Ozzy's 'Blizzard of Ozz' and 'Diary of a Madman' Being Re-Released May 31st

[JamesG]

Classic Ozzy Re-Releases Coming Soon
by Gregory Burkart
March 21, 2010


The first two solo albums from metal legend Ozzy Osbourne have gone through a serious remastering recently, and the official release dates and complete details of both albums have now been revealed on his official site.

The iconic records 'Blizzard of Ozz' and 'Diary of a Madman' are being re-released individually, or together in a box set with lots of extra goodies.







Ozzy originally released his first post-Black Sabbath solo project 'Blizzard' in 1980 to huge success (it's gone quadruple-platinum by now), and followed up with 'Diary' the next year.

The two landmark records are beloved by the metal faithful as Osbourne's only studio projects recorded with the late, great Randy Rhoads on lead guitar, with immortal tunes like 'Crazy Train', 'I Don't Know', 'Mr. Crowley', and 'Over the Mountain'.



Both albums were re-released previously, but with the original bass and drum tracks (by Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake, respectively) replaced with members of Ozzy's touring lineup at the time.

That didn't go over so well with the fans, and thankfully these new editions have restored the original instrumentation.









The 30th Anniversary Edition of 'Blizzard of Ozz' contains:

- fully remastered versions (taken from the original analog sources) of the original nine tracks
- the bonus b-side 'You Looking at Me, Looking at You'
- the never-released cut 'Goodbye To Romance'
- the Rhoads solo track 'RR'






The Legacy Edition of 'Diary of a Madman' contains:

- a second CD containing previously unreleased live performances.






Both records will also be bundled in a boxed set including CD and vinyl versions with:

- a 100-page coffee table book
- a wall poster
- a replica of Ozzy's famous gold cross pendant
- the DVD 'Thirty Years After the Blizzard', which contains rare footage of Ozzy and Randy, including a never-before-seen onstage segment from the New York Palladium concert on May 2, 1981, and several new interviews.





Everything is slated for release on Tuesday, May 31.
Check out Ozzy's official site for more details and ordering info - http://www.ozzy.com/us/news/definiti...-restored-rema


http://www.fearnet.com/news/b22097_c...ming_soon.html

[ABlairican Pie]

That was completely messed up that $haron Osbourne replaced the original bass and drum tracks by Daisley and Kerslake. We as fans deserve the first versions, and I'm glad the originals are going back on.

[ABlairican Pie]

When I say "we as fans", I would say I was a fan back then until twenty years ago, but when he came off his so-called "retirement" fifteen years ago, I lost interest. I was never a fan of his show, it never made sense. Not impressed with his Hollywood status. Go back to being the Prince of F***ing Darkness, don't sell out.

[Dr. Thong]

What's really bogus is if you want the DVD documentary, you have to buy the $150 box set. Why do I wanna spend money on LPs I'll never play???

And the live cut "You Said It All" from the Mr. Crowley Live EP isn't on here, either. Good song.

[Nighthawk76]

I recently bought a new copy of Blizzard of Ozz, becuase my old CD was beginning to skip, and was very disappointed when I found out that the bass and drum parts had been rerecorded. The songs just did not sound right. Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman are along with No More Tears, Ozzy at his very best!

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by Shine

I recently bought a new copy of Blizzard of Ozz, becuase my old CD was beginning to skip, and was very disappointed when I found out that the bass and drum parts had been rerecorded. The songs just did not sound right. Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman are along with No More Tears, Ozzy at his very best!

The restored original versions will be back in stores soon enough. Did your remasters have the sticker on the cover that identified them as having re-recorded tracks?

When they were first released, there was nothing on the outer packaging to indicate the re-recordings. After some fans raised a fuss, they put a sticker on them.

[Nighthawk76]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

The restored original versions will be back in stores soon enough. Did your remasters have the sticker on the cover that identified them as having re-recorded tracks?

When they were first released, there was nothing on the outer packaging to indicate the re-recordings. After some fans raised a fuss, they put a sticker on them.

