poor old Boston (they actually headlined but 3/4 of the audience left after Sabbath). VH "parachuted" in and did a killer set, but Sabbath was mighty and definitely held their own! The stadium shook as people stomped along to their music. Then later that year they came through LA again with The Ramones. What a disappointing show. I love both bands and thought it would be an awesome combo. The Ramones were great but got booed, pelted with stuff and had to cut their set short, and then Sabbath came on and did the most lethargic sounding set I ever heard, like they took a load of downers along with their booze. I left the arena speechless and saddened, with a feeling that the end was somehow near. I'm glad to have experienced so many great bands in their heyday in the 70's as I'm sure you are. Thank you for all the fantastic videos and all the hard work you do for us!

[@TractorCountdown]

As always, Phil, brilliantly told. Great that you got to appreciate it eventually.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you 🙏

[@TractorCountdown]

@@NowSpinningMagazine I just listened to side one again, and Junior's Eyes always gets me: lyrically touching and musically so different. Like Purple, Sabbath are fearless, not bound by audience expectations, and it's that that brings their audience with them.

[@johndrx165]

Thank you! I first heard Never Say Die on a local College radio station in Washington, DC. Being a hard core Sabbath fan, I like the album, but not all the tracks. Not a fan of the guitar sound or mix as much as early albums. Killer solo on Shock Wave. I saw them at the Baltimore Civic center on that tour. I really do not remember much. My favorite tracks are Johnny Blade, Hard Road, Junior's Eyes, Shock wave and the title track.

[@MarkWard-ed4mr]

Superb video as always Phil. I notice you saw the Sabs on June 6th 1978 at the Birmingham Odeon, whereas I saw them the night before. Sabbath started the show with Symptom of The Universe, after which Ozzy shouted something like "I've got to change me trousers! They've split!" The show ground to a halt whilst he changed them, came back on and they did another two songs when (i think it was after Snowblind with the stage swathed in dry ice) a guy came on and said that the rest of the show was cancelled as the ice had made the amps malfunction! They promised a replacement gig the following week (with Tanz der Youth, not Van Halen), which went pretty well. I always liked the first side of Never Say Die, with Ozzys vocals on Juniors Eyes particularly heartfelt. Side two was always a mixed bag, but I never understood the dislike for this album in some quarters. Certainly for me the least interesting of the classic Ozzy albums, but still decent. even more surprising, John Peel liked it and played Hard Road...

[@dennyelrod513]

It is the same album. Although I was first introduced to Sabbath in '74 with "Paranoid" and "War Pigs" on a compilation set, my entry was "Technical Ecstacy". Before departing Crete in '76, my family lived in a rooftop studio in Chani for a month.I had got the TE cassette for my birthday and rigged up an old push and play cassette player/recorder with a set of two mono earplugs wired ti simulate syereo and listened to that album for weeks looking out over the ancient city on the Med on one side and the central mountains on the other.

[@FizzzieCat]

Your painting-a-picture method of telling a story is a very similar technique my deceased friend had (a huge Sabbath fan too). I had the advantage of not having a preconceived idea of what Sabbath should sound like. At the time I had heard other Sabbath songs but I had not bought any albums until NSD! I like every track, but I always felt Breakout would have made a great theme tune for a typical late 70s detective film or TV show.

[@luckycharm4623]

You just said the 2 words that prevent many a listener from actually enjoying a good album. "pre-conceived notions" or as I call it "pre conceived expectations" prevent people from hearing an album with a fair and open mind. You were able to hear the album with an open mind and therefore recognized the strengths of the album.Pre-conceived expectations.....put a bands music in a box that they can't go outside of. That closed minded psychology can completely stop an individual from hearing an album with any real objectivity and prevent the listener from enjoying what is actually a very enjoyable album. I've seen people do this a thousand times. I my self have been guilty of this until I became aware of the psychology that is causing it and how it was affecting my judgement.

[@allen-rp3gm]

Air Dance proves how brilliant these guys truly were. I was already a Sabbath fan for a year or so when this album came out. I bought it at release and have loved it since day one. Depending on the day I cite either Vol. 4 or Master of Reality as my favorite Sabbath album but NSD always ranks at #3.

[@tempogain]

I rediscovered it not long ago, my sister had the vinyl when I was a kid. I loved it right away, really just side 1 but it's great stuff, especially Johnny Blade and Juniors Eyes. Bill Wards drumming is off the charts and it stands out beautifully in the mix. It's kind of a bridge to ozzy's later work IMO, though I'm not totally sure how involved Ozzy was except for the Junior's Eyes lyrics obviously.

[@monte.olson58]

I was 20 when it was released. Loved it! More experimentation, as with the previous album, that works. Glad you are now onboard! And, I'm jealous of your Hard Road purple single.

