The Best of Black Sabbath is a compilation album by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in 2000 on the Sanctuary Records label. Its 32 songs are presented chronologically from the band's first 11 studio albums, spanning the years 1970 to 1983. Black Sabbath's classic six-album run, from their debut Black Sabbath (1970) to Sabotage (1975), is represented by three to six songs from each album. Original vocalist Ozzy Osbourne's subsequent final two albums with the band, Technical Ecstasy (1976) and Never Say Die! (1978), are represented by one and two songs, respectively. Replacement Ronnie James Dio's early 1980s stint fronting the band on two albums is acknowledged with the title track of Heaven and Hell (1980) and a track from The Mob Rules (1981). The compilation closes with a song from the band's attempted rebirth, Born Again (1983), former Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan's sole album with the band. The Best of Black Sabbath does not include any later material with vocalists Glenn Hughes (1986's Seventh Star), Tony Martin (1986–96) or the returning Dio (1992's Dehumanizer).
As this compilation was released by a record label not associated with Black Sabbath or their management, it is not considered an official Black Sabbath release, and isn't in their official catalogue. There have been roughly half a dozen compilations released throughout Black Sabbath's career titled The Best of Black Sabbath. None of them are official band releases.
The compilation was released on double CD, quadruple LP and double cassette formats.[1]
Artwork
Pictured in the foreground on the compilation's front cover are four water-filled stone-hewn graves. Dating back to the 11th century, they are located at St Patrick's Chapel, Heysham, Lancashire, North West England, overlooking Morecambe Bay.[2]Superimposed onto one of the graves is a silhouette of a winged figure, the Black Sabbath mascot known as "Henry", a devil/demon or fallen angel used in various merchandise.[3][4] In the background of the scene the sun is setting, so apparently it is at dusk. It has a "The Best of Black Sabbath" title which appears in a Greek style font. On the back of the booklet (which contains extensive liner notes, penned by Hugh Gilmour, and credits) there is a silhouette of band member Geezer Butler playing bass guitar in the moonlight.[5]
In a review of The Best of Black Sabbath for AllMusic, Greg Prato wrote that it was "undoubtedly one of the best [Black Sabbath] collections to surface", saying that "What makes [the compilation] such an appealing one is that it manages to include all the favorites, as well as a multitude of oft-overlooked (but just as strong and classic) album cuts." He concluded the review by opining that "Few Sabbath compilations manage to cover all the bases like Sanctuary's 'Best of Black Sabbath' does."[6]
1969–1979 Disc One tracks 1–16; Disc Two tracks 1–13
The albums that this line-up is featured on are Black Sabbath, Paranoid, Master of Reality, Vol. 4, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, Sabotage, Technical Ecstasy, and Never Say Die!.
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