Customer Reviews

Blizzard of Oz

5 star:		(130)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a MASTERPIECE. A Classic featuring the best playing of the time. Rhoads at his best, a ripe Ozzy and a nice Keerslake/Daisley rhythm section.
Unfortunately... it was RE-RECORDED lately and re-issued with Mike Bordin and Robert Trujillo taking places over the original bass and drums tracks. The result being horrible, not because of bad playing, but of a very poor production work, ends up being unnacurate, poor sounding, and not tight at all.

Being a musician myself, and understainding Ozzy's position regarding lawsuits, I must admit this is a step towards non-beligerant options regarding the issue of the two first Ozzy-as-solo-artist records. However, even tho I respect a lot Bordin's and Trujillo's work (they are both fine musicians), I find the end result on this reissue simply disgusting. And not being Bordin and Trujillo's fault precisely. There is a SEVERE lack of precision in the production work, being that there are less-than-discreet differences on sound, on TIMING and what was originally played. It is harder to copy or re-create a work done twenty-something years ago on a note-by-note basis, but what else do fans expect? I mean, nobody ever imagined (or wished) a classic album should be re-done on this fashion, but if you EVER had the original recording, and have a little bit of attention paid to the work here, you will find lots of flaws and missing things, or a loose rhythm section "following" the pre-recorded guitar work, instead of it being the basement for the rest of the music (as it should be...).

Unfortunately, it is difficult to tell this reissue from the original one if you're trying to buy it "new and used" over a website. I got the reissued re-recording instead of the 1995 edition (with the small artwork over a big blue background) since the seller seem not to notice the difference between them, and am severely dissapointed. A clever example of what should never be done to a classic...

About the only thing bad about this version of the album, is the cover. This Album was what started the whole Ozzy solo thing, after being kicked out of Black Sabbath. He went thru his ups and downs before gettng to the point of making music again. Thanks to the talents of Randy, Bob and Lee (If you disagree with Bob and Lee's usefullness, go buy the newly recorded remaster which will make you sick!) and Ozzy, We get this great album. By the way, doves taste good with contracts! lol. Onto my review of the songs:1. I Don't Know - Ozzy tells us that he doesn't really know the answers. It's a middle pace song with a good beat. . .90%2. Crazy Train - The biggest song of all. This Sad song later became a symbal of Randys Rhoads as a passing Star. RIP. . .100%3. Goodbye To Romance - Such a soft song. A goodbye to Black Sabbath is what Ozzy said he wrote the song about. . . .90% 4. Dee (Guitar instrumental)- Randy performs this great, and to this day is a trademark of Randy and many young guitar players start out play this guitar Instrumenal. . .85% 5. Suicide Solution - All about drinking. The song is condemning drinking. Of coarse someone missunderstood the music. But thats a story best left to the history of Ozzy. . . .90%6. Mr. Crowley - Well this song was written to Crowley. Cool trippy song in a way. I also enjoy Randys guitar in this one alot. . .95% 7. No Bone Movies - This Song is a mid paced song that is about being a porn additic. A fun song really tho. . . 85%8. Revelation (Mother Earth) - About the end of the world. Somewhat sad, and doomy! I enjoy the piano /guitar bridge. Randy Rules! . . .100% 9. Steal Away (The Night) - A Quick Runaway Love song. So it's a tad odd for ozzy t do it. So what?! It's cool. . .90%If you Like this album check out: Ozzy Osbourne - Diary of a Madman (Green Border), Ozzy Osbourne - Bark at the Moon (Grey Border), Ozzy Osbourne - No More Tears (Brown Border), Black Sabbath - Paranoid (remaster).

To date of writing, there are 2 different versions of 'Blizard of Ozz' avalible on Amazon.com. One is this one, which is the original thing. The other - absolute [...] The bass and drums in all the tracks for it have been replaced so Ozzy wont have to pay his former bandmates royalties.

So again, get this one - the REAL Bliz.

