This two cd "live" set from one of the bands that practically coined the term "heavy metal" is a collection of songs from their self titled "Black Sabbath" (1970) album thru the "Sabatoge" (1975) album. The entire band sounds fantastic recorded "live" and Tony Iommi is as sharp as a razor when it comes to playing his leads note for note just like the album versions. Ozzy's voice is in fine shape, but he does tend to stretch those high notes a bit too much at times. The songlist includes such gems as" Iron Man", "Paranoid", "Children Of The Grave" and "War Pigs" to name a few. On Disc One you've got songs from their appearance at The Rainbow in Manchester, England in 1973 which included "Tomorrow's Dream", "Sweet Leaf", "Snowblind",and "Wicked World", etc. The sound quality of disc one is excellent and is much better than other "live" Sabbath cd's I've heard. Disc 2 includes various concerts and dates throughout the 70's. Songs on this disc include "Hand Of Doom", "Hole In The Sky", "Behind The Wall Of Sleep" and "Fairies Wear Boots" to name just a few. The sound quality on disc two varies from excellent to just average. Apparently some of the rare "live" recordings were only in mono, but there are some tracks on the second disc that are in stereo. There is also a nice ten page booklet of rare photos as well as a brief history the group and it's members. This "live" collection is worth every cent and represents Black Sabbath at their peak. Highly recommended!

First of all, mine didn't come with the guitar pick. I was robbed!!!!!!!!!!!

When I bought this, I was thinking that it may be a "lost" Black Sabbath show with the original lineup that had never been heard before.

When I put it in the player, I knew I was wrong!

Disc 1 is just "Live At Last", the el cheapo live album put out in 1980 by the band's former management, which I already had and which can be found in nearly any bargain bin you look. The band (and Ozzy) had, up until now, disassociated themselves with this. I guess that since there's money to be made, it's not so bad now, right, Sharon? Anyway, there's nothing new to be added to this except that the recording sounds a little bit cleaned-up and the intro "WILL YOU WELCOME BLACK SABBATH!" is gone.

Disc 2 is a bunch of collected mixing-desk (or worse) recordings. I would say that most are from the "Sabotage" tour. The sound quality varies from good to atrocious (Bill Ward's drum sound on most tracks adds new meaning to the term "splash cymbal"), but there's a certain honesty to them - this is how they sounded, no tricks added. Interesting mostly as an historical curiosity and for those who have to have everything Sabbath/Ozzy ever did.

The packaging is good, even if I didn't get my guitar pick! Some good early photos of the Sabs (Ozzy before all the tattoos), with emphasis on the legendary California Jam show. However, I don't think any of the tracks come from that gig. There's also a good essay on the history of the band.

Overall, this isn't bad, but it isn't really good, either. However, I prefer it over "Reunion" as Ozzy isn't screaming the "F" word every other breath. I still recommend "Live Evil" or "Cross Purposes Live" (if you can find it).

With this and all the box sets, I get a sense that Sharon Osbourne is milking the Sabbath legacy (the Ozzy years, anyway) for all it's worth. At the end of Disc 2, Ozzy says, "That's all from Black Sabbath." Let this BE the end before the band deteriorates further into a nostalgia act.

John Michael Osbourne - Your status as a frontman/showman/multimedia star is assured and you have probably the most loyal fan base in heavy metal. You've got a good bud and collaborator in Zakk Wylde. Continue on with that.

Frank Anthony Iommi - You are the inventor of heavy metal guitar as we know it and you still have plenty of music in you. Your recent release of 1996 recordings with Glenn Hughes is fantastic. It would be great if you two would form a permanent band. Your name is legend enough; you don't need "Black Sabbath" any more.

Terence Michael Butler - You set the standard for HM bassists and at this stage in your life you can do what you want. Do solo gigs, play in Ozzy's band now and then, or maybe even do a book of poetry.

William Thomas Ward - You've been through the meatgrinder and back, and I'm glad you're still alive. Enjoy your sobriety and semiretirement. I can think of any number of aspiring drummers who would love to take lessons from you.

