Solitude (Black Sabbath song)

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"Solitude"
Song by Black Sabbath
from the album Master of Reality
A-side "Children of the Grave"
ReleasedAugust 1971 (1971-08)
Recorded1971
Genre Psychedelic folk [1]
Length
  • 5:02 (album version)
  • 3:45 (single version)
Label Vertigo
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s) Rodger Bain

"Solitude" is a song by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. It was first released on their 1971 album Master of Reality , and later as the B-side to the single, "Children of the Grave". [2]

Contents

Overview

This song is about being depressed after breaking up with somebody. A delay effect was added to Ozzy Osbourne’s vocals on this song to provide the effect of a second vocal track. This song features the multi-instrumental talents of guitarist Tony Iommi, who also plays flute and piano on the recording. [3]

Legacy

On the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums Of All Time, author Brett Schewitz wrote, "The song that surprised me most was 'Solitude.' Another quieter song, Ozzy's voice is the most beautiful I've ever heard it. I actually had to check that it was, in fact, him singing." [4]

Loudwire ranks "Solitude" in the top 30 (29th place) amongst all 79 songs made by Black Sabbath with singer Ozzy Osbourne. [5]

Covers

"Solitude" was covered by Norwegian experimental electronica band Ulver in 2007, and released on the group's seventh album Shadows of the Sun [6]

Norwegian progressive metal band Green Carnation included a cover of the song on their 2020 album Leaves of Yesteryear. [7]

Another cover was released by Swedish progressive metal band Opeth on their eleventh album Pale Communion in 2014. [8]

Personnel

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References

  1. "Marissa Nadler covered Black Sabbath's "Solitude" (listen)".
  2. "Children of the Grave single".
  3. "Black Sabbath - Solitude Lyrics".
  4. "#234 Black Sabbath, 'Master of Reality' (1971)".
  5. "Black Sabbath Songs Ranked (Ozzy Osbourne Era)". Loudwire . 17 July 2023.
  6. "Review: Ulver - Shadows of the Sun".
  7. Blabbermouth (4 May 2020). "Leaves Of Yesteryear". BLABBERMOUTH.NET. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  8. "Opeth Cover Black Sabbath and Napalm Death During Performance in Germany". Loudwire . 30 November 2012.