Customer Reviews

The 1996 Dep Sessions

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Back in 1996, Tony Iommi was trying to put together some solo material after deciding to take a break from Black Sabbath in 1995. The album he recorded was with an old friend, Glenn Hughes, who had previously been on a psuedo-Black Sabbath album "Seventh Star". Seventh Star was OK, but it didn't feel like a Black Sabbath record - it wasn't supposed to be, it was supposed to be Tony's first solo album, but record company pressure forced it to be Black Sabbath. Well, 11 years after Seventh Star, Tony & Glenn got together to write some more material. They recorded it with Dave Holland & Don Airey, and then it got shelved. It turned up a year or so later as a bootleg named "Eighth Star". I've had that bootleg for then, and to me, it was better than the already released "Iommi" album, as it showed that Tony can do more than just Black Sabbath.

So early in 2004 I find out that Tony has finally decided to dust off the old 8th Star material and properly clean it up and finally release it. This was a great moment for me, as I so much loved the material. In addition to that, there was one track that was not on the original bootleg version, so we'd get a "new" track as well. The songs on here are of a uniformly high quality. There isn't one clunker here - it's brilliant from start to end. If you have ever been a fan of Black Sabbath, you should like this. Glenn Hughes fans should also like this as well.

There were a few minor changes from the bootleg version - the track "Don't you Tell Me" had it's main riff appear on the song "Black Oblivion" on Iommi's 2000 record. It's apperance here has the riff altered slightly, so it's not directly the same. Additionally, some of the vocals have additional lyrics on "I'm Not The Same Man", and there is the aforementioned extra track. Additionally, these aren't the original drum tracks - the original drummer (Dave Holland) was removed in favor of Jimmy Copley, but it's nothing like the bastardization that Ozzy did to his first two albums - the new drums here sound more or less the same as the original to me.

This album is brilliant folks - you will really enjoy it. The best part of this is that in late 2004, Tony & Glenn have said they're working on another album to be released in 2005 - I can't wait - if it's half as good as this, it'll be spectacular!

This has been availible as an under-the-table item for years as "Eigth Star" (which is a better title). Those bootleg CDs (usually 3rd generation copies) gave you not-yet complete recordings in their unmixed, unedited forms. Not too impressive. Now, this "legal" CD proves that these 1996 recordings are REAL songs!Overall, you get a blusier version of Sabbath's "Seventh Star" while Hughes' blue-eyed soul vocals give this album a nice 70s feel. To be honest, this would probably appeal more to fans of Deep Purple (Mk.3) than fans of Sabbath. An excellent purchase, though, especially for those with an "8th Star" CD-R.
(I should also point out that Dave Holland's original drum tracks have been completely erassed in favor of drummer Jimmy Copley.)

Eleven years after the "Seventh Star" cd, Tony Iommi & Glenn Hughes pick up where they left off with a very impressive collection of songs that I'm very glad to say has now seen the light of day. I've played this four times through already just having bought it two days ago if that tells you anything. Although a Sabbathy-sounding effort from a production standpoint along with some of Geoff Nichols' keyboard work & Iommi's guitar sound, the actual songs aren't like Sabbath. To me, this shows another dimension of Iommi's great riff-making talent; able to construct a great hard-rock cd without being limited to the classic Sabbath sound that's expected of him. This disc is primarily a showcase for the main players & Mr. Hughes is in excellent form on all tracks, particularly the very soulful deliveries of "Gone" & "Fine". Every track is very catchy with "I'm Not The Same Man" being the hardest rockin'. This was recorded in '96 & I would love to hear further collaboration from these two legends of hard rock in the very near future. I think they're really on to something here! The Wolf

The question is, How can this happen? 8 years to release this masterpiece. The only thing this tells you is that the music industry sucks! Here we have a great, fantastic record. This record had to wait 8 years from its recording to be released Iommi and Hughes at their best doing this heavy metal hard rock funky blues stuff. The perfect sequel to Seventh Star. You can tell this is an unfished job because it only last 38 minuts, but leave it there. These are 38 minutes of the best they can offer. I hobe they keep on working together because this is music with out labels, the music we the music lovers need. I will not comment about the music itself because thats for you to digest. Just buy this Cd, and if you like Seventh Star, Sabbath, Hughes, Purple, Bolin, ... you will love this album.

