Classical Composer Reacts to Spiral Architect (Black Sabbath) | The Daily Doug (Episode 198)

[@daltro010101]

I'd easily say that Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the best Sabbath's album. The essence is in there, really great masterpiece.

[@chriscoote2690]

Agree

[@allamericanpatriot1007]

Hmmmm... maybe... I like A National Acrobat best myself.

[@popkorn256]

Nope. I love SBS but their first two albums are completely stellar to me, on another level.

[@TMTVL]

I'd argue for The Devil You Know, myself. It's the darkest, heaviest, most intense Sabbath has ever been.

[@jamiereviews2713]

It’s my favourite album of all time

[@mindwarp1966]

Sabbath bass player Geezer Butler, who wrote most of the their lyrics, had the words for this song come to him in a dream. He woke up the next morning and wrote them down. Later that day he called lead singer Ozzy Osbourne and read them to him - Ozzy was very impressed.

[@221b-l3t]

Isn't the song about... "conception"? Spiral architect is the swimmer.

[@michaeldenny6851]

Interesting choice. I appreciate that you picked up one of the "lesser" songs in terms of popularity. Sabbath has a reputation that isn't very accurate. If you delve into the albums beyond the songs everyone knows, they've actually made a lot of interesting and creative stuff.

[@brettanderson3883]

Absolutely astonishing that their 'lesser' songs as you so eloquently put it are vastly better than the popular songs. Give me this, A national acrobat, You won't change me, Juniors eyes etc any day over Paranoid, Iron Man and the lot.

[@jaytarantino]

The acoustic outro in Symptom of the Universe is the perfect example of that.

[@Grandmastergav86]

One of the lesser known songs would've been a Tony Martin track. The Ozzy tracks are all very well known.

[@MrExplosion449]

@@Grandmastergav86 i love the whole headless cross album and i’m bummed its not on Spotify

[@alfonsoalbornoz2120]

Please could you do, "Killing yourself to live" from the same album.

[@ioannisnikolaou349]

One of my favorite Black Sabbath songs with Ozzy. The whole album is a masterpiece but this one is just mind blowing!

[@lanceash]

This album was Sabbath's bid for Prog Rock greatness. My favorite album by the original lineup. Some of their best lyrics. A truly under-rated band. Back before their most recent comeback I got so sick of the hip know-it-alls at "Rolling Stone;" etc, putting them down as a bunch of clumsy, lunk-headed morons. They were a supremely talented and intelligent band who never got the acclaim that the pretty boys in Zeppelin got.

[@ΝικοςΡαπτης-ξ2ψ]

Who knows..maybe if they had more love songs or 9 minutes blues songs with Ozzy moaning and pretends orgasm they would sold like the others but at least in Ozzy era they did not gave a shit..offcourse they wanted to sell LPs but they did it in their own way..the hard way..and most people dont like to hear truths..

[@StickyBud9395]

You forgot to mention that the pretty boys in Zeppelin were an awesome band .

[@ΝικοςΡαπτης-ξ2ψ]

@@StickyBud9395 he just said that LZ had it easy..Page was for years in business,he worked at sessions with great musicians before LZ and when they started they had the money and the connections to be famous in short time.Also their songs were more easy to become popular,they talked about women and sex almost all of them in first 2 LPs

[@StickyBud9395]

@@ΝικοςΡαπτης-ξ2ψ I am not putting Sabbath down , I am a huge Sabbath fan , they would be in my top 4 bands anytime . You make a relevant point my friend , and I take it on board .

[@andrejz8954]

Yeah SBS the best Sabbath album.

[@richdisilvio4591]

So glad you dived into Sabbath and this magnificent song, Doug. Next up, try “A National Acrobat”, “Sabbra Cadabra”, or “Killing Yourself to Live” off the same album....its their most sophisticated album.

[@thewal1ofsleep]

Agreed. SBS is my favorite Ozzy Era album.

[@donaldwrissler9059]

Totally agree, I think perhaps the title track then "National Acrobat" would be my follow up choices. SBS has been my fav Sabbath album since I discovered it soon after Heaven n' Hell in the early 80's.

[@richdisilvio4591]

@@donaldwrissler9059 I assumed he listened to SBS already...if not, for sure. The whole album is a masterpiece. I've been lucky enough to have heard this album soon after its release and its been on my playlist since then. The sound of the title track and National Acrobat in the 70s was mind boggling, it was so radical it's hard for younger generations to really know how pioneering Sabbath were, since they've been inundated with Metal bands, all following along on the Sabbath Thunder Road. No one sounded like Sabbath in the 70s...no one! Totally unique.

