Best Black Sabbath ‘Technical Ecstasy’ Song – Readers Poll

Following 1975's 'Sabotage,' Black Sabbath’s downward spiral accelerated on their next album, 1976’s confused, and confusing, ‘Technical Ecstasy.’ From its title to the inordinately bright, Hipgnosis-designed cover art (infamously depicting “robot sex”), the record was the antithesis of the band’s fundamentally artless and dreary, but cherished, template.

We can only assume the troubled quartet was trying to reverse its curse with another stab at ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath’s’ incremental sophistication. But keyboard-drenched songs like ‘Back Street Kids,’ ‘You Won’t Change Me’ and ‘Rock ’n’ Roll Doctor’ are disappointing. And the richly orchestrated ‘She’s Gone’ is miles away from what the typical fan wants from a Black Sabbath song. Only ‘Dirty Women’ holds up.

Plus, the decision to have drummer Bill Ward sing lead on the Beatles-like anomaly ‘It’s Alright,’ because Ozzy Osbourne “didn’t show up that day” (he'd temporarily quit the band shortly after the LP’s release), reveals the dire state of the group's relationships during the album's strenuous recording process.