“Dee (Randy Rhoads Studio Out-takes)” by Ozzy Osbourne/Randy Rhoads
(Music: Randy Rhoads, Album: Tribute, CBS 1987)

In high school, I was very excited to hear this album because Rhoads died when I was in 6th grade and I’d worn out my copies of Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. Before the release of the album, I had been most excited to hear the unaccompanied solo in “Suicide Solution” to see how Rhoads could light it up without being confined to song. However, little did I know that the highlight for me would end up being this poignant little acoustic song dedicated to Rhoads’s mother. And the best part will always be getting to hear Rhoads mess up a couple times and actually speak on record. While at times Rhoads seems larger than life, this song and this version made him come alive, made him human to his many fans.

Coincidence that this tribute to his Rhoads’s mother comes on Mother’s Day?

“You Looking At Me, Looking At You” by Ozzy Osbourne
(Words/Music: Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, and Bob Daisley, Album: B-side of “Crazy Train”, Epic 1980)

Disclaimer - this is what I was planning on posting on 4/14 but because I spent the entire day driving to Buffalo, I could not. Also, this incident might tell you something about my semi-obsessive personality.

One of the reasons why I love the internet is because it makes previously unavailable songs available again. This is a great example. Originally released as the B-side of the “Crazy Train” single, but not on either Blizzard of Ozz or Diary of a Madman. It was pretty much unavailable until someone started sharing a copy on Napster (or some such service). And that allowed me to find this rare Ozzy track, featuring the late Randy Rhoads, which I had never heard (and that was quite frustrating to me because of previously stated disclaimer about obsessiveness).

And the best thing about the internet? Now I can share it with you. (Sharing with me, sharing with you).

Oh, and my overall thoughts on the song itself? It’s typical Ozzy lyrics and fits well with the rest of Blizzard of Ozz (the album it would eventually be released on as a re-issue), but Randy’s playing actually seems more like his Quiet Riot work. I wonder if maybe this was one of the first songs written and recorded?

Pictures building in my head
Nothing done and nothing said
Talking to me with your eyes
What they say is no surprise
Things are so much different now
But nothing lasts forever

You, looking at me, looking at you
I wanna talk to you
You, looking at me, looking at you

Carry on from day to day
Even when we touch it seems miles away
I know you know I know too
Is it me or is it you?
Things are so much different now
But nothing lasts forever

I had a dream that we were through
I can’t imagine life without you, yeah

Looks and fixes can we repair
Talking good and we just stare
Waste of love is waste of life
Save our love from the final knife
Things would be so different then
Our love would last forever

Ozzy Osbourne - You Can’t Kill Rock N’ Roll

I can’t imagine what empty heads can achieve

(Source: alteregobitches, via thatgroovychick)

“Mr. Crowley” by Ozzy Osbourne

(Words/Music: Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, and Bob Daisley, Album: Blizzard of Ozz, Jet 1980)