Recorded on August 22nd 1969 in Trident Studios. “The Rebel” is a cover, as is “When I Came Down” (retitled from the original “When I Come Down”). The unreleased instrumental “Song for Jim” rounds out the early non-LP studio rarities. Labeled a Sabbath demo, the song could be called an Earth demo, given that the band played their last gig as Earth in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, the next day after recording this track. Still, putting things a bit askew time wise, the band is said to have changed their name (or “decided” to), in early August on the ferry from, or to, the Star Club, in Germany. Chalk it up to a transitional period where both names might have been in use at once. Norman Haines, from Locomotive, wrote this track, as well as “When I Came Down.” “The Rebel” was tracked at Trident, in St. Anne’s Court in Soho, with Gus Dudgeon and Rodger (also spelled Roger) Bain handling the recording. Haines plays both organ and piano on the track, Haines being the keyboardist in Locomotive, which also includes Sabbath manager Jim Simpson. The song was recorded so Simpson had something to take round to labels in search of a deal. All told, “The Rebel” is a moving, classy, hummable post-psych ballad, with Ozzy singing in his odd low register. The production is quite good. Call it a total of eight and a half versions here, nicely demonstrative of the band working—and working hard—to get it right, when in fact most of these versions could have been presented as a serviceable enough track.
Here's what Martin Popoff, in his book "Black Sabbath FAQ", writes about the multiple versions/takes of The Rebel he's listened to:
Track 1 is a 2:59 take; track 2 is a :20 false start with some bum notes; track 3 is another good take at 3:00; track 4 is :05 of botched piano; track 5 is a good take at 2:50; track 6 is a good take at 2:56; track 7 is a :05 with a bum piano note; track 8 is a good take at 2:58; track 9 is an :08 false start; track 10 is :24 of Bill tapping on a piece of drum hardware or cowbell, plus a piano false start; track 11 is :15 of a piano false start; track 12 is a take that breaks down after 1:58 with an “Aw, ****”; track 13 is :52 of messing about, with Ozzy saying, “We’re going to do it this time, lads”; track 14 is a good take at 2:48; track 15 is a :07 false start; track 16 is a :19 false start; track 17 is a :04 bum piano note false start; track 18 is a 2:58 good take with overdubs consisting of doubled Ozzy vocals, leads from Tony, fairly quiet organ, cowbell (possibly not an overdub, if it’s not Bill playing it), and angelic, choirlike backing vocals; track 19 is a good take at 2:53.
