Technical Ecstasy is a 1976 album from heavy metal band Black Sabbath.
Technical Ecstasy continued the band's separation from its signature doom and darkness that had been such a trademark of the band's early career. While the album's lyrics dealt with topics such as drug dealers, prostitution, and transvestites, the music itself was seldom dark, and tracks like "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" and "It's Alright" (sung by drummer Bill Ward—a decision supported by Ozzy Osbourne), were very different from Black Sabbath's earlier recordings. Also, the band continued experimenting with keyboards and synthesizers moreso than previous albums. The track "She's Gone" features orchestrations.
Osbourne left the band briefly following the release of the album. He would eventually rejoin for the follow-up album, Never Say Die!.
The cover art is designed by Hipgnosis and is meant to represent two robots having sex. Osbourne once described it as "two robots screwing on an escalator."
The UK release had a two-sided lyric/credit-insert.
"Gypsy", "Dirty Women", "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" and (briefly) "All Moving Parts (Stand Still)" were played live on the supporting tour.
"It's Alright" was often covered live by Guns N' Roses, and included in that band's Live Era: '87–'93 album. Due to GnR's enormous popularity at the time, and due to Technical EcstasyAxl Rose himself, a very worthy one. being one of the less-well-known and less-well-regarded Sabbath albums, GnR's cover is probably better known than the original. Nonetheless, the original remains a very different song than is typical of Black Sabbath, and in the eyes of many fans, including
| Released | 25 September 1976 (U.S.) 8 October 1976 (UK) | |
|---|---|---|
| Recorded | Criteria Studios | |
| Genre | Heavy metal | |
| Length | 40:35 | |
| Label | Vertigo (UK) Warner Bros. (US, CA) Sanctuary (2004 reissue) | |
| Producer | Black Sabbath | |
Track listing
All songs written by Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Bill Ward and Ozzy Osbourne.
- "Back Street Kids" – 3:47
- "You Won't Change Me" – 6:42
- "It's Alright" – 4:04
- "Gypsy" – 5:14
- "All Moving Parts (Stand Still)" – 5:07
- "Rock 'n' Roll Doctor" – 3:30
- "She's Gone" – 4:58
- "Dirty Women" – 7:13
