That’s the first box set that’s released with Ozzy’s songs from his truly big and successful career. A box set, the inlay of which was overviewed by Ozzy himself, and except from nice pictures, it includes his comments for each track and facts about it’s recording. The booklet is not pinned, so it wouldn’t dismantle and spoil the package. First of all, I must clarify that a box set doesn't include all the hits, but is aiming at super fans that are looking for demos, rear live tracks and more stuff that cannot be found in records. Let’s go to the cd’s now. In the first you’ll find 5 live tracks(Bark at the moon, I don’t know, Goodbye to romance, Suicide solution, Flying high again) and 8 studio (Rock’n’roll rebel, Over the mountain, Diary of a madman, Mr. Crowley, Crazy train etc.), while the names of Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake that played in the first albums appear only as composers, while the music parts has been replaced by Robert Trujillo, Mike Bordin, exactly as it happened in the reissues of “Diary Of A Madman” and “Blizzard Of Oz”.
In the second disc, most of the tracks are demos (See you on the other side, I don’t want to change the world, Mama I;m coming home ενώ υπάρχουν σε live τα Ultimate Sin, Never know why και Thank God for the Bomb that first appeared in the maxi-single Ultimate Sin in 1986 (it was released in Greece). The box’s value rises in the third disc that includes the duets of Ozzy that were included in various records in the past. Those are with Therapy? (Iron Man), Type of Negative (Pictures of Matchstick men, first played by Status Quo, Motörhead (I ain’t no nice guy, from March of Die), Zakk Wylde (Purple Haze of Jimi Hendrix from the rear vinyl album Stairway to heaven) and also the cover of the huge disco hit of the Bee Gees, “Stayin’ Alive” with Frank Zappa’s son and excellent guitarist, Dweezil Zappa. You will also find Born to be wild with Mrs Piggy, star of Muppet Show from the rear cd, Kermit Unpigged, Therapy with Infectious Groove, Psycho Man from Black Sabbath’s “Reunion”, Shake your head with Was Not Was, For heaven’s sake 2000 with Tony Iommi and WU Tang Clan, as well as Dog The bounty hunter from the self-titled series that performs on his own.
If I had one good reason to buy that cd box was the fourth cd that includes 10 covers. I was informed that he covers my favourite “Fire” from Arthur Brown and I was really anxious to listen to. I am afraid I was disappointed. I was expecting him to sing it fast and lively, but Ozzy’s voice is so long crawled that cannot sing that. “Fire” has little to do with its first edition by Arthur Brown, while in Mississippi Queen with Leslie West’s contribution, Ozzy’s version is quite close to Mountain's, as well as in “All The Young Dudes” form Mott The Hopple where Ian Hunter plays. The Beatles “In My Life” was brought into his style, as well as “Sympathy For The Devil” (Rolling Stones). 21st Schizoid Man (King Crimson) and “Working Glass Hero” (of his hero, John Lennon). You will also find included the No.1 single in Engand “Changes” (Black Sabbath) with his daughter Kelly. For the covers he is accompanied by Jerry Cantrell on guitar, Mike Bordin on drums and Chris Wayne on bass. I would also like to mention that he recorded, but didn’t include “Hi Ho Silver Lining” of Jeff Beck Group and Lennon’s “Woman”, that I wish we can find them as B-side singles. From the third cd with the duets I missed his collaboration with Kim Bassinger, and of course the wonderful “Close My Eyes Forever” with Lita Ford. Essential for his fans, for the rest, I’d suggest they start from the very good “The Ozzman Cometh”.
Alexander Richardos