Why does the Blizzard of Ozz album sound...

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Mr. Willy

Mr. Willy

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I’ve loved Randy’s playing for a long time. Kinda overlooked him, maybe took him for granted, for several years now. Over the last few months, I’ve fallen back in love with those first two Ozzy albums, and it’s almost like I’m hearing Randy again for the first time.

I’m sure this has been discussed, but why does BOO sound like it was recorded in a shoebox? They recorded Diary at the same studio, lots of recordings came out of that studio, but BOO just sounds really flat and 2 dimensional, production wise. Why is that? I’m sure it had a lot to do with the budget for the album, but is the poor sound quality down to the mixing or the sound engineer or the producer, or something else? Why, from a technical standpoint, does it sound so flat?
 
Acoustics... and little post production magic. It is what it is.
 
But didn’t Norman do DOOAMM as well? And as far as acoustics, DOAMM was done at the same studio, and it sounds miles better. Post production is a likely culprit.
 
It might have something to do with the change of producer a few weeks into preproduction? ... Chris Tsangarides was the original producer but no one liked the results he was getting so Max (who was Chris' head engineer) took over so there might have been some time pressures there.

I think its sound is part of what makes it standout above other records of the time so have no problem with it at all
 
Cocaine.
Ya just keep adding more mids cause ya can't hear properly.

Seriously.....it happened all the time.
Usually, the mastering guy would bail you out.
Sometimes he was high too...
Shit happens
 
It is a shame when you're live album sounds better than your studio album.

Ozzy had a few albums that suffered from bad production. "Ultimate Sin" had killer riffs and some great songs but was the same type thing as "Blizzard of Ozz", no depth. Like an AM radio.
 
Mr. Willy":18xz89ek said:
I’ve loved Randy’s playing for a long time. Kinda overlooked him, maybe took him for granted, for several years now. Over the last few months, I’ve fallen back in love with those first two Ozzy albums, and it’s almost like I’m hearing Randy again for the first time.

I’m sure this has been discussed, but why does BOO sound like it was recorded in a shoebox? They recorded Diary at the same studio, lots of recordings came out of that studio, but BOO just sounds really flat and 2 dimensional, production wise. Why is that? I’m sure it had a lot to do with the budget for the album, but is the poor sound quality down to the mixing or the sound engineer or the producer, or something else? Why, from a technical standpoint, does it sound so flat?
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Totally agree...when I first bought Blizzard, I loved it compared to other albums I had. Back in Black was a great sounding album but something about Blizzard was just different. But the next yr when Diary came out I was floored by the difference in sound quality. Loved that tone he had on Diary.

But I listen to Blizzard now and it's like it was recorded in a tin can, or a really narrow hallway or something. Still, a classic that I will listen to often. Revelation Mother Earth will always be my favorite off that album.
 
It’s hard to pick a favorite out of the fist two albums. I think pound for pound, Blizzard has slightly stronger songs overall. But, DOAMM has the definitive Ozzy tune in the track, DOAMM. That song is a masterpiece.

What a singing writing team Daisley, Rhoads, Osbourne, and Kerslake were. Ozzy’s never topped those two albums, imho.

As far as the tone on Tribute, I don’t think that tone is great either. I’ve heard some bootleg recordings on YT where Randy’s tone is just massive. Pretty sure Randy used a stereo rig, but it sounds like his tone on Tribute was recorded with only one mic on one speaker. There’s no depth. I love Randy, love his tone. It was super unique, but I don’t think Tribute is a good representation of Randy’s tone.
 
I can't remember the reason (I think it was because Heaven and Hell was already out...and was epic) but they felt the album needed to get out NOW and it was extremely rushed. DOAMM was also rushed IIRC but they at least had something out and it was the second chance in same studio.
 
I think it is a relative sort of thing. Listening to superhuman guitar playing and then when the same guitarist just does very good guitar playing it seems substandard in comparison but alone it still blows most of us away. Also people get tired. If we could even do half of that we would laughing. These are guitarists being recorded at the top of their game and plenty of them will tell you that sometimes what they did in the studio is something that they have never repeated again or if they do, it's once in a blue moon. Some of this stuff is luck. Right place, right time and it got recorded. That's a take. Also plenty of metal bands have redone earlier albums (re-recorded) because they just got better playing the stuff over the years.
 
I’m not talking about the performances. The performances on both are stellar from every individual. Legendary, in fact. But I’ve never heard any other album that sounds like BOO. It’s unique, for sure, which lends a sort of endearing quality to the production value.

It’s unfortunate that both albums were rushed just to compete with Sabbath. I get it, though. Imagine what those guys could’ve done with an unlimited budget and studio time.
 
Mr. Willy":15ccpge9 said:
It’s hard to pick a favorite out of the fist two albums. I think pound for pound, Blizzard has slightly stronger songs overall. But, DOAMM has the definitive Ozzy tune in the track, DOAMM. That song is a masterpiece.

