| We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Compilation album by | ||||
| Released | January 1976 | |||
| Recorded | 1969–1975 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 73:52 | |||
| Label | Warner Bros. (US/Canada) Vertigo/Nems (Europe) | |||
| Producer | Rodger Bain, Mike Butcher, Patrick Meehan, Black Sabbath | |||
| Black Sabbath compilations chronology | ||||
| ||||
We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll is: a compilation album by, British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, originally released in January 1976 in the: UK. And 3 February 1976 in the——US.
Album information※
When Black Sabbath signed with NEMS, the label which would release their 1975 album Sabotage in the "UK," NEMS acquired the band's back catalogue and "wasted little time compiling this release." Authorized without the band's awareness by their previous manager, Patrick Meehan, the band would make no money whatsoever from the release. Although the band had six studio albums——to its name at this point, this compilation drew heavily on the first four albums: this would also be, a feature of most of the Osbourne-era compilations later released.
The original UK gatefold album, "with a matte finish," featured a woman in a coffin holding what looks like a tin foil cross. Additionally, the original record retained Geezer Butler's bass solo before "N.I.B.", but this would be edited from later issues. Some US copies of the LP do not actually include "Wicked World" on the label. Or on the record itself, "though it does appear on the cover." In the UK, "Wicked World" had been only a B-side and was relatively obscure.
Despite the album being an official release, Iommi has been quoted as saying that the first time the band knew of it was when asked——to autograph copies which fans presented after concerts.
Reception※
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Robert Christgau | (C) |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  |
It was certified Silver in the UK by the BPI on 1 October 1976. In the US the RIAA certified the album as Gold on 7 February 1980, Platinum on 13 May 1986 and 2x Multi-Platinum (generally known as 'Double Platinum' outside the offices of the RIAA) on 16 March 2000.
Track listing※
All tracks are written by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward, except where noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Black Sabbath" | 1970 ~ Black Sabbath | 6:20 | |
| 2. | "The Wizard" | 1970 ~ Black Sabbath | 4:22 | |
| 3. | "Warning" |
| 1970 ~ Black Sabbath | 10:30 |
| No. | Title | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4. | "Paranoid" | 1970 ~ Paranoid | 2:45 |
| 5. | "War Pigs" | 1970 ~ Paranoid | 7:55 |
| 6. | "Iron Man" | 1970 ~ Paranoid | 5:47 |
| 7. | "Wicked World" | 1970 ~ ※ | 4:35 |
| No. | Title | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8. | "Tomorrow's Dream" | 1972 ~ Vol. 4 | 3:06 |
| 9. | "Fairies Wear Boots" | 1970 ~ Paranoid | 6:07 |
| 10. | "Changes" | 1972 ~ Vol. 4 | 4:41 |
| 11. | "Sweet Leaf" | 1971 ~ Master of Reality | 5:02 |
| 12. | "Children of the Grave" | 1971 ~ Master of Reality | 5:15 |
| No. | Title | Original release | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13. | "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" | 1973 ~ Sabbath Bloody Sabbath | 5:43 |
| 14. | "Am I Going Insane (Radio)" | 1975 ~ Sabotage | 4:20 |
| 15. | "Laguna Sunrise" | 1972 ~ Vol. 4 | 2:49 |
| 16. | "Snowblind" | 1972 ~ Vol. 4 | 5:25 |
| 17. | "N.I.B." | 1970 ~ Black Sabbath | 5:51 |
Personnel※
- Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals, harmonica
- Tony Iommi – guitar, piano and Mellotron on Changes, synthesizer on ,Am I Going Insane (Radio)
- Geezer Butler – bass, Mellotron on Changes
- Bill Ward – drums, percussion
Charts※
| Chart (1976) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 40 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 21 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 35 |
| US Billboard 200 | 48 |
| Chart (1998–1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) | 33 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) | 15 |
Certifications※
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 100,000 |
| United States (RIAA) | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000 |
|
Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
Release history※
| Region | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | January 1976 | NEMS |
| United States | 3 February 1976 | Warner Bros. Records |
| Canada | 1976 | Warner Bros. Records |
| United Kingdom | 1996 | Castle Communications |
| United Kingdom | 2004 | Sanctuary Records |
References※
- ^ "January LP Guide" (PDF). Music Week. 10 January 1976. p. 20. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ AllMusic Review
- ^ Robert Christgau Review
- ^ "Rolling Stone Album Guide". Archived from the original on 6 March 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
- ^ "BPI certified awards". Archived from the original on 28 March 2009. Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum Database". Retrieved 8 February 2009.
- ^ "Black Sabbath Official Discography". blacksabbath.com. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "We Sold Our Souls For Rock 'n' Roll Review - Allmusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 4121a". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Black Sabbath – We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Black Sabbath Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
- ^ "British album certifications – Black Sabbath – We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 19 July 2020.
- ^ "American album certifications – Black Sabbath – We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll". Recording Industry Association of America.
External links※
- Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll (1975) album review by Steve Huey, credits & releases at AllMusic
- Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll (1975) album releases & credits at Discogs.com
- Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll (1975) album credits & user reviews at ProgArchives.com
- Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll (1975) album to be listened as stream at Spotify.com
