The Eternal Idol is the thirteenth studio album by Black Sabbath. It was recorded at Air Studios in Montserrat, Air Studios and Battery Studios in London, England and released on November 23, 1987. It is the first Black Sabbath album to feature vocalist Tony Martin. It was also the last full album of new material by Black Sabbath to be released by Warner Bros. Records (in North America), and the final album through their original label Vertigo Records until the release of 13 in 2013.
Originally, Ray Gillen was going to record vocals for the album, but he quit the band after the studio sessions in Monserrat.
Tracklist "Tony Martin version"[]
All songs credited to Tony Iommi, Bob Daisley, and Ray Gillen, except where noted.
| Side One | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "The Shining" | 6:00 |
| 2. | "Ancient Warrior" | 5:28 |
| 3. | "Hard Life to Love" | 5:00 |
| 4. | "Glory Ride" | 4:49 |
| Side Two | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 5. | "Born to Lose" | 3:43 |
| 6. | "Nightmare" | 5:19 |
| 7. | "Scarlet Pimpernel" (Instrumental) | 2:05 |
| 8. | "Lost Forever" | 4:03 |
| 9. | "Eternal Idol" | 6:33 |
Total length: |
42:42 | |
| 2010 Deluxe Edition Disc 1 bonus tracks | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
| 10. | "Black Moon" (Single B-side) | Iommi, Tony Martin and Geoff Nicholls | 3:39 |
| 11. | "Some Kind of Woman" (Single B-side) | Iommi, Martin, Nicholls | 3:16 |
2010 Deluxe Edition Disc 2 "Ray Gillen version"[]
The 2010 Deluxe Edition Disc 2 consists of the earlier recording sessions, with Ray Gillen performing vocals.
| Side One | ||
|---|---|---|
| No. | Title | Length |
| 1. | "Glory Ride" | 5:21 |
| 2. | "Born to Lose" | 3:41 |
| 3. | "Lost Forever" | 4:18 |
| 4. | "Eternal Idol" | 6:48 |
| 5. | "The Shining" | 6:30 |
| 6. | "Hard Life to Love" | 5:20 |
| 7. | "Nightmare" | 4:49 |
| 8. | "Ancient Warrior" | 4:54 |
Total length: |
41:41 | |
Personnel[]
- Ray Gillen: Vocals on Ray Gillen version, sinister laugh on both versions
- Tony Martin: Vocals on Tony Martin version
- Tony Iommi: Guitar
- Bob Daisley: Bass
- Eric Singer: Drums
- Geoff Nicholls: Keyboards
Additional musicians[]
- Bev Bevan: Cymbals on "Scarlet Pimpernel" and "Eternal Idol"
Production[]
- Jeff Glixman: Producer, Engineer at Air Studios Monserrat
- Vic Coppersmith-Heaven: Producer, Engineer at Air Studios London
- Chris Tsangarides: Producer, Engineer and Mixing at Battery Studios, London
- Patrick Meehan: Executive Producer
Trivia[]
- The Ray Gillen version was released in 2010 as a bonus disc.
- Ray Gillen performs a laugh on both versions.
References[]
| Black Sabbath studio albums | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Black Sabbath • Paranoid • Master of Reality • Vol. 4 • Sabbath Bloody Sabbath • Sabotage • Technical Ecstasy • Never Say Die! • Heaven and Hell • Mob Rules • Born Again • Seventh Star • The Eternal Idol • Headless Cross • Tyr • Dehumanizer • Cross Purposes • Forbidden • 13 | |||