Black Sabbath - Which Versions To Look For?

This is supposed to be Sabbath's/Ozzy's shot at an "authorized" version of the old Live At Last album. Apparently the band was never happy with the original version's mixes, mastering or artwork (Ozzy's name was spelled wrong on the original cover, for one thing), as it was put out in Europe without their consent.

Here, they've remastered the original album on disc one, added a second disc of live tapes from the same era, and come up with a package that they can live with.

 

BTW Pause & Play has a listing for a new Warner Bros comp called Symptom of the Universe :Black Sabbath 1970-78 2cds for Oct 15 will be interesting to compare with the Castle remasters.I wish they could make it a DVD-A though.

 

Just my opinion but for those with a turntable and who love Sabbath you really need to hear a Vertigo pressing of Masters of Reality. I took me quite a while to find a mint original in the box sleeve but after playing it very worth the effort the bass and drum have a real you-are-there-quality. None of the CD come even close to what was on that record. The recent Castle vinyl reissues use digital sources, if you need to have vinyl copies they are ok but far from great.

 

Just my opinion but for those with a turntable and who love Sabbath you really need to hear a Vertigo pressing of Masters of Reality. I took me quite a while to find a mint original in the box sleeve but after playing it very worth the effort the bass and drum have a real you-are-there-quality. None of the CD come even close to what was on that record. The recent Castle vinyl reissues use digital sources, if you need to have vinyl copies they are ok but far from great.


Thank you! That was what I been looking for, so now I will don't bother
with the new 180 gram vinyls. Do you know if the 1997 Castle reissue of the first with the extra 7" is also from digital source?

As the other Sabbath LP's with ozzy, is it Vertigo that I ones I should look for? Any special thing to look for (like so special pressing or something)?

Thank you TommyTunes!

 

Absolutely TRASH don't go near it. As far as what pressing are good IMO the first three albums on Vertigo with the swirl label are great. The problem is trying to find them in anywhere near mint condition. The original green label US Warner issues are also very good (and much easier to come by) but the Vertigo are the ones to own. The one with the biggest difference is Masters.

 

TommyTunes, Thank you!!

 

Thanks to everyone for the feedback provided in this thread. That was exactly the type of information I was looking for. Based on the advice given, I purchased the Castle box set of the first eight albums yesterday. So far, I've only had a chance to listen to Masters Of Reality and Black Sabbath, but the sound on both is absolutely wonderful. I'm eagerly looking forward to listening to the remaining six CD's.

Thanks again,

Dan

 

Nativity in Black Promo 2cd

In 1994 was a issued a promo 2 cd of "Nativity in Black" a tribute to Black Sabbath. The complete title is "The Bible According to Black Sabbath" OLd and New Testaments. Columbia 2SK6544.
The first cd includes the original 12 tracks recorded by Black Sabbath, remastered by Vlado Meller At Sony Music Studio NY. The sound is great and much better than the Castle remaster especially the drums and cymbals. The 2nd cd is the Nativity in Black cd.
A must title for any B.S. collector

 

Ken, I have Master Of Reality non-remastered and all I can say is that I seriously doubt that I will buy anymore Castle's based on both your information and my own experience as the Warner Bros. version sounds very smooth in comparison to the Castle which sounds boosted in both the top and bottom. The Warner Bros. you can really put some volume behind without any hearing discomfort. Wish I could say the same about the Castle.

My only head-scratcher is that how come WB can give us beautiful analog sounding albums in the first 2 and then comes Sabatoge and it comes out sounding like a modern mastering?

Do either the Vertigo or the Castles have any very analog sounding recordings for CD and any of the WB's past Sabatoge? I really would like to have a complete analog sounding CD collection of Sabbath if it's even possible.

 

Bump. Anyone?

 

Dave,

I highly recommend Sabbath Bloody Sabbath on Castle. It's a fine CD. I think someone mentioned it earlier in the thread.

Mike

 

Hi Dave,

Do you mean the 1st three?

