Technical Ecstasy

Description

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 bands 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 singerOzzy Osbourne, 1976s TECHNICAL ECSTASY and 1978s NEVER SAY DIE. However, TECHNICAL ECSTASY does contain some intriguing, overlooked tracks.
The best known song of the bunch is the album-closing rocker Dirty Women, which explores thetopic of prostitution, and was later featured on the original line-ups 1998 live album, REUNION. Drummer Bill Ward sings his one and only song with the band, Its Alright, which is amongst Sabbaths 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 ECSTASYs subsequent tour, but would eventually return for one final album and road jaunt.