Why does the Blizzard of Ozz album sound...

[jabps]

I know we aren't talking about Jake now but in the present, he is nowhere close to what he was in his prime and I wish people wouldn't keep saying he hasn't lost a step because he totally has. He's behind the beat on most of the shows I have seen or fighting the picking. Now that said, during his tenure with Ozzy he was a definite virtuoso. I love Randy but to me Jake had a ton more tricks in his magic hat and his rythm playing, melodies, and awesome vibrato made him more than qualified to carry the torch. Anyway, nothing to do with the thread but seeing as we are talking about Jake. I'm 43 so a young pup I suppose but I think that album still holds up, it is just the production that is dated.Killer of Giants also an awesome tune. But yeah, I get why most people shit on that album.

I'm 55 and was living it real time. I remember getting off work at K-Mart, sitting in my Trans Am (how is that for cliche lol) and listening to the radio about Randy dying. Sad times. I was knee deep in playing in a band and learning everything I could, finally BATM dropped and as a guitarist, it was damn impressive. And new voice on guitar and some new classics to try and cover. I always liked Jake, a solid player, had the look and easily held his own onstage in a incredibly tough spot. Still love BATM and some of the Badlands stuff. By the time Badlands hit, you could tell Jake was going out of his way to either get back to his roots or make a playing shift completely. Good but not Ozzy playing good. But you have to evolve, I get that. I never thought Jake rose to the level of Randy, "for me" he just never had the depth in his playing to go where Randy went. And I think we can all only imagine what Ozzy's next album with Randy could have been...if he had stayed. However BATM was perfect for Ozzy at the point. And Jake was the perfect replacement. As much as I like Brad, I don't think he would have been able to write the album Ozzy needed at the time. And during that era, Lynch would easily become my favorite guitarist and he could not have pulled off what Jake did.

As a player young player during that time - Randy, Brad, Jake, Sykes, Vivian, Lynch, Vandenberg along with the EVH, Moore, Schon and others, what an amazingly fun time.

 

[romanianreaper]

All of Ozzy’s guitarists have been killer, but none of them can touch those songs that Rhoads, Daisley, Kerslake, and Osbourne wrote for those first two albums. There’s lots of great riffs and great playing on everything from Ozzmosis backwards, but those songs on those first two albums are beyond cool. Nothing on any of the albums after Randy even comes close to touching the title track on DOAMM. That song is incredibly complex, original, nuanced, and utterly haunting. That song is the pinnacle of Ozzy’s songwriting career.

I'm embarrassed to say that I always thought Tommy Aldridge played on DOAM. I didn't realize Daisley's impact as far as lyrics, etc. either. So cool.

Haunting is a great word for that song. I was just playing the intro last night on my acoustic and it is so beyond what other guitarists played or even play today. That classical influence comes thru with something that is beautiful within a darker type of music. Revolution Mother Earth is the same way.

Guitarists understand the impact of Randy's songs more than the typical metal fan in my opinion. Take "Flying High Again" for example. Most guitarists would have played the main riff and had that space between the riffs. He added these bends, finger tapping, etc. that added to the overall feel of the song.

Robert Keeley's band did a bunch of Ozzy songs when we were in high school and that was the first time I heard "Mr. Crowley". I've loved that song ever since. They did "Bark at the Moon" too and I still give him shit about losing his whammy bar at the beginning of the song. He did a dive right after the "Bark at the Moon" line at the end of the chorus, and his bar wasn't secured. It shot off the guitar and went bouncing across the floor into the crowd. LOL.

 

[romanianreaper]

I'm 55 and was living it real time. I remember getting off work at K-Mart, sitting in my Trans Am (how is that for cliche lol) and listening to the radio about Randy dying. Sad times. I was knee deep in playing in a band and learning everything I could, finally BATM dropped and as a guitarist, it was damn impressive. And new voice on guitar and some new classics to try and cover. I always liked Jake, a solid player, had the look and easily held his own onstage in a incredibly tough spot. Still love BATM and some of the Badlands stuff. By the time Badlands hit, you could tell Jake was going out of his way to either get back to his roots or make a playing shift completely. Good but not Ozzy playing good. But you have to evolve, I get that. I never thought Jake rose to the level of Randy, "for me" he just never had the depth in his playing to go where Randy went. And I think we can all only imagine what Ozzy's next album with Randy could have been...if he had stayed. However BATM was perfect for Ozzy at the point. And Jake was the perfect replacement. As much as I like Brad, I don't think he would have been able to write the album Ozzy needed at the time. And during that era, Lynch would easily become my favorite guitarist and he could not have pulled off what Jake did.

As a player young player during that time - Randy, Brad, Jake, Sykes, Vivian, Lynch, Vandenberg along with the EVH, Moore, Schon and others, what an amazingly fun time.

Oh man, love it!! I don't remember when Randy died because I was just on the cusp of getting into Twisted Sister, QR, VH, etc. but Cliff Burton was the first death that all of us rockers listened to the songs, talked about it, etc.

