Black Sabbath: The Dio Years
Encyclopedia
Black Sabbath: The Dio Years is a 2007 compilation CD of material from recordings made during vocalist Ronnie James Dio
's tenure in the band. The CD contains full album length, remastered tracks culled from all three studio albums; Heaven and Hell
(1980), Mob Rules (1981), Dehumanizer
(1992), and the live album Live Evil (1982). It also contains three new recorded songs; "The Devil Cried," "Shadow of the Wind," and "Ear in the Wall."
It was reported that the collection was first conceived of as a box set, in the vein of Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970–1978); containing all of the group's albums released from their post-Ozzy Osbourne
period, starting from Heaven and Hell
to The Eternal Idol
. This idea was eventually scrapped, and another box set was planned only to feature the four albums recorded from the Dio era of the band. This second idea was put aside, eventually emerging into The Rules of Hell
box set released in the summer of 2008.
In an interview conducted by Martin Popoff
, Tony Iommi
revealed that in fact three tracks were recorded: "Shadow of the Wind" (a slow tune), "The Devil Cried" (a mid tempo rocker) and "Ear in the Wall" (a fast song), therefore changing the original plan for two new songs to accommodate all three tracks in the compilation. "The Devil Cried" was released as a single on 13 March 2007.
On 23 February 2007, both Eddie Trunk
and Sirius Satellite Radio unveiled the song "The Devil Cried" from the upcoming album. Rhino Records subsequently made the track available (for preview only) on 26 February 2007. On the week of 13 March 2007, it became available for download at all digital outlets.
After the recording was completed the members decided to tour
under the moniker, Heaven & Hell. Dio and Iommi decided that the working partnership they had achieved in recording the 3 new songs would not be wasted, so they recorded The Devil You Know.
of the UK in November 2007, a special edition release of The Dio Years was released on 5 November - Black Sabbath: The Dio Years Tour Edition to commemorate the tour. This CD, only to be in print for a limited time, features four songs from the Live at Hammersmith Odeon
limited edition live album recently released by Black Sabbath. The four songs, recorded live in 1981 during Black Sabbath's "Mob Rules Tour" are "Neon Knights," "The Mob Rules," "Children of the Grave," and "Voodoo."
, Tony Iommi
and Geezer Butler
, except where noted.
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...
's tenure in the band. The CD contains full album length, remastered tracks culled from all three studio albums; Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath album)
Heaven and Hell is the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in April 1980. This is their first album featuring Ronnie James Dio, and first with producer Martin Birch.-Album information:...
(1980), Mob Rules (1981), Dehumanizer
Dehumanizer
Dehumanizer is the sixteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in June 1992.It was the first Black Sabbath studio album in over a decade to feature Ronnie James Dio on vocals and Vinny Appice on drums. It is also the first in nine years to feature original bassist...
(1992), and the live album Live Evil (1982). It also contains three new recorded songs; "The Devil Cried," "Shadow of the Wind," and "Ear in the Wall."
It was reported that the collection was first conceived of as a box set, in the vein of Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath (1970–1978); containing all of the group's albums released from their post-Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John 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...
period, starting from Heaven and Hell
Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath album)
Heaven and Hell is the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in April 1980. This is their first album featuring Ronnie James Dio, and first with producer Martin Birch.-Album information:...
to The Eternal Idol
The Eternal Idol
The Eternal Idol is the thirteenth studio album by Black Sabbath, released in December 1987. It is the first of several Black Sabbath albums to feature longtime vocalist Tony Martin. It spent six weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at 168. It was also the last full album of new material by...
. This idea was eventually scrapped, and another box set was planned only to feature the four albums recorded from the Dio era of the band. This second idea was put aside, eventually emerging into The Rules of Hell
The Rules of Hell
The Rules of Hell is a collection of four albums by the heavy metal band Black Sabbath featuring Ronnie James Dio on vocals in remastered form. The albums included in the set are:*1980 Heaven and Hell*1981 Mob Rules*1982 Live Evil...
box set released in the summer of 2008.
In an interview conducted by Martin Popoff
Martin Popoff
Martin Popoff is a Canadian-born music journalist and critic who covers the genre of heavy metal music. The senior editor and co-founder of Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles magazine, he has additionally written over twenty books that both critically evaluate heavy metal and document its history...
, Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony 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...
revealed that in fact three tracks were recorded: "Shadow of the Wind" (a slow tune), "The Devil Cried" (a mid tempo rocker) and "Ear in the Wall" (a fast song), therefore changing the original plan for two new songs to accommodate all three tracks in the compilation. "The Devil Cried" was released as a single on 13 March 2007.
On 23 February 2007, both Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk
Eddie Trunk is an American music historian, radio personality, talk show host, and author best known as the host of several hard rock and heavy metal themed radio and television shows.- Current work :...
and Sirius Satellite Radio unveiled the song "The Devil Cried" from the upcoming album. Rhino Records subsequently made the track available (for preview only) on 26 February 2007. On the week of 13 March 2007, it became available for download at all digital outlets.
After the recording was completed the members decided to tour
Heaven and Hell 2007 Tour
The Heaven and Hell 2007 Tour was a global concert tour by Heaven & Hell in support of Black Sabbath's The Dio Years compilation CD.-History:...
under the moniker, Heaven & Hell. Dio and Iommi decided that the working partnership they had achieved in recording the 3 new songs would not be wasted, so they recorded The Devil You Know.
