Ozzy Osbourne's 1981 solo debut Blizzard of Ozz was a masterpiece of /p>
eo-classical metal that, along with Van Halen's first album, became a cornerstone of '80s metal guitar. Upon its release, there was considerable doubt that Ozzy could become a viable solo attraction. Blizzard of Ozz demonstrated not only his ear for melody, but also an unfailing instinct for assembling top-notch backing bands. Onetime Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads was a startling discovery, arriving here as a unique, fully formed talent. Rhoads was just as responsible as Osbourne -- perhaps even more so -- for the album's musical direction, and his application of classical guitar techniques and scales rewrote the rulebook just as radically as Eddie Van Halen had. Rhoads could hold his own as a flashy soloist, but his detailed, ambitious compositions and arrangements revealed his true depth, as well as creating a sense of doomy, sinister elegance built on Ritchie Blackmore's minor-key innovations. All of this may seem to downplay the importance of Ozzy himself, which shouldn't be the case at all. The music is a thoroughly convincing match for his lyrical obsession with the dark side (which was never an embrace, as many conservative watchdogs assumed); so, despite its collaborative nature, it's unequivocally stamped with Ozzy's personality. What's more, the band is far more versatile and subtle than Sabbath, freeing Ozzy from his habit of singing in unison with the guitar (and proving that he had an excellent grasp of how to frame his limited voice). Nothing short of revelatory, Blizzard of Ozz deservedly made Ozzy a star, and it set new standards for musical virtuosity in the realm of heavy metal.
So, I was rockin' the "Crazy Train" the other day in my car (I even have interpretive dance moves.), and listening to the lyrics made me think back before I became a dang Ozzy freak. I remember listening to the song when I was somewhere around 13 or 14, I'm guessing. And I heard the part "Maybe, it's not too late / To learn how to love, and forget how to hate." I just thought that was kind of f...
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you *KNOW* what it is....
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Here it is after 9 p.m., and I've had a few beers. I'm lesson planning for a course I've never taught, and the iTunes is on shuffle. Then this song comes on. I stop and put the Technical Communications textbook and my beer down and I just sit back and listen. Man, if I could only have two songs of the week. Forget about all that background noise you've heard about Ozzy. Just listen to him sing ...
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So, I was rockin' the "Crazy Train" the other day in my car (I even have interpretive dance moves.), and listening to the lyrics made me think back before I became a dang Ozzy freak. I remember listening to the song when I was somewhere around 13 or 14, I'm guessing. And I heard the part "Maybe, it's not too late / To learn how to love, and forget how to hate." I just thought that was kind of f...
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Taking on the Prince of Darkness Ozzy Osbourne in any sort of battle (whether legal or otherwise) always seemed to us to be too daunting a task when considered. But this London-based remix crew who we know little about aside...
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OK, so yesterday's post had the desired effect and seems to have goosed the voting in this week's poll...Let's try to keep it going with this argument for Ozzy:Don't forget to vote!
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For all the Osbourne fans heres a tribute to Randy Rhoads
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 "Blizzard of Ozz")
