We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll

Album information

When Black Sabbath signed with NEMS, the label which would release their 1975 album Sabotage in the UK and Europe, NEMS acquired the band's back catalogue and wasted little time compiling this release. Authorized without the band's awareness by their previous manager, Patrick Meehan, the band would make no money whatsoever from the release. Although the band had six studio albums to its name at this point, this compilation drew heavily on the first four albums: this would also be a feature of most of the Osbourne-era compilations later released.

The original UK gatefold album, with a matte finish, had centre pages featuring shots of the band but this was omitted on reissues, which came in a glossy-finish sleeve. Additionally, the original record retained Geezer Butler's bass solo before "N.I.B.", but this would be edited from later issues. Some U.S. copies of the LP do not actually include "Wicked World" on the label or on the record itself, though it does appear on the cover. In the UK, "Wicked World" had been only a B-side and was relatively obscure.

Despite the album being an official release, Iommi has been quoted as saying that the first time the band knew of it was when asked to autograph copies which fans presented after concerts.

Reception

It was certified Silver in the UK by the BPI on 1 October 1976. In the US the RIAA certified the album as Gold on 7 February 1980, Platinum on 13 May 1986 and 2x Multi-Platinum (generally known as 'Double Platinum' outside the offices of the RIAA) on 16 March 2000.

Track listing

This is the track listing on the original record/cassette release. All songs written by Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward except where noted.

1. "Black Sabbath" (from Black Sabbath, 1970)
2. "The Wizard" (from Black Sabbath)
3. "Warning" (Aynsley Dunbar, John Moorshead, Alex Dmochowski, Victor Hickling) (from Black Sabbath)
4. "Paranoid" (from Paranoid, 1970)
5. "War Pigs" (from Paranoid)
6. "Iron Man" (from Paranoid)
7. "Wicked World" (from U.S. release of Black Sabbath'/B-side to UK "Evil Woman" single, 1970)
8. "Tomorrow's Dream" (from Vol. 4, 1972)
9. "Fairies Wear Boots" (from Paranoid)
10. "Changes" (from Vol. 4)
11. "Sweet Leaf" (from Master of Reality)
12. "Children of the Grave" (from Master of Reality)
13. "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" (from Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973)
14. "Am I Going Insane (Radio)" (from Sabotage, 1975)
15. "Laguna Sunrise" (from Vol. 4)
16. "Snowblind" (from Vol. 4)
17. "N.I.B." (from Black Sabbath)

When the album was released on CD, due to space restrictions, the tracks "Wicked World", "Warning" and "Laguna Sunrise" were omitted on the U.S. version. On the UK version "Wicked World" was omitted, the bass solo intro for "N.I.B." was cut, and "Children of the Grave" was shortened to 0:43 (the outro of the song). The CD was later remastered and reissued as a 2-CD set, restoring the original track listing and the bass solo intro for N.I.B.

A common cassette version in the US N.Y./N.J. market, late 70s to early 80s, had N.I.B. appearing in place of Wicked World.

Personnel