Blizzard of Ozz is simply one of the best hard rock albums ever. If you are a metal fan, this is as good as it gets. Every song is a beautiful entity within itself, yet all of them flow together seamlessly. My favorite songs are "I Don't Know," "Suicide Solution," "Mr. Crowley," and "Revelation (Mother Earth)," although all 8 songs are amazing (one of the tracks isn't really a song; "Dee" is kind of an acoustic intro to the next track). And of course, this record houses the timeless classic "Crazy Train," which is still incredible, despite its ubiquity.

It certainly was for the better when Ozzy Osbourne left (or was kicked out of?) Black Sabbath in 1979. The last few years of the band had been shaky, and they put out a couple of mediocre albums. After the departure, Ozzy made this magnificent album, and Black Sabbath made the mind-blowing "Heaven and Hell" with ex-Rainbow singer Ronnie James Dio. So instead of one old, tired band making shabby material, we had two seperate artists making some of the best metal ever created. Ozzy collaborates wonderfully with guitarist Randy Rhodes, who is hands-down one of the best guitar players ever. His playing was as revolutionary as Van Halen was 2 years before him. He took Van Halen's speed and combined it with amazing neo-classical techniques. The instrumental sections of the songs carry you away into another universe, and the vocal parts are deliciously catchy and hummable. Despite Ozzy's extreme selling-out in recent years, Blizzard of Ozz is one of the things that reminds us of the terrific musician he once was.

The Blizzard of Ozz was one of the most unstoppable rock acts in its day. This album is a testament to the magic and anticipation that went along with their group. Randy Rhoads' guitar licks, and Ozzy Osbourne's bombastic vocals produce some of the most innovative music of the latter half of this century. "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley" have gone down in the books as some of heavy metal's greatest anthems, causing millions to flock to Ozzy's concerts every year. The contraversy behind "Suicide Solution" has not only brought Ozzy fame and fortune, but also ridicule and harassment by not only the press, but angry religious fanatics across the globe. Ozzy's music is always filled with classic head-banging as pointed out by "No Bone Movies" and "Steal Away The Night". Once thing is for certain. This is where it all began for Ozzy's rollercoaster of a career.

Ther should be no arguing this: Blizzard of Ozz is Ozzy's greatest solo album to date. I wish I could rate this album six stars, to tell you the truth. The Ozzman's vocals are top-notch, Daisley and Kerslake keep excellent rhythym, and Randy Rhoads, God bless his soul, who is quite possibly one of the best metal guitarists in the world, is absolutely breath-taking. No matter what anyone tells you, Randy is Ozzy's best guitarist to date.

1)I Don't Know - An awesome opener, though the one on 'Tribute' is WAY better. 9/10

2)Crazy Train - Oz's most popular song, and for a good reason. What rock 'n' roll fan doesn't like this song? The opening guitar riff is one of the best ever, and the solo is the coolest! Daisley and Kerslake show their best work on this track. 10/10

3)Goodbye to Romance - I can't stand the way that some people make fun of this song. If you don't respect this song, you really can't respect Ozzy. This is his best ballad (Next to 'Mama, I'm Coming Home')to date. 10/10

4)Dee[Instrumental] - Another underrated song. Randy is an incredible classical guitarist, and this shows it. This song was dedicated to his mother, Delores. A pure masterpiece. 9.5/10

5)Suicide Solution - I absolutely love this song. The only bad thing about it is that there was such a controversey over it. Again, the version on 'Tribute' is MUCH, MUCH better. Randy's use of the whammy bar is the best on this track. 10/10

6)Mr.Crowley - This is my personal favorite Ozzy song. The organ the beginning drags on a little too long (it takes up a whole minute of the song!), but it is made up for by Randy's jaw-dropping guitar work. This was definitely Randy Rhoads's shining moment. 11/10

7)No Bone Movies - The weakest track on the album, though I'm not complaining. The solo on this song is great, and it's the only song that Lee Kerslake is credited with being a drummer on, for some odd reason. 8/10

8)Revelation(Mother Earth) - A great song, written about the world being polluted and destroyed. The solo at the end is excellent. 9/10

9)Steal Away(The Night) - A great song, though it is easily forgotten because of the fact that it's at the end. The solo is too short, which is the only problem with it. 8.5/10

To sum it all up, this album is a must-have, whether you like heavy metal, rock 'n' roll, classical, or soft rock. There is something on this album for everyone. I actually have the ORIGINAL original, not the 2002 remaster or the 1995 remaster, which is the best. When you hear people telling you that the original has the word "OZZY" down the side with a smaller picture in the middle, they are either mis-informed, or they're just lying. The original has a very small black border around the outside, with the old 'Compact Disc' Logo in the bottom right corner. Anyway, simply put: YOU CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THIS ALBUM!!!

