Master of Reality - Definition and Overview

Master of Reality
LP by Black Sabbath
Released	August, 1971
Recorded	1971
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	34 min 23 s
Record label	Warner Brothers
Producers	Rodger Bain
Professional reviews
All Music Guide	5/5	link (http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:5xkqikz6bbf9)
RollingStone	NR	link (http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album?id=134886)
Black Sabbath Chronology
Paranoid (1971)	Master of Reality (1971)	Vol. 4 (1972)

Master of Reality is a heavy metal album by the rock band Black Sabbath, released in 1971 (see 1971 in music). The album includes one of their signature songs, "Sweet Leaf", an ode to cannabis. Incidentally, Ozzy got the title for the song from a packet of cigarettes he bought in Dublin which claimed the tobacco was "the sweet leaf." Critics generally regard Master of Reality as a poor follow-up to Paranoid, but still as a classic recording of early heavy metal, which influenced bands on both sides of the Atlantic, including Blue Öyster Cult, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen and Mott the Hoople.

On the Billboard Pop Albums chart, Master of Reality peaked at #8.

Track listing

1. "Sweet Leaf" (Butler/Iommi/Osbourne/Ward) - 5:05
2. "After Forever" (Butler/Iommi/Osbourne/Ward) - 5:26
3. "Embryo" (Iommi) - 0:28
4. "Children of the Grave" (Butler/Iommi/Osbourne/Ward) - 5:17
5. "Orchid" (Iommi) - 1:31
6. "Lord of This World" (Butler/Iommi/Osbourne/Ward) - 5:26
7. "Solitude" (Butler/Iommi/Osbourne/Ward) - 5:02
8. "Into the Void" (Butler/Iommi/Osbourne/Ward) - 6:12

Personnel

• Ozzy Osbourne - Harmonica, Vocals
• Geezer Butler - Bass, Guitar (Bass)
• Tony Iommi - Guitar
• Bill Ward - Drums, Vocals
• Keef - Photography, Poster Design
• Mike Stanfod - Art Direction