If you’re going to make a musical joke, it had better be a good 'un. Jazz Sabbath's first, self-titled album (released in 2020) was a five-star hoot. For those who don't know, it featured ex-Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne keyboardist Adam Wakeman and chums playing jazz covers of Sabs songs. But it went further – there was an elaborate fictional backstory (including press kits, interviews and videos) implying that Jazz Sabbath were a lost jazz group from the 1960s, who were then ripped off by a heavy metal group from Birmingham called… Black Sabbath!

The joke worked because the music on that first album was absolutely terrific (and Black Sabbath's drummer Bill Ward and leader/guitarist Tony Iommi were both jazz lovers, with the latter being a devotee of Django Reinhardt). However the 2022 follow-up album Jazz Sabbath Vol. 2 didn't really work, possibly due to the song selection. The joke looked like it'd run its course.

Happily, The 1968 Tapes – recorded in mono (of course) in 1968 and only just rediscovered, according to the sleevenotes – sees the core trio of Milton Keans (Wakeman), Jacque T'fono (Jerry Neehan) and Juan Také (Ash Soan) return to form. Seven well-chosen Sabs bangers are featured, including 'War Pigs', 'Electric Funeral', and 'Into The Void', all rendered in acoustic trio format and performed with the commitment and straight-faced seriousness this sort of venture requires. It helps that Wakeman/Keanes is a superb pianist and that the trio mesh together beautifully. Looks like the joke's back on.