I'm a public school teacher in the US, over the past few years it hasn't been unusual for me to be clocking 70 hours or so a week to discharge all my duties. This is one of the songs I listened to the most, just to help me cope with the workload. Thanks Sabbath!
Retired teacher after 30 years in the trenches--no admin gigs for me. I took SO MUCH comfort from this song in my last years as well. "Spiral Architect" as well "Sourcers of Madness selling me their time" reflected all the new crap we'd have to do every year that would last 2-3 years at most... HANG IN THERE, COLLEAGUE.
Most of my favorite live versions of Sabbath songs are from California Jam. I actually like the Children Of The Grave from it more than the studio version.
There is only one guitarist in Sabbath, Tony Iommi was notorious for doing multiple overdubs especially in the 70's. Tony played variations of these songs live, that captured the essence of the song, there was no other guitar players live. You should check out a few 70's live tracks from this era. You won't be disappointed in Tony Iommi!
Tony Iommi did many and all overdub layers on the guitar . ..Check out California Jam 1974 Black Sabbath and the whole concert, Deep Purple was in that as well and others ..
Sabbath managed the delicate trick of expanding their primal sound with more sophisticated arrangements and instrumentation without losing their essence. As such, “Killing Yourself to Live" and other "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" standouts offered not only brawn, but beauty too. - Edited from Ultimate Classic Rock
a peak Sabbath song. Always fun to see you hearing it the 1st time. Geezer was lyrically killing it on this album, you guys should read the lyrics on your 2nd go round on any of the songs. Really everything was clicking on this, the writing, music, musicianship, the singing ... it was one of their best albums. And Tony always brought it live, one guitar, even on these songs from this album. He just picked the most important part to play throughout the song. There are live versions floating around youtube, I think they did some of these songs at California Jam.
"Little Boy Blue's a big girl now." Every time I hear this song, that line stays with me all day. Not sure of its relevance but the song probably came from the strain of so many albums in so short a time and all the touring, and drugs....
Yeah, when they played live they had to strip things down - they didn't tour with any extra guitarists, only Tony. The guitar overdubs got more complex after the first few albums - which made it harder for Tony to replicate things live, though he made up for it with sheer volume of his amps, haha. They toured with a keyboardist in 75-76.
The thing that is so great about this album is that they really got their shit together and focused on writing amazing music. Everybody in the band is serious man!!! People who put down this album just aren't getting it!!!!??
Thanks for this reaction - so appropriate, too! I first saw Sabbath in September 1977 in San Diego at the Sports Arena on their Sabbath Bloody Sabbath tour. Killer song - one of their best!
This is one of my favorites that doesn't get played enough, also Lord of this World! There is an official video on RUclips showing them play this song live and It's black and white and they are all real young. Just them four! No extras
My favorite song by my favorite hard/heavy rock band. The lyrics, keys sprinkled in, Tony on fire, the time changes, Geezer and Bill killing it. Come on…
When played live, the guitarist has pedals that will record riff, rhythm, power chords etc. Si it sounds like several at once. Still takes extraordinary skill to do all this. Echoplex.
Tony Iommi also played the synthesizer, but they did use extra keyboardist in concert like Don Airy and Gerald Woodruffe in concert. All guitars were Tony Iommi....
There is an awesome live version of this here on YT from the "California Jam'74" festival.It's a good look at Iommi's genius for doing even the most layered guitar parts live.
In the 70s, Sabbath would perform the songs live without backing tracks or backstage musicians and adjust the songs accordingly. After 1980, they incorporated a back stage keyboard player (Geoff Nichols) who could play rhythm guitar parts while Tony was soloing. If you want to hear how they performed this live...pull up the video of Cal Jam 1974 concert.
Tony Iommi was big on recording multiple tracks and solos over solos. If you play two completely different solos in the same key it works. Live you just pick the highlights and make it work.
if you're curious check out this track LIVe at California Jam and on Don Kirshner's rock concert. It's Iommi without the overdub tracking but still AWESOME! Geezer, and Ward crushing it too.
They have a keyboard player in the background that fills in on alot of the rhythmic parts when Iommi solos. Geoff Nicholls was with them for years. They definitely multi track parts for a fuller sound on albums.
I don't know your names forgive me, guy on left rants about number of guitars being played, guy on right with big smile replies with one word... YES. Made my day.
S0 GIAD Y0U I0VE THESE GUYS, RAW S0UND, RAW W0RDS, RAW ENERGY, IVE SAID IT BEF0RE STiII MY FAV0RITE BAND AT 70 YRS 0ID, AGAIN GREAT T0 SEE THEIR MUSIC STiII IS GREATIY APPRECIATED!!!!
