Paranoid

The album was originally supposed to be titled War Pigs and the cover art was designed with that title in mind, but the record company objected (presumably due to the Vietnam War), so it was re-titled Paranoid.

"Paranoid" was the last song composed and recorded for the album at the behest of the producer, who thought they needed an extra track.

According to popular belief, the name for doom metal came from the song "Hand of Doom".

"Fairies Wear Boots" was inspired by a time when Ozzy and Geezer were hassled by skinheads, thus an insult to the boot-wearing "fairy" skinheads.

"Iron Man" is based on a fictional character thought up by Ozzy and Geezer, not the Marvel comics hero of the same name.

Recording information:

Recorded at Regent Sound and Island Studios.
All songs by Osbourne, Iommi, Butler and Ward.
Remastered at Whitfield Street Studios.

Identifiers:

Barcode: 5 017615 830224

1996 press -
Matrix / Runout (Variant 1): DISCTRONICS S ESMCD 302 01
Matrix / Runout (Variant 2): DISCTRONICS S ESMCD 302 02
Matrix / Runout (Variant 3): ESMCD302 : MASTERED BY DOCDATA
Matrix / Runout (Variant 4): ESMCD302 · MASTERED BY MAYKING
Matrix / Runout (Variant 5, 6, 7): ESMCD302 01 5
Mastering SID Code (Variant 2): IFPI L502
Mastering SID Code (Variant 3): IFPI LA31
Mastering SID Code (Variant 5, 6, 7): IFPI L135
Mould SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI 8798
Mould SID Code (Variant 5): IFPI 04G1
Mould SID Code (Variant 6): IFPI 04G3
Mould SID Code (Variant 7): IFPI 0430

2005 repress -
Matrix / Runout (Variant 1): SONOPRESS.ESMCD302 16143/05
Matrix / Runout (Variant 2): SONOPRESS ESMCD 30202 3094/07
Mastering SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI LB43
Mould SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI 1130

Repress, unknown date -
Matrix / Runout (Variant 1, 2): ESMCD302 01 5 MADE IN THE UK BY UNIVERSAL M&L
Mastering SID Code (Variant 1, 2): IFPI L135
Mould SID Code (Variant 1): IFPI 04H6
Mould SID Code (Variant 2): IFPI 04G3