Yeah, Jake was a perfect choice to come in to the beginning of the hair metal years for Ozzy. Great riffs but not songs about banging girls, etc. Fit great into Ozzy's dark, macabre world of music but definitely a different feel.

 

[shredi knight]

Blizzard always sounded bland to me, like it's in black & white. I have a similar feeling about Iron Maiden's "Piece Of Mind" album. Just something dull about how it sounds.







Oh, and "The Ultimate Sin" is a much better album than "Bark At The Moon" (IMHO, of course ).

 

[Mr. Willy]

Piece of Mind does sound dull. I always have to re-EQ the high end on my system when I listen to that one. Some great tunes on that album.

 

[romanianreaper]

Piece of Mind does sound dull. I always have to re-EQ the high end on my system when I listen to that one. Some great tunes on that album.

I was getting ready to comment but then realized that I don't have Piece of Mind. LOL.

I have Powerslave on 180 Gram vinyl and with my Sprout 100 amp and PSB bookshelf speakers, it sounds phenomenal. When "2 Minutes to Midnight" comes on, always makes me want to do some air guitar.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

That's a good point about Jake trending down by the time badlands came about. He was still a wicked player but none of the leads are crafted on the badlands stuff like they were in Ozzy. Randy def.bwas trending up, some awesome ideas he was working into the songs with DOAM. Now would he have continued ?? We will never know. Greatness always gets a boost when they die in their prime. Randy was fantastic though, don't take it like I am saying Jake was better.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Piece of Mind is a bit flat but if you really want a horribly produced maiden album, look no further than No Prayer for the Dying...oh, and I HATE Janicks playing. He's shit. No vibrato and this constant mess alla Kerry King that he somewhat brings back in key. He wings everything.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Piece of Mind is a bit flat but if you really want a horribly produced maiden album, look no further than No Prayer for the Dying...oh, and I HATE Janicks playing. He's shit. No vibrato and this constant mess alla Kerry King that he somewhat brings back in key. He wings everything.

I LOATH that guy. I can’t even watch any footage of him with Maiden, prancing and dancing around the stage like a moron. He doesn’t bring anything to the table or make the band better, imho. They were just fine as a 5 piece.

 

[SpiderWars]

Randy was my favorite player at the time and I had tickets to see him right before the crash. But I loved the Gillis live recordings probably because he didn't try to be Randy he just brought his own energy and played his way. The Sabbath tunes had a new 'modern' twist.

IIRC, the consensus at the time was that Sabbath would be fine but Ozzy was a mess and a big question mark. Thankfully we got a refreshed Sabbath and Randy/Daisley/Kerslake. Win-win.

 

[sytharnia1560]

That's a good point about Jake trending down by the time badlands came about. He was still a wicked player but none of the leads are crafted on the badlands stuff like they were in Ozzy. Randy def.bwas trending up, some awesome ideas he was working into the songs with DOAM. Now would he have continued ?? We will never know. Greatness always gets a boost when they die in their prime. Randy was fantastic though, don't take it like I am saying Jake was better.

you have to remember that by the time Badlands came along the whole "guitar hero" thing was on the decline also and Jake really wanted to go back to his roots

 

[paulyc]

That's a good point about Jake trending down by the time badlands came about. He was still a wicked player but none of the leads are crafted on the badlands stuff like they were in Ozzy. Randy def.bwas trending up, some awesome ideas he was working into the songs with DOAM. Now would he have continued ?? We will never know. Greatness always gets a boost when they die in their prime. Randy was fantastic though, don't take it like I am saying Jake was better.

I would take all three Badlands albums over Ultimate Sin ANY day. Way better songs, more mojo and vibe, better production, just better all the way around.

 

[Kapo_Polenton]

Sound wise those first two Badland albums are fantastic. Third one is a little too " dry" for me.

 

[paulyc]

Well, the third is really a demo, not an album so I cut it a lot of slack. If that’s all first take stuff that is one impressive band.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Man, all those Badlands albums were super dry. I dig them, though. Especially the first one.

 

[sytharnia1560]

Well, the third is really a demo, not an album so I cut it a lot of slack. If that’s all first take stuff that is one impressive band.

not first take, but they were all one take. They jammed on them then hit record....super tight band for sure

I love the sound of DUSK but find half of the songs just don't sound finished or seem to similar to others. Love the first half and can take or leave most of the second half

 

[paulyc]

Yes, they are dry. But I think after the passage of time, they actually hold up better than a lot of other stuff that is way more wet. It’s kind of a throwback to Bad Co, Free, Zep, etc. Way more 70s influenced. Now, having said all that, there are other albums, like Wicked Sensation for example, that are super wet sounding that are also awesome in their own right. I like both styles of production, each has it’s place.

 

[romanianreaper]

IIRC, the consensus at the time was that Sabbath would be fine but Ozzy was a mess and a big question mark. Thankfully we got a refreshed Sabbath and Randy/Daisley/Kerslake. Win-win.

Not only that, the "new" Sabbath with Dio was awesome too! Sabbath was going thru the motions, doing a ton of drugs, and eventually heading towards an implode. Awesome to have the 80s start with "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Heaven and Hell".