[@thewal1ofsleep]

@@donaldwrissler9059 A National Acrobat might be my all time favorite Sabbath song. An absolute masterpiece.

[@raybrouwer6696]

The Writ would also be awesome!

[@paulmenard6219]

Ahhh shattering the preconceived notions of what Black Sabbath is… it’s always fun to watch… now listen to a whole album and notice how advanced their musical direction was. Beautiful and powerful… this is brilliant music

[@charlesserre6928]

Considering the contemplative depths Black Sabbath so freely allows one to embark upon, 'Spiral Architect' is easily one their most melodically inspirational and complete compositions: Powerful enough to rival their very own 'The Straightener', at times.

[@jagdpanther6327]

👊

[@luvjammin04]

Geezer wrote practically all the lyrics. One of the best Sabbath songs you've never heard in your life! A masterpiece!

[@nodaysback1]

Geezer blew Ozzy's mind with these lyrics. I think i remember Ozzy saying that Geezer recited these lyrics to Ozzy over the telephone. Extreme "literary" talent. Ozzy was flabbergasted..

[@sergiozammel8261]

@@nodaysback1 Yeah I think Geezer mowed the lyrics into the lawn and rang ozzy, I think ozzy;s words were " what the fuck is that?"

[@Eleventhearlofmars]

@@sergiozammel8261he must of had a big lawn?! 😂

[@QuikVidGuy]

and a lot of patience@@Eleventhearlofmars

[@clausappel8086]

In my opinion Geezer deserves the literature Nobel price more than Bob Dylan did ...

[@frankpentangeli7945]

This was a studio recording. The live sound at the end was overdubbed later in the studio. One of my favourite Sabbath songs! This and Looking For Today are my favourite tracks on the album, along with A National Acrobat.

[@mattpfarr5992]

Same

[@kingastaroth7912]

You have a very good taste man.

[@deepblack3852]

We do a cover of the track Sabbath Bloody Sabbath in my band, in a medley with Wrath Child (Maiden) & Hellbent for Leather (Priest)

[@kimmontgomery6671]

'Killing Yourself to Live' is my favorite, although I like them all

[@joecavazos1786]

Wow ! Different than most Sabbath songs. But, I like it.

[@samanthony6282]

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the most sophisticated heavy rock album I’ve heard. Amazing album.

[@SketchesofChina]

This is the first time I ever heard Black Sabbath described as “lovely”

[@VGKDean]

The Sabbath Bloody Sabbath title track is so good. It takes you through that heavy sound into a part more akin to jazz before blowing your mind with one of the nastiest riffs you’ll ever hear.

[@OsomoMojoFreak]

Yeah, he needs to listen to sabbath bloody sabbath for sure!

[@221b-l3t]

I always maintain Black Sabbath is as much heavy jazz as heavy rock. The jazz influences are all over the records. Fairies Wear Boots, the entire song is almost jazz with a bluesy twist and added gain and intensity. And Bill Ward is always swinging. The guitar solos too. If you play them clean it sounds like blues jazz fusion.

[@malanders7305]

Then there's that little bit of rumba in the middle of Supernaut (SabIV)!

[@mournblade1066]

"Megalomania" by Black Sabbath is a must-listen.

[@nicholaschapman6763]

fuck yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@caljerm]

YES

[@briangbur8743]

Amen

[@isveryniceyes]

Praise be

[@willembritz4666]

Oh yeahhh!!!!!

[@lectrichobo6478]

This song is a lamentation of a man, who in spirit, can see his world's true beauty, and wonder, despite the accursed totalitarian religiosity & human conflict puppet show ... Laced with abstract allegories and metaphors of tangible objects, technolgies, and conceptualizations reflective of the world of today.... A.K.A. a 'Black Sabbath' masterpiece.

[@rh5563]

You hit the nail on the head brother. Perfect break down of the lyrics.

[@rightwingstanjonesjournal4920]

According to Geezer, it's about life's experiences added to a person's DNA to create a unique individual. We're all unique, and constantly adding our own life experiences.

[@uncletoogie]

The outro to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the best heavy metal lick ever created!

[@josues.junior5409]

Yes

[@wintyrqueen]

They’re is a reason that Tony (Tony, with an N) Iommi is the most influential guitarist of the 20th Century. Geezer’s lyrics are always fantastic, & his bass is, to this day, the loudest thing I have ever heard in my life. Maybe we need some “Sabbath Saturdays” for a while?

