Ozzy Osbourne's 1981 solo debut,
Blizzard of Ozz, was a masterpiece of neo-classical metal that, along with
Van Halen's first album, became a cornerstone of '80s metal guitar. Upon its release, there was considerable doubt that
Ozzy could become a viable solo attraction.
Blizzard of Ozz demonstrated not only his ear for melody, but also an unfailing instinct for assembling top-notch backing bands. Onetime
Quiet Riot guitarist
Randy Rhoads was a startling discovery, arriving here as a unique, fully formed talent.
Rhoads was just as responsible as
Osbourne -- perhaps even more so -- for the album's musical direction, and his application of classical guitar techniques and scales rewrote the rulebook just as radically as
Eddie Van Halen had.
Rhoads could hold his own as a flashy soloist, but his detailed, ambitious compositions and arrangements revealed his true depth, as well as creating a sense of doomy, sinister elegance built on
Ritchie Blackmore's minor-key innovations. All of this may seem to downplay the importance of
Ozzy himself, which shouldn't be the case at all. The music is a thoroughly convincing match for his lyrical obsession with the dark side (which was never an embrace, as many conservative watchdogs assumed); so, despite its collaborative nature, it is unequivocally stamped with
Ozzy's personality. What's more, the band is far more versatile and subtle than
Sabbath, freeing
Ozzy from his habit of singing in unison with the guitar (and proving that he had an excellent grasp of how to frame his limited voice). Nothing short of revelatory,
Blizzard of Ozz deservedly made
Ozzy a star, and it set new standards for musical virtuosity in the realm of heavy metal. [2011's 30th Anniversary edition of
Blizzard of Ozz (which was also released on double vinyl) featured a newly remastered and restored edition of the original album, as well as the bonus cuts
"You Looking at Me, Looking at You (Non-LP B-Side, Previously Unreleased in the U.S.)," "Goodbye to Romance (2010 Guitar & Vocal Mix, Previously Unreleased)," and
"RR (Previously Unreleased: Randy Rhoads Guitar Solo)."] ~ Steve Huey
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