In 1979, Ozzy Osbourne had been asked to leave Black Sabbath, was locked in a hotel room drinking heavily, taking drugs, and thought his career was officially "over".
Enter Sharon Levy (yes, to become Sharon Osbourne), the daughter of music promoter Don Arden. They originally dated, before taking over his management. She was convinced Ozzy could start a solo career. She introduced him to guitarist Randy Rhodes, and the rest is history.
In September of 1980, Ozzy Osbourne's first solo record was released. "Blizzard of Ozz" was a pop-friendly slice of hard rock. Mostly written by Rhodes, Osbourne and bassist Bob Daisley, it contained several what are now stone-cold classic rock songs such as Crazy Train, Goodbye to Romance (Ozzy's farewell to Black Sabbath), I Don't Know, and Mr. Crowley.
It reached all the way to #21 on the American Billboard charts, hit #7 in the UK, and launched him into superstardom as a solo act. As of 2019, it's sold over 5 million copies.
Saturday night on JACK FM (WCCO's sister station), afternoon personality Remy Maxwell, well versed in Ozzy/Black Sabbath history, is bringing four straight hours of Ozzy to the Twin Cities' airwaves with his 40 song countdown of Ozzy's best songs.
Here is Remy's list with some classics, some underground songs, and just a heaping pile of great rock-and-roll from one of the icons of the industry over the last 50+ years!
1. Crazy Train (Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz, 1980) - The quintessential Ozzy track, opening with his "All aboard!" cackle and that iconic riff from Randy Rhodes.
2. Paranoid (Black Sabbath, Paranoid, 1970) – Going back to Sabbath’s second release. No song set the table for the coming hard rock/heavy metal explosion than Paranoid did. It’s the metal blueprint.
3. Mama I’m Coming Home (Ozzy Osbourne, No More Tears, 1991) – A comeback album for Ozzy, who most thought was done after the 80’s. This album ended up being a top 10 hit in the U.S.
4. Iron Man (Black Sabbath, Paranoid, 1970) – Can you think of a more recognizable intro to a song? That twisted, tortured, mechanical sounding “I am Iron Man” that you've heard around a million times since the original release.
5. Flying High Again (Ozzy Osbourne, Diary of a Madman, 1981) – The second solo album for Ozzy, and Rhodes’ swan song before his tragic death in 1982. Another classic riff from the guitar legend.
6. No More Tears (Ozzy Osbourne, No More Tears, 1991) – The title track from his ’91 album contains some of the heaviest guitar sound since his days with Sabbath courtesy of shredder Zakk Wylde, and is the longest song Ozzy ever recorded clocking in at over 7 minutes.
7. War Pigs (Black Sabbath, Paranoid, 1970) – Sabbath took the dark, mystical lyricism of the first album, and turned that into social commentary with this anti-war epic from their second album, again setting a blueprint for the heavy metal world to come.
8. Over the Mountain (Ozzy Osbourne, Diary of a Madman, 1981) – Another classic off Ozzy’s second solo record with yet another memorable riff setting the tone from Rhodes.
9. Bark at the Moon (Ozzy Osbourne, Bark at the Moon, 1983) – Ozzy had another hit on his hands with this title track from his third album. It was pushed into the mainstream by the classic music video which was all over MTV in ’83.
10. Shot in the Dark (Ozzy Osbourne, Ultimate Sin, 1986) – Another classic music video helped make this song a top ten hit on mainstream rock radio for Ozzy.
11. I Don’t Know (Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz, 1981) – The opening salvo from Ozzy on his first solo album. When the needle hit the record, this was the first time the world heard Rhodes and Ozzy’s magical chemistry.
12. Mr. Crowley (Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz, 1981) – Written around Ozzy’s fascination with the famous English occultist Aleister Crowley, it contains one of the most famous guitar solos in metal history courtesy of Rhodes.
13. See You on the Other Side (Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzmosis, 1995) – After suggesting he was retiring after 1991’s No More Tears, Ozzy returned with Ozzmosis and hit the top ten again thanks to this song about losing a loved one. Trivia note: It was co-written by Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead!
14. Perry Mason (Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzmosis, 1995) – Another single released off Ozzmosis, this top ten hit was written about the famous courtroom TV series that starred Raymond Burr as a lawyer.
15. Sweet Leaf (Black Sabbath, Master of Reality, 1971) – The infamous cough at the start of this lumbering, heavy metal classic was actually guitarist Tony Iommi choking after being given a huge joint from Ozzy. The 70’s ladies and gentleman! The song also created, in one fell swoop, the entire Doom Metal genre.
16. The Road to Nowhere (Ozzy Osbourne, No More Tears, 1991) – The final track off of No More Tears became another hit for Ozzman, hitting #3 on the rock charts.
17. Let Me Hear You Scream (Ozzy Osbourne, Scream, 2010) – Our first entry in the last 25 years of Ozzy’s catalog, Scream went to #1 on the rock charts, an amazing achievement 40 years into his career.
18. You Can’t Kill Rock and Roll (Ozzy Osbourne, Diary of a Madman, 1981) – A ballad-like tune with a rocking chorus, this song was only a moderate hit at the time but is still heard on classic rock radio today.