Peace, everybody, and keep rocking.

Ozzy has always been a leader in his genre of music, from having new bands open for him throughout his career and Ozzfest. But his largest effect has been from his own music. Even from the days as the front man for Black Sabbith he was bound to leave his mark on the industry in more than just tattoos and word bleeps. "Blizzard of Ozz" was his first album leaving the Black Sabbath boys behind. Ozzy made the leap into super-stardom, where Sabbath could not.

What luck Ozzy had in finding the young Randy Rhodes on guitar. Until his unfortunate death, he was well on his way to become a premier guitarist. A flare for his classical side is seen in the brief instrumental "Dee". The album is packed with great tracks, nearly all of them are considered classics, and a must have for all hard rock lovers. "Crazy Train", "Goodbye to Romance" and "I Don't Know" proved to all Sabbath fans that Ozzy would easily make it on his own. The now infamous "Suicide Solution" in all of its hemisynch glory appears on this album.

In the history of music, this album is one that marks the spot where hard rock crossed over into mainstream radio play. Metal bands exploded onto the seen after this album, and neglected greats, like Alice Cooper, found themselves suddenly in the spotlight. Ozzy changed the face of music, and has continued to do so to this day.

In 1978 Black Sabbath kicked lead singer Ozzy Osbourne out and it seemed it would be another case of a rock star fading into obscurity. However Ozzy met guitar whiz Rhoads and the rest is history. In 1980 the best metal album ever was Sabbath's " Paranoid ", but " Blizzard Of Oz " definitely blows it out of the water. The amazing thing is that " Diary Of A Madman " is even better. In fact Ozzy would eventually sell more records than Sabbath. Sabbath, great as they are, never really had a good album. They made great songs, not albums. Ozzy, before the tragic death of Rhoads, gave us 2 masterpieces. All the album's are downhill after " Diary " even though he later gave us great songs like " Bark At The Moon ", " Killer Of Giants ", " Shot In The Dark ", and " Road To Nowhere " He also has his crowning moment on No More Tears, which is of course the amazing title track. Anyway Here's My Grades.

Song Grades

1. I Don't Know-A great rockin' song to introduce Ozzy and Randy to the world. I especially like the part in the middle.

Final Grade-B+

2. Crazy Train-I know this is a legendary song with great lyrics and got him some much deserved exposure but the fact remains that this song is overated and overplayed too much for it's own good. He has made better rockers like " Over The Mountain " or " Bark At The Moon "

Final Grade-B+

3. Goodbye To Romance-Although this is a good atmospheric song. It's kind of out of charachter for Ozzy. This sounds too much like Elton John for my tastes. He would make way better and much more heavier ballads than this sappy filler.

Final Grade-C+

4. Suicide Solution-This is one of Ozzy's legendary and his most controversial song. Some parent's sued Ozzy because they thought this song convinced their kid to commit suicide. If they actually read the lyrics they would see that this song is denouncing alcohol and was obviously written about the death's of Bon Scott and John Bonham.

Final Grade-A-

5. Mr. Crowley-This is one of Ozzy's shining moments and one the best songs I've ever heard. This is deservedly a legendary metal song. The guitar in this song is virtuoso and it has great lyrics dealing with occultist Aleister Crowley.

Final Grade-A+

6. No Bone Movies-This is one of the more underated songs on the album. While this is no " Mr. Crowley " it definitely isn't filler. This is a good rockin' tune with humorous lyrics dealing with an obsession with porn.

