Filmed during Ozzy Osbourne`s "Dairy of a Madman" in 1982, this is a rare glimpse into one of Ozzy`s finest stage perfomances. Featuring a claccic line-up inckuding Brad Gillis (Guitar), Rudi Sarzo (Bass), Don Airey (Keyboard) and Tommy Aldridge (Drums) and shot on an immense medieval castle set, this is Ozzy at his finest…
Essentially an amped-up karaoke night in the Osbournes' basement lair, Under Cover is impeccably engineered and effortlessly played – ex-Alice in Chains axe slinger Jerry Cantrell provides impressive guitar work throughout, making a strong case as to whether this is his baby or Ozzy's…
After Speak of the Devil, Tribute, Just Say Ozzy, Live & Loud, the Ozzfest collections, and both Osbourne-fronted Black Sabbath live discs, one would think that Ozzy had exhausted his concert-album appeal. But due to the success of his reality TV show, Osbourne once again decided it was time for another live album. Although Osbourne's live performances were still rock-solid during the recording of this tour, Live at Budokan seems mighty excessive…
Ozzy Osbourne has gotten more mileage out of live albums than any other hard rocker because he knows how to play the game. He knows how to make each record special, or at least a little bit different. Usually, this just means showcasing his new guitarist; at other times it just means showing off the new material. With Live and Loud, a double-disc set released in 1993, it was a combination of parading Zakk Wylde in a live setting and putting together a nifty limited-edtion package (the initial CD pressing of the album was designed as a mock speaker and contained two tattoos).
Ozzy Osbourne's 1981 solo debut Blizzard of Ozz was a masterpiece of neo-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…
After Speak of the Devil, Tribute, Just Say Ozzy, Live & Loud, the Ozzfest collections, and both Osbourne-fronted Black Sabbath live discs, one would think that Ozzy had exhausted his concert-album appeal. But due to the success of his reality TV show, Osbourne once again decided it was time for another live album. Although Osbourne's live performances were still rock-solid during the recording of this tour, Live at Budokan seems mighty excessive. The only positive thing about yet another one is to hear the intense live work of Zakk Wylde, who has been the cornerstone of Osbourne's sound longer than any other sideman he has ever worked with.
Sony Music's "Essential" series of limited-edition two-disc compilations of major artists has been well-assembled generally, and Ozzy Osbourne's increased celebrity following the success of the "reality" TV series The Osbournes justifies his inclusion, as does his string of multi-platinum albums dating back to 1980. The 29-track collection presents most of the highlights of his solo career, from Blizzard of Ozz to Down to Earth, including such U.K. and/or U.S. hits as "Bark at the Moon," "No More Tears," "Perry Mason," and "Mama, I'm Coming Home," as well as the Grammy-winning live version of "I Don't Want to Change the World."
Things start to improve for Ozzy on No Rest for the Wicked, as Zakk Wylde replaces Jake E. Lee on guitar and Osbourne comes up with his best set since 1983. Again, it's not quite up to the level of excellence his Blizzard of Ozz band achieved, but Osbourne sounds somewhat rejuvenated, and Wylde is a more consistently interesting guitarist than Lee…