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Black Sabbath's 1970s Albums Come to iTunes With Limited Exclusivity

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A number of Black Sabbath's 1970s albums, including Paranoid and Masters of Reality have finally made their way to iTunes with limited exclusivity, according to The New York Times. Previously, only the band's later material was available on iTunes.

On Tuesday the band and its label, Warner Brothers, announced that iTunes had started selling its first eight studio albums, along with three compilations. But iTunes’ window of exclusivity is expected to be short. According to people briefed on the deal who were not authorized to speak about it, Black Sabbath’s music should come to streaming services in about a week.

blacksabbath
Tony Iommi, the band's lead guitarist, said that it had "been a long time trying to explain to fans why the music wasn't available." While there is no official explanation for the delay, it's widely believed a dispute between the band and Warner Music was the cause.

The eight studio albums are available on iTunes for $9.99 apiece, while the three compilations range from $9.99 to $59.99. [Direct Link]

Top Rated Comments

163 months ago
It's nice that Apple acknowledges that there is a genre called "Metal", but Black Sabbath is certainly not in it. They're Rock, maybe Hard Rock, but not Metal.

Yes they are considered metal, they started the genre. Sure they aren't as heavy as metal is consider today, but the genre had to start somewhere and it started with Black Sabbath.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
Ha - no. It didn't start until nearly a decade later, with Metallica (I think. I'm not sure when exactly other early metal bands formed... Some were right about the same time as Metallica.)

You are out of your element, Donnie.

Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zepplin are considered the founders of metal. Judas Priest refined it, and THEN you started getting the thrash stuff you consider "metal".
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
163 months ago
And why the hell hasn't Apple added Indie to the genre list?? It's by far the most popular among older teens!

I'm an older teen and I'll take the Sabbath please.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
roadbloc Avatar
163 months ago
It's nice that Apple acknowledges that there is a genre called "Metal", but Black Sabbath is certainly not in it. They're Rock, maybe Hard Rock, but not Metal.
Unless I'm mistaken, didn't Sabbath have something to do with starting the genre? Or at least I thought anyway.

Anyway, still Sabbath rule. I found their newest album surprisingly awesome.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
hondo77 Avatar
163 months ago
It's nice that Apple acknowledges that there is a genre called "Metal", but Black Sabbath is certainly not in it. They're Rock, maybe Hard Rock, but not Metal.
Ha - no. It didn't start until nearly a decade later, with Metallica (I think. I'm not sure when exactly other early metal bands formed... Some were right about the same time as Metallica.)
There are so many wrongs in that, I don't even know where to begin.

----------

Led Zepplin metal? You surly are mad.
No, you're just too young to know that people were using "heavy metal" to describe bands during the 70s.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
MacGod Avatar
163 months ago
Really - read a book?!

Ha - no. It didn't start until nearly a decade later, with Metallica (I think. I'm not sure when exactly other early metal bands formed... Some were right about the same time as Metallica.)

You have no idea what you are talking about.

Early Metal is the genre from 66-71 and encompasses a few key acts like:
The Stooges, MC5, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and Jimi Hendrix.

This spawned several other genre's including Hard Rock, and the Power, Progressive, Stoner, Glam and New Wave Metal genre's.

BS is considered a founder of today's metal movement.

Please research the definition of HEAVY METAL MUSIC.

I do acknowledge that it might be your OPINION that these bands are not the founders of metal - and truly they have nothing in common with today's Nu, Death or Black metal movements - but you would be wrong.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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