The Eternal Idol

Warner Bros. Records released it on 8/11/87 for the American market.

The most problematic album recording in the history of Black Sabbath. Production started in Montserrat, with Jeff Glixman producing, and a line up of Tony Iommi, Ray Gillen, Geoff Nicholls, Eric Singer and Dave Spitz, and ended in London, with Chris Tsangarides producing, and a line up of Tony Iommi, Geoff Nicholls, Tony Martin and Bob Daisley guesting on bass. Band manager Patrick Meehan was also fired during recording.

A video was shot for "The Shining", with a stand-in bass player and Terry Chimes (of punk band The Clash) on drums.

"Nightmare" was originally intended for inclusion in the soundtrack of "Nightmare on Elm Street" (hence the title).

The cover depicts real people covered in bronze paint, to recreate an Auguste Rodin sculpture titled "Eternal Idol".

An alternate title to the album was "Blood God".

"The Eternal Idol" was originally recorded with Ray Gillen but was redone with Tony Martin after Ray Gillen left the group. The only surviving part of Ray Gillen's voice on the released Eternal Idol album is some laughing on the track "Nightmare"

Although Dave Spitz receives credit in the liner notes for playing bass on the album, the bass sections were actually played by Bob Daisley.

Recording information:

Recorded at :
-Air Studios, Montserrat
-Air Studios, London
-Battery Studios, London

Identifiers:

Barcode: 042283270817
Matrix / Runout (Side A runout, stamped): 8327081 1 502
Matrix / Runout (Side B runout, stamped): 8327081 2 520
Matrix / Runout (Side A label): 832 708-1.1
Matrix / Runout (Side B label): 832 708-1.2
Rights Society: S.I.A.E.