First Spin: Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz
The sound of a legend reborn and a guitar hero arriving fully formed.
This album is a resurrection. After being fired from Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne could have faded away. Instead, he teamed up with a quiet, classically trained guitar prodigy named Randy Rhoads and created a masterpiece of modern heavy metal. It's a perfect fusion of Ozzy's gothic sensibilities and Rhoads's virtuosic, neo-classical precision.
The Album: Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz (1980)
Why this one? Because it is a benchmark for hard rock production. The sound, engineered by Max Norman, is incredibly dry, tight, and powerful. Every instrument occupies its own distinct space. This album teaches you to appreciate the visceral impact of a perfectly recorded power trio, and to listen in awe to a guitarist who would change the instrument forever.
Session Prep: Setting the Stage
- Volume is Mandatory: This is not a quiet record. It was designed to be played at concert volume. Find a level that lets the power of the rhythm section hit you in the chest.
- Focus on the Guitar: Randy Rhoads is the star of this show. Pay close attention not just to his solos, but to his rhythm playing—the intricate riffs, the subtle chord voicings, the sheer precision of his attack.
- No Distractions: You are in the front row at a masterclass. Silence your phone and give the band your full attention.
The Pressing: The Physical Artifact
An original 1980 UK Jet Records pressing is the definitive version. These early cuts have a punch and clarity that is breathtaking. The dead wax tells the story—look for "timtom" or "TY," the signatures of mastering engineers Tim Young and Tim Turan at CBS Studios in London. What you are listening for is separation and impact. The bass, played by Bob Daisley, should be a tight, muscular presence, perfectly locked in with Lee Kerslake's powerful drumming. Ozzy's double-tracked vocals should be clear and centered. But most of all, you're listening for the guitar tone. Randy Rhoads's Marshall stack should sound like a controlled explosion—searing, articulate, and full of harmonic detail, not a fuzzy, compressed mess.
The Ritual: Needle Drop
Lower the stylus. A swell of cymbals and a single, sustained guitar note give way to one of the most iconic opening riffs in metal history. "I Don't Know" kicks the door down. There is no gentle buildup. The blizzard has arrived.
Side A: The Arrival
Track 1: "I Don't Know"
The mission statement. The production is incredibly tight. Kerslake's drums are punchy and dry, with very little reverb. This allows every note of Daisley's intricate basslines to be heard clearly. Rhoads's riff is a masterclass in aggressive precision. During the solo at 2:50, listen for the clarity of each individual note, even at blistering speed. It's a feat of both playing and engineering.
Track 2: "Crazy Train"
One of the most recognizable songs in rock history. The genius is in its construction. The main riff is a driving, chugging monster, but the chorus is pure pop craftsmanship. The breakdown at 2:30 is a key moment. Listen to how the rhythm section drops back, creating a pocket of space for Rhoads's groundbreaking solo, which combines bluesy bends with neo-classical scales and dive bombs. It's a composition within a composition.
Track 3: "Goodbye to Romance"
The album's first power ballad. This track showcases the band's dynamic range. The verses are quiet and contemplative, built around a gentle, arpeggiated guitar figure. Listen for the subtle synthesizer strings that add a layer of texture in the background. When the full band kicks in for the chorus, the sound should become huge and powerful, but never lose its clarity. Rhoads's solo is lyrical and melodic, a perfect complement to the song's melancholic mood.
Track 4: "Dee"
A brief, beautiful interlude that stands in stark contrast to the rest of the album. This is just Randy Rhoads and his nylon-string classical guitar. It's a tribute to his mother, Delores. On a good pressing, the sound should be incredibly intimate. You can hear the sound of his fingers on the fretboard, the subtle squeak of the strings. It's a pure, unadorned moment of musicality that showcases his classical training and compositional skill.
Track 5: "Suicide Solution"
Side A closes with a dark, menacing stomp. The main riff is heavy and plodding, a perfect sonic representation of the song's grim subject matter. Bob Daisley's bass is a key element here, providing a thick, churning foundation. The production is claustrophobic and intense, building to Rhoads's chaotic, feedback-drenched solo—a frantic explosion of noise that perfectly captures the song's desperate energy.
Side B: The Legend
Track 6: "Mr. Crowley"
An epic of gothic metal. The track is built around Don Airey's haunting church organ intro, which should sound immense and atmospheric. When the band enters, the sound is huge and dramatic. Rhoads's main riff is iconic, but the two guitar solos are the main event. They are perfectly composed pieces of music, full of melody, drama, and breathtaking technique. The outro solo, in particular, is a stunning display of his virtuosity.
Track 7: "No Bone Movies"
A more straightforward, hard-rocking track with a sense of humor. The groove here is relentless, a pure rock and roll stomp. It's a showcase for the powerhouse rhythm section of Daisley and Kerslake. Listen for the tightness of their playing; they are perfectly locked in, providing a rock-solid foundation for Ozzy's vocals and Rhoads's bluesy, swaggering guitar riffs.
Track 8: "Revelation (Mother Earth)"
The album's most ambitious and progressive track. It's a multi-part suite that begins with another beautiful classical guitar intro from Rhoads. The song then builds into a heavy, dramatic epic with complex time signatures and dynamic shifts. The middle section is a showcase for the entire band's musicianship, moving from quiet, atmospheric passages to thunderous, full-band assaults. It's a stunning piece of composition.
Track 9: "Steal Away (The Night)"
The album closes with a final blast of high-energy hard rock. It's the fastest track on the record, driven by Lee Kerslake's furious drumming. The song is a pure adrenaline rush, a perfect, fist-pumping finale that ends with a final, explosive drum fill and a fade-out, leaving you breathless.
The Verdict: A New Standard
As the final notes fade, you're left with the ringing in your ears and the knowledge that you've just heard a genre being redefined. Blizzard of Ozz is a flawless statement. It re-established Ozzy Osbourne as a vital force in music and, more importantly, introduced the world to the astonishing, tragically brief genius of Randy Rhoads. On a great pressing, the album is a sonic marvel—a dry, punchy, and incredibly detailed recording that set a new standard for how heavy metal could sound. Welcome to the Guild.