[@dylanadams1455]

people always underestimate Tony's impact on guitar. The focus is always on lead, Hendrix, EVH etc. Bu the reality is that about 50% of guitarists don't play lead, and every single one of them that plays heavy, from Technical Death Metal to bloody Nickleback owes it to Tony.

[@brianjohnson2905]

I caught .

[@mikeg.4211]

@@dylanadams1455 totallly true!

[@stevenielsen5217]

Iommi is ONE of the most influential. I think its a stretch to say he was "the most influential of the 20th Century". That discounts, Jimi Hendrix, B.B. King, Eddie Van Halen, just to name a few.

[@wintyrqueen]

@@stevenielsen5217 It doesn't discount them at all. Essentially every heavy guitar player (VanHalen included) is either directly, or indirectly influenced by the things that Iommi laid the foundation for

[@yuriykorotkevych8838]

Spiral Architect is the last track on Sabbath Bloody Sabbath - what a cool way to end the album, isn't it? In Sabbra Cadabra from the same album there's a keyboard (piano and moog) part performed by Rick Wakeman, who happened to be recording "Tales..." with Yes in a nearby studio at the time. Fluff is a slow, dreamy, mostly acoustic instrumental based on Tony's guitar, with piano and something that sounds like harpsichord to me - a great track too, imho. Black Sabbath started experimenting quite a lot at that time.

[@TorIverWilhelmsen]

"Black Sabbath started experimenting quite a lot at that time" - and not just with music... :P

[@wintyrqueen]

Point in fact, Wakeman contributed enough that he’s listed as a member of the band in the album liner notes. He’s the only person who’s ever been credited as being in the band along with all the original members

[@malawigw]

Wakeman refused payment from the band, he just wanted a beer

[@neosmith8933]

Fluff rules!

[@garyspillett7103]

Spiral Architect is my favourite Sabbath track.I just love the way it is structured...neo classical almost.The playing by is fantastic and it is prog in nature

[@ddee203]

Doug, although I know this song as a back of my hand since 30 years ago, I have goosebumps when I hear this song plays even now.

[@sydIRISH]

This whole album is a masterpiece.

[@DamienAshorTV]

My favourite Black Sabbath album, it's a gem.

[@andrejz8954]

same

[@R2Zmedia]

Great choice! This is Sabbath in a very Progressive mood. They also have a guest keyboard player, none other than Rick Wakeman. My favourite Sabbath album.

[@James-os8mp]

“Silver ships on plasmic oceans” is a reference to injecting heroin. The silver ship is the needle and the plasmic ocean references blood plasma. My all time favorite Sabbath album and song. Ozzy always said he never wrote his Sergeant Peppers album yet but I beg to differ. This album is a masterpiece. Thank you Doug for reviewing this song and appreciating this tune for what it is.

[@thomassullivan1676]

It's been said that the spiral is dna struture...architect is god...geezer is spiritual...tripping and writing lyrics...lol

[@thomassullivan1676]

They already did... hand of doom on second album

[@221b-l3t]

​@@thomassullivan1676 Correct this song is not about drugs but love. The conception part anyway. The architect is the swimmer. :)

[@newusernamehere4772]

Heroin and cocaine use aside i still see SBS as the acid album. The trips they took during the recording of Vol. 4 were finally integrated, much like Sgt Peppers relative to Revolver with the Beatles. Sabotage is a perfect mirror to the White Album too bc the cracks in the band are starting to form but both albums are also full of masterpieces. Never really thought about this before thanks lol

[@alexmousley7213]

Great to see your reaction and hear your analysis of this classic Sabbath track. A lot of people think Black Sabbath is just "Paranoid" and don't realise the sophisitication of some of their songs, many of them change key, scale and rhythm half way through! The band gelled completely, and, considering the excesses they indulged in, remained a tight band for years!

[@PutItAway101]

It's a studio record, the "live" ending is dubbed crowd noise.

[@andywitch666]

"Silver ships on plasmic ocean" it's the needles in the vein according to Geezer Butler.

[@diceymaan]

What Metal was Sabbath not a pioneer of, they pioneered: - Heavy Metal - Doom Metal - Groove Metal - Symphonic Metal - Stoner Metal - Progressive Metal - Psychadelic Metal And more. Fantastic band, they were so ready to try everything.