Yeah, the packaging did have a sticker on front indicating that the bass and drums had been rerecorded. I was disappointed when I read that but not as much as when I heard how different the songs sounded.

Does anyone know why Ozzy's 1986 album The Ultimate Sin is out print? There's nothing wrong with my copy, I was just curious. The Ultimate Sin may not be a great album but it has its moments.

[JamesG]

Originally Posted by Shine

Does anyone know why Ozzy's 1986 album The Ultimate Sin is out print? There's nothing wrong with my copy, I was just curious. The Ultimate Sin may not be a great album but it has its moments.

Sharon & Ozzy got into it with bassist Phil Soussan over the writing credits for the song 'Shot in the Dark'.

Another thing is that they are also both at war with bassist Bob Daisley (who Soussan replaced) who was involved on the album's early writing stages.

That's it in a nutshell, if you can find it you can only get the original album release and the re-issue from 1995.




You will also notice that no songs from that album have made it onto any compilation albums or greatest hits.

'Shot in the Dark' was put on the 1997 compilation "The Ozzman Cometh", but when the album was re-released in 2002 it was replaced with 'Miracle Man'.

[Nighthawk76]

Originally Posted by JamesG

Sharon & Ozzy got into it with bassist Phil Soussan over the writing credits for the song 'Shot in the Dark'.

Another thing is that they are also both at war with bassist Bob Daisley (who Soussan replaced) who was involved on the album's early writing stages.

That's it in a nutshell, if you can find it you can only get the original album release and the re-issue from 1995.




You will also notice that no songs from that album have made it onto any compilation albums or greatest hits.

'Shot in the Dark' was put on the 1997 compilation "The Ozzman Cometh", but when the album was re-released in 2002 it was replaced with 'Miracle Man'.

Wow! "Shot in the Dark" is one of Ozzy's best songs, I think. I know people who don't even like Ozzy who like that song. I thought he didn't place it on compilation albums because maybe he thought it was too "pop" or something because its one of his most commercial songs. Then I noticed that I never saw the album anywhere. It needs to be put back in print just for that song and "Secret Loser".

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally Posted by Shine

Yeah, the packaging did have a sticker on front indicating that the bass and drums had been rerecorded. I was disappointed when I read that but not as much as when I heard how different the songs sounded.

Does anyone know why Ozzy's 1986 album The Ultimate Sin is out print? There's nothing wrong with my copy, I was just curious. The Ultimate Sin may not be a great album but it has its moments.

Wow!! Out of print??!! You'd think that an artist of Ozzy's stature would have everything out in full supply forever. That's ironic because that was a pretty big album 25 years ago when it came out, even though it wasn't his most stellar moment. That tour even introduced major audiences to openers Metallica.

I guess we'd have to sift through used record stores for 'The Ultimate Sin'--if we can still find such stores.

[Dr. Thong]

Ozzy has also claimed publicly that he doesn't care for the Ultimate Sin album. That could be a smokescreen for the fact that lawsuits were going back and forth between Soussan and Daisley, et al.

Of course, it was his first top 10 album in the states and produced a rock radio/MTV hit with "Shot In The Dark."

I also love how when promoting the re-releases of Diary and Blizzard, Ozzy claims that it was Sharon who was behind the re-recordings and deletion of the original versions. He claims he didn't know about it and wouldn't have signed off on it.

Riiiight.

[Nighthawk76]

Well, I doubt he would take the album off the market just because he personally doesn't like it. The Ultimate Sin may not be his greatest album but it still has some good songs on it. Besides, how can you not love this cover!

[ABlairican Pie]

I remember back then I used to be creeped out by that cover! Now I look at it and think it's hilarious!!

[JamesG]

Watch the Trailer for Ozzy's Classic Reissues
by Gregory Burkart
May 3rd, 2011


Yesterday Noisecreep posted a fairly long trailer for the DVD 'Thirty Years After the Blizzard' which includes rare footage, interviews and legendary performance clips.

http://www.fearnet.com/news/b22485_w..._reissues.html