Was I Wrong About This Black Sabbath Album?

My opinion rarely changes on music, but this Black Sabbath album might just be an exception.

[@Wayner71]

I've always liked this album. It seemed like a natural evolution in the Black Sabbath career. "You Won't Change Me" is one of their greatest songs. Cheers.

[@Gerrys-Channel]

Tony's best solos, too.

[@fuckamericanidiot]

@@Gerrys-Channel Fastest solos

[@SuperStrik9]

I dig Technical Ecstasy but I love Never Say Die! even more. I have a massive soft spot for that album.

[@chaznaps5679]

Never say Die gets a real bad rap because the band themselves didn't like the album. Most of that album, imho, rocks out. This was the time when Osbourne was getting ready to be fired and their sound changed when the Dio screamer entered the stage. The terrible albums were when Iommi went solo though the Fused album was good.

[@dlwseattle]

I saw the Technical Ecstacy tour in 1976. Boston was the opening act. Love that album!

[@mikekeeler6362]

He went to the concert did you buy the tour program and get the Don kirschner Rock concert poster that came with it

[@dlwseattle]

@mikekeeler6362 no i did not. I was 15 and had no extra money

[@chaznaps5679]

Saw then do every tour from Volume 4 to Never Say die. Can't recall any opening acts though, lol!

[@dlwseattle]

@chaznaps5679 never say die opener was van halen

[@JeanAlainXavier-ze9jc]

Always loved this album, songs are very good, am9ngst the best, You wont change me is a fantastic song.

[@draculasdaughter36]

Glad you came around and developed an appreciation for this truly great, underappreciated album. Dirty Women is one of my favorite Sabbath songs! Iomi's hard riff and solo near the end are just to good to put into words.

[@AntonXul]

“She’s Gone” has become one of my all time favorite ballads. I recently listened to this album and was shocked at how good it was despite the hate it gets. I went through every Black Sabbath studio album recently and there is not an album I hate. They were pretty solid all the way to the end. Their Tony Martin era albums are really underrated. He’s such a good singer and Tony Iommi brings in the riffs and some bad ass songs. Black Sabbath has officially become my #1 favorite band. I’ve listened to many full catalogs and I always finds songs I hate and the occasional dud album, but not with Black Sabbath. They were solid. Sure they changed a bit, but never was I disappointed.

[@alexnejako777]

I thought it was Reach the Beach from the thumbnail! That album is a gem .

[@michaelandrew4488]

Had this album on tape - always a favourite of mine.

[@user-tl7mj2bm4m]

I don't care what anyone says...it's a GREAT album. Is it their masterpiece, no....but it really IS a great album. People should not diss it.

[@JWD1992]

I have been down on this album, but between you and Phil Aston really diving into it (plus the fact I love Sabbath and really like the equally maligned album after it, Never Say Die), I need to give my copy another dedicated spin (NOT while washing the dishes) immediately. I think Ozzy said the cover looked like "two robots fucking on an escalator."

[@Darrylizer1]

That's because that's what it is exactly.

[@VIDSTORAGE]

This is a brilliant album We all had our lesser opinion of it at every first listen but now it has aged so damn good ..Dirty Women has one of the greatest' Tony Iommi lead outros ever made ... Back Street Kids Gypsy Rock n Roll Dr. and others are just 100 percent bangers but I cannot understand how anyone cannot like RR Dr ..It is a kin to Rock n Roll by Zep ,,Show us the vinyl

[@RobertFithen]

It's just black vinyl. The Vertigo is the spaceship version.

[@zombiereagan4813]

It has some bangers on it. I like it and Never Say Die as well.

[@JCM-LedZeppelin-Stories]

Glad you talked about this one, it's underrated for sure. I am between purchasing this or Never Say Die! Keyboard work was done by a Birmingham legend Gerald "Jezz" Woodroffe. He worked at a famous family owned music store there. Woodroffe was a part of Robert Plant's solo band 1981-1985 (Big Log features Jezz). A very talented musician, if you can check out his solo albums, he did a soundtrack for a film on underwater life, really cool.

