Mob Rules (album)
Updated: 12/10/2025, 11:04:53 AM Wikipedia source
Mob Rules is the tenth studio album by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in November 1981. It followed 1980's Heaven and Hell, and was the second album to feature lead singer Ronnie James Dio and the first with drummer Vinny Appice. Neither musician would appear on a Black Sabbath studio album again until the 1992 album Dehumanizer. Produced and engineered by Martin Birch, the album received a remastered Deluxe Edition release in 2010 and an expanded edition in 2021.
Infobox
Released
4 November 1981
Recorded
1981
Studio
Record Plant, Los Angeles
Genre
Heavy metal
Length
40:36
Label
Vertigo
Producer
Martin Birch
Tables
Professional ratings · Release and reception
Source
Source
Review scores
Source
Review scores
Rating
AllMusic
AllMusic
Review scores
AllMusic
Review scores
Classic Rock
Classic Rock
Review scores
Classic Rock
Review scores
Martin Popoff
Martin Popoff
Review scores
Martin Popoff
Review scores
10/10
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Review scores
Rolling Stone
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
Review scores
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic | |
| Classic Rock | |
| Martin Popoff | 10/10 |
| Rolling Stone | |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide | |
· Release history
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Region
United Kingdom
Date
November 1981
Label
Vertigo Records
United States
United States
Region
United States
Date
November 1981
Label
Warner Bros. Records
Canada
Canada
Region
Canada
Date
November 1981
Label
Warner Bros. Records
SFR Yugoslavia
SFR Yugoslavia
Region
SFR Yugoslavia
Date
1982
Label
PGP-RTB/Philips
Mexico
Mexico
Region
Mexico
Date
1982
Label
Vertigo Records
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Region
United Kingdom
Date
1996
Label
Castle Communications
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Region
United Kingdom
Date
2004
Label
Sanctuary Records
United States
United States
Region
United States
Date
October 2008
Label
Rhino Records
United States
United States
Region
United States
Date
March 2021
Label
Rhino Records
| Region | Date | Label |
| United Kingdom | November 1981 | Vertigo Records |
| United States | November 1981 | Warner Bros. Records |
| Canada | November 1981 | Warner Bros. Records |
| SFR Yugoslavia | 1982 | PGP-RTB/Philips |
| Mexico | 1982 | Vertigo Records |
| United Kingdom | 1996 | Castle Communications |
| United Kingdom | 2004 | Sanctuary Records |
| United States | October 2008 | Rhino Records |
| United States | March 2021 | Rhino Records |
1981 chart performance for Mob Rules · Charts › Album
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Chart (1981)
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)
Peakposition
19
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Chart (1981)
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)
Peakposition
47
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)
Chart (1981)
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)
Peakposition
18
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Chart (1981)
Japanese Albums (Oricon)
Peakposition
63
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Chart (1981)
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)
Peakposition
45
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Chart (1981)
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)
Peakposition
30
UK Albums (OCC)
UK Albums (OCC)
Chart (1981)
UK Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
12
US Billboard 200
US Billboard 200
Chart (1981)
US Billboard 200
Peakposition
29
| Chart (1981) | Peakposition |
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM) | 19 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) | 47 |
| Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) | 18 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon) | 63 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ) | 45 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan) | 30 |
| UK Albums (OCC) | 12 |
| US Billboard 200 | 29 |
2022 chart performance for Mob Rules · Charts › Album
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Chart (2022)
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)
Peakposition
83
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Chart (2022)
Scottish Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
51
UK Independent Albums (OCC)
UK Independent Albums (OCC)
Chart (2022)
UK Independent Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
23
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Chart (2022)
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)
Peakposition
8
| Chart (2022) | Peakposition |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) | 83 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) | 51 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) | 23 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) | 8 |
· Charts › Singles
USMainstream Rock
USMainstream Rock
Year
