Born Again (Black Sabbath album)

Untitled

Born Again is Black Sabbath's eleventh studio album, released in 1983.

It has been panned by critics, but reached #4 in the UK charts as well as the top 40 in the United States.

The CD version of this album is not available in the United States, although imports often turn up in American stores. Additionally, the vinyl and cassette versions can still be found.

Album information

The album features the vocals of Ian Gillan, former singer for Deep Purple, who joined the band in 1983 to replace departed vocalist Ronnie James Dio. Original Black Sabbath drummer Bill Ward returned to the band as a replacement for Vinny Appice, who had left with Dio to form the band Dio, and quit the band right before the 1983 tour.

Recording

The album was recorded during the summer of 1983 at The Manor Studio in Shipton-on-Cherwell, Oxfordshire, England. A major criticism of the album is its production, which Iommi and Gillan have both said is abysmal. Gillan went as far as blaming Butler, who co-produced the album, for the awful sound quality. Former Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne said in a fall 1983 issue of Circus magazine (article: "Is Sabbath Turning Purple?"): "Born Again is the best thing I've heard from Sabbath since I left the band."

In 2005, a collection of demo recordings of the album began circulating. It contained every song that made the final album, including a previously unreleased track called "The Fallen" as well as a complete and longer version of the song "Stonehenge". Original versions of the bootleg ran at the wrong speed, being too fast; subsequent versions have been restored to normal speed.

Song information

"Digital Bitch" is rumoured to have been lyrically inspired by Sharon Arden, daughter of Black Sabbath manager Don Arden and later Ozzy Osbourne's wife. In the words of Ian Gillan:

I remember exactly who inspired this story, but the only thing I can reveal about her identity is that neither she, nor her father, had anything to do with computers.

Album cover

The album cover, which featured the image of an infant with horns and vampire fangs, was designed by Steve Joule. He also handwrote the lyrics that appear on the inner sleeve. The deliberately lurid design was submitted by Joule in a vain attempt to be rejected from this design commission, as he was also retained on a lucrative contract by Ozzy Osbourne's organisation for his sleeve designs. To Joule's horror and surprise, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler approved the image for the album. Gillan and Ward were not present when the decision was made, though they later noted that they hated the finished cover. Gillan reportedly hated the cover so much, that he threw a box of 50 records out a window. Joule reports that he was drunk and high on speed when he drew the finalized designs for the album. The cover is hated by many fans, but also has a cult following (much as the album itself), most notably with Max Cavalera and Glen Benton both stating that it is their favorite album cover. Chris Barnes of Six Feet Under also said he likes the artwork, stating; "It's really the birth of the Antichrist in a Pop Art way which is scary of sorts on a few different levels for me." The same reference photograph was used by Depeche Mode for their single New Life.

Miscellaneous

• In the US and Canada, the album has never officially been released on Compact Disc by Warner Bros. Records. It is only available as an import.

• In 1993, American death metal band Cannibal Corpse covered the song "Zero the Hero" on the EP Hammer Smashed Face.

• "Zero the Hero" was also covered by the band Godflesh. It appears on Masters of Misery: The Earache Tribute to Black Sabbath.

• In 1994, Danzig guitarist John Christ told Guitar School that their song "Her Black Wings" compares a riff of "Zero the Hero".

• In 2006, Ian Gillan re-recorded "Trashed" with Tony Iommi, Ian Paice and Roger Glover for his retrospective collection Gillan's Inn.

Track listing

All songs written by Tony Iommi, Ian Gillan, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward, except where noted.

Side one

1. "Trashed" – 4:16
2. "Stonehenge" – 1:58
3. "Disturbing the Priest" – 5:49
4. "The Dark" – 0:45
5. "Zero the Hero" – 7:35

Side two

1. "Digital Bitch" – 3:39
2. "Born Again" – 6:34
3. "Hot Line" (Iommi, Gillan, Butler) – 4:52
4. "Keep It Warm" (Iommi, Gillan, Butler) – 5:36

Personnel

• Ian Gillan – vocals
• Tony Iommi – guitar, flute
• Geezer Butler – bass guitar
• Bill Ward – drums

with

• Geoff Nicholls – keyboards

Release history

Region	Date	Label
United Kingdom	September, 1983	Vertigo Records
United States	1983	Warner Bros. Records
Canada	1983	Warner Bros. Records
United Kingdom	1996	Castle Communications
United Kingdom	2004	Sanctuary Records

See also

Born Again Tour 1983

External links

• Gillan the Hero – Fan site with information on the album and subsequent tour.