[@RobertFithen]

Thanks for the info.

[@walzer38]

along with Robbie Blunt on guitars on those Plant albums. Phill Collins as well.

[@robwyatt8548]

Love the song “It’s Alright”

[@aminahmed2220]

Absolutely awesome have a wonderful weekend Robert also I am going to college in Canada where I live in ❤😊

[@patrick2420]

Opinions may never be wrong, but your new opinion is right!

[@rjg2112]

Love Technical, no issues with it whatsoever. I also really enjoy the remix that came out with the box set.

[@dimebagdave77]

Thanks Robert, I always liked it✌️🤘 It's Alright 👍😁

[@GalloLandiaTV]

reivindicando a este gran disco. Siempre suena en casa. ❤❤❤

[@lunkanx7804]

I buy it when it was new. I did like it but not as much as the older ones . Still a very good album.

[@jesusmcduck8171]

Totally agree about Rock and Roll Doctor. That song was responsible for most of my negative feelings for this album ( and the artwork that doesn't work). It's Black Sabbath!! You don't need to be doing some cheezy 70s rock anthem. You invented a genre and don't need to be copying lame ass bar band type songs!!

[@RobertFithen]

Exactly!

[@tomlangley6236]

WELL SAID!

[@manofmiracles]

Didn't like it for years but has grown on me now I like it

[@sabbathtribute]

An obvious decline from the mighty Sabotage, but still very good. Same goes for Never Say Die

[@sharkduck7570]

Yep it's my favorite Sabbath Album

[@jimmyc6741]

Even after all these years, Technical Ecstasy is my least favorite B.S. album of the first 8 Ozzy albums. The only song I like is Dirty Women. The rest don't do much for me. Rock and Roll Doctor is a terrible song. I hardly ever listen to this album. I'm probably one of the few people on the planet that likes Never Say Die over this one because I like at least 3 or 4 songs off that album. But you're right Robert, your opinion can change as time goes on. Great video!!!

[@RobertFithen]

Thanks!!

[@Darrylizer1]

You're not the only one that prefers Never Say Die.

[@seamus2112ophelan]

​@@Darrylizer1 Same here.

[@ctcards2636]

Rock N roll DR is my least fav song on the album. Id say Backstreet Kids and You Wont Change me are my favs. Gypsy is a good song and i have a live bootleg with a killer version on it. I wish Sabbath had performed You Wont Change me or Backstreet Kids live, but from all the homework i did, they NEVER played these 2 songs live. :-(

[@Mike-aka747]

One of these albums I start with side 2(All Moving Parts) and end with Gypsy(side 1). It feels more cohesive this way.

[@Chrisdrumz]

It's a bit different than what came before. Bright,crisp production,sci-fi/hard Rock prog.

[@michelelamberti1327]

red nose day?

[@tdunph4250]

Interesting observation.

[@MalcolmDoyle-e6x]

Very noticeable to me as well. Robert probably has cold, just like 50% of us.

[@7BobbyGaylor7]

Nice video. Good take. $10 is a great price as well. And overall it is an enjoyable album. Cheers.

[@mikekeeler6362]

That was the best artwork they ever had on an album cover all of their other albums did they have any artwork

[@ozricness]

You don't like the debut or Sabbath Bloody Sabbath's cover?

[@KzudemRiM]

You won’t change me is the last great ozzy era doom song and all moving parts is groovy as hell. Never Say Die is better tho imo.

[@andrewlaitres9080]

I love the cover art. And it's a decent album.

[@williambayley6903]

Great review - nice to see you do some hard rock/metal! If you get a chance listen to the Steve Wilson remix (from the box set) sounds a lot better

[@abrax_7]

Just another great album from a classic band and it is not exactly like the other ones, but the other ones are not like each other and that's a good thing ! 😂 Remember when bands were pushing it to be creative?

[@chilipalmer6974]

Great album. For me it was always "mature" Sabbath. In my ranking no.2 "Sabotage" being no.1

[@ctcards2636]

Sabotage is hands down my fav Sabbath album (other than Am i Going Insane). Vol 4 and their 1st album would be my other favs. But i def dig NEver Say Die over Technical. First 5 or 6 songs on Never Say Die are really interesting to me.

