Black Sabbath – Paranoid

Video: Black Sabbath performing “Paranoid” on the U.K. television show Top of the Pops in 1970

As the title suggests, this song is about a man who is paranoid. The driving guitar and bass create a nervous energy to go along with Ozzy Osbourne’s desperate vocal.

Although this was the first Black Sabbath-penned single, the band’s debut single was actually a cover of Crow’s “Evil Woman Don’t Play Your Games With Me” a few months before the “Paranoid” release. “Paranoid” was much more successful. It was released six months after their self-titled first album and had a huge impact in their native UK, going to #4 and becoming one of their signature songs.

The song is widely regarded as one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time. It reached number 4 on the UK singles chart and number 61 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

“Paranoid” – Single by Black Sabbath from the album Paranoid
B-side: “The Wizard”
Released: August 7, 1970
Recorded: June 1970
Label: Vertigo
Songwriters: Geezer Butler, Tony Iommi, Ozzy Osbourne and Bill Ward
Producer: Rodger Bain
Charted No.41 in US and No.4 in UK