Legendary band Black Sabbath started out with the name Earth, and as it turns out, they did some recordings under that alias too. The collection of rare early recordings from Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward are being released today with the title Earth: The Legendary Lost Tapes through Big Bear Records. The recordings were done in 1969 at Zella Studio in Birmingham, with legendary music promoter Jim Simpson.
“Before Black Sabbath, the band were known as Earth—a blues-driven powerhouse already making a name for themselves. This new release presents rare early recordings from that era, remastered from long-lost tapes.
“These recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. We recorded these tracks at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them, as their style was evolving so quickly.
“Now, some 57 years later, the recordings assume a greater importance, illustrating how these four young men from Birmingham, barely out of their teens, were excellent musicians and a fine band, fully deserving of all the success that was to come their way.”
Rare blues covers which include “Blue Suede Shoes,” “Evenin’,” and “Wee Wee Baby”
Two versions of the track “Song for Jim.” One version has Iommi on guitar and includes a rare flute performance
Early heavy proto-metal tracks: “Untitled,” “Free Man,” “Wicked World,” and “Warning.”