[@alwilson3204]

I'm at the half way point and want to say, I really appreciate your deep examination of the various chord progressions and notes, but don't take the lyrics for granted as they are very impressive too.

[@murdockreviews]

Cool. Not the most obvious Sabbath choice! For some 'over the top' Sabbath with a choire, their instrumental "Supertzar" is fun.

[@stewmott3763]

Just listened to the whole Sabotage album again the other day, and I heartily concur.

[@78vinyl97]

Megalomania is one of my favourites.

[@9619660818]

@@78vinyl97 damn! I genuinely thought I was the only one who felt that 😂😂😂 megalomania is absolutely brilliant

[@The_Original_Geoff_B]

The first album I ever bought, having "found my music" with Vol 4 in 1974. Still one of my favourites.

[@seed_drill7135]

My first was Paranoid.

[@nowtospot]

I'm 60 and grew up with vol 4 ...... best album of theirs

[@andrejz8954]

@@nowtospot I think Vol4 is their weakest Ozzy album with first.

[@truthdrone7066]

Doug this is a masterpiece by my favorite band..Loved your commentary

[@coachhannah2403]

California Jam, 1974, performance on KZbin. Worth the effort to see/hear.

[@whatwouldhousedo5136]

Always loved the lyrics to this excellent song. Geezer is one of the greatest lyricists ever.

[@eddiepierce7028]

This is my favorite Sabbath album and this is my favorite song on the album!

[@jimmyggs91]

If you liked this, I think "Sign Of The Southern Cross" would be perfect, great acoustic section, nice lyrics and Ronnie James Dio on vocals.

[@mournblade1066]

My absolute FAVORITE Sabbath tune, hands down. That riff is legendary.

[@aakar88]

Good choice! I loved Country Girl from that era also

[@john-dalemccallum1195]

@@aakar88 It was an album I didn't care for at first but Mob Rules grew on me and now I would say it was one of their best. I don't get caught in the "Only Ozzy years were true Sabbath" nonsense. I listen to all their stuff and like it or don't like it on individual merits... Ronnie James Dio stuff was really something, and as much as I think Dehumanizer is a pile of dog turd the track "I" is worthy of any Sabbath album. Fell in love with a Country Girl... That is a magic song!! Falling Off The Edge Of The World is my favourite from that album.

[@aakar88]

@@john-dalemccallum1195 Yes, agree all 3 songs we discussed were true classics. Saw them twice with Dio (Black and Blue tour) awesome, when Geezer breaks into the Heaven and Hell riff.....

[@john-dalemccallum1195]

@@aakar88 Seen them once with Dio, I think they were calling themselves Heaven & Hell at the time. Was great. Geezer and Heaven & Hell... epic!! Only thing I have missed with Sabbath is seeing Bill Ward live... hopefully they do get something back together so I can see the main man.

[@CommodusSPQR]

What a glorious track Spiral Architect is. Sabbath at their creative peak.

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

A good choice for a Black Sabbath reaction. The guitar intro is a good example of the great skill of Tony Iommi to composed great riffs. Thanks Doug.

[@andrewbrash6274]

Iommi said the opening was a Geezer composition.

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

@@andrewbrash6274 very interesting, but the master of riffs have played it perfectly. Thank U.

[@chrisr9641]

I almost got upset that you called this a bullshit reaction, until I realized....

[@stephanevilleneuve9450]

@@chrisr9641 🙏 l made the change. 😁

[@f-bod113]

I‘ve been a Sabbs fan since 1970 when I heard Iron Man at my older cousins house. Every year I still have a Sabbs session. This is probably my favourite song. Non Sabbs fans never realised how melodic they were. Chances are the name invited prejudice.

[@NERunner]

I'm so pleased you've featured this one, Doug. I suggested it to you a couple of months ago - so, well done Lee for mentioning it again. This is Sabbath at the height of their powers and the pinnacle of their career in many ways. It's interesting that it was a 1973 release, I've often thought that was "the year rock achieved perfection". The same year as Pink Floyd came up with Dark Side of the Moon, Genesis released Selling England by the Pound, etc. There are outliers such as Who's Next by The Who in '71 and Queen's A Night at the Opera in 1975 - but you get the picture. Superb song and a great Daily Doug :)

[@CurzonB]

This song has been my alarm track for almost a decade...perfect intro to wake up to in almost any circumstance, and I would also say that this song is the best thing Black Sabbath ever released. This is the best thing they ever made IMO...and also the most underrated.