UK Tour Edition
Before the Heaven & Hell tourHeaven and Hell 2007 Tour
The Heaven and Hell 2007 Tour was a global concert tour by Heaven & Hell in support of Black Sabbath's The Dio Years compilation CD.-History:...
of the UK in November 2007, a special edition release of The Dio Years was released on 5 November - Black Sabbath: The Dio Years Tour Edition to commemorate the tour. This CD, only to be in print for a limited time, features four songs from the Live at Hammersmith Odeon
Live at Hammersmith Odeon
Live at Hammersmith Odeon is a live Black Sabbath album recorded at three concerts between 31 December 1981 and 2 January 1982, during the Mob Rules tour...
limited edition live album recently released by Black Sabbath. The four songs, recorded live in 1981 during Black Sabbath's "Mob Rules Tour" are "Neon Knights," "The Mob Rules," "Children of the Grave," and "Voodoo."
Track listing
All songs were written by Ronnie James DioRonnie 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...
, Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony 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...
and Geezer Butler
Geezer Butler
Geezer 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...
, except where noted.
- "Neon KnightsNeon Knights"Neon Knights" is a song by heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their 1980 album, Heaven and Hell. It is the opening track on Heaven and Hell, Black Sabbath's first album with American vocalist Ronnie James Dio.The lyrics were written by Dio...
" (Dio, Iommi, Butler, Bill Ward) – 3:51- Originally from Heaven and HellHeaven and Hell (Black Sabbath album)Heaven and Hell is the ninth studio album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in April 1980. This is their first album featuring Ronnie James Dio, and first with producer Martin Birch.-Album information:...
- Originally from Heaven and Hell
- "Lady Evil" (Dio, Iommi, Butler, Ward) – 4:23
- Originally from Heaven and Hell
- "Heaven and HellHeaven and Hell (Black Sabbath song)"Heaven and Hell" is the title track to Black Sabbath's ninth studio album, Heaven and Hell. It was written mainly by Tony Iommi, but as with almost all Black Sabbath albums, credit is given to the entire band. The lyrics were written entirely by then-newcomer Ronnie James Dio...
" (Dio, Iommi, Butler, Ward) – 6:59- Originally from Heaven and Hell
- "Die YoungDie Young"Die Young" is a single by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their 1980 album, Heaven and Hell.The lyrics were written by Ronnie James Dio, and concern consumerism and the futility of life in the modern era- the song title comes from the expressed desire to 'die young'...
" (Dio, Iommi, Butler, Ward) – 4:44- Originally from Heaven and Hell
- "Lonely is the Word" (Dio, Iommi, Butler, Ward) – 5:50
- Originally from Heaven and Hell
- "The Mob RulesThe Mob Rules"The Mob Rules" is a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their 1981 album, Mob Rules.- Covers :*American heavy metal band Fozzy covered the song on their 2002 album Happenstance....
" – 3:13- Originally from Mob Rules
- "Turn Up the NightTurn Up the Night"Turn Up the Night" is the first song of the Black Sabbath's album Mob Rules. It reached number #37 and #24 in the UK/US charts, respectively....
" – 3:42- Originally from Mob Rules
- "Voodoo" – 4:32
- Originally from Mob Rules
- "Falling Off the Edge of the World" – 5:03
- Originally from Mob Rules
- "After All (The Dead)" – 5:42
- Originally from DehumanizerDehumanizerDehumanizer is the sixteenth studio album by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in June 1992.It was the first Black Sabbath studio album in over a decade to feature Ronnie James Dio on vocals and Vinny Appice on drums. It is also the first in nine years to feature original bassist...
- Originally from Dehumanizer
- "TV CrimesTV Crimes"TV Crimes" is a song by British heavy metal band Black Sabbath from their 1992 album Dehumanizer. The single was the band's last to chart in the UK.-Music video:...
" – 4:02- Originally from Dehumanizer
- "I" – 5:12
- Originally from Dehumanizer
- "Children of the Sea" (live) (Dio, Iommi, Butler, Ward) – 6:12
- Originally from Live Evil
- "The Devil CriedThe Devil Cried"The Devil Cried" is a song by heavy metal band Black Sabbath featured on the compilation Black Sabbath: The Dio Years. The song peaked on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks at 38. It was one of three new recordings the group did for the compilation . Tony Iommi has called the song, "a mid-tempo track...
" (Dio, Iommi) – 6:01- Previously unreleased
- "Shadow of the Wind" (Dio, Iommi) – 5:40
- Previously unreleased
- "Ear in the Wall" (Dio, Iommi) – 4:04
- Previously unreleased
UK Tour Edition bonus CD
- Neon Knights (Dio, Iommi, Butler, Ward) (Live)
- The Mob Rules (Dio, Iommi, Butler) (Live)
- Children of the Grave (Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, Ward) (Live)
- Voodoo (Dio, Iommi, Butler) (Live)
Personnel
- Ronnie James DioRonnie James DioRonald 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...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - 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...
– guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - 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...
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Bill Ward – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(on tracks 1–5) - Vinny AppiceVinny AppiceVincent Samson Appice , also known as Vinny Appice is a rock drummer of American Italian descent and the younger brother of drummer Carmine Appice...
– drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
(on tracks 6–16) - Geoff NichollsGeoff NichollsGeoff Nicholls is a musician and keyboardist, who is best known as the longtime sideman for the heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Nicholls also played in the NWOBHM band Quartz before joining Black Sabbath...
– keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
(on tracks 1–13)
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | "The Devil Cried" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 38 |