Ozzy Osbourne to re-issue his first 2 albums (again)

[That 70s Guy]

blabbermouth:

OZZY OSBOURNE's Landmark 'Blizzard' And 'Diary' Solo Albums To Be Reissued In May - Mar. 18, 2011
On May 31, music fans will have their first taste of reissues from rock icon OZZY OSBOURNE's catalog of work with the releases of two albums which form the cornerstone of Ozzy Osbourne's career as a solo artist: "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary of a Madman" (Epic Records/Legacy Recordings). Long revered by rock fans around the world, these two albums created a template for hard rock in the 1980s and beyond as they were marked by the ground-breaking and historic union of Ozzy and the late guitar hero Randy Rhoads. These definitive versions of 1980's "Blizzard of Ozz" (with previously unreleased bonus tracks) and 1981's "Diary of a Madman" are available individually on vinyl or CD, or together in a deluxe collector's box. All versions were restored and remastered from the original analog sources by George Marino.

The 30th-anniversary edition of "Blizzard of Ozz" CD includes the original album in its entirety, restored and remastered for this edition, with bonus tracks, while the new legacy edition of "Diary of a Madman" includes the original album in its entirety, restored and remastered for this edition, with a bonus second CD of previously unreleased live performances featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads with rhythm section Rudy Sarzo (bass) and Tommy Aldridge (drums). A single-disc version of the remastered "Diary of a Madman" will also be available.

For serious fans and collectors, the limited edition 30th-anniversary deluxe boxed set houses the restored and remastered vinyl and CD editions of "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary of a Madman", the "Ozzy Live" compact disc. Beyond the music, the box set is highlighted by a variety of exclusives including an expansive 100-page coffee table book, a two-sided wall-size poster, a precise and detailed full-size replica of Ozzy's iconic gold cross that he has worn for 30 years, and "Thirty Years After The Blizzard" DVD.

This new "Thirty Years After The Blizzard" DVD chronicles Ozzy's years with Randy Rhoads features previously unseen footage of Ozzy and Randy filmed in 1981 and 1982; it incorporates rare archival photos and films; along with new and revelatory interviews with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Lemmy (MOTÖRHEAD), Steve Vai, Nikki Sixx, Rob Halford, Zakk Wylde, Bill Ward and more. The DVD also contains over 70 minutes of additional rare live performances and interviews; included is the premiere of more than 30 minutes of newly-discovered never-bootlegged footage of Ozzy and Randy from the "Blizzard of Ozz" tour shot from the front of the stage at New York's fabled Palladium on May 2, 1981. This new feature is a must-see for aficionados of Ozzy's epic release "Blizzard of Ozz" and its pivotal effect on rock and roll history.

"Blizzard Of Ozz" (30th Anniversary Expanded Edition)

01. I Don't Know (5:13)
02. Crazy Train (4:51)
03. Goodbye To Romance (5:33)
04. Dee (0:49)
05. Suicide Solution (4:17)
06. Mr. Crowley (5:02)
07. No Bone Movies (3:52)
08. Revelation (Mother Earth) (6:08)
09. Steal Away (The Night) (3:28)

Bonus tracks

10. You Looking At Me, Looking At You (Non-LP B-Side, Previously Unreleased in the U.S.) (4:15)
11. Goodbye To Romance (2010 Guitar & Vocal Mix, Previously Unreleased) (5:42)
12. RR (Previously Unreleased – Randy Rhoads guitar solo) (1:13)

"Diary Of A Madman" (Legacy Edition)

Disc 1:

01. Over The Mountain (4:31)
02. Flying High Again (4:44)
03. You Can't Kill Rock And Roll (6:59)
04. Believer (5:15)
05. Little Dolls (5:39)
06. Tonight (5:50)
07. S.A.T.O. (4:07)
08. Diary Of A Madman (6:14)

Disc 2:

Ozzy Live (recorded on the "Blizzard of Ozz" tour)

01. I Don't Know
02. Crazy Train
03. Believer
04. Mr. Crowley
05. Flying High Again
06. Revelation (Mother Earth)
07. Steal Away (The Night)
08. Suicide Solution
09. Iron Man
10. Children Of The Grave
11. Paranoid

"Diary of a Madman"/"Blizzard of Ozz" 30th Anniversary Deluxe Box Set

Box Set Includes:

* "Blizzard Of Ozz" (30th Anniversary Expanded Edition)
* "Diary Of A Madman" (Legacy Edition)
* "Blizzard Of Ozz" (180-gram LP — original album only)
* "Diary Of A Madman" (180-gram LP — original album only)

DVD — contains "Thirty Years After The Blizzard" documentary — and additional rare and unreleased performances and interviews.

Bob Daisley, who played bass on the first two solo albums by Ozzy Osbourne, said in a 2010 interview with his web site that he has not been contacted about the 30th-anniversary editions of those records. The tracks played by Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake on both albums — 1980's "Blizzard Of Ozz" and 1981's "Diary Of A Madman" — were replaced on a previous reissue after Daisley and Kerslake sued Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne over royalties.

Daisley told the web site, "Neither Lee nor I have been contacted, considered or consulted in the decision to re-release the original recordings. I haven't a clue as to what the 'bonus material' might be. As for royalties, we have not been approached for a reconciliation and have been offered and promised nothing."

Ozzy told The Pulse of Radio he was against the idea of replacing the original tracks when he found out about it. "Believe me, it wasn't my doing," he said. "I mean, I didn't know that was being done, 'cause Sharon was fighting all the legal things that were going down at the time. I said, 'What did you do that for?' And she said, 'The only way I could stop everything was if it went to that level.' And I said, 'You know what, whatever the circumstances were, I want the original thing back.' I mean, I wouldn't have done that."

