A couple of weeks ago, I broke the news that the Ray Gillen version of the Eternal Idol was to be released. Back then I didn’t have a formal press release, but I have that today. Below is the full press release for the two releases. One slightly different bit in the press release, however. The previously accepted date of October 25, 2010 has been changed – the formal press release now says one week later, November 1, 2010. I’ve confirmed with Sanctuary records that November 1st is the proper release date.
Either way, if you haven’t pre-ordered these albums, you really should. I wrote about why in my story from two weeks ago, make sure and check that out. Remember, these are UK/Europe only, so if you’re in the states, you’ll need to import them. But they’re priced fairly well, so it won’t be outrageous to import yourself.
One note, some stories early on when this news broke said that Seventh Star was to have two remix tracks on the first disc. It does not, there’s just the one.
Black Sabbath
Deluxe Expanded Edition Re-issues: “Seventh Star” & “The Eternal Idol”
Release Dates: 1st November 2010
Universal Music are pleased to announce the release of deluxe edition re-issues of the Black Sabbath albums “Seventh Star” and “The Eternal Idol”.
After the departure of Black Sabbath’s third vocalist Ian Gillan following the “Born Again” album (released in 1983) the band effectively split-up and the remaining members embarked upon their own solo ventures. However, pressure from record companies and management would dictate the name Black Sabbath should forge-ahead and even though guitarist Tony Iommi would by now be the sole remaining original member, his unmistakable musicality and signature guitar sound would prove more than sufficient to keep the heart of Black Sabbath alive and beating deep into the 1980’s and beyond.
“Seventh Star” (originally released in 1986) saw Iommi recruiting the skills of Dave “The Beast” Spitz and drummer Eric Singer (later of Kiss renown) and for the first time the position of a keyboardist became a visible credit and long-serving back-room operator, Geoff Nicholls was finally brought to the foreground as an official member. However, it would be the position of lead vocalist that would have the greatest impact upon the new Sabbath sound and the appointment of ex. Trapeze and Deep Purple bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes, set interest and expectations high. Seventh Star would be somewhat of a departure from what was expected from the Black Sabbath name, and the songs on Seventh Star are more blues inclined and in the case of the single release, ‘No Stranger To Love’, an altogether more AOR and radio friendly breeze is adopted.
This re-mastered Deluxe Expanded Edition of the album adds the US Remix of the ‘No Stranger To Love’ single and also for the very first time on CD, a live performance from London’s Hammersmith Odeon in June ’86 which features then unknown American singer, Ray Gillen on lead vocals who was brought-in to complete the tour following the departure of Glenn Hughes due to illness.
“The Eternal Idol” (Black Sabbath’s thirteenth studio album released in 1987) was an altogether harder sounding record and brought back an ‘edge’ that had been missing from Seventh Star. Although the album was originally recorded with unknown American singer Ray Gillen, by the time it came to the album release Tony Martin had joined the band and subsequently replaced all the vocal work for the final album.
The Eternal Idol re-mastered Deluxe Expanded Edition adds two single b-sides from ‘The Shining’: ‘Black Moon’ and ‘Some Kind Of Woman’, whilst the second disc brings to CD for the very first time the complete album session originally recorded by the late Ray Gillen.
Seventh Star
Disc One (Original Album):
1. In For The Kill
2. No Stranger To Love
3. Turn To Stone
4. Sphinx (The Guardian)
5. Seventh Star
6. Danger Zone
7. Heart Like A Wheel
8. Angry Heart
9. In Memory…
Bonus Tracks:
10. No Stranger To Love (Single Remix)
Disc Two (Live at Hammersmith Odeon, London, 2nd June 1986):
1. Mob Rules
2. Danger Zone
3. War Pigs
4. Seventh Star
5. Die Young
6. Black Sabbath
7. N.I.B.
8. Neon Knights
9. Paranoid
The Eternal Idol
Disc One (Original Album):
1. The Shining
2. Ancient Warrior
3. Hard Life To Love
4. Glory Ride
5. Born To Lose
6. Nightmare
7. Scarlet Pimpernel
8. Lost Forever
9. Eternal Idol
Bonus Tracks:
10. Black Moon (Single B-Side)
11. Some Kind Of Woman (Single B-Side)
Disc Two (The Eternal Idol – Ray Gillen Session):
1. Glory Ride
2. Born To Lose
3. Lost Forever
4. Eternal Idol
5. The Shining
6. Hard Life To Love
7. Nightmare
8. Ancient Warrior
I’ve also been given permission to post a couple of screen captures from the booklets that they sent over to me today as well. Both contain new stories about the respective eras of the band. While the complete turmoil behind the making of the Eternal Idol would take a book on it’s own, it is touched upon, as is the torture behind the naming of the band for Seventh Star. Given I don’t want to spoil the stories, I’m not posting those parts. I’ll post the updated credit and track listing pages for you to check out early. All the shots below can be clicked on for larger versions (which are way easier to read):…
UPDATE: If you want to hear what the “bonus track” from Disc 1 sounds like, check out this video below. It’s the music video for “No Stranger to Love”, featuring a pensive Tony Iommi walking away from Star Trek’s Tasha Yar. :) Anyway, the chorus of the song is where the song is different. There’s an operatic background singer thing going on that is not on the album version of the song.
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