BLACK SABBATH - ETERNAL IDOL 12" Vinyl LP Album

- A powerful rebirth of Black Sabbath in the late '80s, introducing Tony Martin and a bold new sonic direction.

"Black Sabbath's 'The Eternal Idol' (1987) ushered in a new era with vocalist Tony Martin. Produced by Patrick Meehan, Jeff Glixman, Chris Tsangarides, and Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, it showcased the band's evolution. Recorded at top studios, the album's sonic exploration and production finesse, coupled with striking cover art by Shoot That Tiger! and Cindy Palmano, solidified its impact. Released under Vertigo Records, it stands as a pivotal chapter in Black Sabbath's history."

"The Eternal Idol" Album Description:

In the musical landscape of the late 1980s, Black Sabbath, the iconic heavy metal pioneers, released their thirteenth studio album, "The Eternal Idol," in December 1987. This marked a significant juncture in the band's history, as it introduced Tony Martin as the lead vocalist, contributing to the band's evolving sound.

The album's production was a collaborative effort, showcasing the talents of renowned producers Patrick Meehan, Jeff Glixman, Chris Tsangarides, and Vic Coppersmith-Heaven. The convergence of these seasoned professionals played a pivotal role in shaping the album's distinctive sound, setting it apart from its predecessors.

Recorded at prestigious studios such as Air Studios Montserrat, Air Studios London, and Battery Studios London, the album benefited from state-of-the-art recording technologies of the time. This allowed the band to explore new sonic territories and experiment with a range of musical elements, pushing the boundaries of their established style.

Chris Tsangarides, known for his work with various rock and metal bands, contributed significantly to the production and sound mixing. His expertise added a layer of finesse to the album, enhancing the overall listening experience. Meanwhile, Vic Coppersmith-Heaven's production prowess further enriched the sonic tapestry of "The Eternal Idol."

The album's visual identity is equally captivating, with its cover design crafted by Shoot That Tiger! and photography by Cindy Palmano. The cover art, a crucial element in the presentation of the album, complements the music within, creating a cohesive artistic expression.

Released under the Vertigo Records label, "The Eternal Idol" made its mark in the tumultuous landscape of late 1980s music. The album's reception and influence can be attributed not only to the band's musical evolution but also to the collaborative efforts of the talented production team.

Production & Recording Information:

Music Genre:

Hard Rock, Heavy Metal

Label & Catalognr:

Vertigo 832 708

Album Packaging

This album "BLACK SABBATH - Eternal Idol" includes the original custom inner sleeve with album details, complete lyrics of all songs by Black Sabbath

Media Format:

12" LP Vinyl Stereo Gramophone Record
Total Album (Cover+Record) weight: 230 gram

Year & Country:

1987 Made in Holland / Netherlands

Producers:
  • Patrick Meehan – Producer
    Patrick Meehan, born on 8 February 1935, was an influential figure in the world of music management, best known for his role as the manager of the legendary heavy metal band Black Sabbath during their early years. Meehan's tenure with the band played a significant role in shaping their success and establishing them as one of the most iconic rock acts of all time. Read his mini-biography
  • Jeff Glixman – Producer
    Jeff Glixman is a highly respected and accomplished music producer, sound engineer, and mastering engineer. With a career spanning several decades, Glixman has made significant contributions to the music industry, working with renowned artists Read more.
  • Chris Tsangarides – Producer, Sound Mix
    Chris Tsangarides was a Grammy-nominated producer and sound engineer whose fingerprints are all over heavy metal’s golden age. From Judas Priest to Thin Lizzy, his studio wizardry shaped iconic albums with raw power and clarity. Discover the man behind the metal in this full biography.
  • Vic Coppersmith-Heaven – Producer
Recording Location:

Air Studios Montserrat, Air Studios London, Battery Studios London

Battery Studios London is a legendary recording hub for rock, pop, and more since the 1970s. Discover its iconic sessions, top-tier gear, and legacy Read more.
Album Cover Design & Artwork:
  • Shoot That Tiger! – Design
Photography:
  • Cindy Palmano – Cover Photography

