Live at Last (Black Sabbath album)
Encyclopedia
Live at Last is a live album by Black Sabbath
. Despite its wide distribution, it was released without any permission or knowledge from the band, and is thus considered "unofficial" in some quarters. However, the release was legal (albeit unapproved by the band, as stated) within Europe and ads were carried in the UK music press. In the US it was available only as an import. The album was included when the Sabbath albums were issued on CD in Europe by Castle Communications in 1986 and again in remastered and repackaged form in the label's 1996 Remaster series. The most recent re-release was in 2010, by Universal Records in Europe.
The vinyl version and the first CD issue feature the spoken intro of, 'Will you welcome... BLACK SABBATH!' which, oddly, would be edited from the remaster and "Past Lives". It should also be noted that the remaster was not a remix and there is no apparent audio difference between that and the original issues.
The release was compiled from two March 1973 recordings made for an intended live album but, being unhappy with the results, the band shelved that project indefinitely. However, former manager Patrick Meehan
arranged the release in 1980, on the NEMS label.
The band eventually came to acknowledge the recording, and released the whole album as part of the two disc live compilation Past Lives
in 2002. Past Lives itself was re-released again in 2010 in a "Deluxe Edition". Live at Last was also released in 2010 as a "Remaster", but what (if anything) has changed on the 2010 recordings is unknown.
The recording is still noted for its early pre-album version of "Killing Yourself to Live", and the long "Wicked World" medley jam. Live at Last was also significant in that its initial release in 1980 prompted Black Sabbath to finally record their first official live album, 1982's Live Evil with Ronnie James Dio
.
All tracks were recorded at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in Manchester
, England
on March 11, 1973 and the Rainbow Theatre in London
, England
on March 16, 1973: it is not known for definite from which concert the individual tracks arose, as this is not stated on the original release and there are, to date, no known bootlegs for comparison.
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
. Despite its wide distribution, it was released without any permission or knowledge from the band, and is thus considered "unofficial" in some quarters. However, the release was legal (albeit unapproved by the band, as stated) within Europe and ads were carried in the UK music press. In the US it was available only as an import. The album was included when the Sabbath albums were issued on CD in Europe by Castle Communications in 1986 and again in remastered and repackaged form in the label's 1996 Remaster series. The most recent re-release was in 2010, by Universal Records in Europe.
The vinyl version and the first CD issue feature the spoken intro of, 'Will you welcome... BLACK SABBATH!' which, oddly, would be edited from the remaster and "Past Lives". It should also be noted that the remaster was not a remix and there is no apparent audio difference between that and the original issues.
The release was compiled from two March 1973 recordings made for an intended live album but, being unhappy with the results, the band shelved that project indefinitely. However, former manager Patrick Meehan
Patrick Meehan (producer)
Patrick Meehan is a record producer who worked with Black Sabbath. He was also their manager until 1975.In 1970 Patrick Joseph Meehan , Patrick Anthony Meehan , Wilf Pine, Malcolm Koss, first Ian Nagl then Quintin Rozario made up the office of Worldwide Artiste Management, managers of Black...
arranged the release in 1980, on the NEMS label.
The band eventually came to acknowledge the recording, and released the whole album as part of the two disc live compilation Past Lives
Past Lives (album)
Past Lives is a live album released in 2002 by Black Sabbath. It peaked at number 114 on the Billboard 200. The first disc was previously known as Live at Last, an album not put out by Black Sabbath's record company, and therefore not an official Black Sabbath album...
in 2002. Past Lives itself was re-released again in 2010 in a "Deluxe Edition". Live at Last was also released in 2010 as a "Remaster", but what (if anything) has changed on the 2010 recordings is unknown.
The recording is still noted for its early pre-album version of "Killing Yourself to Live", and the long "Wicked World" medley jam. Live at Last was also significant in that its initial release in 1980 prompted Black Sabbath to finally record their first official live album, 1982's Live Evil with Ronnie James Dio
Ronnie James Dio
Ronald James Padavona , better known as Ronnie James Dio, was an American heavy metal vocalist and songwriter. He performed with, amongst others, Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, Heaven & Hell, and his own band Dio, which means God in Italian. Other musical projects include the collective fundraiser...
.
All tracks were recorded at the Manchester Free Trade Hall in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on March 11, 1973 and the Rainbow Theatre in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
on March 16, 1973: it is not known for definite from which concert the individual tracks arose, as this is not stated on the original release and there are, to date, no known bootlegs for comparison.
Side one
- "Tomorrow's Dream" – 3:04
- "Sweet Leaf" – 5:27
- "Killing Yourself to Live" – 5:29
- "Cornucopia" – 3:57
- "Snowblind" – 4:47
- "Embryo/Children of the Grave" – 4:32 ("Embryo" not listed on the sleeve)
Side two
- "War Pigs" – 7:38
- "Wicked World" – 18:59 (medley jam that contains Into the Void, Sometimes I'm Happy, Supernaut and drum solo, then turns back into Wicked World)
- "Paranoid" – 3:10
Personnel
- Ozzy OsbourneOzzy OsbourneJohn Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
- vocals - Tony IommiTony IommiAnthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
- guitar - Geezer ButlerGeezer ButlerGeezer Butler is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and lyricist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was also involved in Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010.-Career:Butler formed his first band, Rare Breed, with old friend John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of...
- bass guitar - Bill Ward - drums