Think about it. You're legends. Don't tarnish it any more.

This is the definitive Black Sabbath live collection. Spanning two discs, it showcases a wide variety of recordings from various locations during the 1970s. Read on for my review of Black Sabbath: Past Lives.

Disc one of the set is actually a very well remastered version of Live at Last, which essentialy is a single-disc live collection of songs from the early 1970s. The sound quality is really not a problem here (or at least it didn't bother me). The band is tight, and Iommi's guitar work is sure. Ozzy Osbourne is at his usual antics even though he may sing out of tune sometimes. He was problably loaded half the time he sang. The rest of the band is on par, making for a good show. The song collection is nice, taking cuts from the Vol. 4 album mostly, and one song off of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (I think it had just been released when this was recorded, or maybe before) and the rest of their albums up to 1973. The centerpiece on this disc is the excellent Wicked World medley, which starts with Wicked World, transitions into some jams, then goes into Supernaut then back again to Wicked World. The only song I was dissapointed with was the mediocre version of Paranoid, which I did not particulary care for (I never have really liked that song, but hey, it's not bad). Above all, this is worth it just to hear the great Wicked World jam.

Disc 2 was recorded at the California Jam in 1974 and at other various locations. The Cal Jam songs are the highlights here, with stunning embryonic renditions of Hole in the Sky, Symptom of the Universe, and Megalomania. The sound quality from that show is awsome, while the rest is just fairly good sounding bootleg material, only worth it for the hardcore Sabbath fan.

As a final note, this album is worth your time and money- it is a great album of live Sabbath cuts, and the most readily avaliable version on the market. Highly recommended.

Hmmmm....

I've never had Live at Last before, so I can't compare, but I'm listening to disc one here of Past Lives and it's pretty damned rippin'. The mastering sounds fine to me, but I gotta warn ya, years of rushing the stage for many concerts hasn't left me with the best set of aural receptors, so you may want to take my observations with a grain of salt. Anyway, the way I see it is the bass is low and booming, and the drums are distinctive - very prevalent. I for one can't see why this recording has got such a bad rep over the years - it must have been remastered for this release, is all I can think of. I do feel the last three tracks here were kinda rushed though. I think the best here is the run from Sweet Leaf to Children of the Grave, and the solo on Killing Yourself to Live is sweet! Classic arena rock jammin', before classic arena rock was a cliche.

But... while the "new" tracks on disc two are tight, with a very "produced" feel to them - while they are technically sound as far as the performances go, I prefer a more raw feel in live recordings. Of course, that's a subjective thing, and this may be what Sabbath fans have wanted forever; technically "correct" live versions. Me, I like diversity, the nuance of spontanaity, and prefer fidelity over technical perfection. It seems these tracks were chosen for how close to the studio versions they are, rather than how well the recordings sound. What I think will be universally lamented here is that on most of the tracks on disc two, the drums and bass are muddled, and are not very distinct, or even that prevelant - they really get lost in the mix. Again, I feel I must be mad, because I think the fidelity on the first disc is way better than on the second, which I'm sure many fans will find hard to belive. All I can say is listen for yourself. Don't get me wrong, the tracks are good; Megalomania rips, the drums do come out well on Black Sabbath, and Hand of Doom and Fairies Wear Boots have good depth. Disc two is overall a good listen - I just think it sounds a bit more "flat" than the first disc.

It may look like I'm bashing Past Lives pretty hard; that's not my intention, as it is a fine collection for the most part - it's just that some of the tracks sound like they were recorded in a tunnel. But hey, if you crank it the hell up, it just sounds like you're at a Sabbath concert in a really big tunnel... not a bad thing!

Definitely check it out.

I have developed a renewed appreciation for Black Sabbath and Tony Iommi in particular. (Did you know he cut off the tips of his fingers on his left hand in an industrial accident and had to re-teach himself to play guitar?) Black Sabbath really was the fountainhead of all Heavy Metal. Few bands can claim to be as ground-breaking as Sabbath. I was also pleasantly surprised by the quality of the sound being that it's a live album and rather dated. All-around classic material.