19. Miracle Man (Ozzy Osbourne, No Rest for the Wicked, 1988) – The first song to appear from this 1988 album. The first track off the album is Miracle Man which introduced new guitarist and future architect of metal band Black Label Society, Zakk Wylde.
20. Dreamer (Ozzy Osbourne, Down to Earth, 2001) – This lighter tune from Ozzy is based around his vision of people and humanity destroying Earth.
21. Life Won’t Wait (Ozzy Osbourne, Scream, 2010) – Another song off his 2010 album, Life Won’t Wait was a big hit in Canada, and used in the end credits of the movie Saw 3D.
22. Suicide Solution (Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz, 1981) – Here is Ozzy’s most controversial tune thanks to a 1985 lawsuit that accused the song of contributing to the suicide death of a teenager. Both Osbourne and bassist Daisley, who wrote the lyrics, say it’s about the dangers of alcoholism and the lawsuit was eventually dismissed.
23. Time After Time (Ozzy Osbourne, No More Tears, 1991) – Yet another classic song off No More Tears. No, this isn’t the Cyndi Lauper song.
24. Fairies Wear Boots (Black Sabbath, Paranoid, 1970) – The final track off Paranoid, this song is a bit of a mystery thanks to Ozzy’s heavy use of LSD at the time. Bassist Geezer Butler claims Ozzy wrote the song about a bunch of skinheads that came to a Sabbath show and called Ozzy a “fairy” because of his long hair.
25. Close My Eyes Forever (Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne, Lita, 1988) - The song resulted from a drunken Ozzy and Lita Ford hanging out in the studio and penning these lyrics. Released on Ford’s 1988 album, and her highest charting song ever, thanks to Ozzy and apparently plenty of booze.
26. The Wizard (Black Sabbath, 1970) – Metal music debuted for the first time on Sabbath’s self-titled 1970 album, and The Wizard is a bluesy jam that actually has a harmonica driving the song at the start before dropping into heavy guitar and Ozzy’s syncopated, mystical lyrics.
27. Not Going Away (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Rain, 2007) – Ozzy’s last album using guitarist Zakk Wylde, Black Rain was a bit disappointing despite debuting at #3 on the Billboard charts.
28. Mr. Tinkertrain (Ozzy Osbourne, No More Tears, 1991) – The sixth and final single released off No More Tears, Mr. Tinkertrain’s subject matter is the dark and disturbing stalking and assault of a little girl.
29. Under the Graveyard (Ozzy Osbourne, Ordinary Man, 2020) – The latest single and album from Ozzy at the ripe age of 71 is his first single release in 9 years. The song features former Guns ‘N Roses bassist Duff McKagan and former Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
30. I Just Want You (Ozzy Osbourne, Ozzmosis, 1995) – The third single released off Ozzmosis, I Just Want You contains a catchy tune with lyrics that…. Let’s say don’t make much sense. Much like listening to Ozzy speak.
31. Diary of a Madman (Ozzy Osbourne, Diary of a Madman, 1981) –Diary was written by then bassist Bob Daisley, who once said about the song, “I really wrote that one about myself. When I was 16 I had my first nervous breakdown and it really f----- me up.”
32. Goodbye to Romance (Ozzy Osbourne, Blizzard of Ozz, 1980) – After being removed from Black Sabbath in 1979, Ozzy launched his solo career with the retrospective saying goodbye to his Sabbath mates Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward in this emotional ballad.
33. Rock and Roll Rebel (Ozzy Osbourne, Bark at the Moon, 1983) – Introducing new guitarist Jake E. Lee following the death of Rhodes, Rock and Roll Rebel is one of solo Ozzy’s hardest rocking tunes.
34. Changes (Black Sabbath, Volume IV, 1972) – The band that created heavy metal writes almost a folk tune? The song is a slow, piano-based piece about the pain of marital breakup. Seriously. And it’s a seriously great ballad too.
35. N.I.B. (Black Sabbath, 1970) – The 4th track off Sabbath’s debut, this song’s title is an inside joke about drummer Bill Ward’s beard. The actual song content however, is a bit more dark, with a first-person perspective of Lucifer himself falling in love.
36. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (Black Sabbath, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, 1973) – One of Sabbath and Tony Iommi’s most classic guitar riffs, this title track has a middle breakdown and ending that to this day, guitarists say is “incredibly heavy”. Way ahead of its time.
37. Crazy Babies (Ozzy Osbourne, No Rest for the Wicked, 1988) – There’s an Ozzy tribute band named Crazy Babies. Feels like a perfect choice.
38. Ordinary Man (Ozzy Osbourne, Ordinary Man, 2020) – Title track off Ozzy’s latest album features (believe it or not) a guest appearance by Elton John.
39. Black Sabbath (Black Sabbath, 1970) – The tri-chords which signify the “devil” himself. The rain and atmosphere. Ozzy howling “Oh no, please God help me!!!” with down-tuned guitars pounding away. Heavy metal was birthed by this song, on this album, by this band.
40. Secret Loser (Ozzy Osbourne, Ultimate Sin, 1986) – Ultimate Sin is one of Ozzy’s darkest albums, and Secret Loser, written again by Bob Daisley, is about loneliness and struggling with those thoughts.