As far as the "extra" guitars they just rehearse the live version to play differently. The sound & excitement of Sabbath Live means you don't miss anything. Best concert I ever saw- Sabbath & Blue Oyster Cult, 70s I guess. The Black and Blue Tour! Goddam music was fun back then!
I told you guys would dig this album!!! Everybody would give me crap saying you guys wouldn't like it! The music is too good not to love thanks guys!!!!!!
Live back in the day it was far more raw and grittier. Later Iommi had a guy off stage on keyboards and guitar fills to fill in the gaps where possible. Also, before this album got going they all had writers block. They decided to record in a supposed haunted castle, writers block melted away. It gets better on Sabotage.
Sabbath does use overdubs in the studio but live, Tony is a master of playing the riffs and switching to lead, while usually Geezer Butler keeps the groove going on the bass. They just simplify the sound a little bit so the live versions do sound a bit different than the album versions on a song like this. There is also a live version with different lyrics performed before the song was finalized.
Geoff Nicholls played some second guitar live with Sabbath but only on the Post Dio line ups and on the reunion tours, he was mainly employed as a keyboard player before that it was all Iommi, studio and live before that
In the studio the guitars are over dubbed, in the live setting around this time the solo's take priority. There are live recording of this song from this era.
You should check this song live on Don Kerschner's Rock Concert...I think they play it live there or California Jam 1974...I'm sure they do it there...its on you tube,,,,then you can see Tony Playing only 1 guitar....Geezer the bass player plays kinda like a guitar player !!!...check it out !!!
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was the first recording of the band using a 24 track recording desk, hence the amount of overdubs on the guitar, all previous albums were 4 track from memory. This album onwards the bands style changed, some say for the worst because they could experiment more, making the music more vibrant I guess is the term I would use rather than the more darker heavier tone.
They did this live often. Iommi could do great intelligent solos with Butler holding the riff together while Iommi was soloing. There is an excellent example of this on YT, if you check out Don Kirshner's Rock Concert TV show from 1975, you'll see they opened with this song. On albums, it's not more than one person. It is Iommi overdubbing multiple solos of himself.
Yes, they've used backup guitarists and keyboard players for their live shows, it's common with 4 piece bands. It's no big deal as long as they don't pull what Motley Crue and KISS pulled onstage.
Great song, the next song may even be better. The next album (Sabotage) may even be better, if not at least just as good. La and Che should create a poll for a live Sabbath reaction. I would nominate the song Dirty Women, from The Last Supper DVD. It's so much better live...
When Tony Iommi plays live he usually will stick to the primary lead sound on the solos. And it is So loud live that it just sounds great. But yes, he has to do different takes of solos and mix them together to get those sounds on the album, which is brilliant in it's own right, because he could have just been satisfied with one solo and it would have still sound great. But for him to take the time to think about and create all that just to make the album sound better to him is brilliant!!!!
What a way to start a Monday off with some Sabbath and Skynyrd. Thank you La/Che great reaction. They do this song live saw them in 74 Cal Jam keep on doing what you are doing…
Guy's, another great reaction, but it's Sabbath I didn't expect anything else. I've just quickly looked at the set list for the last tour back in 2019 they didn't play this track live. I should have known as I saw them on this tour but couldn't be sure. Keep the Sabbath coming dudes.
This whole album takes me back to High School and the parties we used to play this at, not to mention hearing this at their concerts and l went to a lot of their concerts ✌️😝🎶
Iommi and Page usually just stick to the meat of the solo and improvise as they go. Luckily, both of those rhythm sections are so dominant they can riff right over it with no one noticing or caring .
This was a live staple in their set from 1973 to 1978. There is an official live version on Black Sabbath's youtube channel, but definitely worth checking out the 1974 California Jam version as others have mentioned. In later years they did add a keyboardist (Geoff Nicholls), but it's just the 4 of them otherwise.
Lots of bands have over dubbs in studio and when they play live they just improvise and usually these are not the songs they play live w/ some exceptions obviously. Think Pink Floyd which uses pre recorded sounds in their live concerts, but BS would rarely if ever play live this tune that I know of.
Check out the Live at Last album. It’s played live on there. Kinda of a bootleg official release. Not a great live recording. Released 35 years after by there old label. They have no control over non of these records. All Tony on all the over dubs.
this is one of those songs that can't be reproduced live in its studio form. tony does multiple parts in the studio, but he has to leave some parts out, or otherwise modify the arrangement to make it work live. zeppelin did the same thing with some of their songs.
