38 years ago Judas Priest released ''Sad Wings Of Destiny''

Sad Wings of Destiny is the second album by the English heavy metal group Judas Priest, released in 1976. Sad Wings of Destiny was Judas Priest's second and final studio record made while under contract with Gull Records, an independent UK company. Despite critical acclaim, the band was struggling financially due to lack of support from the small label (Rob Halford and K.K. Downing would later claim that they were living in a van outside the Gull studios) Shortly after changing management, the band severed their ties with Gull and signed with Columbia Records. Consequently, Judas Priest lost all rights to the recordings on their first two albums and to all demo recordings made during the sessions while under contract with Gull. Sad Wings of Destiny was initially published and distributed by Janus Records in the United States, with subsequent reissues by Ovation Records and RCA Records.

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Despite the lack of commercial success the album received, it was widely praised by critics, and earned the band a small, but dedicated cult following on both sides of the Atlantic. Today, the album is widely considered to be one of the most important and influential heavy metal albums of all time. Martin Popoff, in his book, The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal, cites the album's "reinvention" of the heavy metal genre.  It has become a fan favorite over the years with tracks such as "Victim of Changes", "The Ripper", "Dreamer Deceiver", and "Tyrant" becoming popular with fans over the years.