[@bretthopkins1629]

One of my all time favorite Sabbath tunes. It showcases just how far they progressed musically. For all haters of the decades, this song shuts them up.....

[@221b-l3t]

I got yelled at once for saying Sabbath is musically very interesting.

[@anypoxynames]

One of my all time favourite songs. let alone Sabbath songs. A masterpiece.

[@jerrywoods4066]

1 of their best albums . All thru high school machine head burn sabbath bloody sabbath I wore out

[@enricopaoli1183]

What a great epic track! Sabbath"s songs are not just one riff based affairs. Great lyrics great arrangments. Just fantastic.

[@meptune]

The cover art was painted by Drew Struzan. He also did the posters for Star Wars, Indiana Jones, The Goonies, Harry Potter, The Thing.... The guy in the bed is a self portrait. This is one of my favorite rock album covers. Don't forget the painting on the back cover

[@topfloorstudio2684]

Being the biggest Sabbath fan here I will go ahead and tell you the best albums are Master Of Reality , Vol. 4 and this album. I lived and breathed their first 6 albums growing up in the 80s & 90s

[@boomer3150]

I did the same in the 70s. Cheers from the biggest Sab fan...

[@spacemanspiff8837]

sorry friend but you are the 2nd biggest sabbath fan🙂

[@justthefacts9374]

SABOTAGE ‼️ Hard Rocks Holy Grail ‼️

[@jeffreygould101]

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage are my two favorite Ozzy era Sabbath albums. I think the song writing and lyrics are more mature, and I believe these albums are where Ozzy's voice was the strongest in his career and should be listened to by any Ozzy vocal bashers out there. A National Acrobat and the title track of SBS would make great reaction videos as would Megalomania and the Writ from Sabotage. Keep up the metal Mondays!

[@stringemup5941]

2 of my fave BS albums, also. Always thought of them as a matched pair! Doesn’t get any better!

[@ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095]

_Megalomania, The Writ, Thrill of it All, Symptom of the Universe,_ all fantastic stuff. {:-:-:}

[@emjem99]

Add my vote for these two albums. Sabotage is a heavier but fantastic album, and SBS really demonstrates the actual musical talents of the guys.

[@neosmith8933]

Hole in the Sky!

[@ansfridaeyowulfsdottir8095]

@@neosmith8933 Yes, _Hole in the Sky_ is another great track, but not quite as good as the four I mentioned. The only "weak" tracks are _Supertsar_ and _Am I Going Insane,_ and they are still good. {:-:-:}

[@PedroVonWorzelburger]

My favourite band of all time. So unique how they manipulated the blues with tri tones but also the crazy guitar style of Iommi influenced by Django Reinhardt and that he also had the top of one of his fingers missing too.

[@tomdurkin5149]

One of my favorite Sabbath tracks ever. Really unique. Has anyone suggested you to check out any King Daimond yet Doug? One of the most unique vocalists ever. Would really enjoy your take on his vocal delivery and music.

[@paulzenev4346]

Great show Doug..!! This is a beautiful song..!!! And accolades to the person who suggested this. I listened to this as a teen, I probably understood its beauty as music more than the meaning of the lyrics. Thank You Doug for helping me appreciate the lyrics more..!!

[@jamesgarcia7252]

Great choice! This whole album is one of my favorites of all time. It was very helpful in my teen years. Whenever I found myself angry and confused, I would put this album on. I always found ot helped me thru tense times as a kid growing up in turmoil. The beginning tense and aggressiveness of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and everything in between leading into the Positive feeling of the Major chords spiraling with the minor arrangements, Spiral Architect, always ends on a positive note for me. Still does. Great stuff! Thank you for your breakdown of such a Great tune, that never really gets the credit it deserves.

[@toucheturtle3840]

Absolute classic. One of their best. Ozzy couldn’t sing in the same key when he got older.

[@peteh7966]

My favourite Black Sabbath song, it has everything...

[@Fraevo10]

This along with "Hard Road" and "Over To You" are some of most melancholy pieces of music ever written & recorded by BLACK SABBATH

[@RowOfMushyTiT]

Nah that title belongs to "Born again".

[@thomassullivan1676]

Air dance...this guy Doug would like

[@dennisfox8673]

I absolutely love this song, and watching you call out the chords in the progression just made it even better.

[@stepitupandgo67]

one of my faves...this was in heavy rotation for me in the mid 80s...I love this whole album...every damn bit of it....

