Ozzy Osbourne Diary Of A Madman CD

Also available in a 3-pack with BARK AT THE MOON and THE ULTIMATE SIN.
Personnel: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals); Randy Rhoads (guitar); Bob Daisley, Robert Trujillo (bass); Lee Kerslake, Mike Bordin (drums); Danny Saber (bells).
Producers: Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Max Norman.
Engineers: Max Norman, Thom Panunzio, Herman Villacota.
Includes liner notes by Phil Alexander.
Digitally remastered by Stephen Marcussen (Marcussen Mastering).
Personnel: Ozzy Osbourne (vocals); Randy Rhoads (guitar); Lee Kerslake, Mike Bordin (drums); Danny Saber (tubular bells).
Audio Remasterer: Stephen Marcussen.
Audio Remixers: German Villacorta; Thom Panunzio.
Liner Note Author: Phil Alexander.
Recording information: Ridge Farm Studios.
Photographers: Mark Weiss; Greg Maston; Neal Preston; Tony Harrison; Fin Costello.
The follow-up to the masterful Blizzard of Ozz, Diary of a Madman was rushed into existence by a band desperate to finish its next album before an upcoming tour. As a result, it doesn't feel quite as fully realized -- a couple of the ballads are overly long and slow the momentum, and Randy Rhoads' guide solo on "Little Dolls" was never replaced with a version intended for the public. Yet despite the fact that some songs could have used a longer gestation period, there are numerous moments of brilliance on Diary of a Madman -- at least half of it stands up to anything on Blizzard, and the title track is a jaw-droppingly intricate epic that represents the most classically influenced work of Rhoads' all-too-brief career. But even if parts of the album don't quite live up to the band's previous (and incredibly high) standards, they're by no means bad; moreover, the production is fuller, and the instruments better recorded this time around. It's not uncommon to find fans who prefer Diary to Blizzard, since it sets an even more mystical, eerie mood, and since Rhoads' playing is progressing to an even higher level. One can only wonder what the Osbourne/Rhoads collaboration might have produced in the future, had Rhoads not been killed in a bizarre and sadly avoidable plane crash. ~ Steve Huey
Released three years after his departure from Black Sabbath, DIARY is Ozzy's second solo album. A true metal masterpiece, the record features Randy Rhoads (previously in Quiet Riot). DIARY and its successors showed that Ozzy could not only make it on his own, but exceed his former bandmates in popularity.
"Over The Mountain" rumbles in and features the often imitated-never duplicated soloing of Randy Rhoads. The man is arguably the most influential guitarist in heavy rock besides Eddie Van Halen. "Flying High Again" follows, and is Ozzy's ode to non-stop partying. "Tonight" is a wonderful ballad, showing Randy's tasteful restraint. "S.A.T.O." is vintage Osbourne, with metal riffage only he can deliver. The title track begins with beautiful electric and acoustic guitar overdubs, and concludes the record with bombast. It is clear the Ozzman is at his peak on this album. Ozzy will never be considered a "singer's singer," and his penchant for biting the heads off live animals may overshadow his musical abilities. But albums like DIARY show why he will forever be the Godfather of Heavy Metal.
Ozzy Osbourne's second solo album, Diary of a Madman, its title drawn from a book by occultist Alistair Crowley, was recorded at the same spring 1980 sessions that produced his first one, Blizzard of Ozz, and also featured his Blizzard of Ozz band, consisting of guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Bob Daisley, and drummer Lee Kerslake. It would be fair to say that the best tracks from the sessions were chosen for the first album, since the songs here were much less distinctive. Blizzard of Ozz told a story of despair and redemption in personal terms for Osbourne, but Diary of a Madman, despite allusions here and there to the same sort of subject matter, was far more generic, at least as far as lyrics went. Nevertheless, Rhoads continUncut (8/02, p.112) - 4 out of 5 - "...Prime form..."
Kerrang (Magazine) (p.53) - "[A]n extremely fine singalong metal album, brimming with blistering leads..."