Final Grade-B

7. Revelation (Mother Earth)-Now this is how a ballad should be done. This is one of the best song's I've ever heard. This is Ozzy at his most emotional and the lyrics are the best on this album. This also has Rhoads best guitar solo on this album which is saying alot considering his talent. In fact Ozzy would rehash this song with the excellent " Killer Of Giants " and the mediocre " Dreamer " Nothing however beat the original.

Final Grade-A+

8. Steal Away (The Night)-Another one of the more underated tunes on this album. This is a good AC/DC like hard rocker and a great party-type song. They would however make a better one on " Diary " in the superior "Flying High Again "

Final Grade-B

If you appreciate any of the genres or subgenres of guitar rock this album is essential.

After being fired from Black Sabbath in 1979, Ozzy Osbourne became depressed, developed bipolar disorder, and delved deeper into his drug and alcohol addiction. Then two things happened: Sharon Levy (who would later marry Ozzy, and changer her name to Sharon Osbourne) became Ozzy's manager, and a young man by the name of Randy Rhodes stepped into his life, so Ozzy decided to launch a solo career. 1981's "Blizzard of Ozz" was a great success, considering it was his first solo album.

This album has definitely withstood the test of time, and it has also gone down in history as a heavy metal classic. Ozzy Osbourne achieved so much with his career in Black Sabbath, and "Blizzard of Ozz" was the start of an equally successful and influential career.

It may be mostly due to the inhumanly great musicianship of guitarist virtuoso Randy Rhodes, but this is one of the finest C.D.'s in my collection. And, as any metalhead will you, some of metal's all time best and most famous songs were penned on this record. Randy is capable of making noises with his guitar that I can't even make with my mouth! He is definitely one of the best and most influential guitarists EVER (influencing guitarists like Dimebag Darrell), and he is easily a better axeman than Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi.

"Crazy Train" is an especially great stand out track. It is definitely one of the best and catchiest heavy metal songs ever written. And Randy's solo on this song, which has my vote for the best ever guitar solo, is so great, I can't even begin to describe it. You're just not metal if you don't know this song.

But "Crazy Train" isn't the only great song on here, because every song is a hit. After an ominous intro, "I Don't Know" rockets into fast, running riffs. "Goodbye To Romance" is a pretty acoustic ballad, "Dee" is an acoustic guitar interlude, and "Suicide Solution" infamous for its controversial lyrics about suicide and substance abuse. Next, "Mr. Crowley" is another famous Ozzy song, with a pair of ascending solos (one of the solos was ranked #28 in Guitar World's "Best Guitar Solos" feature). "No Bone Movies" has chunky, Sabbath-y riffs, and "Revelation (Mother Earth") and "Steal Away (the Night)" are both strong tracks, as well, with the latter track sporting some catchy singing by Ozzy.

And finally, "You Looking At Me (Looking At You)" appears on the 2002 remaster of this album, and it's definitely a great, toe-tapping track.

All in all, "Blizzard of Ozz" is absolutely essential in every heavy metal collection. It's heavier than some albums from the 1980's, like any Van Halen release, but it's not as hard or fast as thrash metal records like Slayer's "Reign In Blood." Thus, even if you don't like most metal from the `80's, you should still enjoy this album very much. And if you can't stand the sound quality of the original, and you're one of those fans who hates the 2002 remixed/remastered version, this 1995 remaster is the one to get.

Released in 1980, this was Ozzy Osbourne's first record in his solo career, and his most popular.

After being kicked out of Black Sabbath for disorderly conduct, Ozzy Osbourne set out to find instrumentalists for his new solo band. First off, he hired former Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoad,Don Airey on keyboards, and Tommy Aldridge on drums. With his lineup complete, Ozzy and Co. set out to make the album that would eventually become Blizzard of Ozz. Ironically, being kicked out of Black Sabbath was Ozzy's blessing, as he found much greater success in his solo career, and Black Sabbath made Heaven and Hell with Dio, one of their best albums if not the best.

