Vol 4

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

Vol 4 · Despite the success of three albums, Black Sabbath struggled with problems in 1972, mainly because of drug use. For this album the band worked in America, in a rented house in Bel Air. It was the first record without producer Rodger Bain. Guitarist Tony Iommi did most of the production work, while manager Patrick Meehan was credited as co-producer. The recording was plagued by cocaine. The working title was Snowblind, but Vertigo did not want such a clear reference to drugs.

The music remains crushingly heavy, in Tomorrow's Dream, Cornucopia and Supernaut among others, but also goes in new directions. Changes is experimental and Laguna Sunrise is a neoclassical instrumental piece, conceived after a night of carousing on the beach. The music press remained critical, but the album was a great commercial success: number 5 in England and number 13 in America. It is now regarded as one of the band's best albums.

Listening

Track list

1. 1Wheels of Confusion / The Straightener (2009 Remaster)7:48Apple Music ↗
2. 2Tomorrow's Dream (2009 Remaster)3:09Apple Music ↗
3. 3Changes (2009 Remaster)4:42Apple Music ↗
4. 4FX (2009 Remaster)1:39Apple Music ↗
5. 5Supernaut (2009 Remaster)4:31Apple Music ↗
6. 6Snowblind (2009 Remaster)5:26Apple Music ↗
7. 7Cornucopia (2009 Remaster)3:52Apple Music ↗
8. 8Laguna Sunrise (2009 Remaster)2:50Apple Music ↗
9. 9St. Vitus Dance (2009 Remaster)2:28Apple Music ↗
10. 10Under the Sun (2009 Remaster)5:50Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