Band Members / Musicians:

Band Members, Musicians:
  • Tony Martin – Lead Vocals

    Tony Martin (real-name: Anthony Philip Harford ) is a British singer best known for his performances with the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) band from 1987 until 1991 and 1993 until 1997. Tony Martin first official recording is with "Black Sabbath" 1987 album "The Eternal Idol". Other bands in which "Tony Martin" has sung in are: Bailey's Comet, Black Sabbath , Blue Murder, Candlemass (Sweden), Cozy Powell's Hammer, Empire, Giuntini Project, M3, Rondinelli, Silver Horses, The Alliance, The Bailey Brothers, The Cage, Tony Martin (Band).

  • Tony Iommi – Guitar
    Discover how Tony Iommi shaped heavy metal with Black Sabbath and became one of rock’s most influential guitarists. Read more
  • Bob Daisley – Bass
    Explore the extraordinary career of Bob Daisley, the bass maestro behind some of heavy metal's most iconic albums. From his groundbreaking work with Ozzy Osbourne to collaborations with Rainbow, Uriah Heep, and more, discover the stories, the riffs, and the enduring legacy of a true rock legend.
  • Eric Singer – Drums

    Eric Singer (real-name: Eric Doyle Mensinger) is an American drummer, percussionist, singer and best known as drummer (called Catman) in the American Heavy Metal band: Kiss . During his musical career, Eric Singer has performed in a dozen of hard rock and heavy metal bands, some of these bands are: Alice Cooper, Avantasia, Badlands, Black Sabbath , E.S.P. (Eric Singer Project), GlamNation, Kiss , Shameless, Soul Station, Stream.

  • Geoff Nicholls – Keyboards

    Geoff Nicholls (real-name: Geoffrey James Nicholls) is a keyboardist, musician and best known for the period where he performed with the NWOBHM band "Black Sabbath". Other bands he has performed with include Johnny Neal and the Starliners, Quartz, The Boll Weevils, The Seed, Tony Martin, World of Oz.

Complete Track-listing:

Tracklisting Side One:
  1. "The Shining" – 6:00
  2. "Ancient Warrior" – 5:28
  3. "Hard Life to Love" – 5:00
  4. "Glory Ride" – 4:49
Tracklisting Side Two:
  1. "Born to Lose" – 3:43
  2. "Nightmare" – 5:19
  3. "Scarlet Pimpernel" (instrumental) – 2:05
  4. "Lost Forever" – 4:03
  5. "Eternal Idol" – 6:33
Album Front Cover Photo
Front cover of Black Sabbath's 'The Eternal Idol' album, featuring a sculptural artwork of two intertwined nude bronze-like figures on a dark background. The band's name appears in a bold red-and-blue Gothic font at the top left, and the album title is written in lowercase at the lower left.

Front cover of Black Sabbath's 1987 album "The Eternal Idol". The artwork features a striking sculpture of two nude figures—one male and one female—rendered in a bronze-like texture. The male figure kneels, clinging to the hips and lower back of the standing female figure, whose expression is poised and distant. The composition evokes themes of longing, worship, or transcendence.

The figures appear to emerge from a sculpted, earthen base, their textures and patina resembling oxidized metal or aged clay. The background is pitch black, enhancing the dramatic lighting and emphasizing the sculptural forms.

In the top left corner, the band's name, BLACK SABBATH, is displayed in uppercase using a stylized red-and-blue Gothic font. Beneath it, the album title, the eternal idol, appears in a minimalist white lowercase serif font, aligning left and small in size.

Album Back Cover Photo
Back cover of Black Sabbath's 'The Eternal Idol' LP, showing the tracklist in two red columns on a black background, with band and production credits at the bottom. The Black Sabbath logo and album title are centered at the top.

Back cover of Black Sabbath’s 1987 album "The Eternal Idol". The layout features a stark black background with the band's logo and album title centered at the top in blue, red, and white typography.

