Vol. 4 (Black Sabbath album)

Vol. 4
Studio album by Black Sabbath
Released	25 September 1972
Recorded	May 1972 at Record Plant Studios in Los Angeles, Snowblind/Tomorrow's Dream backing tracks recorded Jan/Feb/March 1972 at Marquee Studios, overdubs, mixing, mastering, at Olympic/Trident Studios, UK, June 1972)
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	42:38
Language	English
Label	Vertigo
Producer	Patrick Meehan, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath album chronology
Master of Reality (1971) Vol. 4 (1972) Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (1973)

Vol. 4 is the Black Sabbath's fourth studio album, released in 25 September 1972. It was the first album by Black Sabbath not produced by Rodger Bain; guitarist Tony Iommi assumed production duties. Patrick Meehan, the band's then-manager, was listed as co-producer, though his actual involvement in the album's production was minimal at best.

Track listing

All music written by Black Sabbath (Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward); all lyrics by Geezer Butler. Note that the song subtitles "The Straightener" and "Every Day Comes and Goes" do not appear on the original North American pressings of the album or remastered editions; the former is "Wheels of Confusion"'s coda, while the latter is a two-minute segment that serves as "Under the Sun"'s bridge.

The album had been reissued twice under the title Children of the Grave with a live version of that song, originally released on the Master of Reality album, included.^{[citation needed]}

Side one
No.	Title	Length
1.	"Wheels of Confusion/The Straightener"	8:02
2.	"Tomorrow's Dream"	3:12
3.	"Changes"	4:45
4.	"FX" (instrumental)	1:44
5.	"Supernaut"	4:50

Side two
No.	Title	Length
6.	"Snowblind"	5:33
7.	"Cornucopia"	3:55
8.	"Laguna Sunrise" (instrumental)	2:56
9.	"St. Vitus' Dance"	2:30
10.	"Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes"	5:53

Cover versions

"Wheels of Confusion"

• Estonian band Rondellus on their tribute album Sabbatum, sung by two female voices accompanied by a frame drum. Their version has lyrics translated into Latin, and the song has been retitled "Rotae Confusionis".
• Doom metal band Cathedral on the tribute album Masters of Misery – The Earache Tribute.

"Tomorrow's Dream"

• Seattle band Screaming Trees as the b-side of their 1992 single "Dollar Bill".
• Canadian band Sheavy on their Untitled 3-song 7".

"Changes"

• In 1999, thrash metal band, Overkill for their Coverkill album.
• Sampled by rapper Eminem on the song "Going Through Changes" for his Recovery album.
• A new version with altered lyrics appeared on Prince of Darkness with Kelly Osbourne and Ozzy singing a duet version.
• Hell Is for Heroes covered this song as a B-side to their single "Night Vision".
• Fudge Tunnel covered this song on Earache's Masters of Misery compilation.
• Japanese melodic punk band Hi-Standard covered this song on their Making the Road album.
• Nashville garage rock duo JEFF the Brotherhood included a cover of this song as the final track on their album Hypnotic Nights.
• Charles Bradley and The Budos Band covered this song on the limited edition Record Store Day Black Friday release (2013).

"Supernaut"

• 1000 Homo DJs on their Supernaut single, and for the Black Sabbath tribute album Nativity in Black. An alternate version featuring vocals by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails appears on the Black Box – Wax Trax! Records: The First 13 Years compilation.
• Coalesce on the 2007 reissue of their Led Zeppelin tribute EP entitled There is Nothing New Under the Sun and also on the Hydra Head Records Black Sabbath tribute album In These Black Days: Vol. 3.
• Ministry on their 1992 Psalm 69 tour, and on their album Cover Up.
• O'Connor (from Argentina) for Hay un Lugar (1999).
• Turisas for a cover CD issued by UK magazine Metal Hammer.
• The joint venture of Los Coronas and Arizona Baby covered the song in their 2011 live album Dos Bandas y un Destino.

"Snowblind"

• Alternative metal band System of a Down for the Black Sabbath tribute album Nativity in Black II. This version also appears on The Osbourne Family Album, as a B-side of "Aerials" vinyl and on "Lonely Day" single.
• Converge live on their EP Y2K.
• Zakk Wylde's Black Label Society on Alcohol Fueled Brewtality.
• Stoner metal band Sleep on Masters of Misery-Black Sabbath: The Earache Tribute and later on a re-issue of their album Sleep's Holy Mountain.

"Cornucopia"

• In 1999, thrash metal band, Overkill for their Coverkill album.
• British sludge metal band Iron Monkey on the rarities album Ruined By Idiots.
• New York City-based grindcore band Brutal Truth on In These Black Days: Vol. 2.
• Brazilian thrash metal band Sepultura on their live album Under a Pale Grey Sky (main riff played before "Cut-Throat").

"Under the Sun/Every Day Comes and Goes"

• Soulfly for the Black Sabbath tribute album Nativity in Black II.
• Bongzilla for Stash.
• Entombed for Family Favourites.

Personnel

Black Sabbath

• Ozzy Osbourne – vocals
• Tony Iommi – guitars, piano, mellotron
• Geezer Butler – bass guitar, mellotron
• Bill Ward – drums, percussion

Additional

• Colin Caldwell, Vic Smith – engineering
• Patrick Meehan – production

References

• Rosen, Steven (1996). The Story of Black Sabbath: Wheels of Confusion. Castle Communications. ISBN 1-86074-149-5 
• Chow, Jason (2006). Dimery, Robert. ed. 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Quintet Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-7893-1371-5.