The replacement tracks were played by current METALLICA bassist Robert Trujillo and FAITH NO MORE drummer Mike Bordin.

Daisley says that he and Kerslake were fired because of disagreements with Sharon over a number of things, including refusing to do two shows in one day out of worry that Ozzy would blow out his voice.

Ozzy's latest solo album, "Scream" came out at the end of June 2010.

 

[METALPRIEST]

"I mean, I didn't know that was being done, 'cause Sharon was fighting all the legal things that were going down at the time. I said, 'What did you do that for?' And she said, 'The only way I could stop everything was if it went to that level.' And I said, 'You know what, whatever the circumstances were, I want the original thing back.' I mean, I wouldn't have done that."

I'm GLAD the original tracks are back and I REALLY hope Sharon contacts Bob and Lee and makes things right between everybody...I mean c'mon.

 

[aeroplane]

I'm GLAD the original tracks are back and I REALLY hope Sharon contacts Bob and Lee and makes things right between everybody...I mean c'mon.

Thank goodness.

Those rerecorded versions were an abomination, though I suppose at the time it helped out people who were selling used copies of the original versions since I know quite a few people protested the "new" versions by getting the original recordings from music stores, Amazon or Ebay.

 

[LG]

Has no effect on me, I have the originals and they are good enough for me so I won't be buying yet another remaster of a remaster of a remaster of yet...yep you guessed it another remaster.

I hope that Ozzy does put things right with the bassist and drummer though, they are integral to the success Ozzy's solo albums had.

 

[Lynch]

He needs to do this with Bark at the Moon as well as with The Ultimate Sin




They don't need to remaster shit, they simply need to take the 1995 remaster
abominations off the shelves and replace them with the original recordings, just
as they were. Not need to doctor them up or do anything with them.

 

[Rock Candy]

the new legacy edition of "Diary of a Madman" includes the original album in its entirety, restored and remastered for this edition, with a bonus second CD of previously unreleased live performances featuring Ozzy Osbourne and Randy Rhoads with rhythm section Rudy Sarzo (bass) and Tommy Aldridge (drums). A single-disc version of the remastered "Diary of a Madman" will also be available.

Disc 2:

Ozzy Live (recorded on the "Blizzard of Ozz" tour)

Wouldn't it mean that it's Daisley and Kerslake playing on that, then? I could swear that Sarzo and Aldridge didn't appear until the Diary tour :\

 

[Lynch]

Ok boys and girls, time to start analyzing exactly wtf OZZY has been saying and what he's been doing. Are Ozzy and Sharon not on the same page? Who's to blame for the bullshit that ensued with those original recordings? Below, I'll quote what 70s Guy posted as well as some information from 2002 that is in conflict. Below, he says he had nothing to do with it yet years ago, apparently Ozzy instigated it

Ozzy told The Pulse of Radio he was against the idea of replacing the original tracks when he found out about it. "Believe me, it wasn't my doing," he said. "I mean, I didn't know that was being done, 'cause Sharon was fighting all the legal things that were going down at the time. I said, 'What did you do that for?' And she said, 'The only way I could stop everything was if it went to that level.' And I said, 'You know what, whatever the circumstances were, I want the original thing back.' I mean, I wouldn't have done that."

From an interview back in 2002 (source found here)

In a press release this past April, Sharon was quoted as saying, "Because of [Daisley and Kerslake's] abusive and unjust behavior, Ozzy wanted to remove them from these recordings. We turned a negative into a positive by adding a fresh sound to the original albums."

That article I linked above is worth a read for anyone who may be interested in wtf the whole mess was in the first place. Unfortunately, this does NOT address a couple of other things

1) There are additional or overdubbed guitars on all 4 of the first studio albums. I have listened to them all and it's not on every song and some songs, it is SO blatently obvious, it's sickening. Unfortunately, this part of the equation is rarely brought up. Just that the bass and drums were "adjusted".

2) Why was this shit also done to Bark at the Moon and The Ultimate Sin? Daisley played on BatM, so maybe that could be part of it, but neither Daisley or Kerslake were on Ultimate Sin. *shrug*


The whole thing still ****** me off though. The whole reason this happened in the first place is Ozzy refused to give those guys songwriting credits (thus money) for their work, which is flat-out shitty. Amazingly enough, even after Daisley and Kerslake took Ozzy to court AND won, they never got a dime (reportedly) and yet I Daisley still went back and worked with him on a couple of the Zakk Wylde era albums.

 

[Lynch]

Wouldn't it mean that it's Daisley and Kerslake playing on that, then? I could swear that Sarzo and Aldridge didn't appear until the Diary tour :\

You would think so, but I'm not 100% positive. I've seen video of 4 songs the Blizzard of Ozz album with the guys rehearsing prior to tour (I think) and it was Ozzy, Randy, Rudy and Aldridge

 

[Nololob]

Everything what's happening around Ozzy's career becomes boring. I respect his 80s era, but not 00s and 2010s which are rubbish.

 

[Rock Candy]

You would think so, but I'm not 100% positive. I've seen video of 4 songs the Blizzard of Ozz album with the guys rehearsing prior to tour (I think) and it was Ozzy, Randy, Rudy and Aldridge

I've heard that the live show being released is just the commonly avaliable gig from Southampton '80. Oh well, having a cleaned up version should be kinda nice.

On a slightly different note, am I the only one surprised by the omission of that live EP from 1980? You'd think that'd be one of the obvious choices to tack onto the end of a reissue.