Below this header, the track listing is presented in two stylized red serif-font columns: Side 1 contains "The Shining", "Ancient Warrior", "Hard Life to Love", and "Glory Ride"; Side 2 includes "Born to Lose", "Nightmare", "Scarlet Pimpernel", "Lost Forever", and "Eternal Idol". Each side is numbered and separated with thin horizontal arrows and minimalist blue lines.

At the bottom center, production and musician credits are printed in small uppercase text. It lists Tony Martin (vocals), Geoff Nicholls (keyboards), Bob Daisley, Dave Spitz (bass), Ray Gillen (credited but not on final vocals), and Eric Singer (drums). Producers include Jeff Glixman, Vic Coppersmith-Heaven, Chris Tsangarides, and executive producer Patrick Meehan.

The art direction and design were handled by Shoot That Tiger! with photography by Cindy Palmano. Additional details such as the digital recording note, Vertigo logo, and copyright notices appear in small print along the bottom edge.

First Photo of Custom Inner Sleeve
Black Sabbath's 'The Eternal Idol' custom inner sleeve for Side One, featuring full printed lyrics for the songs 'The Shining,' 'Ancient Warrior,' 'Hard Life to Love,' and 'Glory Ride' in black serif type over a faint gray BLACK SABBATH logo background with directional arrows and credits.

Custom inner sleeve – Side One – from Black Sabbath’s 1987 album "The Eternal Idol". The layout features printed lyrics for the first four tracks: "The Shining", "Ancient Warrior", "Hard Life to Love", and "Glory Ride". The text is arranged in four columns and printed in a clean serif font.

A large, translucent, diagonal "BLACK SABBATH" wordmark dominates the background in a pale gray shade, adding depth while keeping focus on the lyrics. Directional arrows in solid black further stylize the layout, giving it a sense of flow and structure.

At the top center, a brief credit line reads: "Thanks to Brian and everybody at Harley Street". The sleeve design combines lyrical content with subtle graphic elements to reinforce the album’s dark yet refined atmosphere.

Second Photo of Custom Inner Sleeve
Black Sabbath's 'The Eternal Idol' inner sleeve for Side Two, displaying complete lyrics for 'Born to Lose,' 'Nightmare,' 'Lost Forever,' and 'Eternal Idol' in black serif type over a faded gray BLACK SABBATH background logo with arrows and alignment lines.

Custom inner sleeve – Side Two – from Black Sabbath’s 1987 album "The Eternal Idol". This continuation of the custom inner sleeve features printed lyrics for the remaining tracks: "Born to Lose", "Nightmare", "Lost Forever", and "Eternal Idol".

The lyrics are laid out in four justified columns in a clean black serif typeface. Behind the text, the words "BLACK SABBATH" appear again in a large translucent gray font that spans diagonally across the background, maintaining design continuity with Side One.

Stylized arrows and a centered "2" at the top help orient the viewer to Side Two’s content. At the bottom right, a small credit notes that all tracks were written by Iommi and published by Dimensional Music Ltd.

Close up of Side One record’s label
Close-up of Side One record label for Black Sabbath's 'The Eternal Idol' on Vertigo. It shows the tracklist with song durations, Vertigo swirl logo at bottom, catalog number 832 708-1, and a UFO-themed illustration above a stylized mountainous horizon.

Side One record label of Black Sabbath’s 1987 album "The Eternal Idol". This close-up shows the classic Vertigo label design with a UFO-themed illustration above a surreal, mountainous landscape under a starry sky.

The tracklist includes four songs: "The Shining" (5:58), "Ancient Warrior" (5:34), "Hard Life to Love" (5:00), and "Glory Ride" (4:48). All songs are credited to Tony Iommi. The text appears in small black serif type, centered on a gradient background fading from blue to pale green.

Along the edge of the label is the copyright warning in uppercase white text. The catalog number 832 708-1 is printed in bold near the upper left. The Vertigo spiral logo appears prominently at the bottom center. This pressing was produced in stereo, as noted by STEREO 33⅓ near the spindle hole.

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