2010 Deluxe CD [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ]
1987 CD [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ] | 1996 CD [ Amazon US | Amazon UK ]
MP3 [ Amazon US ] | Deluxe MP3 [ Amazon UK ] | iTunes (US)

Track Listing

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
10. Black Moon (2010 Deluxe Only)
11. Some Kind of Woman (2010 Deluxe Only)

Disc 2 (2010 Deluxe Only)

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

Writing Credits

• All music & lyrics by Tony Iommi
• NOTE: That’s not the truth, that’s just the way it was credited.  A lot of lyrics were written by Bob Daisley, with some help from Ray Gillen.

Credits

• Tony Martin – Vocals
• Ray Gillen – Vocals (Disc 2, Deluxe Edition only)
• Tony Iommi – Guitar
• Bob Daisley – Bass
• Dave Spitz – Bass (credited, but doesn’t appear on the album)
• Eric Singer – Drums
• Bev Bevan – Percussion (Scarlet Pimpernel only)
• Geoff Nicholls – Keyboards
• Produced by Jeff Glixman, Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, & Chris Tsangerides
• Recorded at Air Studios, Monterserrat & Battery Studios, London
• Mixed by Chris Tsangerides
• 1996 Remaster by Ray Staff
• 1996 Design, Booklet Notes, & sleeves by Hugh Gilmour
• 2010 Remaster by Andy Pearce & Matt Wortham
• 2010 Sleevenotes by Alex Milas
• 2010 Design by Hugh Gilmour
• 2010 Project Management by Jon Richards
• 2010 Release Coordination by Steve Hammonds

Catalogue Numbers

• LP Warner Bros 9-25548-1 (US 1987)
• CD Warner Bros 9-25548-2 (US 1987)
• CASS Warner Bros 9-25548-4 (US 1987)
• LP Vertigo VERH-51 (UK 1987)
• LP Nippon 25PP-225 (JPN 1987)
• LP Discos Philips 832-708-1 (COL 1988)
• CD Essential ESM-CD-336 (UK 1996)
• CASS Essential RSM-MC-336 (UK 1996)
• CD Sanctuary SMRCD077 (UK 2004)
• CD Universal 2752460 (EUR 2010)
• CD Universal UICY-25131 (JPN 2011)

Notes

• This was the first Black Sabbath album to be recorded digitally.
• The cover art for the album is based off of a statue created by sculptor Auguste Rodin in 1889.  Here’s a link with pictures and info about the real sculpture.  You can read more about Rodin here.
• Tony Martin posted this about some actual dates for this album. “I went for the audition to join Black Sabbath in London on Tuesday the 26th May 1987 …. I was told i got the job on Thursday 28th May 1987. I started recording the vocals on Monday 8th June 1987.”  He then went on to say this when I asked about when they were completed.. “Thursday the 18th June… I had a break of 4 days in the middle from the 10th to the 14th “
• The band could not get the rights to use the 1889 original sculpture for the cover art, but instead had a couple of models get all “dirtied up”, and posed in the same positions as the original sculpture.  That is what is on the actual album cover art.
• There is a music video for The Shining. The video for has Terry Chimes on drums, but there is a total unknown playing bass. This person on bass in the video is not on any album or tour, he was just there for filming that day only; having literally been plucked off the street for the shoot.  According to Tony Martin, his name is “Steve”.
• Black Moon & Some Kind of Woman were originally released as B-Sides in 1987.
• Black Moon was later re-recorded for the Headless Cross album.
• Ray Gillen (vocals) recorded this album and left the band before release – Tony Martin came in and re-recorded all the vocals. There are a couple of versions with Ray Gillen floating around the collector’s circles.
• According to Tony Martin, one piece of Ray Gillen’s version of this album made it to the finished product. That being some laughter on the track “Nightmare”. Listen closely to that track, it’s Ray laughing.
• For the Eternal Idol Tour, neither Eric Singer nor Bev Bevan played live. For this tour, Terry Chimes played drums.
• For the Eternal Idol Tour, neither Bob Daisley nor Dave Spitz played live. For this tour, Jo Burt played bass.
• The liner notes that accompany this album are missing the lyrics to the first two verses of The Shining. Even on the remaster.
• This part of the band’s history is extremely confusing.  Go check out this page for further details.
• While the album credits Dave Spitz as playing bass, all the bass on the album is Bob Daisley.  In January of 2009, Bob passed along a remark to me about why Spitz was credited.  Bob said this, “By the way, the question as to why Dave Spitz is credited on the album in the bass credits is answered by the fact that I wouldn’t join the band and Spitz stayed, so to give some sort of continuity to the album and live performances, his name appears on the record.”
• In January of 2010, I received an email from Geoff Nicholls explaning the genesis of “Black Moon” which appears here and then later on Headless Cross.  Here it is:

Hi Joe
yea it sure was a long and winding road makng the Eternal Idol
anyway Black Moon was recorded in Monseratte with Bob Daisley on Bass
as Dave was not there by then when we come to put Lyrics on it
Ray was having problems coming up with a completed version
we sat down together to work on it but it never really fulfilled its promise
so it was left to work on the ones we decided were best for the Album
anyway after Ray disappeared and at a later date it was suggested
that we needed a couple of extra tracks for B-sides this was after
Tony Martin had finished recording the Album so Tony Martin came over
to my house and we worked on it but it still did not seem to have
that something so i suggested to Tony Martin I put some keyboards on it
and I had a title for a good hookline I see a Blackmoon Rising and Tony
came up with a great verse in the end we wanted a better hook line so
I completely changed the chord structure playing keyboards and keyboard
bass line but only in the chorus when we played it in the studio Tony Iommi
and Chris the Engineer co -producer loved it so we dropped the keyboards
in it and i replayed the bass line on keyboards drooping Bob out of those parts
just for the chorus Bob was still playing the main bass parts that was
for the B-side when we did it for the Headless cross it was completely
re-recorded and Lawrence Cottle played the bass and Cozy played a
different Drum pattern Some kind of Women was another Track never
finished so on the train Down to London to go to the studio Tony
Martin and Myself wrote the Lyrics then Tony Iommi recorded some
extra guitar tracks and put a solo on it and that was that. two B-sides done
Hope this helps
Geoff

Images

• The following are the front and rear images from the single of “The Shining”

• The following image is the original 1987 US vinyl release of the album.

• The following is the back CD cover for the 1987 original US CD release.

• The following are scans of the cassette tape release from the 1987 US original.  The flip side of the case is all lyrics, so I did not scan it.

• The following are scans from the 1996 Castle Remaster.  It shows the disc itself, as well as the back cover art.

• The following image is the back cover art from the 2010 Deluxe Edition.

• This is a picture of the old 80’s/early 90’s “long box” CD container that The Eternal Idol was sold in.  Thanks to Thierry Bergamin for the image.

• This is a photo of The Eternal Idol released on cassette tape in Malaysia.  Thanks to “Ali” from the Facebook group for the photo.

Video

The Shining

There’s a man who sees all there is to see
And what the future holds for all
As the days grow dark with the grim and final warning
Beware of the one with invisible friends
He will steal into your mind
And all too soon the signs begin to show

Rise up to the shining
Live long live now
Rise up to the shining
Don’t be blind by fools again
Fools again

As the pages turn and the story’s told
From the visions he had seen
The house on the hill, with the haunted eyes, that calls
No one laughed as madness came out to play its game
If you stay too long you’ll finally go insane

Rise up to the shining
Live long live now
Rise up to the shining
Don’t be blind by fools again
Fools again

Bells will take their toll on your way
There’s no way we’re born to shine
Before our time, all your life
You’re on your own lonely road
Lost in a time, let the light lead your way
To the golden throne, it’s the only way

Rise up to the shining
Live long live now
Rise up to the shining
Don’t be blind by fools again

Rise up to the shining
Live long live now
Rise up the shining
Don’t be blind by fools again

Oh rise up, to the shining
Wise up they’re gonna steal your mind
Rise up, the house is gonna haunt you
No one laughed, no one cried
You stayed too long, you’re finally gonna stay

NOTES:

• The US Warner Bros versions (vinyl/CD/cassette) and the Castle/Universal versions are missing the first four verses of lyrics.  It is not known why, I’ve asked around, and the best guess is that it was an error on the original release that’s been replicated during several re-releases.
• The final line appears on the lyric sheet, but is not sung.
• The original Ray Gillen version of this song has a completely different last verse.