[@mikekeeler6362]

About 15 years ago you could buy a lithograph of that album cover technical ecstasy that Tony iommi personally signed now it's going to cost you about $1,000 and I don't know if there are any left but actually that was their best artwork on any album

[@abbieandus]

Not a bad album. Just not to the high standard as the first 6. And more a straight-ahead rock album with sounds similar to other 70s albums.. It is just stuck between (with Never Say Die) between the amazing first 6 and the amazing Dio ones

[@Bootradr]

I never had a copy of Born Again to checkout until a month ago. And I have to be honest, I did not like it. I was expecting it to be a lot better. I've been cataloging, grading, getting the runout information, etc. on a collection for a friend lately. And when I saw Black Sabbath Born-again in his collection, I was thinking good! He's selling off his collection so I knew I would be able to get a great deal on a flawless looking copy from him. But as I listened to it and graded it, I decided not to even ask him about it because I was no longer interested in it. Now if I was to listen to it 3 years later I might think something different too haha. Strange how that happens sometimes. Brian in fort worth 🎶

[@RobertFithen]

I don't know many people who like it.

[@IAMHOPFROG]

Thanks for the honest review. I had always heard that record was horrible and I never gave it another notice. Maybe I need to finally check it out.

[@RobertFithen]

I think it's better when compared to later music.

[@Synthetrix]

The cover is the best thing about this album.

[@williamhenderson8371]

The original recording was muddy. The new re-master is excellent and I really can appreciate it now.

[@ctcards2636]

I agree. I got to recently listen to the new Vinyl release and from the moment Backstreet Kids starts, you can hear a HUGE difference from the original pressing. I now have NO reason to listen to the original pressing haha. This is night and day better as you mention. If ya dig around, theres some bootlegs from the tour they did after they released this album with live versions of some of the songs from this album and they are MUCHO better live imho than on the album.

[@Uncle_GenX]

I'm with you on the cover... that 0W20 shot is pretty hot in Robot terms though.

[@jefffoster6343]

Back street kid!

[@chestermiller1768]

i got a copy for 5 bucks,sold it for 15 at lo srore.Owner played the lp while he was going through rest of my pile.I was thinking this is better than remember from 40 yrs ago

[@patrickcardon7114]

I love Black Sabbath however, I always thought Technical Ecstasy was over saturated musically to the point of being mushy or as you said, shrill..

[@PsycheDerek.]

My thoughts haven't changed on this one. Definitely my least fave of the Ozzy era & totally agree with "R'nR Doctor". I might secretly like "Never Say Die"...but "Sabotage" was the one I came around to appreciate more.

[@RobertFithen]

It's definitely one of the lesser Ozzy Black Sabbath albums, but I liked it more than I remember.

[@prepperking8019]

Production was a little week but, all in all It is a good album. Wore the grooves off of this LP when I was Teenager in the 70's back in the day

[@mikekeeler6362]

Black Sabbath was never known for the artwork on album covers maybe the first album maybe Sabbath bloody Sabbath but technical ecstasy was actually their best artwork on any album that Ozzy was on

[@chaznaps5679]

Record company ALWAYS chose their album covers for them. Many times the band was surprised and disappointed with the album covers.

[@mikekeeler6362]

That's not true geezer once said that they never really gave it a thought about album covers it's just where they put the record is what he said so that's not necessarily true

[@mikekeeler6362]

Deezer said he never really even thought about album covers thought it was just a place where you put your record

[@SH-ud8wd]

Great haircut!

[@risingstar7161]

Always thought TE had some great songs but it suffered by the sound being cluttered somewhat. Prefer Never Say Die which I know many people hate but...... Love the jazz influence on NSD

[@geddeeee]

Don't know what album version you are listening to. I think the mix is fantastic. You can hear everything. Great album...

[@RobertFithen]

I was listening to a Black Sabbath album called "Technical Ecstasy."

