It's about time a truly deluxe album got the deluxe treatment. Of course, when it's an effort that's as ripping as Black Sabbath's sophomore effort, 1970's Paranoid, that's half fucking awesome and half kinda bummer. You know that in such a case, "deluxe" means pilfering anything that hasn't already been mined from the vault or is tweaked just enough to merit the prefix "re," as in "remastered," "revamped" or "retarded."
Whatever. We'll still buy it because Universal Music's plans for this digipak are rather enticing. The first in a series of deluxe expanded - and, yes, remastered - editions, the triple-disc version of Paranoid boasts additional, previously unheard outtakes, demos and instrumental tracks taken from the original studio sessions.
Not only that but you also get the extremely rare 1974 Quadraphonic mix of the album. For non-audiophiles, that's primitive surround sound. Each instrument is separated into its own speaker, so while you can hear everything on two speakers, it's not nearly as cool as being assaulted by Sab from all corners of the room. And really, that's just another mildly-tweaked version of the exact same release.
Finally, as if all this wasn't enough, each deluxe version will include gatefold packaging with expanded booklets containing rare and previously unseen photographs, comprehensive sleeve notes telling the story behind each album and images of rare single covers and memorabilia from the period. No news on exactly which albums are getting this royal treatment but don't hold your breath for The Eternal Idol.
Paranoid: The Deluxe Expanded Edition is available on April 6, 2009. Here is the tracklisting:
Disc 1 (Original Album)
"War Pigs"
"Paranoid"
"Planet Caravan"
"Iron Man"
"Electric Funeral"
"Hand of Doom"
"Rat Salad"
"Fairies Wear Boots"
Disc 2 (1974 Quadraphonic Mix)
"War Pigs"
"Paranoid"
"Planet Caravan"
"Iron Man"
"Electric Funeral"
"Hand of Doom"
"Rat Salad"
"Fairies Wear Boots"
Disc 3 (Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks)
"War Pigs (Instrumental)"
"Paranoid (Alternative Lyrical Version)"
"Planet Caravan (Alternative Lyrical Version)"
"Iron Man (Instrumental)"
"Electric Funeral (Instrumental)"
"Hand of Doom (Instrumental)"
"Rat Salad (Instrumental)"
"Fairies Wear Boots (Instrumental)"
(All recorded at Regent Sound Studios, 16 & 17/6/70)
Whatever. We'll still buy it because Universal Music's plans for this digipak are rather enticing. The first in a series of deluxe expanded - and, yes, remastered - editions, the triple-disc version of Paranoid boasts additional, previously unheard outtakes, demos and instrumental tracks taken from the original studio sessions.
Not only that but you also get the extremely rare 1974 Quadraphonic mix of the album. For non-audiophiles, that's primitive surround sound. Each instrument is separated into its own speaker, so while you can hear everything on two speakers, it's not nearly as cool as being assaulted by Sab from all corners of the room. And really, that's just another mildly-tweaked version of the exact same release.
Finally, as if all this wasn't enough, each deluxe version will include gatefold packaging with expanded booklets containing rare and previously unseen photographs, comprehensive sleeve notes telling the story behind each album and images of rare single covers and memorabilia from the period. No news on exactly which albums are getting this royal treatment but don't hold your breath for The Eternal Idol.
Paranoid: The Deluxe Expanded Edition is available on April 6, 2009. Here is the tracklisting:
Disc 1 (Original Album)
"War Pigs"
"Paranoid"
"Planet Caravan"
"Iron Man"
"Electric Funeral"
"Hand of Doom"
"Rat Salad"
"Fairies Wear Boots"
Disc 2 (1974 Quadraphonic Mix)
"War Pigs"
"Paranoid"
"Planet Caravan"
"Iron Man"
"Electric Funeral"
"Hand of Doom"
"Rat Salad"
"Fairies Wear Boots"
Disc 3 (Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks)
"War Pigs (Instrumental)"
"Paranoid (Alternative Lyrical Version)"
"Planet Caravan (Alternative Lyrical Version)"
"Iron Man (Instrumental)"
"Electric Funeral (Instrumental)"
"Hand of Doom (Instrumental)"
"Rat Salad (Instrumental)"
"Fairies Wear Boots (Instrumental)"
(All recorded at Regent Sound Studios, 16 & 17/6/70)