What a singing writing team Daisley, Rhoads, Osbourne, and Kerslake were. Ozzy’s never topped those two albums, imho.

As far as the tone on Tribute, I don’t think that tone is great either. I’ve heard some bootleg recordings on YT where Randy’s tone is just massive. Pretty sure Randy used a stereo rig, but it sounds like his tone on Tribute was recorded with only one mic on one speaker. There’s no depth. I love Randy, love his tone. It was super unique, but I don’t think Tribute is a good representation of Randy’s tone.
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I don’t agree. Imo the songs are better on Diary, as are the tones of all the instruments.
 
I like the Tribute tone but don't forget, it also is edited, mixed, and EQ'd and that's why it might sound brittle to you. If you go listen to the bootlegs of the shows that make up Tribute, the tone is bigger, less brittle, and more natural. Randy had an awesome live tone, sounded huge for a one guitar band.

As for Blizzard, I agree. It sounds terrible. But even the playing and the mixing of the guitars sound stiff to me. For its era, it sounded way older and amateur than it was when you compare other albums that came out around the same time and how Diary turned out. Probably just rushed, not mixed well, and Randy wanting that grating sound because that was the sound he had in his head at that time.
 
paulyc":1nfv1nx3 said:
Mr. Willy":1nfv1nx3 said:
It’s hard to pick a favorite out of the fist two albums. I think pound for pound, Blizzard has slightly stronger songs overall. But, DOAMM has the definitive Ozzy tune in the track, DOAMM. That song is a masterpiece.

What a singing writing team Daisley, Rhoads, Osbourne, and Kerslake were. Ozzy’s never topped those two albums, imho.

As far as the tone on Tribute, I don’t think that tone is great either. I’ve heard some bootleg recordings on YT where Randy’s tone is just massive. Pretty sure Randy used a stereo rig, but it sounds like his tone on Tribute was recorded with only one mic on one speaker. There’s no depth. I love Randy, love his tone. It was super unique, but I don’t think Tribute is a good representation of Randy’s tone.
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I don’t agree. Imo the songs are better on Diary, as are the tones of all the instruments.
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Hmmm, I gotta go take a gander at the two again and then give my two cents.
 
Ok, let's break down the two albums here:

Side one
No. Title Length
1. "I Don't Know" 5:16
2. "Crazy Train" 4:57
3. "Goodbye to Romance" 5:36
4. "Dee" (Rhoads) 0:50
5. "Suicide Solution" 4:20
Side two
No. Title Length
6. "Mr. Crowley" 4:57
7. "No Bone Movies" (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley, Lee Kerslake) 3:58
8. "Revelation (Mother Earth)" 6:09
9. "Steal Away (The Night)"

Side one
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Over the Mountain" 4:31
2. "Flying High Again" 4:43
3. "You Can't Kill Rock and Roll"
OsbourneRhoadsDaisley
6:58
4. "Believer"
OsbourneRhoadsDaisley
5:17
Side two
No. Title Length
5. "Little Dolls" 5:39
6. "Tonight" 5:50
7. "S.A.T.O." 4:06
8. "Diary of a Madman"

Without a hesitation, I'm a "Blizzard" fan first but I love the tone better on Diary for sure. I think all of the "hits" have been overplayed so much that it is hard to be open minded but the songs are some of my favorites. In fact, there is not one song that I don't like on the first album.

Side 2 of Diary is a not as strong IMO but still solid songs on both albums man. I will say that the songs on Diary, especially the "hits" sound so full and are amazing. Like the drums and solo on "Over the Mountain", insane. "Diary of a Madman" is like listening to a big story with all of these highs and lows, and different sounds. Great song.

Really hard because Ozzy's career is just amazing. But I gotta go with the first album.
 
Kapo_Polenton":qh442ntd said:
I like the Tribute tone but don't forget, it also is edited, mixed, and EQ'd and that's why it might sound brittle to you. If you go listen to the bootlegs of the shows that make up Tribute, the tone is bigger, less brittle, and more natural. Randy had an awesome live tone, sounded huge for a one guitar band.
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When I first heard the solo in the middle of "Suicide Solution", I swear I got a big lump in my throat and actually teared up. I heard it in high school and had been playing guitar about two years I think. The feeling that comes thru in his tone and playing just hits you square in the heart.

Not to side note here but how the hell do we lose Randy, Cliff, J. Lennon, Dimebag, and others too soon that were just masters of their instruments and great people? Just crazy.
 
Even though I think the songs on BOO are slightly stronger overall, DOAMM is still my favorite Ozzy album.
 
I need to re-buy Blizzard on CD. Is the only version available still the 'Sharon made the drums get re-done because she's the devil' version?...or can is it easy to get the original? (yea I know...I can Google it, but..)

PS: I've always liked Diary way more, and not just the tones.
 
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