12 '70s Hard Rock Albums All Fans Should Own
2. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Before he was reinventing reality TV, Ozzy Osbourne redefined just how heavy music could be. Their second album of 1970, the midlands band took the thick, sludgy sound of their self titled debut and focussed it into one of the most influential albums of the 1970s as well as the ‘80s.
Few guitarists can boast as distinctive a sound as Tony Iommi. Industrial damage to his hand meant that he played a downtuned guitar with weightier strings, and that unfortunate accident turned into audio gold. “Iron Man” is simple and concise but so memorable, and still heavy to this day.
The album’s hit, “Paranoid”, is an all time classic, one of the catchiest tunes about mental illness, and opener “War Pigs” sets the album off on the right note - dark and sinister, but never not fun.
The second side of the record shows Sabbath’s range, with deft instrumental “Rat Salad” and epic, stomping closer "Fairies Wear Boots". For those who know Osbourne primarily as a funny TV personality, it’s imperative to get acquainted with this record.