When Black Sabbath signed with NEMS, the label which would release their 1975 album Sabotage in the UK, NEMS acquired the band's back catalogue and wasted little time compiling this release. Authorized without the band's awareness by their previous manager, Patrick Meehan, the band would make no money whatsoever from the release. Although the band had six studio albums to its name at this point, this compilation drew heavily on the first four albums: this would also be a feature of most of the Osbourne-era compilations later released.
The original UK gatefold album, with a matte finish, had centre pages featuring shots of the band but this was omitted on reissues, which came in a glossy-finish sleeve. Additionally, the original record retained Geezer Butler's bass solo before "N.I.B.", but this would be edited from later issues. Some US copies of the LP do not actually include "Wicked World" on the label or on the record itself, though it does appear on the cover. In the UK, "Wicked World" had been only a B-side and was relatively obscure.
Despite the album being an official release, Iommi has been quoted as saying that the first time the band knew of it was when asked to autograph copies which fans presented after concerts.
- Ozzy Osbourne: Vocals
- Tony Iommi: Lead guitar
- Terry "Greezer" Butler: Bass guitar
- Bill Ward: Drums
CD 1
- Black Sabbath
- The Wizard
- Warning
- Paranoid
- War Pigs
- Iron Man
- Wicked World
CD 2
- Tomorrow's Dream
- Fairies Wear Boots
- Changes(B)
- Sweet Leaf
- Children Of The Grave
- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
- Am I Going Insane (Radio)
- Laguana Sunrise
- Snowblind
- N.I.B.
