Black Sabbath - Technical Ecstacy (1976)

By the mid-'70s, a number of problems were threatening to break up the original line-up of Black Sabbath. The stress brought on by lengthy touring, drug use, and alcoholism had begun to dilute the band's original, influential heavy metal. Sabbath began to drift away from the straight-ahead power rock of such classic albums as PARANOID and SABBATH BLOODY SABBATH, as evidenced by its final two albums to feature singer Ozzy Osbourne, 1976's TECHNICAL ECSTASY and 1978's NEVER SAY DIE.

The best known song of the bunch is the album-closing rocker "Dirty Women," which explores the topic of prostitution, and was later featured on the original line-up's 1998 live album, REUNION. Drummer Bill Ward sings his one and only song with the band, "It's Alright," which is amongst Sabbath's most pop-friendly compositions ever. Also featured is the pacing album opener "Back Street Kids," the heavy blues and funk of "All Moving Parts (Stand Still)," and the somewhat predictable "Rock n' Roll Doctor." Osbourne would grow disillusioned with the band and would leave after the completion of TECHNICAL ECSTASY's subsequent tour, but would eventually return for one final album and road jaunt.

This was the last Sabbath with Ozzy album that I checked out because I'd heard bad things about it for years, but when I finally got it I was very pleasantly surprised. This album fits perfectly with Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and Sabotage, forming a trio similar to the first three albums, but with more of a 70's rock influence than the earlier, Cream-inspired efforts. Seriously, the vocals, the song styles, the use of keyboards; this album belongs right alongside SBS and Sabotage in every way. It boasts a few songs that are as good as any in Sabbath's catalogue, like Back Steet Kids, You Won't Change Me, Gypsy, and Dirty Women. Back Street Kids especially, which gets knocked for its lyrics, which aren't even that bad, but boasts a great main riff with a guitar sound similar to Paranoid. Ozzy's vocals and Iommi's lead playing are easily on par with the two preceding albums, both of which for some reason get better reviews than Technical Ecstasy.

Of the other songs, I love She's Gone, All Moving Parts Stand Still is some awesome Sabbath, with some guitar parts that again sound similar to Paranoid. Rock N' Roll Doctor also gets knocked as a weak song, but I love it anyway. It has a great headbanging main riff and chorus, with barely veiled lyrics about a drug dealer (reminiscent of the obvious lyrics in Sweet Leaf). That only leaves It's Alright, which sounds kinda like The Beatles, until Tony's leads in the middle, which are great. Overall, I think this album is highly undervalued. C'mon people, it's one of the seven Sabbath albums with the classic line-up, all of which are unique and genius in their own way.

01. Back Street Kids
02. You Won't Change Me
03. It's Alright
04. Gypsy
05. All Moving Parts (Stand Still)
06. Rock N' Roll Doctor
07. She's Gone
08. Dirty Women