“Which album has ‘Wheels of Confusion’ as its opening track?” — The answer is Vol. 4. More fully titled Black Sabbath Vol. 4, it is the band’s fourth studio album and begins with “Wheels of Confusion,” often presented together with its instrumental coda, “The Straightener.”
Released in 1972, Vol. 4 followed Master of Reality and continued Black Sabbath’s heavy, down-tuned sound while adding more contrasting textures. The opening track moves through several sections, combining a slow, weighty main riff with a quieter middle passage before flowing into “The Straightener.” Its extended arrangement makes it feel more like a suite than a compact single.
The title can cause minor confusion because many references shorten the album name to Vol. 4, while the full title is Black Sabbath Vol. 4. It is also easy to mistake “Supernaut,” one of the album’s best-known songs, for the opener; “Supernaut” is actually track five. The album also includes “Changes,” “Snowblind,” “Cornucopia,” and “St. Vitus’ Dance.”