Blizzard Of Ozz includes one of the most memorable metal songs of all time, “Crazy Train,” along with classics like “Mr. Crowley” and “Suicide Solution.” An earlier re-release replaced bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake's tracks with Rob Trujillo and Mike Bordin, but the original tracks are restored on this edition. It also includes some bonus tracks: “You Looking At Me, Looking At You,” a B-side previously unreleased in the U.S.; “Goodbye To Romance,” the previously unreleased guitar and vocal mix and “RR,” a previously unreleased Randy Rhoads guitar solo.
Diary Of A Madman continued the momentum, and although didn't have the iconic songs of Blizzard, had hits like “Flying High Again. It would be the last Ozzy album with Randy Rhoads. The 2011 edition also restores the original bass and drum tracks, and includes a second CD of songs recorded during the Rhoads era. All the strongest songs from both Ozzy solo albums along with live versions of Sabbath classics like “Iron Man” and “Paranoid” are included.
The reissues are available separately. They are also part of a massive $150 30th anniversary box set that has both albums on CD and 180 gram vinyl, a DVD with rare and unreleased performances and interviews along with the “Thirty Years After The Blizzard” documentary. It also includes a 100 page coffee table book, poster and full-sized replica of Ozzy's iconic gold cross.
Both albums are classics and essential for any metal fan. When it comes to these reissues, Diary Of A Madman is more essential because of the bonus CD of previously unreleased live performances. And if you're an Ozzy superfan or vinyl aficionado with some extra cash, the deluxe box set is pretty cool.
(released May 31, 2011 on Epic Records)