[@cherifshawky4846]

This is a great album, probable they'er most progressive(you could throw "Never Say Die" in that category too).Starting with vol.4 and coming to fruition on this album you can hear Tony's development as a lead player.Gone are the Clapton type licks and Tony's signature trilling style starts to blossom.I have often thought that Iommi and Zappa were paying close attention to each other's lead playing at this time.The similarity's are very obvious.Speaking of Frank Zappa you should do a video on "The Adventures of Gregory Peccary" that would give you a real challenge.Any other Zappa fans please help encourage Doug to do a video on that one.Doug,your vids are so much more informative and educational than so many other reaction video's so keep up the good work.

[@johnmcminn9455]

I noticed Never say Die is I chord II major IV Then i , b6 , b7 Key of A parallel keys A major , A minor It can also be ii7 iii7 V7 in the verse

[@crescentsi]

@@johnmcminn9455 Hi, yes it is simplistic but the solo at the end is enjoyable!

[@AudiophileTubes]

GREAT episode! Such a hauntingly awesome, unique tune!

[@KurtGAndersen]

Very interesting to hear a person with great knowledge of musical theory analyzing a Black Sabbath song, so thanks for that one Doug! Now if I possibly could come up with another Black Sabbath song suggestion that would be the song «Air Dance» from the 1978 album «Never Say Die» A very underrated and album and song…..

[@yuriykorotkevych8838]

I like Air Dance a lot too. Great song with Tony's guitar work at its best.

[@Dirgnimai7]

Agreed. Love that song. Some elements of Tony's background in Jazz.

[@2112res]

Sabbath is the one band that put out more strong albums, from top to bottom. than any band I enjoy.

[@Cimmerian415]

I love this album and song choice. In the early days Geezer Butler was the primary lyricist and some of his lyrics bend the imagination. In all fairness those guys did a lot of cocaine and drugs back then so the lyrics could just mean anything you interpret them to be. 🤔

[@chriscoote2690]

This album and Sabotage are Sabbath at the height of their creativity...A National Acrobat should be next.

[@Goddzi]

Awesome video! I’m so glad I saw this and that you suggested the lyrics may be from the perspective of an older person near death as this is the song I have said for many years, that I want to have played at my funeral. One of my favourite tracks by Black Sabbath. Thank you, Doug ❤️

[@JimGramze]

This is their most technically sophisticated album. Good all the way through.

[@StonefieldJim4]

I'm so delighted you chose this. It's so poignant for me, as it takes me back to being 12 years old, when I first fell in love with this album. Today, at 52, I love every note no less.

[@JasonSmith-lp6wg]

Glimpsing the lyrics, I'd have to say it's about how media shapes our lives, not necessarily for the good; and that those who've found something outside of this, who have a core strength that permits them to withstand such temptations, are much better off.

[@helterskelter1178]

The gem of all gems in the Sabbath canon. A perfect song 🖤🤘

[@TKCoutside]

The era of music when rock transitioned to hard rock, then metal and heavy metal really did make for some amazing music and musicians 👊🏼💯🙂

[@srudine]

Such a fantastic song! Dang I Love the guitar transition in this classic. It is one of my all time Sabbath favorites because of its uniqueness. The strings kill it! Ozzy's vocals are flawless! His slides bring so much emotion to the song Love your analysis of this amazing masterpiece. Thanks Doug!

[@rattfink9]

This album came into my life in 1974 when my oldest sister snuck it in the house when my parents went out to dinner one night. That was the point at which the rest of my life was set. I still hold this album as one of the greatest pieces of art ever conceived, but I am a bit biased.

[@kbelbeisi]

Whoever suggested this song, thanks. Always a favorite, and a very deep cut. I love the lyrics, although I gave up understanding them decades ago (same goes for A National Acrobat and Hole in the Sky). If a certain Geezer is in attendance here, please explain. I would love to get a piece of your mind Mr. Butler.

[@ghendar]

One of the most interesting and coolest Sabbath songs.

[@AMGK]

Black Sabbath it’s amazing, Sabbath bloody sabbath it’s a masterpiece 💜

[@andrewgarin2486]

There's another Sabbath recording called "Live at Last". It's live and with tons of guitar feedback but they break into some incredible jazz sequence and thats when I realized Sabbath had a huge influence in jazz plus blues early on in their songs and that they could entertain an audience with that and then go into something like Iron Man.....really brilliant recording if you can find it now.

