Early Black Sabbath recordings under their original name Earth are finally getting an official release after more than five decades in the vault.
The collection, titled Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes, will be released on 25th July 25th via Big Bear Records, featuring recordings that Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward made at Zella Studios in Birmingham, England, in 1969.
These historic demos were created shortly before the band changed their name to Black Sabbath, just months ahead of releasing their groundbreaking self-titled debut album in February 1970.
Jim Simpson, founder of Big Bear Records and Black Sabbath’s first manager, has overseen the project and explained the significance of these recordings: “These recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. We recorded these tracks at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them as their style was evolving so quickly.”
“Now, some 57 years later, the recordings assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band, fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way,” Simpson added.
While bootleg recordings from the Earth era have circulated among collectors for years, this marks the first time these demos will receive an official release.
Simpson noted that the collection has been “remastered from long-lost tapes”, though it remains unclear whether the current members of Black Sabbath have been involved in the project.
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The news arrives as Black Sabbath prepare for what’s being billed as a final reunion at Ozzy Osbourne’s last concert on July 5th in Birmingham. The event will mark the first time Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, and Ward have all performed together since 2005, as Ward declined to participate in some of the band’s more recent performances, including their 2016 ‘The End Tour’.
The Birmingham concert features an impressive lineup with Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, and Alice in Chains also performing, with Tom Morello serving as musical director for the event.
