Of all of Black Sabbath’s Ozzy era albums, ‘Technical Ecstasy’ is arguably the LP that splits fan opinion the most. It doesn’t contain any hits. It doesn’t even feature anything that could be considered classic. It often gets overlooked, sandwiched between 1976’s ‘Sabotage’ – a release with some very vocal champions – and 1979’s ‘Never Say Die’, an inventive work that really saw the band beginning to stretch out.
‘Technical Ecstasy’ has always deserved a place in the world purely for the brilliant ‘Back Street Kids’ and the live favourite ‘Dirty Women’ (or as Ozzy was heard to say on the ‘Reunion’ live disc, “Doooorty Wimmin”!). It’s an album that’s overdue a reappraisal.
Set for release just a few months after the 4CD ‘Sabotage’ set, the super deluxe set of ‘Technical Ecstasy’ couples the album with a raft of unreleased alternate takes, unreleased live material, and a brand new remix from the in-demand Steven Wilson. The latter might just bring out a couple of new supporters…
The full details of the CD and vinyl deluxe sets can be explored in the below press release.
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BLACK SABBATH
TECHNICAL ECSTASY DELUXE EDITION AVAILABLE OCTOBER 1ST
4-CD And 5-LP Versions Of Black Sabbath’s Seventh Studio Album Features The Original Album Newly Remastered,
A Brand New Mix Of The Album By Steven Wilson,
Plus Previously Unreleased Outtakes, Alternative Mixes, And Live Tracks
Pre-order HERE: https://blacksabbathband.lnk.to/technicalecstasydlxPR
Black Sabbath embraced change in 1976 when the heavy metal innovators started managing themselves and began exploring different sounds on the band’s seventh studio album, Technical Ecstasy. The record reached #13 in the U.K. and was certified gold in the U.S.
BMG honors this daring album with a collection that includes a newly remastered version of the original, a brand-new mix by Steven Wilson, plus more than 90 minutes of previously unreleased outtakes, alternative mixes and live tracks. TECHNICAL ECSTASY: SUPER DELUXE EDITION will be available on October 1st as a 4-CD set and 5-LP set on 180-gram black vinyl. Both the 4-CD and 5-LP versions are available for pre-order now: https://blacksabbathband.lnk.to/technicalecstasydlxPR . The remastered studio album will be available the same day on digital download and streaming services. The newly remastered version of “Back Street Kids” is available today digitally. Click to listen now: https://blacksabbathband.lnk.to/technicalecstasydlxPR
In the summer of 1976, Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward headed to Miami to record Technical Ecstasy at the famed Criteria Studios. The band was coming off a world tour for their previous album, Sabotage, that had found their live performances evolving to include keyboards and synthesizers. These newly incorporated instruments and sounds were then introduced into the recording process on Technical Ecstasy. The new songs encompassed a wide range of styles from the hard charging “Back Street Kids” and ballad “It’s Alright,” to the funky “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)” and progressive “Gypsy.” The album also featured the single “It’s Alright,” which was the first Sabbath song to feature lead vocals by Ward. The Deluxe Edition presents a newly remastered version of the eight-track album, along with an entirely new mix of the album created by Steven Wilson using the original analog tapes.
TECHNICAL ECSTASY: SUPER DELUXE EDITION comes with eight previously unreleased outtakes and alternative mixes. Among those are different mixes of “You Won’t Change Me” and “Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor,” as well as both outtake and instrumental versions for “She’s Gone.” The collection concludes with 10 previously unreleased live tracks recorded during the 1976-77 Technical Ecstasy World Tour. The songs touch on different eras of the band’s history with early tracks like “Black Sabbath” and “War Pigs” alongside new songs “Gypsy” and “Dirty Women.”
The collection comes with an extensive booklet featuring artwork, liner notes, rare memorabilia and photos from the era, plus a replica of the 1976-77 world tour concert book and a large colour poster.
TECHNICAL ECSTASY: SUPER DELUXE EDITION
4-CD/5-LP Track Listing
Disc One: Original Album 1976 (2021 Remaster)
1. “Back Street Kids”
2. “You Won’t Change Me”
3. “It’s Alright”
4. “Gypsy”
5. “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)”
6. “Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor”
7. “She’s Gone”
8. “Dirty Women”
Disc Two: New Steven Wilson Mix
1. “Back Street Kids” *
2. “You Won’t Change” *
3. “It’s Alright” – Mono Version
4. “Gypsy” *
5. “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)” *
6. “Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor” *
7. “She’s Gone” *
8. “Dirty Women” *
Disc Three: Outtakes & Alternative Mixes
1. “Back Street Kids” – Alternative Mix *
2. “You Won’t Change Me” – Alternative Mix *
3. “Gypsy” – Alternative Mix *
4. “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)” – Alternative Mix *
5. “Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor” – Alternative Mix *
6. “She’s Gone” – Outtake Version *
7. “Dirty Women” – Alternative Mix *
8. “She’s Gone” – Instrumental Mix *
Disc Four: Live World Tour 1976-77
1. “Symptom Of The Universe” *
2. “War Pigs” *
3. “Gypsy” *
4. “Black Sabbath” *
5. “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)” *
6. “Dirty Women” *
7. Drum Solo / Guitar Solo *
8. “Electric Funeral” *
9. “Snowblind” *
10. “Children Of The Grave” *
LP One: Original Album Remastered
Side One
1. “Back Street Kids”
2. “You Won’t Change Me”
3. “It’s Alright”
4. “Gypsy”
Side Two
1. “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)”
2. “Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor”
3. “She’s Gone”
4. “Dirty Women”
LP Two: New Steven Wilson Mix
Side Three
1. “Back Street Kids” *
2. “You Won’t Change Me” *
3. “It’s Alright” – Mono Single
4. “Gypsy” *
Side Four
1. “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)” *
2. “Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor” *
3. “She’s Gone” *
4. “Dirty Women” *
LP Three: Outtakes & Alternative Mixes
Side Five
1. “Back Street Kids” – Alternative Mix *
2. “You Won’t Change Me” – Alternative Mix *
3. “Gypsy” – Alternative Mix *
4. “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)” – Alternative Mix *
Side Six
1. “Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor” – Alternative Mix *
2. “She’s Gone” – Outtake Version *
3. “Dirty Women” – Alternative Mix *
4. “She’s Gone” – Instrumental Mix *
LP Four: Live World Tour 1976-77
Side Seven
1. “Symptom Of The Universe” *
2. “War Pigs” *
3. “Gypsy” *
Side Eight
1. “Black Sabbath” *
2. “All Moving Parts (Stand Still)” *
LP Five: Live World Tour 1976-77
Side Nine
1. “Dirty Women” *
2. Drum Solo / Guitar Solo *
Side Ten
1. “Electric Funeral” *
2. “Snowblind” *
3. “Children Of The Grave” *
* previously unreleased