Another score from Resolute Records (Toronto)…
Rewind 1980..
Imagine cruising into a record shop back in ’80 and buying the “Blizzard of Ozz” record especially as if you were a fan of of Black Sabbath throughout the ’70’s.
What would your thoughts have been hearing Ozzy leave behind the sludge n doom and hop onto a new sound (still heavy rock) but with a young hot shot guitarist named Randy Rhoads in tow?
What a buzz that must have been for the first day buyer of “Blizzard of Ozz” especially as in ’80 Sabbath released the iconic “Heaven and Hell” that same year. Sabbath as you know enlisted Ronnie James Dio at the mic.
Two great albums coming out of one band. I’m sure Sabbath thought Oz would fall on his face considering he was off of his rocker when Tony Iommi and crew gave him his marching papers in ’79.
Muk my record store pal from back than was the first guy to purchase “Blizzard of Oz”(in early ’81) which I quickly taped off of him so I could hear what all the fuss was about with this hot shot guitarist that Ozzy enlisted.
On a side note I wish Ozzy would have kept the Blizzard of Ozz moniker going but I’m not management lol…
Nine songs make up the this debut and opener “I Don’t Know” lifts off and Rhoads makes himself known within seconds that a new young axe wizard is in town. How about that driving Bass (Bob Daisley) and straight ahead rock solid drumming by Lee Kerslake(RIP) that keep everything cooking in the background to let Randy lift off time and time again on this album.
First time I heard “Crazy Train” I was hooked and of course now in 2022 everyone has heard this tune a million times but what a mind blower as Randy does what he does on the six string.
“Blizzard of Ozz” is filled with a ton of great rock tracks like “Mr. Crowley”, “No Bone Movies”, “Suicide Solution”, as well as the epic “Steal Away The Night”.
Rhoads though could take the pedal of the metal so to speak and flex some different guitar textures like “Goodbye To Romance”,”Revelation (Mother Earth)” and even gets to shine on the classical guitar piece titled “Dee” (for his Mom).
What a stellar debut and I would have loved to seen Ozzy’s ex-bandmates reaction when they realized that there former lead singer had gotten his shit together and could put together a classic piece of Rock.
Course having a guy like Randy Rhoads along with Daisley and Kerslake along for the ride helps the cause. Max Norman dialled in the warm fuzzy loud sounds on the grooves as well.
1980! What a year in Hard Rock Releases!
Not going to lie, ‘Blizzard of Ozz’ is a clever album title and it fit Ozzy perfectly!
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For sure. Such a great marketing tool but they wanted to feature OZZY as a solo guy I guess.
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It worked for him, then! He did not bad as a solo artist.
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To think what could’ve been if Randy had not been killed so young. He was the glue that held that band together.
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Randy sure showed up with a cool bag riffs now didn’t he?
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yes he did.
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Randy was going to leave after the Diary tour and Ozzy got that angry he punched him in the face. Well that’s what was said in Randy’s bio which was authorized by the family.
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Have you checked out Sarzo’s Off The Rails book? Great read. Rudy talks about everything but keeps it professional.
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No I haven’t checked it out. I saw your review and it’s been on my list since then to get.
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That is true. But what could’ve been with him period!
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As much deserved crap as Sharon gets, her idea of hooking Ozzy up with young artists has kept his career going longer than anyone else ever expected. And it all started here. Great album!
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Actually Dana Strum (from Slaughter) hooked up Randy with Ozzy but as we all know she was the deciding factor in the business decision of things..
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That’s what I meant. Captilizing on it.
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As you say Deke, Tony Iommi thought Ozzy would fail, so imagine his face when in the 80s Ozzys star was on the rise and Sabbath struggled especially after Dio left
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Yeah I’m sure Iommi was pissy pants about that Pete!
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Drowned out his sorrows with cocaine and woman.
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That sounds like a lot of fun Pete. lol
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As long as it doesn’t have Metallica and Faith No More on bass and drums respectively, I’m happy with it!
I remember getting this album later in the 80s. 1989. I was like, “Holy shit…I know all these songs already! And that never happened!
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It’s basically a Greatest Hits studio album..
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Yeah! True that. It has become that for sure.
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It’s an absolutely magnificent record. Almost spooky how he was able to rebuild himself after washing out of Sabbath, and in such grand fashion.
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Safe to say it probably drove Iommi bonkers when Dio quit as his former bandmate just kept putting out records and playing arenas…
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Since you have been talking about him… I checked out Randy Roades…he was great. He was different from his peers at the time.
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Weirdly I was talking to my metal uncle about doing just that (buying the first Ozzy) a couple of months ago. He saw him a couple of times around then too.
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Wow! 3 cheers for Metal Uncle! That’s amazing Joe.
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Classic! Glad I got to see him on this tour. It was a killer show. Thanks for reminding me about how great an album this was. Rock on!
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Thanks for reading. Amazing you caught this incarnation live Jeff. Oh if I had a time machine.
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This one still holds up Deke. Randy Rhodes was such a phenomenon. So many great songs. This and Diary were his best era, period.
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I would have to add the Bark album as well as No More Tears than were good Muk! LOL
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Another great one. Like I said on the other one, every day is a good day to listen to Rhoads. Dude, these are awesome scores!
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Thanks and thanks to Resolute Records for having these titles at a decent cost!
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Will have to look them up. I wonder where they are in the Big Smoke, walkable when Mike and I go? Hm…
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I plan on hitting it when I’m there in October hopefully
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October! A show? How long you here? Meeeeeeet uuuuuuuup?!?!
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Myself, Tbone and my pal out west are going to see Maiden…
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Wise decision!! YES!! \m/ \m/
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Well I have a cancellation fee on the concert tickets just in case
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Smart move. Surely the world can be a bit more normal by then, though!
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* I mean, all things being safe etc etc
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