I'm a public school teacher in the US, over the past few years it hasn't been unusual for me to be clocking 70 hours or so a week to discharge all my duties. This is one of the songs I listened to the most, just to help me cope with the workload. Thanks Sabbath!
Retired teacher after 30 years in the trenches--no admin gigs for me. I took SO MUCH comfort from this song in my last years as well. "Spiral Architect" as well "Sourcers of Madness selling me their time" reflected all the new crap we'd have to do every year that would last 2-3 years at most...
HANG IN THERE, COLLEAGUE.
@@rd9219 Thank you for the encouragement, congratulations on a well-deserved retirement!
@@gratuitousfootnote1183 ❤️
Find the `74 California Jam, and you will see this song.
California Jams were The Best! So many awesome bands …love watching all the Jams! Best shit Ever!
Most of my favorite live versions of Sabbath songs are from California Jam. I actually like the Children Of The Grave from it more than the studio version.
Wait until you hear the next album ''SABOTAGE''....every song is a banger and Ozzy's vocals are SUPERB !!!!!
Ozzy so emotional on The Writ
@@stefanosbowers hell ya
All Tony's overdubs in studio, and just Tony on one guitar live...and this tune ROCKS live
This comment makes no sense....
every song is a banger on this album
Go Laa!! Go Chee!!! More Sabbath is good Sabbath!!!
There is only one guitarist in Sabbath, Tony Iommi was notorious for doing multiple overdubs especially in the 70's. Tony played variations of these songs live, that captured the essence of the song, there was no other guitar players live. You should check out a few 70's live tracks from this era. You won't be disappointed in Tony Iommi!
Iommi Rules! The God of Heavy Metal Guitar.
Tony Iommi did many and all overdub layers on the guitar . ..Check out California Jam 1974 Black Sabbath and the whole concert, Deep Purple was in that as well and others ..
Sabbath managed the delicate trick of expanding their primal sound with more sophisticated arrangements and instrumentation without losing their essence. As such, “Killing Yourself to Live" and other "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" standouts offered not only brawn, but beauty too. - Edited from Ultimate Classic Rock
a peak Sabbath song. Always fun to see you hearing it the 1st time. Geezer was lyrically killing it on this album, you guys should read the lyrics on your 2nd go round on any of the songs. Really everything was clicking on this, the writing, music, musicianship, the singing ... it was one of their best albums. And Tony always brought it live, one guitar, even on these songs from this album. He just picked the most important part to play throughout the song. There are live versions floating around youtube, I think they did some of these songs at California Jam.
I saw them in 78' with Boston, Van Halen, Motorhead, and it was just them on stage, no extras.
"Little Boy Blue's a big girl now." Every time I hear this song, that line stays with me all day. Not sure of its relevance but the song probably came from the strain of so many albums in so short a time and all the touring, and drugs....
Check the Live at Last album. They play it live on there. All Tony doing the overdubs of extra guitar parts. Same thing that Page does in Zeppelin
You ex
The song came about from their management touring them to point of illness and breakdowns.
Yeah, when they played live they had to strip things down - they didn't tour with any extra guitarists, only Tony. The guitar overdubs got more complex after the first few albums - which made it harder for Tony to replicate things live, though he made up for it with sheer volume of his amps, haha. They toured with a keyboardist in 75-76.
Killing yourself to Live was being played live for awhile. in 1972 Live at Last and also video on Don Kirchner 1975 live at Santa Monica Civic
also Cal Jam 1974
There is a great live version of this at Cal Jam 1974
The thing that is so great about this album is that they really got their shit together and focused on writing amazing music. Everybody in the band is serious man!!! People who put down this album just aren't getting it!!!!??
Tony’s autobiography is sooo worth it, total downhome epic stories making fun of themselves
Geezer's is great too.
One of my favorite Sabbath tunes ❤
Another great track on an album full of them. Sabbath still rules! 🔥🎵🎸🎤🎸🎶🔥
Thanks for this reaction - so appropriate, too! I first saw Sabbath in September 1977 in San Diego at the Sports Arena on their Sabbath Bloody Sabbath tour. Killer song - one of their best!
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was released in 1973. I don’t think they were still touring it in 77 haha
This is one of my favorites that doesn't get played enough, also Lord of this World! There is an official video on RUclips showing them play this song live and It's black and white and they are all real young. Just them four! No extras
lol @4:27 “SMOKE IT, GET HIGH.”
Black Sabbath 1968-eternity🤘
My favorite song by my favorite hard/heavy rock band. The lyrics, keys sprinkled in, Tony on fire, the time changes, Geezer and Bill killing it. Come on…
When played live, the guitarist has pedals that will record riff, rhythm, power chords etc. Si it sounds like several at once. Still takes extraordinary skill to do all this. Echoplex.