Released in 1980, this record immediately received rave reviews from critics, impressed at the mastery of Rhoads' guitar playing and Ozzy's soul-searching vocals, and the sheer amount of variation in the songs, from all-out rockers like "Crazy Train" to melodic ballads like "Goodbye to Romance". Although Blizzard of Ozz only got as high as #21 on the Pop Album charts, and "Crazy Train" only charted as high as #9 on the Mainstream Rock charts, This CD's legacy still lives on today with such radio staples as "I Don't Know", "Crazy Train", and "Mr. Crowely".Unfortuneatly, this album was greeted by angry parents because of such songs as "Suicide Solution", and that's what originally hurt sales. With Randy Rhoads legendary Guitarmanship, he equaled and even beat out Eddie Van Halen for the best guitarist, and even though he only made two albums with Ozzy, Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman, his legacy is still as pronounced today as it was in the 80's. So is this CD overrated or is it truly a classic that should be owned by everybody? Truly it is a classic, and read below for song ratings to see why.

Track Ratings:

I Don't Know-10/10:Starts off the album perfectly, introducing the listener with an insane riff by Rhoads that Ozzy perfectly dishes out his vocals over. The Chorus is great, and at about 2 minutes 30 seconds in, Ozzy dramatically changes the song with a ballad-like quality, but then he quickly switches back to the full-throttle rocking! Good musicianship!

Crazy Train-15/10:Who hasn't heard this? Played at football games around the world, it truly is hard not to hear. Starts off with Rhoads' legendary riff and Ozzy's "Aye Aye" that perfectly starts the song off with a bang. Great chorus, and maybe the best guitarmanship on the whole album.Perfect solo by Rhoads, and it shows why he was one of the best soloists out there.

Goodbye to Romance-10/10:For all you ballad-haters out there, this happens to be one that you might like! With the Soul-searching melody and Ozzy's brooding vocals, this song makes you feel like you want to cry. A great chorus("Goodbye to Romance, Goodbye to friends"), and a solo by Rhoads that fits the tone perfectly. One of the best ballads out there PERIOD!

Dee-8/10:A tribute to Randy Rhoads' mother, it shows a softer side to Rhoads with a heartfelt solo off an acoustic guitar. Gets downgraded because its only 50 seconds long.

Suicide Solution-9/10:Really good lyrics from Ozzy, and this is the song that angered many parents because of its slightly mature lyrics, but really they overdid it. Ozzy's vocals sound sardonically sarcastic, and it really enhances the song's dark tone. Gets downgraded for a lack of a good solo from Rhoads, but he does play a killer riff.

Mr. Crowely-10/10: The Organ solo rocks! The organ solo perfectly develops "Mr. Crowely"'s dark and mysterious tone, and Ozzy's haunting vocals truly make this a song perfect for any horror flick. Great solo from Rhoads, and the solo clocks in at about 40 seconds long.

No Bone Movies-10/10: I don't understand why people say this is a filler song! This is a flat-out tough rocker with Ozzy's sarcastic vocals and an absolutely lovable riff from Rhoads, with a great solo coming in about 1 minutes and 45 seconds in. Aldridge's drumming is also a highlight here,as his drumming sounds more pronounced than on most tracks.

Revelation(Mother Earth)-10/10:A slow ballad that tries to warn people about the end of the world, it's a very soulful song that would fit in any horror movie. Gets harder as it goes along,with a superb solo from Rhoads and great keyboarding.

Steal Away(The Night)-10/10: Another hard rocker that never fails to please, this is probably the fastest song on the album, and Rhoads' riff is pure bliss. Great Chorus and killer solo, as usual.

Overall, Blizzard of Ozz is nearly perfect, with "Dee" being it's only low point, but that's only because it's 50 seconds long. This album perfectly shows us why Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads' names have lived on for over 20 years, and their legacy on Rock N Roll will never be forgotten. If you are a fan of Rock in General, you should already have this album or be ordering it off Amazon now.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!PERFECT FOR ROCK FANS AND THIS IS THE ALBUM TO BUY IF YOU ARE TRYING TO GET INTO OZZY!EVEN THOUGH THIS ALBUM IS AWESOME, CHECK OUT DIARY OF A MADMAN IF YOU WANT TO SEE A TRULY SUPERB CD! Thanks for Reading!ALSO, GET THIS VERSION INSTEAD OF THE EXTRA TRACKS REMASTER!