[@geddeeee]

@@RobertFithen Thanks for the sarcastic reply, but I'm asking which 'version' of Technical Ecstasy. There are several....

[@ronh.798]

The only time I saw Sabbath was the tour for this album, Ted Nugent opened for them. Ozzy had a roadie off stage left who was acting as his personal bartender, Ozzy absolutely sucked...the band was incredible.

[@RobertFithen]

I've only ever seen Ozzy solo live.

[@jimcullen2211]

I also like the album but agree it's not the best Ozzy era album. I like Never Say Die more than this one. I always associate this album with the harsh winters in the mid 70s. I remember listening to it back then as a heavy snow fell outside my bedroom window. If I do throw it on today, it has to be in January or February to get the right vibe.

[@ctcards2636]

Thats funny, i first got this album back on my bday Jan 26th. I live in the North East, so i can also relate to this being a winter album for me. :-)

[@chuckmiller6390]

People always disagree with me, but Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die were the best albums with Ozzy period.

[@russkinter3000]

Some opinions are better formed or logical than others.

[@robertov05]

I’m in the minority but I really like Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die

[@gc583]

Pretty good record .It's Alright.

[@bobby666666]

I like the artwork. The album is fine, but the issue is that the songs are not very memorable. Dirty Women is the standout track. At this point in their career, the band were not professional enough in regards to writing songs and recording due to discipline. Tony Iommi probably steered the course due to learning about discipline from Ian Anderson when he was with Jethro Tull late 1968. Taking vast quantities of various substances would have a detrimental effect as well. If the band had waited until later, the best half of this album plus the first side of Never Say Die would have made a very good album.

[@mikekeeler6362]

It sounds more like a Beatles song it's all right

[@chaznaps5679]

Bill Ward on vocals. At least it's better than Fluff!

[@user-zq5eb2hj9o]

I recently listened to it for the first time in years. I like it a little more than I used to but it is still my least favorite sabbath album of all. I’ll take never say die and forbidden over this by a mile. But maybe I’ll continue to like it more with future listens. But I don’t really want to listen to it again for awhile 😀

[@CBT5777]

10 bucks? What kind of fool would sell that for 10 bucks? Must be scratched.

[@mikekeeler6362]

I thought it was great artwork compared to the last album before it

[@PrankZabba]

I finally bought it about 10 years ago. Doubt i even heard it 5 times before i traded it in.

[@RobertFithen]

I had only heard it probably two times in 30 years

[@Tapp-Mourningwood]

I used to dismiss this album even more than "Never Say Die." But it is a better listen as I grow older. I still can't get into "Never Say Die" except for the title track. Otherwise, their back catalog is pretty good.

[@GustavoScafuro]

I read somewhere about the meaning of the cover artwork, and once you didn't mention, here it goes: It's supposed to be two robots making love in the escalator or a brief tech love encounter. Well, at least it was what the Hipgnosis guys could come with from the album title lol

[@RobertFithen]

I can't remember if they mentioned that in the Hipgnosis documentary.

[@GustavoScafuro]

@@RobertFithen there is a quote from one guy from the Hipgnosis team on Wikipedia. I look it up afterwards ;)

[@nocturnal-io9vq]

I think they were suffering from burnout, at this point. It's worth having, though. One of those odd albums where, I will listen to it and basically enjoy it, but 1 hour later, I remember nothing from it. That's not true with the preceding 6 albums!

[@RobertFithen]

Pretty much.

[@RexBarca]

I didnt dig it, but i came around tp Peter Chris' solo album so anything is possible.

[@Shawn_at_Sound_Advice]

Uh oh, the subtitles labeled you Robert Fifth. Better straighten that out.

[@joemiller9931]

There is no such thing as a bad Black Sabbath album- if Osbourne/Dio/Gillan are on vocals. Sure, you might like some albums better than others- as with all bands.

[@JKHUGHES]

The first six Sabbath albums are 5 star albums but TE is a 4 star. Production is “bright”, Ozzy’s vocals aren’t on the same level as the previous 2 albums, some very strong songs, some good ones, just not on par with the first six but still very good.