For me 2nd fav on album after Sabbath bloody sabbath!
Tony Iommi also played the synthesizer, but they did use extra keyboardist in concert like Don Airy and Gerald Woodruffe in concert. All guitars were Tony Iommi....
There is an awesome live version of this here on YT from the "California Jam'74" festival.It's a good look at Iommi's genius for doing even the most layered guitar parts live.
Hold on lads, it's about to get weird.
In the 70s, Sabbath would perform the songs live without backing tracks or backstage musicians and adjust the songs accordingly. After 1980, they incorporated a back stage keyboard player (Geoff Nichols) who could play rhythm guitar parts while Tony was soloing. If you want to hear how they performed this live...pull up the video of Cal Jam 1974 concert.
Tony Iommi was big on recording multiple tracks and solos over solos. If you play two completely different solos in the same key it works. Live you just pick the highlights and make it work.
You guys are absolutely the best!
if you're curious check out this track LIVe at California Jam and on Don Kirshner's rock concert. It's Iommi without the overdub tracking but still AWESOME! Geezer, and Ward crushing it too.
Can't wait to see you guys get to the next album SABOTAGE. That's the progressive black sabbath.
I remember 1st hearing this in high school. The title track is pretty good too as well as Fluff.
Have you guys decided to listen to the entire album? I approve.
Every guitar player should own a MXR Phase 90.
Oh yea they played this live, in fact, they opened with this on their ‘75 tour.
What a way to start the week Absolute banger ❤
They have a keyboard player in the background that fills in on alot of the rhythmic parts when Iommi solos. Geoff Nicholls was with them for years. They definitely multi track parts for a fuller sound on albums.
Inventors of real metal music
That’s practically jazz!
You can hear what this sounded like live on the album "Live at Last"
When I saw them in the late '70's when they were promoting Technical Ecstasy it was just the 4 of them and only Tony on guitar.
Iommi is a head of his time for sure
😂😂
"THIS BLACK SABBATH"
AHHHHHH YESSS, BACK TO SOME BLOODYYYY!!! 😊RIGHT ON LA & CHE!👍
The ultimate track to put on as your alarm to wake up for work!
Yes. Its a fan favorite live. Watch them in Santa Monica 1975. Don Kirshners rock show.
I don't know your names forgive me, guy on left rants about number of guitars being played, guy on right with big smile replies with one word... YES.
Made my day.
S0 GIAD Y0U I0VE THESE GUYS, RAW S0UND, RAW W0RDS, RAW ENERGY, IVE SAID IT BEF0RE STiII MY FAV0RITE BAND AT 70 YRS 0ID, AGAIN GREAT T0 SEE THEIR MUSIC STiII IS GREATIY APPRECIATED!!!!
This BLACK SABBATH they ain’t gonna bring no one up with them😅✌️
As far as the "extra" guitars they just rehearse the live version to play differently. The sound & excitement of Sabbath Live means you don't miss anything. Best concert I ever saw- Sabbath & Blue Oyster Cult, 70s I guess. The Black and Blue Tour! Goddam music was fun back then!
that was 76-77, was at the one in Chicago. Never missed a Sabbath concert.
Looking for today was always one of my favorites
I told you guys would dig this album!!! Everybody would give me crap saying you guys wouldn't like it! The music is too good not to love thanks guys!!!!!!
Nothin starts the dayike Sabbath! Ty AP! 💥💀💥...☘️
Live back in the day it was far more raw and grittier. Later Iommi had a guy off stage on keyboards and guitar fills to fill in the gaps where possible.
Also, before this album got going they all had writers block. They decided to record in a supposed haunted castle, writers block melted away.
It gets better on Sabotage.
At one point i recall having this album on vinyl, 8 track, & cassette. But by the time I got the cd the 8 track was gone. Too bad...
Now that's metal ✨️🎶✨️
Only one person, dude. Toni is overdub. Live is done very well.
This was a staple of their set after the album. Great live at California Jam!
No only 4 on stage saw them 17 times
FYYYYYRRRRRRRR!!! 😊FYYRR GUYS!💯
Sabbath does use overdubs in the studio but live, Tony is a master of playing the riffs and switching to lead, while usually Geezer Butler keeps the groove going on the bass. They just simplify the sound a little bit so the live versions do sound a bit different than the album versions on a song like this. There is also a live version with different lyrics performed before the song was finalized.
IT'S JUST A ( 4 ) MAN BAND CHE 💯😊 IT'S OZZY, TONY, BILL AND GEEZER 👍COMPLETE MUSICAL INSANITY, AND JUST SO GOOD!
