“Changes” is not a typical Black Sabbath song. It’s piano-based with a Hammond organ hovering in the background. The tempo is slow, and Ozzy Osbourne’s vocals are remarkably restrained. The 1972 recording doesn’t even merit power ballad status and would not sound out of place on soft rock FM radio.
Enter veteran soul singer Charles Bradley with support from The Budos Band. They stay true to the early ’70s era, but turn “Changes” into a simmering soul classic. A prominent bass line takes over the piano role; shimmery guitar fills stand in for organ. Bradley, “The Screaming Eagle of Soul,” sings with more grit than Osbourne and, with a full horn section behind him, builds slowly to the point where some well timed screaming fits right in. Even with screams in the mix, a listener would never guess this was originally a Black Sabbath song. Stream “Changes” below.
Get the latest on Charles Bradley at his website.
