Album · Compilation
The Best of Black Sabbath
The Best of Black Sabbath is a 32-track compilation that runs in chronological order through the band's first 11 studio albums, from 1970 to 1983. It came out in June 2000 on a double CD, with quadruple LP and double cassette editions too. It is not an official Black Sabbath release, since the label had no tie to the band or their management, and it is one of roughly half a dozen compilations to share the title.
The selection leans on the early years. Each album from the debut through Sabotage gets between three and six songs, while Ozzy Osbourne's last two records, Technical Ecstasy and Never Say Die!, get one and two. Ronnie James Dio's era is marked by the title track of Heaven and Hell and a song from The Mob Rules, and the set closes with a track from Ian Gillan's lone album, Born Again. Later singers are left out.
The Best of Black Sabbath: tracklist, credits and charts
14 tracks · 1:14:36Tracklist
- 1The WizardButler, Iommi, Osbourne, Ward4:23
- 2Planet CaravanButler, Iommi, Osbourne, Ward4:28
- 3Children of the GraveButler, Iommi, Osbourne, Ward5:16
- 4ChangesButler, Iommi, Osbourne, Ward4:42
- 5Sabbath Bloody SabbathButler, Iommi, Osbourne, Ward5:44
- 6Symptom of the UniverseButler, Iommi, Osbourne, Ward6:30
- 7You Won’t Change MeButler, Iommi, Osbourne, Ward6:35
- 8Shock WaveButler, Iommi, Osbourne, Ward5:15
- 9Die YoungButler, Dio, Iommi, Ward4:37
- 10VoodooButler, Dio, Iommi4:33
- 11Neon KnightsButler, Dio, Iommi, Ward4:36
- 12Born AgainButler, Gillan, Iommi, Ward6:37
- 13Seventh StarTony Iommi5:20
- 14The ShiningTony Iommi5:59
- Produced by
- Rodger Bain, Black Sabbath, Patrick Meehan, Black Sabbath, Mike Butcher, Martin Birch, Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Robin Black, Jeff Glixman, Vic Coppersmith‐Heaven, Chris Tsangarides
- Recorded at
- Regent Sound Studios, Basing Street Studios, The Record Plant, Morgan Studios, Criteria Studios, Sounds Interchange, PeoplesBank Arena, The Manor, Cheshire Sound Studios, AIR Studios Montserrat, Battery Studios
- Recorded
- 1969–1983
- Mixed by
- Robin Black, Tony Iommi, Chris Tsangarides
- Mixed at
- Criteria Studios, Battery Studios
- Engineered by
- Tom Allom, Barry Sheffield, Brian Humphries, Colin Caldwell, Vic Coppersmith‐Heaven, Mike Butcher, Robin Black, Dave Harris, Martin Birch, Jeff Glixman
- Label
- Castle Communications
- Length
- 1:14:36
Line-up
- Geezer Butler · electric bass guitar, bass guitar
- Tony Iommi · electric guitar, guitar, flute
- Ozzy Osbourne · harmonica, lead vocals
- Bill Ward · percussion, drums (drum set), bongos
- Tom Allom · piano · guest
- Black Sabbath · guest
- Gerald Woodruffe · keyboard · guest
- Don Airey · keyboard · guest
- Vinny Appice · drums (drum set) · guest
- Geoff Nicholls · keyboard · guest
- Ronnie James Dio · vocals · guest
- Ian Gillan · lead vocals · guest
- Eric Singer · drums (drum set) · guest
- David Spitz · bass guitar · guest
- Glenn Hughes · vocals · guest
- Bob Daisley · bass guitar · guest
- Tony Martin · vocals · guest
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart · 2000–2002 | 24 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums · 2000–2002 | 2 |
| Norwegian Albums · 2000–2002 | 6 |
| UK Independent Albums · 2000–2002 | 6 |
| Swedish Albums · 2000–2002 | 12 |
| Finnish Albums · 2000–2002 | 13 |
| Danish Albums · 2000–2002 | 25 |
| Scottish Albums · 2000–2002 | 28 |
| New Zealand Albums · 2000–2002 | 38 |
| Australian Albums (ARIA) · 2000–2002 | 41 |
All 11 charts
| European Albums Chart · 2000–2002 | 78 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| Australia · 2013 | Platinum |
| United Kingdom · 2003 | Gold |
From MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Only what the sources record is shown.