Tony Iommi has multi-tracked on every album.
Next up, Dragonaut by Sleep, A Sabbath Worship Band, y'all will dig it fo sho
You guys gotta revisit this song (live California jam) awesome performance and you can see geezer tear shit up!
Geoff Nicholls played some second guitar live with Sabbath but only on the Post Dio line ups and on the reunion tours, he was mainly employed as a keyboard player before that it was all Iommi, studio and live before that
Banger!
They tuned down ozzy on purpose. Iommi wanted to be in the spot light. Btw been waiting for this song reaction, so thank you guys for that
In the studio the guitars are over dubbed, in the live setting around this time the solo's take priority. There are live recording of this song from this era.
Love this, thanks guys!
Don kirshner's Rock concert they did this song live...
Every song on this album is great.
oh they most definitely do this tune live check it out "California jam"
You should check this song live on Don Kerschner's Rock Concert...I think they play it live there or California Jam 1974...I'm sure they do it there...its on you tube,,,,then you can see Tony Playing only 1 guitar....Geezer the bass player plays kinda like a guitar player !!!...check it out !!!
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath was the first recording of the band using a 24 track recording desk, hence the amount of overdubs on the guitar, all previous albums were 4 track from memory.
This album onwards the bands style changed, some say for the worst because they could experiment more, making the music more vibrant I guess is the term I would use rather than the more darker heavier tone.
They did this live often. Iommi could do great intelligent solos with Butler holding the riff together while Iommi was soloing. There is an excellent example of this on YT, if you check out Don Kirshner's Rock Concert TV show from 1975, you'll see they opened with this song. On albums, it's not more than one person. It is Iommi overdubbing multiple solos of himself.
Yes, they've used backup guitarists and keyboard players for their live shows, it's common with 4 piece bands. It's no big deal as long as they don't pull what Motley Crue and KISS pulled onstage.
Some they can't play live but There are good live tracks in the early days ☮️🇦🇺🇺🇸
There is concert footage of this album on RUclips
Great song, the next song may even be better. The next album (Sabotage) may even be better, if not at least just as good. La and Che should create a poll for a live Sabbath reaction. I would nominate the song Dirty Women, from The Last Supper DVD. It's so much better live...
Wait till Sabotage!!!!!!!!!
Right on!
Hahahaha..he is like......"6" hahaha right on bro
I did a search for a live version of this song, and it gave me the suicide hotline phone number 🤣🤣
When Tony Iommi plays live he usually will stick to the primary lead sound on the solos. And it is So loud live that it just sounds great. But yes, he has to do different takes of solos and mix them together to get those sounds on the album, which is brilliant in it's own right, because he could have just been satisfied with one solo and it would have still sound great. But for him to take the time to think about and create all that just to make the album sound better to him is brilliant!!!!
Watch their Don krishner's live. They open with this song.
What a way to start a Monday off with some Sabbath and Skynyrd. Thank you La/Che great reaction. They do this song live saw them in 74 Cal Jam keep on doing what you are doing…
Guy's, another great reaction, but it's Sabbath I didn't expect anything else. I've just quickly looked at the set list for the last tour back in 2019 they didn't play this track live. I should have known as I saw them on this tour but couldn't be sure. Keep the Sabbath coming dudes.
To high pitched for Ozzy to sing now.
There is an excellent live cut of this track on You Tube. They make it work.
This whole album takes me back to High School and the parties we used to play this at, not to mention hearing this at their concerts and l went to a lot of their concerts ✌️😝🎶
They don't live......they just crank the volume...
Iommi and Page usually just stick to the meat of the solo and improvise as they go. Luckily, both of those rhythm sections are so dominant they can riff right over it with no one noticing or caring .
This was a live staple in their set from 1973 to 1978. There is an official live version on Black Sabbath's youtube channel, but definitely worth checking out the 1974 California Jam version as others have mentioned. In later years they did add a keyboardist (Geoff Nicholls), but it's just the 4 of them otherwise.
Lots of bands have over dubbs in studio and when they play live they just improvise and usually these are not the songs they play live w/ some exceptions obviously. Think Pink Floyd which uses pre recorded sounds in their live concerts, but BS would rarely if ever play live this tune that I know of.
Check out the Live at Last album. It’s played live on there. Kinda of a bootleg official release. Not a great live recording. Released 35 years after by there old label. They have no control over non of these records. All Tony on all the over dubs.
this is one of those songs that can't be reproduced live in its studio form.
tony does multiple parts in the studio, but he has to leave some parts out, or otherwise modify the arrangement to make it work live.
zeppelin did the same thing with some of their songs.
It's just the four of them.