Ancient Warrior

There’s no end, there’s no beginning
To the old man’s story
Does he still remember me
From lives gone by?
Oh I see his spirit riding
Upon the back of time
I’ve got nowhere to hide
Will he keep a place for me?

He is the king of all kings
The keeper of light
He holds eternity’s wings

In his eyes an ocean’s burning
Swollen seas of tears
Troubled mind the beating
War drums in his ears
No one ever hears his warning
I’m the one he calls
When they tell me they’re afraid
Some say I’ll be put away

He is the king of all kings
The keeper of light
He holds eternity’s wings

My blood will spill, my blood
My blood will spill, my blood

In the wisdom of the prophet’s
Never-ending tale
“Open up the eyes
Within your mind,” he says
Crowned in his ancient glory
There’s a king within us all
Some will say it’s all in vain
That he doesn’t have a name

He is the king of all kings
The keeper of light
He holds eternity’s wings

Hard Life to Love

Livin’ in the fast is easy till you run out of road
Friends will turn to strangers when you’re out of control
A slip of the tongue when it’s done, is often hard to see it through
So never let your words be lies or they’ll come looking for you
It’s a hard life to love

For the price of glory you left and threw your fortunes away
Never really cared too much for the job or the pay
You’re standing in the rain with no cover but you never complain
You’re an angry young man face to face but your mirror’s insane
It’s a hard life to love

I’m simply denying a part in your world
And I see, I see how it burns
I see how it turns
And you’re simply refusing to see that you’re blind
And I see no more, I see red, I only see red

Think of all the times I was hurting but you felt no pain
Think of all the lies you told me again and again
And still you seek the truth from those who continue to lie
And now you’re seeking life from those who are living to die
It’s a hard life to love

I’m simply denying a part in your world
And I see, I see how it burns
I see how it turns
And you’re simply refusing to see that you’re blind
And I see no more, I see red, I only see red

Livin’ in the fast lane ain’t easy when you run out of road
Friends will turn to strangers when there’s nowhere to go
Don’t give a damn when you’re lost ’cause you’ll die from it all
Laws were made to be broken and you do it for the thrill of it all
It’s a hard life to love
It’s a hard life to love

 

Glory Ride

Winged with steel they fill the air
The soldiers of fortune will ride
In the sights of the enemy’s gun
Those who have taken their oath tonight
Are well-prepared, they know they’ll do or die
Even if it’s suicide

Let’s take a chance
And the skies will burn tonight
Wasted lives and spirits run free
On the wings of no return

Dressed to kill, where eagles dare
The fate of a nation’s at hand
Is this the answer to their prayers?
Come the dawn, through the blood-red skies
Return with tears in their eyes
As they recall ‘Thou shalt not kill’

And in the morning
They’ll take a hero’s bow
And make the ever-lasting flight

Hear them calling, up above, all across the skies
Hear them calling, up above, from the other side
Hear them call!

Let’s take a chance
And the skies will burn tonight
Wasted lives and spirits run free
On the wings of no return

Let’s take chance
And the skies will burn tonight
Wasted lives and spirits run free
On the wings of no return

 

Born to Lose

I’ll play your game
But if you lose you’re gonna pay the price
Broken chains, like a prisoner free at last
The fear inside just upped and died
Time will tell if i am wrong

It won’t be too long
You thing I’m chasing shadows
In the dark
But I’m not born to lose
I’m not born to lose

You curse my name, as I turn and walk away from view
It won’t be too long
You don’t scare me cos you’re
Hard to see and it’s time
That you were gone
It won’t be too long

You think I’m chasing shadows
In the dark
But I’m not born to lose

You think I’m chasing shadows
In the dark
What you gonna do about it now?
What you gonna do about it now?