[@chaznaps5679]

Iommi has a lot of good guitar work on this album if you haven't really listened to it. Yeah, there are a couple of stinkers on the album, but EVERY Sabbath release had at least 1 filler/stinker on it. Very rare is the band that comes out with an album you can truly say "there's not a bad song on the album".

[@ctcards2636]

Name a filler off their first album for me. ;-) Because their aint one ! ;-) hehe

[@Darrylizer1]

It's their worst album with Ozzy. That doesn't mean it's bad, but when it came out I was a bit disappointed.

[@bakeone4406]

Opinions can be out of synch w/ what's demonstrably factual, which pretty much makes em' wrong.

[@RobertFithen]

Something like "Technical Ecstacy is my favorite album of the 60s". An opinion that has factually incorrect elements. I think that's a rarity though.

[@chutspe]

"Technical Ecstasy" certainly is a mixed bag. The songs from it that I like, I like a lot, while the songs I don't like, I don't care for at all. So I really don't enjoy listening to it all the way through. (And I, too, like "Born Again" the way it is.)

[@mr.bloodvessel260]

You are more mindful and demure!

[@bh-zj4yt]

What??😂😂

[@ozricness]

Yes, it's not as heavy as the albums that preceded it (with the exception of SBS) but I don't see the songwriting as weak at all. Sure they've written better songs that All Moving Parts and R'n'R Doctor, but the rest are all fine or even great and, dare I say, push the envelope of Sabbath's sound to some new and exciting avenues. The problem is when you've made six masterpieces in succession in the space of six years, anything less sounds weak by comparison.

[@stevemccuish7628]

Yeah I was there when released,Tony went to straight tuning, difficult for Ozzy to sing not downed tuned ..., you try to sing that difference,I mean no offense ...

[@scottf1555]

Up there with Sabatoge? Please. Turns out you’re still wrong about Technical Ecstasy. 😂.

[@RobertFithen]

3rd grade, people, literally in a 3rd grade learning book.

[@chaznaps5679]

Sabotage was Iommi's best and heaviest work, imo. Best sounding guitar since Vol. 4 imo again :)

[@petepadalino7065]

One word, Gypsy!

[@ernger531]

The really worst LPs are Never Say Die and Forbidden.

[@gregsones2654]

Owned the record when it was new. I think I played it once and then it died on the shelf never to be played again. Funny thing is, the cover art is the only thing I liked about it so your opinion is, unfortunately, wrong haha.

[@marioroggendorf3689]

At the time of release the album was considered a big disappointment among fans that had been there from the start of Sabbath. This needs to be considered in the time frame of the seventies where so many better albums were coming out then this one. For most people this was a don't bother buying it. The retro perspective though will always make it seem greater because so much of the music in the 70's was far better than today. What this album was to me was an attempt by Sabbath, crass even, to get kid market share, and something the band would then complain about for years that their audience at concerts got a whole lot younger. With tracks like Back street kids and Rock and Roll Doctor it was blatantly obvious Sabbath were going for the KISS kids type market and trying to get in on some of that action. So it was a sellout album and really imo beneath Sabbath who I love.

[@RobertFithen]

You are exactly right. I think that's why it has a better reputation today than it did then.

[@marioroggendorf3689]

@@RobertFithen Thanks for the reply. Enjoyed your video. My own take is that the first 4 Sabbath albums and Sabotage were the classics. I don't compare Sabotage to what came later but because I am so fond of Sabotage. That album really did it for me. Back street kids is a major turnoff, especially the chorus, which is just laughable as you mention. This was not the Ozzy we had remembered. Growing up with Sabbath was really special. Not so much on the last Ozzy records. I'd turned the page by then. Agreed that the album cover wasn't up to the standards. of hipgnosis.

[@kniknayme9865]

How many stars is Not Horrible? . I agree with you . Tough to beat those first 6 albums.

[@RobertFithen]

2 1/2 or 3. Definitely not a 5, but not a 1 either.