USMainstream Rock
Song
UKSingles Chart
1981
1981
Year
1981
Song
"The Mob Rules"
Chart positions
—
Chart positions
46
1982
1982
Year
1982
Song
"Turn Up the Night"
Chart positions
24
Chart positions
37
1982
1982
Year
1982
Song
"Voodoo"
Chart positions
46
Chart positions
—
| Year | Song | Chart positions | |
| USMainstream Rock | UKSingles Chart | ||
| 1981 | "The Mob Rules" | — | 46 |
| 1982 | "Turn Up the Night" | 24 | 37 |
| 1982 | "Voodoo" | 46 | — |
· Certifications
Canada (Music Canada)
Canada (Music Canada)
Region
Canada (Music Canada)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)
United Kingdom (BPI)
Region
United Kingdom (BPI)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
100,000‡
United States (RIAA)
United States (RIAA)
Region
United States (RIAA)
Certification
Gold
Certified units/sales
500,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
Region
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
| Canada (Music Canada) | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United Kingdom (BPI) | Gold | 100,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA) | Gold | 500,000^ |
| ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
- Metal.dehttps://www.metal.de/reviews/black-sabbath-mob-rules-13916/
- Hitparade.chhttps://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath&titel=Mob+Rules&cat=s
- The Great Rock Discographyhttps://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/68/mode/2up
- "Mob Rules: Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums" at AllMusic. Retrieved 24 January 2009.https://www.allmusic.com/album/r2008/charts-awards
- "Vinny Appice Interview"http://musiclegends.ca/interviews/vinny-appice-interview-black-sabbath/
- The Hard, Heavy & Hair Show - PariahRocks.comhttps://www.pariahrocks.com/vinny-appice-black-sabbath-dio-last-in-line-resurrection-kings-interview/
- Southern Cross
- "Spiderwebart Gallery: Crucifiers-Mob"https://www.spiderwebart.com/productsd.asp?snob=100560
- "The Man In The Gray Flannel Suit - Album cover of the week: Mob Rules"https://www.grayflannelsuit.net/blog/album-cover-of-the-week-mob-rules
- Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Black Sabbath: Mob Rules > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 24 January 2009.https://www.allmusic.com/album/r2008/review
- "Album Of The Week Club: Black Sabbath - Mob Rules"https://www.loudersound.com/reviews/album-of-the-week-club-black-sabbath-mob-rules
- The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties
- Mob Ruleshttps://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/mob-rules-19860219
- Rolling Stonehttps://web.archive.org/web/20120427215415/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/black-sabbath/albumguide
- Prato, Greg. "Black Sabbath: Live at Hammersmith Odeon > Review" at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-09-14.https://www.allmusic.com/album/r1067636/review
- Black Sabbath - Mob Rules Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusichttps://www.allmusic.com/album/mob-rules-mw0000194116
- The Mob Rules
- Mob Rules (CD) album notes
- "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0430". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.0430&URLjpg=http%3a%2f%2fwww.collectionscanada.gc.ca%2fobj%2f028020%2ff4%2fnlc008388.0430.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.0430
- "Dutchcharts.nl – Black Sabbath – Mob Rules" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath&titel=Mob+Rules&cat=a
- Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972
- Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005
- "Charts.nz – Black Sabbath – Mob Rules". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath&titel=Mob+Rules&cat=a
- "Swedishcharts.com – Black Sabbath – Mob Rules". Hung Medien. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://swedishcharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Black+Sabbath&titel=Mob+Rules&cat=a
- "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/albums-chart/19811108/7502/
- "Black Sabbath Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://www.billboard.com/artist/Black-Sabbath/chart-history/TLP
- "Offiziellecharts.de – Black Sabbath – Mob Rules" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://www.offiziellecharts.de/album-details-12153
- "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-albums-chart/20221125/40/
- "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/independent-albums-chart/20221125/131/
- "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved October 30, 2023.https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/20221125/112/
- "Canadian album certifications – Black Sabbath – Mob Rules"https://musiccanada.com/gold-platinum/?_gp_search=Mob+Rules%20Black+Sabbath
- "British album certifications – Black Sabbath – Mob Rules"https://www.bpi.co.uk/award/4325-1046-2
- "American album certifications – Black Sabbath – Mob Rules"https://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&ar=Black+Sabbath&ti=Mob+Rules&format=Album&type=#search_section