Glenn Hughes is my fave vocalist and Tony Iommi is my fave guitarist, 7th Star is my fave Sab album. Therefore I am going to love this album, and I do. My only small problem is the drum sound. The drums are high in the mix and the snare is overbearing. That being said the riffs are superb, the vocals are superb, and the songwriting is superb as well. I tend to like the unpolished sound of the Eighth Star demos, but it is nice to hear clean versions as well. Buy the album, it rules. Time is a Healer is heavier than hell and is not on the bootleg. Don't You Tell Me is much better on the proper release too. Let's hope that Iommi and Hughes do some more writing when they hook up in England this October.

From what I've read in the past, Tony Iommi didn't want these sessions released, he didn't seem to be too impressed with them. After getting my hands on this release, I can't understand where the problem was. This is awesome, Tony as always comes up with killer riffs and great solos. Glenn Hughes sounds great, even better than he did on Seventh Star. A definite must-buy for Iommi fans.

This album will probably be a bit of an acquired taste for hard rock fans. Why? Because Glenn Hughes's singing is quite cheesy, when you hear it for the first time. But after three or four listenings, it just creeps into your body and your soul. In fact, Hughes is a really, really great vocalist, and he's just as good as a bassist. I first bought this album because because I am one of the biggest Tony Iommi fans in the world. And I am not disappointed. His riffs are just as intense and evil as they have always been. Check out the opener, "Gone", and the wild "I'm Not The Same Man". This is one of the best rock releases of 2004. I just can't wait to hear their new album, which will be out in july 2005. Go get it!!!

I've been a Sabbath fan since i was a child all through every album (including Ian Gillan, Ronnie Dio & Tony Martin), and have been into Glenn Hughes all through Deep Purple, Trapeze, the "Seventh Star" album with Black Sabbath (which wasn't supposed to be a Sabbath album), Phenomena, and his solo works.
I know what I like, and I really like this CD alot. The rating scale won't let me give it a "10"...but i give it one anyway.
It's my favorite CD right now. I can't get it out of my player.
I LOVE IT!!!!
Tony Iommi with his jazzy/bluesy/folksy-type metal riffs, and Glenn Hughes with his soulful voice....at times hitting those screaming high notes....others times, he's singing so softly, it could almost make you weep.
I've actually had a bootleg of this recording for some time, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this CD to hear what it's supposed to sound like.
If you're looking for a Sabbath sound alike, then look away.
If you like hard rock music with bluesy vocals, then you'd better buy this CD right now.

Wasn't even aware of this title,nor the other couple of releases the Black Sabbath guitarist had available.After checking this CD out,I can only tell you it's more melodic hard rock than anything else.Some may call it 'commercial' hard rock.Only tracks that did anything for me were "From Another World","Don't Drag The River" and maybe "Time Is The Healer".Appears this CD's nine(9) tunes were penned anwhere between 1996-2004.Honestly think that completists would likely get more out of this disc than I did.Line-up:Tony Iommi-guitar,Glenn Hughes-bass&vocals,Don Airey-keyboards and Jim Copley-drums.

Tony Iommi, of course, is one of the founding members of Black Sabbath and one of the original heavy metal guitar gods. The recordings on this disc were actually done back in 1996 when Iommi and former Deep Purple vocalist / bassist Glenn Hughes got together to record an album that unfortunately was never released. Finally in 2004 Sanctuary records put these recordings out and they are indeed a worthwhile release. Hughes and Iommi had previously worked together under the Black Sabbath moniker for the "7th Star" album and the tracks here have been available for years under the bootleg title "8th Star". I have never heard the boot versions, but apparently things have been cleaned up, additional drums recorded, along with a few other tweaks to the material. Overall this is a very nice hard rock disc. Iommi and Hugh's musical styles are very different, but they blend together here to make a unique combination of Iommi's heavy down low guitar style, and Hughes more upbeat funk / soul approach. I would think that fans of either of these two legendary artists would enjoy this album.