The 1983 year would see Ozzy Osbourne solidify his already growing solo career. With two successful albums behind him (‘Blizzard Of Ozz’ and ‘Diary Of A Madman’), life was not all a bed of roses for the Prince Of Darkness.
Written by: gdmonline
ARTIST: Ozzy Osbourne
ALBUM: Bark At The Moon
LABEL: CBS
SERIAL: PZ 38987
YEAR: 1983
CD REISSUE: Discogs Reissue List
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: USA, England
LINEUP: Ozzy Osbourne – vocals * Jake E Lee – guitars, vocals * Don Airey – keyboards * Bob Daisley – bass, vocals * Tommy Aldridge – drums
TRACK LISTING: 01 Bark At The Moon * 02 You’re No Different * 03 Now You See It (Now You Don’t) * 04 Rock ‘n’ Roll Rebel * 05 Centre Of Eternity * 06 So Tired * 07 Slow Down * 08 Waiting For Darkness
WEBLINKS: Site Link
Background
The 1983 year would see Ozzy Osbourne solidify his already growing solo career. With two successful albums behind him (‘Blizzard Of Ozz’ and ‘Diary Of A Madman’), life was not all a bed of roses for the Prince Of Darkness.
Early 1982 saw his marquee guitar wizard Randy Rhoads killed in a plane crash – the band forged on under duress with both Brad Gillis from Night Ranger and Gillan guitarist Bernie Torme standing in as temporary replacements during the year.
Ozzy Osbourne has since admitted Rhoads death had a huge impact on his life beyond that tragedy, and though he tried to put it behind him, he couldn’t. However, life goes on – Osbourne had to find a replacement.
The auditions turned up San Diego resident Jake E Lee, who had previously spent time with Ratt and Rough Cutt. The part Welsh, Japanese and American guitar wizard would forge a new identity for the band’s sound, and he can be heard blazing away on the third Ozzy Osbourne album ‘Bark At The Moon’.
The Songs
If Ozzy was caught warbling about all things Aleister Crowley on ‘Diary Of A Madman’, then you would forgive him for turning his attention to beasts and werewolves this time around.
The title track ‘Bark At The Moon’ is the first of many memorable tunes here, though admittedly the video is a bit dopey.. it was 1983 after all. Side one contains a couple of blistering tunes with ‘You See It (Now You Don’t It)’ and the riff-happy ‘Rock N Roll Rebel’ where Daisley’s tub-thumping bass provides the underbelly for Jake E Lee to fly.
The epic intro to the track ‘Centre Of Eternity’ is sensational.. huge organs and keys, before some lightning riffs from Lee sets us on our journey. This is the album highlight for me. Unlike the song-title, ‘Slow Down’ is anything but, a fast paced melodic track with high-stepping bass lines and keyboard flurries.
The slower tunes don’t lose much either. ‘You’re No Different’, the ballad ‘So Tired’ and the slow to mid-tempo ‘Waiting For Darkness’ all offer something unique. Yep, eight tracks, and all good, unlike much of the dreck we hear nowadays.
In Summary
The band would kick into high gear for the rest of 1983 and 1984, and would feature everywhere in magazines and on the new popular MTV medium.
Ozzy Osbourne was one of the participants for the Rock in Rio Festival in 1985, before returning with a new album in 1986 called ‘The Ultimate Sin’. For me personally, this is one of his better albums, capturing him at a very creative period in his career.
Ozzy Osbourne on Video
Click to go to YTM album page.
