Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard Of Ozz (1980)

30 years ago, Ozzy Osbourne released his first solo album, Blizzard Of Ozz. The album proved to be a success, even though the singles released weren't exactly a commercial success. Within those 30 years, we've seen the album released, re-released, remastered, remixed...and the list goes on. Anyone that knows me knows how I feel about remixes being passed off as the real deal...I hate it. That's pretty much what happened in 2002, when the drums and bass were redone for that "remastered" release.

That's not what we have here. In 1995, the album was given the remastered treatment, and that one has the original versions, at least. The quality, IMO, is a noticeable improvement compared to the original release.

One thing I vowed in this project was to make things as complete as possible...this release is no exception. While the album tracks are exactly the same as the 1995 re-release, I threw in 6 bonus tracks. Those tracks are as follows:

Crazy Train (Single Version) - This track differs a bit from the album version, and not just because it's shorter. It sounds like it was remixed a bit, so some guitar parts sound louder, and the end, while it still fades, doesn't have that wicked, high-pitched laughter that the album version has.

You Looking At Me Looking At You (Crazy Train 7" Single) - The rare B-Side that never got an official CD release (although it was on the 2002 re-release, with redone bass and drums, so it's no longer the same song). I actually included two versions of this song. This is the first of the two. Sounds more like an earlier mix of the song, so it's lacking in some parts, but it does have the drumstick countdown in the intro.

You Looking At Me Looking At You (Prince Of Darkness EP) - This version of the song wasn't released until 1984, but it sounds like a complete mix this time. Gone is the drumstick countdown intro, but the bass and guitar sound more "settled", like everything is in place. Also added is the cowbell during the chorus. The guitar at the end fades in, while it just kicks in normally in the Crazy Train single. There are some other subtle differences too, but I think that covers the basics.

You Said It All - Another unreleased song. This one is actually a soundcheck recording, and not an actual live track, so the crowd noise you hear in this song was dubbed in later. Originally released on the Mr. Crowley Live EP, from 1980.

Mr. Crowley (Live) - If I was gonna include You Said It All, I might as well include the other two tracks from the Live EP (which marks the first official live release featuring the late, great Randy Rhoads on guitar). I normally don't include live stuff in my releases, since I like to focus on studio work, but I can make a few exceptions here and there. Recorded live from Gaumont, Southampton, UK on 10/2/80.

Suicide Solution (Live) - Same deal as the live version of Mr. Crowley.


If you have a torrent program like uTorrent or Vuze, you can download this release from Demonoid:

http://www.demonoid.com/files/details/2178065/22115225/

Hope you enjoy...


Side note: This release was done on March 19th, which marks 28 years since the unfortunate passing of one of the greatest guitarists ever, Randy Rhoads. May his legacy continue to live on for many years to come...