Music / Blizzard of Ozz

"ALL ABOAAAARD! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"

The solo debut of (at the time) former Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne.

The album's genesis began before Ozzy's firing from Sabbath, as he briefly took time off from the band to begin recording. After returning to record what would become the Sabbath album Never Say Die!, band tensions reached a boiling point and Ozzy was dismissed. While his bandmates claimed it was his substance abuse issues that led to the firing, Ozzy himself has stated they were all equally strung out.

Nevertheless, Ozzy officially became a solo act. Bringing in Uriah Heep drummer Lee Kerslake, 2 members of Rainbow, bassist Bob Daisley and keyboardist Don Airey, and former Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoades to officially bring his first solo effort to life.

Blizzard Of Ozz was officially released on September 20th, 1981 to smashing success. Most notable for the tracks "Crazy Train" and "Mr. Crowley".

Tracklist

Side One

1. "I Don't Know" (5:16)
2. "Crazy Train" (4:56)
3. "Goodbye to Romance" (2:48)
4. "Dee" (0:30)
5. "Suicide Solution" (4:20)

Side Two

1. "Mr. Crowley" (4:57)
2. "No Bone Movies" (3:58)
3. "Revelation (Mother Earth)" (6:09)
4. "Steal Away (The Night)" (3:28)

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What troped on in your head:

• Epic Rocking: "Revelation (Mother Earth)" just qualifies, coming in at 6 minutes and 9 seconds.
• Green Aesop: "Revelation (Mother Earth)", possibly the first metal song about the environment.
• Metal Scream: The famous opener to "Crazy Train" has Ozzy screaming "AAAALLLL ABOOOAAAAARD!!!" followed by an Evil Laugh.
• Ode to Sobriety: Surprisingly enough, considering how Ozzy is notorious for his massive drug usage, "Suicide Solution", which was inspired by the death of AC/DC's Bon Scott, is a song that portrays alcohol abuse as a terrible thing. The title refers to liquor (a solution in the sense of "a substance dissolved in another") as a method of "slow suicide".
• Self-Titled Album: The original intention, as Ozzy wanted his new band to be named Blizzard Of Ozz. The record label nixed the idea.
• Solo Side Project: Originally, the album was a side project while Ozzy took a little time off from Sabbath. But after being kicked out, it became a full-fledged solo album.

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