The Ultimate Collection (Black Sabbath album)

The Ultimate Collection
Greatest hits album by Black Sabbath
Released	28 October 2016 (2016-10-28)
Recorded	1969–1978
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	150:14
Label	BMG
Black Sabbath chronology
The End (2016) The Ultimate Collection (2016) The End: Live in Birmingham (2017)

The Ultimate Collection is a greatest hits album by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, first released on 28 October 2016. ^[1] Remastered by engineer Andy Pearce and curated by the members of the band, ^[2] the album was released during the band's final concert tour, The End Tour.

Release

The Ultimate Collection was released on CD and digital platforms on 28 October 2016. ^[1] This was followed on 18 November with the limited edition "Crucifold" box set release, which contains four vinyl LPs and folds out into the shape of a cross. ^{[3] [4]} The CD and LP releases were made available in the United States in February 2017. ^[2]

Reception

Leigh Sanders of Express & Star gave the album a positive review, calling it "[a] great collection." ^[5] Ulf Kubanke of Laut.de also reviewed the album positively, complimenting the songs and the sound quality. ^[6]

Track listing

Disc one

No.	Title	Original release	Length
1.	"Paranoid"	Paranoid , 1970	2:48
2.	"Never Say Die"	Never Say Die! , 1978	3:50
3.	"Iron Man"	Paranoid	5:54
4.	"Black Sabbath"	Black Sabbath , 1970	6:17
5.	"Children of the Grave"	Master of Reality , 1971	5:14
6.	"Fairies Wear Boots"	Paranoid	6:13
7.	"Changes"	Vol. 4 , 1972	4:42
8.	"Rat Salad"	Paranoid	2:29
9.	"Sweet Leaf"	Master of Reality	5:03
10.	"War Pigs"	Paranoid	7:54
11.	"Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"	Sabbath Bloody Sabbath , 1973	5:47
12.	"Hole in the Sky" (fade out edit)	Sabotage , 1975	4:00
13.	"Symptom of the Universe"	Sabotage	6:28
14.	"Spiral Architect"	Sabbath Bloody Sabbath	5:29
15.	"Rock 'n' Roll Doctor"	Technical Ecstasy , 1976	3:26
Total length:			75:34

Disc two

No.	Title	Original release	Length
1.	"Dirty Women"	Technical Ecstasy	7:08
2.	"Evil Woman"	Black Sabbath	3:22
3.	"A Hard Road"	Never Say Die!	6:04
4.	"Lord of This World"	Master of Reality	5:22
5.	"Into the Void"	Master of Reality	6:12
6.	"Behind the Wall of Sleep"	Black Sabbath	3:38
7.	"Snowblind"	Vol. 4	5:26
8.	"Tomorrow's Dream"	Vol. 4	3:08
9.	"The Wizard"	Black Sabbath	4:20
10.	"N.I.B."	Black Sabbath	6:04
11.	"Electric Funeral"	Paranoid	4:49
12.	"Embryo"	Master of Reality	0:27
13.	"Killing Yourself to Live"	Sabbath Bloody Sabbath	5:42
14.	"Am I Going Insane (Radio)"	Sabotage	4:16
15.	"Wicked World"	Black Sabbath	4:43
16.	"It's Alright"	Technical Ecstasy	3:59
Total length:			74:40

Charts

Chart (2016)	Peak position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [7]	176
French Albums (SNEP) [8]	141
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [9]	40
Scottish Albums (OCC) [10]	20
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [11]	45
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [12]	52
UK Albums (OCC) [13]	20
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [14]	4
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [15]	3
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard) [16]	13
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard) [17]	17

Chart (2025)	Peak position
Croatian International Albums (HDU) [18]	34
Irish Albums (OCC) [19]	29
UK Albums (OCC) [20]	14

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [21]	Gold	100,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Adams, Gregory (16 September 2016). "Black Sabbath Crank Out Another Greatest Hits Compilation, 'Paranoid' Reissue". Exclaim! . Retrieved 3 May 2022.
2. Childers, Chad (17 January 2017). "Black Sabbath Curate 'The Ultimate Collection' Two-Disc Set for February 2017 Release". Loudwire . Retrieved 3 May 2022.
3. "Black Sabbath: 'The Ultimate Collection' Due In October". Blabbermouth.net . 15 September 2016. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
4. Young, Graham (15 September 2016). "Black Sabbath release The Ultimate Collection with crucifold sleeve". Birmingham Mail . Retrieved 3 May 2022.
5. Sanders, Leigh (1 November 2016). "Black Sabbath: The Ultimate Collection - album review". Express & Star . Retrieved 5 May 2022.
6. Kubanke, Ulf (2016). "Schwarze Messe und Geburtsstunde des Heavy Metal". Laut.de (in German). Retrieved 5 May 2022.
7. "Ultratop.be – Black Sabbath – The Ultimate Collection" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
8. "Lescharts.com – Black Sabbath – The Ultimate Collection". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
9. "Offiziellecharts.de – Black Sabbath – The Ultimate Collection" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
10. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
11. "Spanishcharts.com – Black Sabbath – The Ultimate Collection". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
12. "Swisscharts.com – Black Sabbath – The Ultimate Collection". Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
13. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
14. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
15. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
16. "Black Sabbath Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
17. "Black Sabbath Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
18. "Lista prodaje (strano) 31. tjedan 2025. (28.07.2025. - 03.08.2025.)" (in Croatian). Top lista. 11 August 2025. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
19. "Official Irish Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
20. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2 August 2025.
21. "British album certifications – Black Sabbath – The Ultimate Collection". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 19 July 2020.