It won’t be too long
It won’t be too long
It won’t be too long

You think I’m chasing shadows
In the dark
What you gonna do about it now?
What you gonna do about it now?
There ain’t nothing you can do about it now

 

Nightmare

Close my eyes, started dreaming
See a vision filled with wings head my way
Feel the presence of unknown power
Telling me to come, this is the only way

It’s dream inside dream
Lost and lonely
Don’t be fooled by the Devil’s hand

Silent screamer filled with fear
As the night time shapes a face
Then disappears
Scared forever into believing
That your mind has met the
Prince of whom you see

It’s dream inside dream
Lost and lonely
Don’t be fooled by the
Devil’s hand

It’s dream inside dream
Fool forever, don’t get fooled
Forever
Don’t be fooled by the Devil

In your eyes the evil spirit arises
Blinded by the dark you fall into shame
As the reaper takes you down a spiral stairway
You share the evil pit with Satan’s name

Nightmare it’s got me runnin’
Nightmare it’s calling you
Nightmare it’s got me runnin’
Nightmare it’s calling you

It’s dream inside a dream
Lost and lonely
Don’t be fooled by the devil

It’s dream inside a dream
Lost forever
Don’t be fooled

It’s got me running
It’s just a nightmare
It’s got me running
It’s got me running

 

Scarlet Pimpernel

Instrumental

 

Lost Forever

All your life you’ve been slipping and sliding
Trying to find a way
Sun won’t shine but now it’s your time to pay
There’s no turning back as you look
The hangman in the eye
Now hell’s just your death away

It’s too late to say you care
When there’s evil in your stare
You say you’re not to blame
In your head voices mocking
Every prayer

Remember the face you saw
That once was you
Spirit high there’s no way that
You could lose
“Give him rope,” they said
As you look the hangman in the eye
Now around your neck you feel the noose

It’s too late to say you care
When there’s evil in your stare
You say you’re not to blame
In your head voices mocking
Every prayer
Now you’re lost forever

I’m burning with fire it’s time to
Leave or get out!
I’m burning in fire I can’t take
No more so get out!
I’m burning with fire, the wheels of
Steel will grind you
Burning in fire this time
You’re lost forever
Lost forever!

There’s an evil in your stare
Lost forever!
And hell’s just a breath away
You’re lost forever
And there’s no way out you burn
With fire, it’s time to get out!
Get out! Get out!
And there’s no way out
You’re lost forever

 

Eternal Idol

No one said it had to be this way
Why are we the victims of their final word?
Dying world is killing us so slowly
I believe no god may save us now

Can you see what I see?
Sinners, say your prayers tonight
Your judgement day is here

Child of tomorrow will die, not even born
Jesus, our questions, He never seems to hear
Dying for the answers may be the price we pay,
To find the key to our lives
Is there a heaven, is there a hell?
Who’s this god? Tell me there’s no god above
Why we chose what lord, deep within our souls
He’s not one thing, we are his spirit
We could save this world from destruction day

Can you see what I see?
Can you hear me cryin’?
Oh tell me now

You and I, victims of their final word
As the masters of power try to poison our world
Greed, money taken over their souls
Just mechanical brains
Politicians don’t know, they just don’t know

We can change this world we live in,
Don’t let it die
Oh we can save this world

 

Some Kind of Woman

She’s young, but lord what a woman she’s quick as a brawl at five
She’s class, one hell of a woman, she really confused my mind
She’s bad, power of the pleasure is far enough ta chase
She’s fast, power of the pedal is keeping up the pace

Wise up, she’s some kind of woman
Wise up, you can’t get away
Wise up, ooh just when you think that its safe

I’m gone, I can’t justify when I ain’t got some control
So long, I ain’t gonna stop ’till I step right off this world
She’s gone, I guess I’m the winner of an innocent little time
Don’t look, a tap on the shoulder sends a shiver down my spine

Wise up, she’s some kind of woman
Wise up, can’t get away
Wise up, oh just when you think that its safe (safe) …
She’s back

Cryin’, to give all the lovin’ but I never was enough
I cried, I prayed up to Heaven but the Lord said, “Boy that’s tough.”
This smile, only served me to ruin me when I thought I had direction
That walk, how the hell did she do it every move was perfection

Wise up, she’s some kind of woman
Wise up, you can’t get away
Wise up, ooh just when you think that its safe
Ooh she’s back
Ah she’s back
Ahh my motors runnin’
It’s buzzin’
Ooh she’s back
Ah
Ooh she’s back
Ooh