From 1970-1978, he can be heard on a total of eight Black Sabbath albums as a singer, has immortal metal classics like "Paranoid", "War Pigs", "Iron Man", "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath", "Children of the Grave", " Black Sabbath "," Symptom of the Universe "or" Changes "sung. After very experimental 78s work "Never say die" is finally deflated, and Black Sabbath oblige the previous Rainbow singer Ronnie James Dio and carry on. Ozzy, however, is sinking into lethargy. In this difficult time it is his future wife and manager Sharon Arden aside that will bring him out of the chaos and makes him a solo career tasty. Ozzy collects new forces and provides 1979 first own band called "Blizzard of Ozz" together. His congenial Composition partner on the guitar is the then just 23 years of Randy Rhoads, the bass plays the experienced studio musician Bob Daisley, on drums obliged Ozzy the ex-Uriah Heep man Lee Kerslake and the keyboard is the latest Deep Purple keyboard magician Don Airey to hear. This world-class cast playing an album, which is still regarded as a milestone - not only in the career of Ozzy Osbourne, but generally in the Heavy Metal scene.
Although the work eventually published under the band name "Ozzy Osbourne", but can be heard clearly that here an organic band is at work, which not only accompanies the frontman, but operates in conjunction with him. Compared to the Black Sabbath Ozzy albums sounds much more compact style, melodic and purposeful. Already the opener "I do not know" makes clear where things are headed. The title, as it is driven by a powerful as melodic riff of Randy Rhoads, which merges in the central part in a dreamy, very harmonious part and finally explodes again. The sound of the work is strongly influenced by the play of the master guitarist, the Osbourne revered almost like a kind brother to this day. Although Randy Rhoads has released only two albums with Osbourne, as it comes in a tragic Flaugzeugabsturz 1982 killed, he influenced in the following years numerous musicians.
One of the absolute classics of cooperation of Ozzy and Randy is undoubtedly the song "Crazy Train". The crazed cry in the intro leads into an almost cheerful reef on which it can be jump admirably. An amazing catchy who will not let go a. To date, the Ozzy Signature titles and an immortal classic Heavy Metal. Driving, catchy, melodic - a masterpiece. But it is not the only highlight in an extraordinary drive.
The ballad "Goodybe to Romance," the first song, compose the Ozzy and Randy together, has in 2011 still classic status and firmly belongs to the live repertoire. Here clearly enters the classical background of the guitarist to day. The melody is very playful, almost baroque. The accompaniment One could also imagine a harpsichord. A law for the metal band context of unusual song but fits perfectly into the overall sound of the LP.
This is followed by a brief interlude on the acoustic guitar called "Dee", the very classic anmutet also and can end the previous track. The veträumte mood but then abruptly interrupted when the brutal riff of "Suicide Solution" hits. The hardest song of the record deals with Ozzy's desperate struggle against alcohol. Some years after the publication of the singers is brought to the death of two youths in connection to life should have taken after listening to this song, because they thought of-to intermediate-Part of Ozzy only as electronic gimmick have driven it. The out was by the prosecutor prompt "Shoot Shoot" can not ultimately prove and Ozzy is acquitted. Not least because of this controversy also includes this song to the big band classics.
But that's not all. Initiated by a bombastic keyboard intro dealt the powerful half-ballad "Mr. Crowley" with the unhappy life of the occultist Aleister Crowley. The Solo contained perhaps one of the best that have ever been published in the Metal sector. A desperate, high-emotional engagement with a sensitive issue. Grandiose!
"No bone movies" draws following the pace again on something. This title falls compared to the three songs about earlier is a little out, but is still of good quality. Sounds total somewhat traditional, but without appearing frumpy.
A textual anticipation of his later hit "Dreamer" (2002) dares Ozzy in "Revelation (Mother Earth)", a dramatic indictment of mankind. Insistently begs the singer for peace on earth - as opposed to the often war and violent contents competing bands has always been a demand for peace is an important issue in Ozzy's lyrics. So also here.
The conclusion of a furious solo debut finally makes the fast Kopfnicker "Steal Away (The Night)", the powerful skin again on the poop. On the newly launched "Expanded Edition" of the album is also found as a bonus track the song "You lookin 'at me lookin' at you," the B-side of "Crazy Train" Single. Even this number has to be ahead of the others not hide, could exist as an independent album part.
On the remastered version of 2011, will further the "Guitar & Vocal Mix" of "Goodbye to Romance", which impressively shows the unique chemistry between Ozzy and Randy again. The legacy of a great friendship. After unspectacular Instrumental "RR" on the Randy in a little too cranked solo shows his skill, finally ending the reissued version of the classic Metal. Had in the last republishing 2002 still Ozzy former band members Rob Trujillo and Mike Bordin recorded due to a legal dispute with Daisley and Kerslake the bass and drum tracks from scratch, there is now finally the original version of the LP to buy.
"Blizzard of Ozz" marks the beginning of a unique solo career, which has so far brought out 11 albums. Ozzy Osbourne is considered as the most successful solo artist of the Heavy Metal scene and on his debut is impressive to hear why he has become so. Despite many ups and downs, the sympathetic guy from a working-class neighborhood of Birmingham has developed into an invincible constant, which you love to listen to and playing music in the new millennium. Although none of the subsequent connections with his musicians has ever reached this depth and genius again, as with Randy Rhoads.