Black Sabbath
Paranoid
Master Of Reality

And, if so, are the good versions still available, or did these get a secret remastering? (maybe Michael can say for those of us in the USA).

Thanks,
Mike

 

Castle's Sabbath Bloody Sabbath sound not as good as the japanese pressing! Very good example is the alarm clock on "Who Are You"... you almost can't hear the alarm on the Castle pressing... very noticeable in the japanese pressing!

I will check the upcoming 2 CD set from Rhino.... but I doubt they have used the original tapes for this compilation

 

Well, that sounds like it could be a mix difference. The Castle sounds great IMO but again, may not be from the same tapes as your Japanese version. As for the Rhino, I wouldn't hold my breath. So many disappointments

 

Yes Mike, that is what I meant. I have the original Warner Bros. pressings of Paranoid, Master Of Reality, and Sabbath, Bloody Sabbath. The only Castle that I have is Master Of Reality and it sounds nowhere near as good as the WB version (boosted treble and bass and too compressed IMHO as compared to the WB).

So the Castle SBS doesn't have this sort of sound?

So I guess all in all the answer to your question is no there wasn't any special masterings, at least to my limited knowledge, just that the original WB's are flat-transfers, at least the first 3.

Any help with this quest or info is greatly appreciated.

 

Well Dave, I don't have any other Castle remasters of Sabbath, so I can't say if they're similar. But I'll give the SBS another spin. I remember it as a good listen, but then again, I have no other copy to make comparisons, so it's just my impression only! That's always going to yield interesting results . It's definitely not mastered flat though, if that's your preference.

As for the Warners, thanks for the tip!

 

Regarding Paranoid, check out the original Vertigo pressings and see whether they sound like the WB. WB has always had a rolled off treble compared with the Vertigo and had an intermittent fault in War Pigs, which persisted on the CD release. The Castle CD with the silver sticker sounds most like the Vertigo to me. US listeners didn't hear Paranoid as it should have sounded.

 

You're banging your head against a wall, don't even bother.

 

John, I do agree with you in that War Pigs always had that intermitent fault, but fortunately was never added any eq. I don't think that I've ever heard a Vertigo pressing before let alone ever seen one. The Castles, weren't they made from a digital source? I know nothing of Paranoid on Castle, is it boosted the way that Master Of Reality with the siver sticker is? How much different/better is it than the WB?

No matter what Mike says (not Mike V) I am interested in knowing about this Black Sabbath info. and appreciate your opinion even if I'm not in agreement with it.

 

I have the Black Sabbath and Paranoid on Victor cds, made in Japan.
VICP 61277 and VICP 61278, respectively.

Sound quality is quite impressive. Guitars have deep tube sound. Drum kit full of punch and woody. Ozzy , well, it's OZZY!

If I made a copy (that would be wrong) and gave it to friends (which I wouldn't EVER do) , they said, "this disk kicks ass."

These young Gen X, Y & Z whippersnappers could learn a thing or two from the drummer and bassist.

Have not heard the other pressings. Just the memory of the original WB vinyl ...These Victors are the "Way back machine". Ready, Sherman?

 

I guess most people here would prefer to hear the albums as they sounded originally on Vertigo. I only really know Paranoid in detail, having heard the original Vertigo, Warners, WWA reissue, and on CD the Warners and the Castle silver sticker. The US CD and vinyl versions do not sound like the UK versions, the latter are, IMHO, the correct versions.

 

IMO... most of teh Castle remasters are better than the Warner or japanese CD pressings! Although I have sold my Sabbath vinyls... too much pops after extensive listenings...

Heaven And Hell blows away the WB pressing...

 

Ken,
I'd modify this to read....
WB CDs ==> worse sources + flat mastering of those crappy sources
Castle CDs ==> better sources (if the enclosed photos of the UK tape masters and the sound are anything to go by) and minimal equalisation to end up sounding like the original Vertigo.
The printed lyrics are a real laugh - "treating people just like porns in chess"....maybe it's the X-rated version?
I am listening to War Pigs at the moment - what a great, nearly acapella vocal Ozzy does at the start of this.