Blizzard of Ozz
| Blizzard of Ozz | ||||
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| Studio album by Ozzy Osbourne | ||||
| Released | September 20, 1980 | |||
| Recorded | March 22 to April 19, 1980 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 39:06 | |||
| Label | Jet | |||
| Producer | Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley, Lee Kerslake | |||
| Ozzy Osbourne chronology | ||||
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Blizzard of Ozz is the first solo studio album by British singer/songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, recorded in Surrey, UK and released on September 20, 1980 in the UK and on March 27, 1981 in the US. It postdates Osbourne's departure from Black Sabbath in 1979, also his comeback, and marks Ozzy's second effort to begin a solo career (his first being in 1978 with members of Necromandus using the name 'Blizzard of Ozz' [1]). Blizzard of Ozz is the first of two studio albums Ozzy recorded with legendary guitarist Randy Rhoads prior to Rhoads' unfortunate death in 1982.[2] Blizzard of Ozz was a commercial success and was certified 4x Platinum in the U.S., (a feat Osbourne would again achieve with the release of No More Tears).[3] The album has sold over 6,000,000 copies worldwide, making it Ozzy's best-selling album to date. In the UK, it was the first of four Osbourne albums to attain Silver certification (60,000 units sold) by the British Phonographic Industry, achieving this in August 1981. It also ranked 13th on a Guitar World readers poll.[4]
Two tracks from the album, "Crazy Train", and "Mr Crowley", were also released as singles in 1980. Crazy Train went on to peak that year at #9 on Billboard's Top Tracks chart. Nearly 30 years later (January 2009) the song achieved 2.00x Multi-Platinum status.[3] "Crazy Train" has become one of Ozzy's signature songs and is unequivocally a staple of pop|hard|classic rock radio.[5][6]
Blizzard of Ozz was re-released in 2002 with the original bass and drum tracks removed and replaced by new recordings by Robert Trujillo and Mike Bordin.
In 2010, Sony announced new re-releases of Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, featuring Randy Rhoads, and including the original bass and drum tracks. These are 2 disc Deluxe 30th Anniversary Editions with demos, rarities and previously unreleased live material. A limited Super Deluxe Edition of Blizzard of Ozz has been released in the U.K. only and features a newly designed DVD sized Digipak case with the 2 CD's, a 65 minute DVD featuring never-before-seen live concert footage & interviews with Ozzy and the band, 3 Fender guitar picks, stickers, a faux invitation to the resurrection of Aleister Crowley and an 18 cm by 12 cm glossy 58-page booklet. The release date, initially announced to be 31 May 2011,[7] actually occurred on 11 October 2011.[8] A box set featuring both re-issued albums, the Blizzard of Ozz/Diary of a Madman 30th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set, was released, featuring both CD re-issues, 180-gram LP Vinyl versions of both albums (original album only), the "Thirty Years After the Blizzard" DVD Documentary, over 70 minutes of additional rare live performances and interviews, a replica of Ozzy's iconic cross, and a 2 sided poster.[9]
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[edit] Controversy
The song "Suicide Solution" has been criticized for its lyrics that were alleged to be a direct cause in the October 1984 suicide of John McCollum, a nineteen year-old fan who shot himself while listening to Osbourne's song. The boy's parents sued Osbourne and CBS Records for "encouraging self-destructive behavior" in young persons who were "especially susceptible" to dangerous influences (McCollum et al. v. CBS, Inc., et al.). In court in his defense Osbourne said when the song was being written the words "Wine is fine but whiskey's quicker..." came to him suddenly and were a reflection not on the merit of suicide but on the death of AC/DC vocalist Bon Scott who drank cheap wine and whiskey until his death from alcohol-related causes just months before Blizzard of Ozz was released. Bob Daisley, who wrote additional lyrics, said he wrote the song about Osbourne's own abuse of alcohol and drugs.[10] The McCollums' complaint was dismissed on the grounds that the First Amendment protected Osbourne's right to free artistic expression.
In 1986, Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake sued Osbourne for unpaid royalties, eventually winning songwriting credits on Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. A 2002 reissue was made of these albums replacing the original bass and drum tracks of Daisley and Kerslake with new ones by Osbourne's then-current drummer Mike Bordin and bassist Robert Trujillo. Osbourne's wife and manager, Sharon, explained the re-recordings in a press conference: "Because of Daisley and Kerslake's abusive and unjust behaviour, Ozzy wanted to remove them from these recordings." Daisley and Kerslake denied the allegations and continued to battle for royalties for their work on Blizzard of Ozz. In 2003, Daisley and Kerslake's lawsuit was dismissed by the United States District Court in Los Angeles. This dismissal was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.[11] With regard to the reissue, Ozzy stated to The Pulse of Radio, reiterating a conversation with Sharon,[12] "You know what, whatever the circumstances were, I want the original thing back." The 30th Anniversary release of The Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman contains the original recordings, not the 2002 reissues.[13]
[edit] Reception
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [14] |
| Metal Storm | (8.8/10)[15] |
| Rolling Stone |  [16] |
| Uncut | [17] |
The album reached #21 on the Billboard 200 chart, and is on the list of the top 100 best-selling albums of the 1980s.[clarification needed] Although "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" were released as singles, neither was commercially successful. Blizzard of Ozz is one of the very few albums amongst the 100 best selling albums of the 1980s to have achieved multi-platinum status without the benefit of a Top 40 single.
Uncut (8/02, p. 112) - 3.5 out of 5 - "Surprisingly melodic."
Kerrang! (p. 53) - "[A] work of genius....[With] some superb songs, many of which are now regarded as timeless classics."
