Earth - Warning (1969)

Before they became Black Sabbath, the band were known as Earth - a blues-driven powerhouse already making a name for themselves in the mid-'60s. A new album has just been released containing rare early recordings from that era, remastered from long-lost tapes and acetates, and featuring previously unheard tracks, demos and alternative takes. The collection captures Earth's evolution as they pushed toward the heavy metal sound that would soon change rock music forever, and the tapes were recorded during the foursome's early days in 1969 by promoter Jim Simpson, who went on to become Black Sabbath’s first manager. Simpson recorded the group at Zella Studio in Birmingham in 1969, but held back from releasing them as their style was evolving so quickly, but these recordings clearly demonstrate what fine music they produced right from the very beginning. 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. Under Simpson's management, Black Sabbath released their seminal self-titled debut album in February 1970, following up with 'Paranoid' in September of the same year, and although Simpson lost control of the band when the 'Paranoid' single was No. 2 and the album was No. 1, he still considers that he managed some of Black Sabbath's finest moments. One notable thing about this release is the fact that the blurb on the CD jacket studiously avoids using the phrase "Black Sabbath" or any of the band members' names, and so rumours abound that this is an unofficial release, either from Simpson, or by someone using his name, but who cares as long as we can finally hear these early recordings. However, on hearing them, geofmcm found them a little flat, so he ripped them to their stems and remixed them himself, taking the bass to the left, guitar to the right, spreading the drum sound a little, and adding reverb to the vocals, which hopefully improves the sound. He also added three other remixed demos to the end so that this includes all the music recorded by Earth, and for my part I combined the guitar and flute versions of 'Song For Jim' into one track featuring both instruments, and then just added the cover.   

Track listing

01 Blue Suede Shoes
02 Evenin'
03 Wee Wee Baby
04 Untitled
05 Free Man
06 Song For Jim 
07 Wicked (Demo)
08 Warning
9 When I Came Down
10 The Rebel
11 Thomas James

Thanks to geofmcm for his work on this post.