Paranoid is the second studio album Black Sabbath. Released 18 September 1970, it was the band’s only album to top the UK Albums Chart until the release of 13 in 2013.
Paranoid contains several of the band’s best-known signature songs, including “Iron Man”, “War Pigs”, and the title track.
It is one of the first metal albums and it is my favorite among the handful metal albums that I like. Slow, heavy and very, very blues based. Black Sabbath was a great band for about 4 albums (ok, 6, and then I’m stretching it a bit), after that I lost interest. Paranoid was their crowning achievement. The playing is excellent and Ozzy sings really well. They were never better.
Black Sabbath – War Pigs (Paris, 1970):
“…they did one thing and did it exceptionally well. If you want proof just take a look at the world of heavy metal. Without this album there wouldn’t be one. Simple as that.” – Sid Smith (BBC)
Classic Albums documentary: Black Sabbath – Paranoid:
Paranoid was not only Black Sabbath’s most popular record (it was a number one smash in the U.K., and “Paranoid” and “Iron Man” both scraped the U.S. charts despite virtually nonexistent radio play), it also stands as one of the greatest and most influential heavy metal albums of all time. Paranoid refined Black Sabbath’s signature sound — crushingly loud, minor-key dirges loosely based on heavy blues-rock — and applied it to a newly consistent set of songs with utterly memorable riffs, most of which now rank as all-time metal classics.
– Steve Huey (Allmusic)
Black Sabbath – Paranoid (1970):
Black Sabbath – Paranoid on Spotify:
Hell, I have to include Iron Man as well. Here is a performance from the TV show, Beat Club (1972):
I don’t ever balk at being considered a Motown person, because Motown is the greatest musical event that ever happened in the history of music.
~Smokey Robinson
Berry Gordy founded Motown Records, but one could argue that Smokey Robinson was the man who first pushed America’s most iconic soul music label toward greatness.
~Mark Deming (allmusic.com)
The Tracks Of My Tears Live (1965)
Wikipedia:
Birth name
William Robinson, Jr.
Born
February 19, 1940 (age 73)
Origin
Detroit, Michigan, United States
Genres
R&B, soul, pop, adult contemporary
Occupations
Singer, songwriter, record producer, record executive
Instruments
Vocals, piano
Years active
1955–present
Labels
Motown, Universal, SBK, Liquid 8, Robso
Associated acts
The Miracles, The Temptations, Mary Wells, Marvin Gaye
William “Smokey” Robinson, Jr. (born February 19, 1940) is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer, and former record executive. Robinson was the founder and front man of the popular Motown vocal group The Miracles, for which he also served as the group’s chief songwriter and producer. Robinson led the group from its 1955 origins as The Five Chimes until 1972 when he announced a retirement from the stage to focus on his role as Motown’s vice president.
I Second That Emotion:
However, Robinson returned to the music industry as a solo artist the following year, later having solo hits such as “Baby That’s Backatcha”, “A Quiet Storm”, “The Agony and the Ecstasy”, “Cruisin'”, “Being With You” and “Just to See Her”. Following the sale of Motown Records in 1988, Robinson left Motown in 1990. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
Awards and accolades
In 1987, Robinson was inducted to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Two years later, in 1989, he was inducted to the Songwriter’s Hall of Fame
In 1993, Robinson was awarded a medal at the National Medal of Arts
Two years before, he won the Heritage Award at the Soul Train Music Awards
At its 138th Commencement Convocation in May 2006, Howard University conferred on Robinson the degree of Doctor of Music, honoris causa
In December 2006 Robinson was one of five Kennedy Center honorees, along with Dolly Parton, Zubin Mehta, Steven Spielberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber
On May 9, 2009, Smokey Robinson received an honorary doctorate degree and gave a commencement speech at Berklee College of Music’s commencement ceremony
On March 20, 2009, The Miracles were finally honored as a group with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Smokey was present with original Miracles members Bobby Rogers, Pete Moore, (Bobby’s cousin) Claudette Rogers, and Gloria White, accepting for her husband, the late Ronnie White, whose daughter Pamela and granddaughter Maya were there representing him as well. Smokey’s replacement, 1970s Miracles lead singer, Billy Griffin was also honored. Controversially, original Miracle Marv Tarplin was not honored, against the wishes of his fellow Miracles, and the group’s fans, who felt that he should have also been there to share the honor. However, later ,Tarplin did receive his star. He was also finally inducted with the rest of the original Miracles, Bobby Bogers, Pete Moore, Ronnie White,and Claudette Robinson, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 20th, 2012, some 26 years after Robinson’s controversial solo induction in 1987.
