BLACK SABBATH: Deluxe-Edition Reissues Of 'Seventh Star', 'The Eternal Idol' Reviewed

Joe Siegler of the BLACK SABBATH fan site Black-Sabbath.com has posted an extensive review of the upcoming deluxe-edition reissues of the BLACK SABBATH albums "Seventh Star" and "The Eternal Idol". He writes, "I cannot recommend these albums highly enough. 'Eternal Idol' a bit more due to the inclusion of the long unreleased Ray Gillen album. But both are worthy purchases. Even if you've bought the original releases, the Castle releases, and any other versions. Go grab these. Support Tony Iommi and validate his decision to release these rare Ray Gillen recordings, and buy these."

Read the entire article at Black-Sabbath.com.

Universal Music has set a November 1 U.K. release date for the deluxe-edition reissues of "Seventh Star" and "The Eternal Idol".

After the departure of BLACK SABBATH's third vocalist Ian Gillan following the "Born Again" album (released in 1983) the band effectively split up and the remaining members embarked upon their own solo ventures. However, pressure from record companies and management would dictate the name BLACK SABBATH should forge-ahead and even though guitarist Tony Iommi would by now be the sole remaining original member, his unmistakable musicality and signature guitar sound would prove more than sufficient to keep the heart of BLACK SABBATH alive and beating deep into the 1980s and beyond.

"Seventh Star" (originally released in 1986) saw Iommi recruiting the skills of Dave "The Beast" Spitz and drummer Eric Singer (later of KISS) and for the first time the position of a keyboardist became a visible credit and long-serving back-room operator Geoff Nicholls was finally brought to the foreground as an official member. However, it would be the position of lead vocalist that would have the greatest impact upon the new SABBATH sound and the appointment of ex-TRAPEZE and DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes set interest and expectations high. "Seventh Star" would be somewhat of a departure from what was expected from the BLACK SABBATH name, and the songs on "Seventh Star" are more blues inclined and in the case of the single release, "No Stranger To Love", an altogether more AOR- and radio-friendly breeze is adopted.

This remastered deluxe expanded edition of the album adds the U.S. remix of the "No Stranger To Love" single and also for the very first time on CD, a live performance from London's Hammersmith Odeon in June '86 which features then-unknown American singer Ray Gillen who was brought-in to complete the tour following the departure of Glenn Hughes due to illness.

"The Eternal Idol" (BLACK SABBATH's thirteenth studio album released in 1987) was an altogether harder-sounding record and brought back an "edge" that had been missing from "Seventh Star". Although the album was originally recorded with unknown American singer Ray Gillen, by the time it came to the album release Tony Martin had joined the band and subsequently replaced all the vocal work for the final album.

"The Eternal Idol" remastered deluxe expanded edition adds two single B-sides from "The Shining" — "Black Moon" and "Some Kind Of Woman" — while the second disc brings to CD for the very first time the complete album session originally recorded by the late Ray Gillen.

"Seventh Star" remastered deluxe expanded edition:

Disc One (Original Album):

01. In For The Kill
02. No Stranger To Love
03. Turn To Stone
04. Sphinx (The Guardian)
05. Seventh Star
06. Danger Zone
07. Heart Like A Wheel
08. Angry Heart
09. In Memory...

Bonus Tracks:

10. No Stranger To Love (single remix)

Disc Two (Live At Hammersmith Odeon, London, England - June 2, 1986):

01. Mob Rules
02. Danger Zone
03. War Pigs
04. Seventh Star
05. Die Young
06. Black Sabbath
07. N.I.B.
08. Neon Knights
09. Paranoid

"The Eternal Idol" remastered deluxe expanded edition:

Disc One (Original Album):

01. The Shining
02. Ancient Warrior
03. Hard Life To Love
04. Glory Ride
05. Born To Lose
06. Nightmare
07. Scarlet Pimpernel
08. Lost Forever
09. Eternal Idol

Bonus Tracks:

10. Black Moon (single B-side)
11. Some Kind Of Woman (single B-side)

Disc Two ("The Eternal Idol" – Ray Gillen Session):

01. Glory Ride
02. Born To Lose
03. Lost Forever
04. Eternal Idol
05. The Shining
06. Hard Life To Love
07. Nightmare
08. Ancient Warrior