[@JamesBurchell-r5p]

You said Die Phil? Back then..great reviews always love you work Juniors Eyes and Air Dance brilliant stuff,great album I've been playing it for years but I don't like Tony,'s tinny guitar sound listen to Geez he's fantastic cheers@

[@Fritha71]

Technical Ecstasy is indeed a really good record! Never Say Die! sounds very lacklustre in comparison, sorry, Phil. But loved hearing about your background to the album, amazing how you can remember all the details, I feel like I'm there in 1978 with you 😎

[@MoJoAssets]

Loved both this album, and Technical Ecstasy from their initial releases. Side one is as good as any Sabbath album. So evocative Phil! A generation almost living the same life. I was 17 in 1978, so it was all UFO, VH, Styx & Sabbath. What I wouldn’t give for: - all my past editions of Sounds - my denim jacket & embroidered badges - all the programmes However, the memories trump them all thankfully! -

[@thompsonterry4804]

Great review, Phil, and really appreciate your reveal to the revelation that NSD is a really good record. And the notion of the “entry point” rings true for so many bands and artists I enjoy: Yes, Black Sabbath, King Crimson, BöC, Renaissance, etc. I think much of my direction was shaped by finding FM radio in 1979 when I was 10-11. With respect to Black Sabbath, I knew some of the singles from the first two records off the radio, and I bought and loved those albums. Imagine my surprise when the first contemporary release from Sabbath for me was Live Evil! I had no idea Dio and Vinnie were in and Ozzy and Bill were out. Wholly new sound for me. And my first Black Sabbath show was the Born Again tour, but by then I knew Ian Gillan had recorded with the band. I think Born Again is my favorite Sabbath record, among so many greats from them.

[@glennkirchens7970]

I always seen the Sab4 discography. BS1 through Vol4 is thier birth and childhood, rough, unchained, raw and filled with curiosity. SBS and Sabotage is thier teen and young adulthood, cool, in your face, chance takers, confidence and world famous. TechEx and NSD as thier arrival to the mountain top, the epitome of world domination, they were the king makers (VH and Styx) full grown genre creaters and influence beyoyd even thier own understanding. Then divorce. Regrouping and giving the world another 35 years of music through Sabbath, Ozzy and Dio.

[@aaronmcmahon7462]

Never Say Die! for me was one of those albums that was a game of two halves (first heard on a cassette in the 90s while I was collecting Sabbath's back catalogue) - something I found in common with Brian Johnson era AC/DC albums from Flick Of The Switch onwards - a much stronger first side over a weaker second one. Still like a fair bit of this album, especially tracks like Junior's Eyes, Hard Road and Air Dance, but I also hate Breakout, Over To You and Swinging the Chain - they never clicked with me, and much like Technical Ecstasy, are parts of Sabbath's history that I don't revisit that often.

[@oliverl.5834]

After buying the "Anno Domini"-Box this remains the only Sabbath-Album I do not own. I have a couple of Songs on the "Under Wheels of Confusion"-Box, but I really only remember the Title Track. Looking forward to this video.

[@ANationalAcrobat-qj2dl]

I feel the same way about "Seventh Star" as you used to feel about NSD. Trouble is that, even after multiple listens, I'm afraid to say I would honestly rather listen to factory noise than that truly DREADFUL album. Incidentally; Black Sabbath are by far my favourite band USUALLY, even though they have had several stinkers but none as bad as SS.

[@elbib2446]

i prefer never say die to technical ectasy,some great trax title track, johnny blade,juniors eyes,breakout though obviously there to fill the album out sounds like a lalo schifrin 70s jazz fusion soundtack.weird period this and technical ectasy,yes some tunes/guitar sound,sound like sabbath were listening to american hard rock,rock and roll doctor would have been a great montrose track,but not great for sabbath,they seemed affected by the usa/booze/drugs/lifestyle around then to me,less black country doom than before,and yes,hard road would be a great quo track,but not so great for sabbath,saw the tour,bought the program,t shirt,album,bill ward is great,actually has a good voice,but weird when he comes in on certain trax,betraying their personal in band problems at the time,still enjoyed the gig though,van halen were awesome,but i loved sabbath too,remember sabs fans were fanatical back then,no internet,they still had a dark mystiqe,especially ozzy before all the corny mtv stuff,and had audiences eating out of his hands,was also only time i saw the original sabbath line up

[@kenfrederick6223]

A great album. I never considered it more commercial simply because it's more melodic. It's still within the metal framework which insured it would get very little press and radio play anyway. 🎸

[@luckycharm4623]

a vastly underrated album that just didn't land as well as it should have in the year it was released. In 1978 modern heavy metal was becoming extremely popular and metal fans wanted their metal albums to be "metal" albums! I think if the Sabbath camp was more aware of this they could have adjusted some in the writing and completion of this album which is in my opinion 90% great! I believe what really hurts the album the most is the mix and mastering. No album I can think of needs a remix more than NSD. I'm glad that NSD is now being looked at in a much better and fairer light, and a lot of Sabbath fans that wrote if off back in '78 are now hearing it with "fresh ears" and realizing that it's a very strong collection of songs with a few tracks being outright Sabbath classics. Phil I love the honesty in your story and review! And one other thing.....Tony Iommi was ahead of his time and didn't fall into that rigid formula that many metal bands adhered to in FEAR of doing anything bold and unconventional. We need to give Tony credit for being bold, being creative and creating songs that weren't just copies of earlier heavy metal riffs. NSD takes chances and those chances lead to original and fascinating creativity.

