Black Sabbath Vol. 4 Vertigo Records UK   (Warner Bros. in US/Canada) 1972.   Features several Sabbath classics, such as “Tomorrow’s Dream,” “Snowblind,” “Supernaut” and “Changes.” Eminem uses “Changes” as the basis for his track “Going Through Changes” from his album Recovery.

Here’s a video of “Changes” from Ozzy’s “end of the road” last concert.

In June 1972, Black Sabbath reconvened in Los Angeles to begin work on their fourth album at the Record Plant Studios.   The recording process was plagued with problems, many due to drug issues. Despite the copious amounts of cocaine, the band produced another first-rate album that pushed the boundaries of heavy metal and would influence countless bands.       As Butler told Guitar World in 2001, “Yeah, the cocaine had set in. We went out to L.A. and got into a totally different lifestyle. Half the budget went on the coke and the other half went to seeing how long we could stay in the studio…We rented a house in Bel-Air and the debauchery up there was just unbelievable.”

The album cover features a monochrome photograph of Ozzy Osbourne with hands raised, taken during a Black Sabbath concert. The album’s original release features a gatefold sleeve.   Each band member is given their own photo page, with the band on-stage (and photographed from behind) in the center.   The album’s cover art has proved iconic and even Converse shoes released a limited edition of a pair of sneakers with the Vol. 4 cover.

Now , just for fun, check out this brief clip from evangelist Michael Mills’ album about Hidden and Satanic Messages in Rock Music:

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