Rhino salutes the long shadow cast by this short-lived lineup with newly remastered versions of both albums expanded with rare and unreleased music. “Heaven And Hell: Deluxe Edition” and “Mob Rules: Deluxe Edition” will be released separately on March 5th.
Each album will be available on 2-CDs, or a 2-LPs. Due to space constraints, both vinyl editions include a selection of bonus material from the CDs. The music will also be available via digital download and streaming services the same day.
A live version of “Neon Knights“, recorded at Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut on August 10, 1980, and a live version of “Voodoo“, recorded at the Hammersmith Odeon in London, U.K. on December 31, 1981, can be streamed below.
Dio joined BLACK SABBATH for the first time in 1979 and quickly found kindred spirits in guitarist Tony Iommi, bassist Geezer Butler, and drummer Bill Ward. When “Heaven And Hell” was released in April 1980, the album was met with effusive reviews for the bands’ return to form on metal masterpieces like “Neon Knights” and the title track. The album reached #9 in the U.K. and #28 in the U.S., where it was also certified platinum.
“Heaven And Hell: Deluxe Edition” adds several bonus tracks that have never been released in North America, including versions of “Children Of The Sea” and “Die Young” recorded live in 1980 in Hartford, Connecticut. The set concludes with live rarities like “E5150” and “Neon Knights” that originally appeared in 2007 on the Rhino Handmade’s limited edition collection “Black Sabbath: Live At Hammersmith Odeon“.
To follow up “Heaven And Hell“, the group returned to the studio in 1981 to begin recording “Mob Rules“, with drummer Vinny Appice joining the band for the first time. Released in October 1981 and certified gold, the album was another SABBATH classic, including standouts like “The Sign Of The Southern Cross“, “Turn Up The Night” and the title track.
“Mob Rules: Deluxe Edition” boasts an expansive selection of rare and unreleased recordings. Along with additional tracks from “Live At Hammersmith Odeon“, the collection also includes a newly mixed version of “The Mob Rules“. The cherry on top is an entire concert recorded in 1982 in Portland, Oregon. Highlights include stellar performances of “Neon Knights“, “Heaven And Hell” and “Voodoo“.
The Dio-fronted lineup disbanded in 1982 but reunited a decade later to record “Dehumanizer” and tour before going on hiatus again. The group came together again in 2006 to record three new songs for Rhino’s era-spanning collection “Black Sabbath: The Dio Years“. The collaboration led to a highly anticipated world tour in 2007 where the group was billed as HEAVEN & HELL. Their final album of new material, 2009’s “The Devil You Know“, again demonstrated the musical bond between the band members was unparalleled.
Oran O’Beirne
www.overdrive.ie 2021