[@grooveyerbouti]

I have never understood why this and never say die are hated so much, yes a step down but hardly car crashes, then obviously I'm just full of opinion.

[@RobertFithen]

I would say some steps down from previous albums, but not a free fall

[@wowster-so8sx]

Rock and Roll doctor sounds like KISS, corny and cheesy

[@vinylrichie007]

It’s certainly as good as Never Say Die. Yikes, for me that is not a ringing endorsement.

[@RobertFithen]

I gave it more of a clanging endorsement. Not awesome, but not terrible.

[@vinylrichie007]

@@RobertFithen I would agree with that assessment..

[@ctcards2636]

Id have to say of all the Ozzy Sabbath albums, this is prob my least fav album. I like a few of the songs off the album for sure, but i like Never Say Die actually more than this album. This album has NOTHING on Sabotage sorry, i know you compared the two but Sabotage is like ACID meets Metal. This album is... different. Sabotage is one of my fav Ozzy Sabbath albums.

[@joeriveracomedy]

Track listing foreign to me. All I need to know.

[@RobertFithen]

Qué?

[@marshallfarstad3770]

I always liked this album, definitely not as good as any of their stuff before this tho. Not nearly as heavy or really as prog as the stuff they did prior, you gotta go into it expecting a classic rock album instead. Always loved all moving parts, dirty women and you won’t change me. The rest are good but never really stood out to me, and like you said some lyrics were pretty boring for sure on those other tracks.

[@RobertFithen]

Absolutely

[@davidcurry8440]

To me this one has always sounded like Black Sabbath trying to sound like UFO. I have the 2013 reissue and it sounds awful so , like you, if I come across an inexpensive copy ‘70’s pressing I’ll probably pick this up.

[@EDDIETRUJILLO-q8p]

The second to the last worst Sabbath album. The bottom is The Forbidden. Not an opinion.

[@lunkanx7804]

So you think never say die is better? (that not is bad either)

[@RobertFithen]

You're right. That's most likely not anyone's opinion.

[@UncleChud]

The 💩❕👍🏻

[@13itchybrother87]

It took me awhile to like this album. It was the last of the Ozzy era that I bought and it was the cover that kept me from buying it. And I'm with you on RnRDr. That intro is plain ridiculous for the song that it becomes. Maybe that was the idea. Start grandiose and then go all boogie woogie. It doesn't work for me. I think Gypsy is pretty corny too. The rest I like . My favorite is You Won't Change Me.

[@truthnaut7829]

"The difference between opinion and facts"... and then you immediately carry on about a box set that doesn't need a super deluxe version of it, nobody needs that??? Technical Ecstasy is an amazing album and would deserve the same treatment as any other Sabbath album featuring Ozzy on vocals when it comes to deluxe or remastered or whatever. Gypsy, All Moving Parts Stand Still, and Dirty Women are some of my favorites. And It's Alright, featuring vocals by Bill Ward is about your friends stealing your dope, classic. If you are one of those who have over looked this album, you really don't know what you're missing.

[@RobertFithen]

As I said, my opinion changed.

[@truthnaut7829]

@RobertFithen Amen to that. I was always a deep purple fan but never really knew how much until my brother turned me on to their whole collection. At 52. I became a new super fan and felt late to the show

[@rs500gsoat]

Black Sabbath is like Metallica to me. I either really like it or I can’t get into it at all. This album is no different, half good and half so so.

[@tomlangley6236]

Hated it when it came out.Hate the cover!........... years later, I still hate it, And the cover!

[@davidellis5141]

It's not terrible but it's not good. C-

[@danneeson7056]

It was and is a terrible, unlistenable Black Sabbath album for me. The bummer of the summer of '76.

[@RobertFithen]

I can see it not standing up in 1976. Standards have lowered considerably for me since then.

[@danneeson7056]

@@RobertFithen I was looking forward to its release and saw them December '76 in Niagara Falls N.Y. with Ted Nugent opening. Good show, bad album.

[@rjg2112]

Love Technical, no issues with it whatsoever. I also really enjoy the remix that came out with the box set.