[@eckyx9019]

Indeed. I would say Bill is a jazz drummer.

[@elinino5275]

Iommi cut his teeth with jazz. Then blues and the rest, as you know, METAL!!

[@donkarnage6032]

This was an excellent choice leading into your Frank Zappa reaction tomorrow. Frank Zappa was actually a pretty big Black Sabbath fan with his favorite song being Supernaut. Zappa mentioning and praising Sabbath in interviews at the time actually gave Sabbath some credibility that they weren't getting from the music journalists/critics at the time and made people look at Sabbath more seriously. Zappa and Sabbath were actually set to jam at a show but supposedly technical issues with Tony Iommi's guitars foiled their plans.

[@jayedwards1205]

Laughable-- HM fans could care less about Zappa and what “ music critics” said about Sabbath ...it’s amazing the kind of misinformation out there from people who didn’t live thru the time

[@richardhincemon9423]

@@jayedwards1205 I'm 66 years old love Zappa and Sabbath! The term heavy metal was irrelevant as long as it was good music. Cheers

[@BorbaFerreira]

Roy Buchanan - Hey Joe One of the best guitar solos ever recorded.

[@frankpentangeli7945]

Roy Buchanan - Pete's Blue

[@patguitare]

This album to me has always been Black Sabbath's "Sgt. Pepper's"...they took so many compositional chances and it wound up being one of their most adventurous releases.

[@Renkaru]

I heard in an interview that this is one of Mikael Akerfeldt's of Opeth favorite Black Sabbath track. Yan definitely hear some influence from this track onto other Opeth songs!

[@tmex9588]

This entire album is a masterpiece. My personal favorite Sabbath album.

[@augustocesarmarques4052]

The best Black Sabbath record of the Ozzy era

[@gwts1171]

I agree, though Sabotage is a close second for me!

[@jackluminous4573]

Sabotage would be my top choice.. then SBS.. but thats just my opinion. Its Black Sabbath.. its all solid gold.

[@jerrywoods4066]

Sabbath bloody sabbath and praronoid

[@nickfanzo]

This and sabotage for me, are perfection. So weird , so original

[@Jermeister12]

For me also.

[@Thregh]

I love this album, i took it from my dad, he had it on vinyl, he is over 70 now and i just imagine how interesting times that would have been, to be 20-30 around that time.

[@MrMetallidude]

Probably my favorite of theirs. They actually tuned down to C# for this album.

[@williamc618]

All four members are top 3 in their craft. Thats why Sabbath is the best. Been listening to this song for many years have no fn clue what its about. I think a lot of it is just for rhyming sake

[@nelsonv2001]

I never thought Ozzy had a great singing voice, however, he was perfect with Sabbath and I love his style with them.

[@ryanjacobson2508]

By the late 80's Ozzy's voice had better control and tone. But in the 70's he did sometimes sound a bit shrill and warbly.

[@mentalward3340]

I disagree with that 🐂 💩

[@221b-l3t]

He's a fantastic blues singer. First album you hear that a lot. Ozzy is a great singer. And later on. Shot in the Dark? His control over his vibrato and how natural it is... he's got opera singer levels of thundering vibrato in that song and as a classically trained singer I can tell you not many truly master a good vibrato. It happens naturally when you sing with proper technique. Very rare in pop and rock singer, they have that flabby wobbling forced vibrato while they wobble their jaws and strain their voice. Ozzy? Totally relaxed, excellent technique blasting away. I'll never understand why people say he's not a good singer. Ridiculous. Bad singers say that. Seriously almost no one in pop or rock has good vibrato and ypu get that by using proper technique. It just happens when you do it right and it's much more powerful and very steady in pitch and timing. And that's why he can still sing. He didn't strain and ruin his voice like say Ian Gillan or Robert Plant who both could barely sing by the time the 80s or 90s came along. But he is always relaxed, throat open and well formed to produce a strong sound, good breathing technique etc... I could go on but from a technical standpoint Ozzy is not a good singer he's a fantastic singer. The song Black Sabbath showcases his blues singing very well. Wish he did that more often and not always the high voice.

[@STV-H4H]

Spiral Architect. A Film maker. The influential aspect of film, transcending generations and lives of observers as well as the creationists behind the lens.