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads and Bob Daisley except noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Don't Know" | 5:13 | |
| 2. | "Crazy Train" | 4:51 | |
| 3. | "Goodbye to Romance" | 5:33 | |
| 4. | "Dee" | Rhoads | 0:49 |
| 5. | "Suicide Solution" | 4:17 | |
| 6. | "Mr Crowley" | 5:02 | |
| 7. | "No Bone Movies" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley, Lee Kerslake | 3:52 |
| 8. | "Revelation (Mother Earth)" | 6:08 | |
| 9. | "Steal Away (The Night)" | 3:28 | |
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Total length:
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39:06 | ||
[edit] 2002 reissue bonus track
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10. | "You Lookin' at Me Lookin' at You" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley | 4:20 |
[edit] 2011 Blizzard of Ozz 30th Anniversary 'Expanded Edition' [Original Recording Remastered, Extra Tracks, Original Recording Reissued]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Don't Know (Remastered Original Recording)" | Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley | 5:16 |
| 2. | "Crazy Train (Remastered Original Recording)" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley | 4:56 |
| 3. | "Goodbye to Romance (Remastered Original Recording)" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley | 5:35 |
| 4. | "Dee (Remastered Original Recording)" | Rhoads | 0:49 |
| 5. | "Suicide Solution (Remastered Original Recording)" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley | 4:17 |
| 6. | "Mr Crowley (Remastered Original Recording)" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley | 5:02 |
| 7. | "No Bone Movies (Remastered Original Recording)" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley, Lee Kerslake | 3:52 |
| 8. | "Revelation (Mother Earth) (Remastered Original Recording)" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley | 6:09 |
| 9. | "Steal Away (The Night) (Remastered Original Recording)" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley | 3:28 |
| 10. | "You Looking At Me, Looking At You (Non-LP B-Side)" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley | 4:15 |
| 11. | "Goodbye To Romance (2010 Guitar & Vocal Mix)" | Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley | 5:42 |
| 12. | "RR (Outtake From "Blizzard Of Ozz" Sessions)" | Rhoads | 1:13 |
[edit] Personnel
- Ozzy Osbourne – lead vocals, harmony vocals
- Randy Rhoads – guitars
- Bob Daisley – bass, backing vocals, gongs
- Lee Kerslake – drums, percussion, tubular bells, timpani
- Don Airey – keyboards
- 2002 reissue
- Robert Trujillo – bass
- Mike Bordin – drums, percussion, timpani, gongs
- Danny Saber – tubular bells
- Mark Lennon – backing vocals
- John Shanks – backing vocals on "Steal Away (The Night)"
- Production
- Produced by Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley, and Lee Kerslake
- Engineered by Max Norman
[edit] Sales accomplishments
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RIAA certification[3] (United States)
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BPI certification (United Kingdom)
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CRIA certification[19] (Canada)
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[edit] In media
- "Crazy Train" and "Mr Crowley" were featured in Guitar Hero World Tour, and "Crazy Train" is featured in Rock Band 3.
[edit] References
- ^ "Wikipedia: Ozzy Osbourne: Departure from Black Sabbath". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ozzy_Osbourne#Departure_from_Black_Sabbath.
- ^ "Wikipedia: Randy Rhoads: Death". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy_Rhoads#Death.
- ^ a b c "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=blizzard%20of%20oz&artist=&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
- ^ "100 Greatest Guitar Albums". Guitar World. October 2006. A copy can be found at "Guitar World's 100 Greatest Guitar Albums Of All Time - Rate Your Music". rateyourmusic.com. http://rateyourmusic.com/list/Boggs1027/guitar_worlds_100_greatest_guitar_albums_of_all_time. Retrieved 12 October 2011.
- ^ "Top 10 Sports Songs". http://www.aolradioblog.com/2010/02/05/top-sports-songs/. Retrieved 2010-02-05.
- ^ "R&P: Most overplayed song battle?". http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110311215013AAXDq7o. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
- ^ "OZZY OSBOURNE's Landmark 'Blizzard' And 'Diary' Solo Albums To Be Reissued In May - Mar. 18, 2011". Blabbermouth.net. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=155499. Retrieved 2011-03-18.
- ^ "Blizzard of Ozz/Diary of Madman 30th Anniversary". mtv.com. http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/osbourne_ozzy/albums.jhtml?albumId=2777882. Retrieved 2012-01-22.
- ^ "Diary of a Madman/Blizzard of Ozz 30th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set". myplaydirect.com. http://www.myplaydirect.com/ozzy-osbourne/details/5779242?current_country=US. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ IMDB Biography
- ^ "News - Federal Appeals Court: Ozzy Do". Knac.Com. http://www.knac.com/article.asp?ArticleID=2558. Retrieved 2011-10-20.
- ^ "Ozzy: I’d Never Have Removed Daisley And Kerslake From Albums". classicrockmagazine.com. http://www.classicrockmagazine.com/news/ozzy-id-never-have-removed-daisley-and-kerslake-from-albums/. Retrieved 2010-07-07.
- ^ "OZZY OSBOURNE Discusses 30th Anniversary Of 'Blizzard Of Ozz' Album On 'In The Studio'". roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=148317/. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "Review Blizzard of Oz". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/album/r584559. Retrieved 23 August 2009.
- ^ Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard Of Ozz - Metal Storm
- ^ Blizzard of Ozz Reissue | Album Reviews | Rolling Stone
- ^ Uncut (August 2002): 112.
- ^ "BPI certified awards". http://www.bpi.co.uk/platinum/platinumright.asp?rq=search_plat&r_id=24254. Retrieved February 15, 2009.[dead link]
- ^ "CRIA certified awards". http://www.cria.ca/cert_db_search.php?page=1&wclause=WHERE+artist_name+like+%27%25ozzy+osbourne%25%27+ORDER+BY+cert_date%2C+cert_award+&rcnt=22&csearch=20&nextprev=1. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
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