top of page
intothewellsabyss

Black Sabbath - We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'N' Roll (1975)

𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐑𝐘𝐏𝐓𝐒 - 𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐀𝐋𝐁𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐄𝐒 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐀𝐑𝐃 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 & 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐘 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋…



On December 1, 1975, Black Sabbath released the compilation album We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'N' Roll via NEMS/Vertigo Records in the UK & Europe respectively (February 3, 1976 in the US via Warner Bros.)



Background:

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, had center pages featuring shots of the band but this was omitted on reissues, which came in a glossy-finish sleeve. 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.



Critical Reception:

It was certified Silver in the UK by the BPI on October 1, 1976. In the US the The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album as Gold on February 7, 1980, Platinum on May 13, 1986 and 2x Multi-Platinum (generally known as Double Platinum outside the offices of the RIAA) on March 16, 2000.



Note: The reviews shared here are for historical reference. The views and opinions expressed within are not always supported (in full or in part) by Into the Wells. — E.N. Wells



Follow Us:








2 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Comments


Post: Blog2_Post
bottom of page