25.0
Popularity (0–100, vs the whole vault)
2
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24k
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Deezer fans (all editions)
Released the same week
Also released on 5 June
Every year →
More from Black Sabbath
Full discography →
Black Sabbath
1970
Paranoid
1970
Master of Reality
1971
Vol 4
1972
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
1973
We Sold Our Soul for Rock ’n’ Roll
1975
Sabotage
1975
Technical Ecstasy
1976
Never Say Die!
1978
Heaven and Hell
1980
Live at Last
1980
Mob Rules
1981
Live Evil
1982
Born Again
1983
The Sabbath Collection
1985
Seventh Star
1986
The Eternal Idol
1987
Headless Cross
1989
TYR
1990
The Ozzy Osbourne Years
1991
Dehumanizer
1992
Cross Purposes
1994
Cross Purposes – Live
1995
Forbidden
1995
The Sabbath Stones
1996
Under Wheels of Confusion: 1970–1987
1996
Reunion
1998
The Collection
1999
Black Mass
1999
Past Lives
2002
Symptom of the Universe: The Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978
2002
Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath 1970–1978
2004
Greatest Hits 1970–1978
2006
The Dio Years
2007
Live at Hammersmith Odeon
2007
The Rules of Hell
2008
Greatest Hits
2009
13
2013
Live… Gathered in Their Masses
2013
The End
2016
The Ultimate Collection
2016
The End
2017
Anno Domini: 1989–1995
2024
The best of 2000
All of 2000 →
Hybrid Theory
Linkin Park · 2000
Kid A
Radiohead · 2000
White Pony
Deftones · 2000
Warning:
Green Day · 2000
Next Year
Foo Fighters · 2000
Renegades
Rage Against the Machine · 2000
Brave New World
Iron Maiden · 2000
Stiff Upper Lip
AC/DC · 2000
Standing on the Shoulder of Giants
Oasis · 2000
MACHINA/the machines of God
The Smashing Pumpkins · 2000
Binaural
Pearl Jam · 2000
Highlander
Queen · 2000
More on Castle Communications
The label →
Releases and pressings
How we know the release date sources disagree on the year (1996, 2000)
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 21 November 1996 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | 5 June 2000 | |
| Wikidata | 2000 | |
| US release | 2000 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 5 June 2000 | earliest UK or European date |
11 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 November 1996 | JP | Castle Communications | 4988004065262 | original |
| 2000 | GB | Metal-is Records | 5026389414523 | other |
| 2000 | ZA | Castle Music | 6007689469603 | other |
| 2000 | GB | Sanctuary Records | 5050749232526 | other |
| 2000 | GB | Metal-is Records | 5026389414516 | other |
| 2000 | US | EMI-Capitol Special Markets | 724352408528 | other |
| 5 June 2000 | GB | Raw Power | 5026389414523 | other |
| 7 March 2001 | JP | Victor | 4988002413263 | remaster |
| 2003 | US | — | other | |
| 2005 | XE | Sanctuary Records GmbH | 5050159036721 | other |
| 2006 | XE | Sanctuary Records | 5050749232526 | other |
Cover art sources
fanarttv · upscaled: major: best source 1000x1000, upscaled to 1500 (x1.50)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| fanarttv ✓ | 1000×1000 | upscaled: major: best source 1000x1000, upscaled to 1500 (x1.50) |
| coverartarchive | 600×513 | rejected |