Seventeen days after the final "Back to the Beginning" Black Sabbath farewell show in his hometown of Birmingham, England, Ozzy Osbourne departed from this mortal coil. The Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award honoree passed away on July 22 at age 76.
The "Prince of Darkness" and five-time GRAMMY winner's legacy includes a long list of achievements that very few musicians can boast: He co-founded a groundbreaking band, led a successful solo career afterward, won many awards (including an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame), and was a pioneering reality television personality.
Headlining a fittingly epic, 10-hour show supported by some of the finest metal and hard rock acts, Ozzy and co. made a deservingly loud exit. It wasn’t just a show; it was a testament to the massive impact Sabbath had on so many, but when Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Bill Ward, and Geezer Butler started a band in 1968, they didn't know that Black Sabbath would forever change music. Together (and with help from a few additions to the lineup) they shaped and pioneered heavy metal; all great bands in the genre owe much to Sabbath.
Over nearly 60 years of hard rock and culture-defining music, Sabbath tried on different styles, personalities, and singers. When Ozzy left the band in 1979, Ronnie James Dio (who made his name as the vocalist for Rainbow) brought to the band a unique voice, presence, and wild themes of fantasy/the epic. Other Black Sabbath vocalists included Tony Martin and Ian Gillan, who both made great albums with varying critical success.
Still, when most people think Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne is the first name that comes to mind — and for good reason. Not only was he one of the founders, the band’s longest-serving vocalist and its most iconic voice, but his attitude and presence — marked by legendary irreverence and a genuine love for his community — made Ozzy’s Sabbath particularly special. Over the course of their lengthy career, the band has won two GRAMMY Awards and has been nominated for a total of four.
The most celebrated Black Sabbath albums of all time are with Ozzy: Sophomore release Paranoid gave the band a few of their classics in 1970; Master of Reality defined hard rock in 1971; Sabotage (which celebrates its 50th anniversary on July 28) is some of the band’s heaviest work. Their final studio album, 2013's 13, was a triumphant return to roots with Ozzy at the fore.
With 19 studio albums and eight live releases, there's a version of Black Sabbath to suit any taste. The albums featured on this list are quintessential listens for any fan or novice rocker; each has withstood the test of time and become heavy metal classics.
Vol. 4 (1972)
While not as influential or groundbreaking as its three predecessors, Vol. 4 is more refined, more thematically mature, and remains a fantastic listen. Vol. 4 is not only a top Sabbath album, but a truly great ‘70s metal record. It achieved platinum status in the United States and hit No. 13 on the Billboard 200.
Vol. 4 was Black Sabbath’s first self-produced album after taking back the reins from Rodger Bain. Guitarist Tony Iommi served as the record's chief producer and also composed many of the album's songs, including the eternal and devastating "Changes." Following a drug-fueled stay in Bel Air and multiple related incidents, Sabbath created a series of mature, dark, and very heavy tunes. Album spotlights include "Under the Sun/Everyday Comes and Goes," notable for its heavy riffs, especially the mind-bending intro.
Sabotage (1975)
Sabotage remains one of the band’s most essential albums, and by far their angriest. At the time, Black Sabbath were going through a major court battle with their former management. "It was probably the only album ever made with lawyers in the studio," Tony Iommi recalled.
That tension is reflected in the sound: heavy, angry, and bursting. It contains multiple classics — namely "Hole in the Sky"— an opening track that starts off the record with signature Iommi riffs and deranged vocals from Ozzy — and "Symptom of the Universe," which is as catchy as it is unnerving. "Megalomania" stands out for its epic length of 9 minutes and 41 seconds, self-reflective lyrics, haunting vocals and effects, and beautifully eerie atmosphere of doom.
Heaven and Hell (1980)
When Dio joined Black Sabbath in 1979, the band took a different turn, which is to be expected when you have a vocalist with so much personality like him at the helm. Indeed, their first album, Heaven and Hell, has Dio written all over it. Still, it possesses something special and different from his self-titled project and earlier Rainbow albums: the dark tones that only Sabbath could’ve brought out.
Heaven and Hell goes full throttle from the first drop of the needle with "Neon Knights," then jumps to a soft ballad meets hard rock anthem titled "Children of the Sea," and soon gets to the title track. Dio’s vocals shine throughout as he sings grandiose and awe-inspiring lyrics; Iommi’s solo towards the end of the title track is up there with his best. The eight-track album does not relent, continuing with classics like "Die Young" and "Walk Away." Even at the very end, Iommi is still shredding as the fade-out signals the end of a Sabbath masterpiece.
Its iconic album cover of three angels smoking cigarettes while playing cards is still one of the coolest album covers of all time. Heaven and Hell achieved platinum status and reached No. 28 on the Billboard 200.
Headless Cross (1989)
Headless Cross is a peculiar album. It contains some of Black Sabbath's most melodic work, influenced by sounds from the '80s rather than the band's hard rock roots. At the same time, its lyrics center on themes of Satanism and the occult, the band's only album to do so in its entirety.
The album features Tony Martin's youthful and energetic vocals, which perfectly match the tracks’ melodic riffing. The title track is the Headless Cross’ highlight for its synth keyboard melodies, face-melting solo, epic lyrics, and one hell of a vocal performance. Another highlight of the album is When Death Calls, which opens with a hauntingly emotional riff and soft angelic vocals from Tony Martin, before it builds up to a heavy metal epic featuring a solo by none other than Queen's Brian May.
13 (2013)
In 2013, Black Sabbath sought to make one last trip to the studio for their first album since 1995's Forbidden. Three of the four original members returned for the occasion: 13 marked Ozzy Osbourne’s first studio album with the band since Never Say Die! was released in 1978, Geezer Butler’s first since 1994's Cross Purposes, and Tony Iommi, who never left the band.
Read more: GRAMMY Facts: Black Sabbath's GRAMMY-winning "God Is Dead"
This important reunion resulted in one of their most mature works; a Sabbath with decades of wisdom. The GRAMMY-nominated record contains many great tracks, with the most memorable being "God is Dead?", a deep reflection on mortality and modern society that took home a golden gramophone for Best Metal Performance at the 2014 GRAMMYs. Elsewhere, "Zeitgeist" is a classic metal ballad capable of rivaling the genre’s best softer ventures, and "Loner" describes an outcast over a super catchy riff.