28-03-2025
Black Sabbath's Classic Album Surges 450% In Sales
Black Sabbath's Paranoid returns to three Billboard charts after a 453% sales spike, thanks to a new ... More limited-edition vinyl reissue from Rhino Records. UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: Photo of Black Sabbath Photo by MichaelBlack Sabbath may be heading toward the end of its career, but fans are far from finished with the group's music. As frontman Ozzy Osbourne moves closer to retirement – at least when it comes to playing live – and the legendary rock band prepares for what appears to be its final live performance this summer, longtime listeners are snapping up copies of the group's iconic album. While the upcoming concert might be stirring up excitement, it's not the only reason the act is back in a big way.
This week, Paranoid makes an impressive return to several rankings in America. The collection sold just over 3,800 copies during the latest tracking period, according to data provided by Luminate, the company that powers the charts for Billboard. That figure is notable for any catalog title – especially one that's been available for decades – but in this case, the jump in purchases is especially striking.
Last week, Paranoid sold fewer than 700 copies in the U.S. alone. That means that this time around, sales of the full-length soared by a staggering 453%.
The sudden rise in sales is largely tied to a recent re-release of the set. Rhino Records issued a new edition of Paranoid on black vinyl, with the run limited to just 5,000 copies. Each copy was individually numbered, which makes it highly collectible.
Thanks to that large uptick in pure purchases, Paranoid reappears on three major U.S. rankings this frame. It nearly breaks into the top 10 on the Vinyl Albums chart, settling at No. 11. It also finds space on the Top Hard Rock Albums list, landing at No. 17. Perhaps even more impressively, the title makes a comeback on the all-genre Top Album Sales chart, where it hits No. 25.
Released in 1970, Paranoid helped define the sound of heavy metal – then a new style – and established Black Sabbath as one of the most influential rock bands of all time. The project includes some of the group's most well-known hits, such as 'War Pigs,' 'Iron Man,' and the title track 'Paranoid.'
The LP became a commercial juggernaut, reaching No. 1 in the U.K. and breaking into the top 20 in the U.S. At the time, that was a huge deal for the harder side of rock and roll.
