Today Ozzy Osbourne is a household name, and arguably this debut album is where it all started. Before Blizzard of Ozz was released, Ozzy had been fired from his position as front man for the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and he was certain that he would “go back to Birmingham and the Dole” after that. However, Don Arden, Black Sabbath's manager, had hoped that Ozzy would return to the group, and signed him to Jet Records to record new material in Los Angeles. He sent his daughter to look after Ozzy a...
Today Ozzy Osbourne is a household name, and arguably this debut album is where it all started. Before Blizzard of Ozz was released, Ozzy had been fired from his position as front man for the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and he was certain that he would “go back to Birmingham and the Dole” after that. However, Don Arden, Black Sabbath's manager, had hoped that Ozzy would return to the group, and signed him to Jet Records to record new material in Los Angeles. He sent his daughter to look after Ozzy and "protect his investment." That daughter was named Sharon Arden...and would soon be famous in her own right as Ozzy's wife and manager.
This album was originally intended to be a super group called Blizzard of Ozz, with Ozzy (born John Michael Osbourne, but known as Ozzy since elementary school) on lead vocals, Don Airey (Rainbow) on keyboards, Bob Daisley (Rainbow) on bass, Lee Kerslake (Uriah Heap) on percussion, and virtuoso Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot) on lead guitar. The band was surprised and upset to find that they had been relegated to "Ozzy's band" when the group name became the title of this solo album.
Blizzard of Ozz was released in the UK in September 1980, and in the US in March 1981. It would go on to 4x platinum status, and would be Ozzy Osbourne's best selling solo album.
And now, for those of you who are ready to hear from The Prince of Darkness, the Godfather of Metal himself, in his prime - “ALL ABOARDDDDDDD! heh-heh-heh-heh!”
Crazy Train
While this song is a classic and staple of metal, it took some time for this first single to achieve that status. It peaked at number 9 on the Billboard charts in July 1981. It is about the cold war - "Hears of a cold war, that's what we've become. Inheriting troubles, I'm mentally numb."
Mr. Crowley
The second single from the album was a lot less well known outside of rock radio at the time. It is about Aleister Crowley, who was an English occultist and magician from the early 20th century. Ozzy had read a book about Crowley and was inspired to write a song by that and a deck of tarot cards they found in the studio. The guitar solo from this piece is a famous one by Rhoads, who would be killed in a plane crash in 1982. Mr. Crowley and Crazy Train were the only singles released from the album.
Goodbye to Romance
This slower-paced song was the first track written for the album, and was Ozzy's way of saying goodbye to his former band. Black Sabbath fired Osbourne in April 1979, claiming that he was "unreliable and had excessive substance abuse issues compared to the other members."
I Don't Know
The opening track from the album was surprisingly not released as a single. However, it did get considerable airplay on rock stations regardless. Some suggest that this song was also about Osbourne's departure from Black Sabbath, but the lyrics sound more like a plea to not expect answers to serious questions from rock and roll singers.
ENTERTAINMENT TRACK:
Theme from the animated TV series “Thundarr the Barbarian”
This staple of Saturday morning animated action shows made its debut in 1980, predicting cosmic destruction in 1994.
STAFF PICKS:
“Rough Boys” by Pete Townshend
Wayne brings us a side project from the Who's Pete Townshend. "Rough Boys" is off his second solo album, but this one sounds just like the Who. It is dedicated to the Sex Pistols, and Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic described it as a "blistering punk love letter."
“Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen
Rob's staff pick spent 15 weeks on the top 10, making it the longest running top-10 song of 1980. This song has a number of sound effects, but there are no synthesizers used to make the song. "Another One Bites the Dust" was considered for the Rocky III film, but ended up being "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor when things fell through on "Dust."
“Sometimes a Fantasy” by Billy Joel
Brian features one of many hit singles off Joel's "Glass Houses." The song is about erotic phone call lines - 900 numbers. Joel was careful with the lyrics he chose to avoid issues with censors and moral advocacy groups.
“Late in the Evening” by Paul Simon
Bruce's staff pick is the lead single off Simon's fifth studio album and semi-autobiographical movie "One Trick Pony." Dummer Steve Gadd is playing with two pairs of drumsticks in each hand to give the percussion a fuller feeling. According to Songfacts, the lyrics are based on a drwam that Simon had when he was a teenager of being a rock star.
INSTRUMENTAL TRACK:
“Behind My Camel” by The Police
This instrumental track from the 1980 album release, Zenyatta Mondatta was written by Andy Summers, but hated by Sting and Stewart Copeland. Summers plays both lead guitar and bass on this track, because Sting opted out.
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