[@tinkerwithstuff]

The band project "Spiral Architect" is also worth checking out :D

[@tristangregory2378]

Yes Doug, thank you! What at choice, one of my favourite Sabbeth pieces 😁 I think this is a good example of how these "early" heavy bands like Sabbeth, were actually good and interesting song writers (not just dark, one dimensional "chuggers") May I suggest Victim of Changes by Judas Priest? Another great track from the same period, from a band most would associate with aggressive 80's metal (not the case when they started) Also from the same area in the UK! Keep up the great work Doug, thank you 😁

[@levileme8062]

I love how Doug gives lyrics some thinking. The spiral architect meaning DNA, correct or not, is a a very nice interpretation

[@jpwjr1199]

I have a thought and I'm not sure it's going to get seen as there are 529 other comments at the time I'm posting, but B7 (or any dominant function chord for that matter) can feature both a major 3rd and a minor 3rd depending on the scale that's being implied and what succeeds the chord. So I wonder if they're playing a B7 throughout with the emphasis on the blues scale when it sounds minor and a B7 with the emphasis on more of a mixolydian or even Lydian b7 type thing. The chromatic run the strings do could be viewed that way, too, if keeping in line with non-slash chords. B7#9, B9#11, B7#5b9. I understand that it's simpler to think of that as D/B, Db/B, C/B don't get me wrong, but it keeps in line with the possibility that Butler was using the versatility of the tonic dominant chord as his guide through writing this.

[@Ari-Matti.Rintala]

Just in recent years i've noticed how similar this song is to Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (the song). Kind of a mirror image of the first song on the album. By similar I mean same kind of verse rhythmics and the choruses are very matching in their mood too.

[@post-gall]

i dont see the similarity

[@johnvacher1995]

So much of this song reminds me of Rush. Of all Sabbaths songs, it is the most Rush like that I can think of.

[@jayedwards1205]

Yep, that’s the problem . ...has there ever been a pseudo -metal band as bad as Rush ?

[@PHEONIX_720]

you should listen to Junior's eyes of off Never Say Die album. Its one of the best black sabbath songs that I feel is the most underrated.

[@paulhudson563]

What I love about The Sabbs is they have 3/4 different tempos and styles in one song. Absolutely love them (since 1972). Sabbath bloody Sabbath was criticized by some fans for the use of synthersizes but it's just got better as time goes on.

[@jamesderekeikeland9048]

Cool song, never heard it before, gonna listen to this album, thanks for the reaction and analysis, and i never give up, try Marillion and Ocean Cloud from the Marbles album or Misplaced Childhood consept album on a friday😝

[@talitabarreto569]

This album is a masterpiece!

[@jenphillips3212]

Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is by far the best BS album. As for Marillion I would love to hear a reaction to Out of This World, especially a live version

[@PIGFRAN]

Aproved..

[@terryoneil7128]

So great to listen to your take on a fav Sabbath song!!! Bill Ward and Geezer KILLER rhythm section!!!

[@Laurasiana]

That chorus sounded so George Harrison/Beatles. Very cool. I note that this use of strings worked just so much better than what we heard in the Metallica reaction you did recently.

[@Secrecy30]

Almost every metal band in the world that used strings or orchestra sounds better than Metallica. From Rage and Therion to Dimmu Borgir.

[@cherifshawky4846]

For those who listen closely you can hear Beatles influences on many of the first eight Sabbath Albums.

[@DM-rc4yu]

@@Secrecy30 No

[@jerrywoods4066]

@@cherifshawky4846 I don't think so

[@stevetobin7495]

what an incredible song...so many amazing riffs and changes...genius

[@PabloLink74]

Hey Doug? Is there any Rhapsody or Savatage in your list? I think you'll like them, I suggest the songs Gargoyles, Angels of Darkness (Rhapsody) and Chance (Savatage)

[@Secrecy30]

Apparently no patreon has suggested Savatage yet. Thats a real pity, but life is unfair I suppose. Difficult to find any metal band that could be paired with Savatage in terms of quality, good taste, use of voices, lyrics, themes and guitar virtuosism without excess (with Criss Oliva at least). For the taste of Doug´s channel, best option would be the end of Streets with Somewhere in Time/Believe all together imo. A lot to think about lyrics and the album´s global concept

[@deanpaul2051]

Would leave to see him react to basically any song off of The Hall of the Mountain King, an absolute banger of an album.

[@drakeswarchannel2530]

Thanks brother.

[@kentmains7763]

Entire album is a masterpiece.

[@brianorakpohit]

By 73, Sabbath had evolved into a beautifully creative monster. That's why I love their middle Ozzy period. It was their zenith. And 'ours'.