[@paultrate4855]

I’ve still never warmed up to this album. I love side one (for you vinyl lovers out there) but for me the album falls apart on side 2. I’ve tried numerous times over the years with this album but it just doesn’t stick. Since the rerelease of Forbidden in the Anno Mundi box set, NSD is now my least favorite Sabbath album.

[@jldibiase]

Nice breakdown, and interesting hearing your perspective. This album came out the year I first heard them. I had just started playing guitar after hearing Electric Funeral for the first time and picked up their whole catalogue. I really appreciated how they didn't have one particular music lane but always switched it up. I really liked a lot of the sound textures on this as well as on Sabotage and Technical Ecstacy, and interestingly enough the one I listened too the least was Sabbath Bloody Sabbath which took me a while to appreciate. Thank you Tony for opening the door to me (and many more) for becoming a musician, definitely one of the players on my personal Mount Crushmore.

[@tmc1054]

Thanks, Uncle Phil. As always your show is essential viewing.

[@markkaminski4496]

Great chat mate, I was the same, was easily their worst Ozzy era release was a sign the band was on it last legs, but yes recently l iistened to it again pretty much been at least 10 years or more since put it on, was around 20 when first got the album, I have the 10 Years War box set now, And yes it has in some way improved, still not great but has at least a few classcs, side 1 had the best tracks side 2 was not so good, Johnny Blade & Junior's Eyes being 2 of them & Never Say Die was ok & then being on tv believe it was Tops ? playing it was a very strange. Still my least favourite, am now 66 now but may give it another go now you have wetted my interest. The rankings of the albums wiil be a great topic be interesting to see where you put this one now 🤗😙. Keep up these great reviews and yes Never Day Die 🤟

[@mannyruiz1954]

I dig this album a lot. I love the experimental tracks, and my favorite track is Swinging The Chain. Just a devastating, heavy track.

[@thesithempire1348]

Great review! This is my favorite Sabbath album for many reasons that you cite, but it's also just drenched in melancholy and grief. I love it!

[@747jono]

Hi Phil I am similar to you bought it as soon as it came out vinyl, got lost somewhere 🥲🥲. Not heard for 40 years. Just got remastered cd wow why did I leave it so long? I love the album excellent first 4 tracks yeahh. Sometimes you have to wait lol

[@frankhanley6865]

Great video. I have always loved this album. I do know how you feel, though. I dismissed the whole Martin era of Sabbath. I never heard one song until I bought the new box set. I am pleasantly surprised. I now have a bunch of new Sabbath to enjoy.

[@CaroleRobb-m4f]

Black Sabbath............................... Rules !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bathtubgeorge]

I think I picked this up in and around 1992 or so, and to this day still cant take to it. Juniors Eyes and Johnny Blade are great, but the rest is below par. But its not unexpected given the turmoil in Sabbs at the time, one thing is for sure, they picked up the pace when Ronnie Joined in 1980

[@dggbl9974]

Yes! Another convert, the scales have fallen from your ears!…now Tales from a Topographic Ocean…hmmmm? Hot Space? …. anyone? 😂

[@piotrgrabowski5024]

Although it wasn't what I'd been waiting for, Air Dance, Johnny Blade and Junior's Eyes even back then seemed very solid.

[@Baz63]

Johnny Blade surely one of Iommi's best riffs and this album is one of Sabbath's most musically adventurous maybe due to Iommi being in the hot seat. I can understand many thinking the album was a hotchpotch of ideas, inconsistent and a little 'hollow' sounding but Phil re-appraisal sheds light on the fact that this album is worth reinvestigation.

[@chris10isleyen]

I always liked NSD, I can understand why some absolutely detested it at first but on my first listen I liked it. Never Say Die and Shockwave are my favorite songs on the album.

[@lance98541]

Sure, it is the weakest of the Ozzy era albums, but it is nowhere as bad as people say. Half the album is pure classic Sabbath.

[@jody8526937]

You like it now because you realise now it is canon. That’s it you ain’t getting nothing new so you learn to appreciate what’s lefty. That’s why I like the Star Wars holiday specials. That’s it.

[@gavaxemanspins]

Another great video - gonna have to listen to this album again now as it’s the one I listen to the least - wish I’d been old enough to join that Sabbath rock club In Birmingham 😊

[@mickblack3291]

Loved this album from when l first bought it in 1981, its a great album & 10 times better than TE, it shows how versatile Sabbath really were even with the turmoil within the band

[@OutOnTheTiles]

Such a great album with unfortunately bad production….. that was recorded in my hometown of Toronto.