Black Sabbath vs Ozzy Osbourne?

[Metacaster]

Probably not a very "metal" forum but here goes.

Now I've always been a fan of Sabbath, and a few Ozzy songs too. But having not heard Ozzy for a while I've been re listening to his stuff. And damn that guitarist sound crumby.

I mean it's the thinnest most horrible hair metal scooped guitar sound ever conceived, I mean compared to Iommis riffs it just blends into the music -whereas Iommi was the music

And what happened to Ozzys voice in the few years between then? There's so much reverb and harmonizing effects going on it sounds like an overly autotuned pop sound.

What was he thinking?!!! The quality is just not there.

What do you guys make of this change?

 

[Davib96]

Totally agree, black sabbath was so much better

 

[A.B.Negative]

There hasn't been any Ozzy music I'd consider buying since probably Diary Of A Madman.

 

[Blazer]

Harmonizing on Ozzy's vocals? No he double tracked them, one being slightly off from the other, that's how he got that sound. Live he used a an EH Memory man modulation delay to get that effect.

And which guitarist are you referring to, he had a load of them and each being a brilliant player, hold on, let me bring forwards some clips of three best known.


Randy Rhoads.


Jake E. Lee


Zakk Wylde


Joe Holmes

 

[looney77]

If you think Zakk's tone is thin, take a listen to the Pride & Glory record. Great southern rock stuff. I wish he would have kept doing this kinda stuff. "Book of Shadows" is a really good acoustic album too.

As far as Ozzy solo stuff goes. Some of it is classic. I always really like "Suicide Solution", "Mr. Crowley" and all of the No More Tears album. But, Sabbath is a whole other thing. Sabbath is Iommi, Geezer, Bill Ward and Ozzy to me. The Sabbath stuff without Ozzy isn't as good either, IMHO. Sabbath is better with Ozzy and Ozzy is best when he's in Sabbath.

 

[JaysRiff]

I tend to agree but i also think black sabbath suck without Ozzy too, even the dio era sabbath is pretty lame to my ears.

 

[ac15]

Ozzy's voice was at its peak in 73-75, especially "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" and "Sabotage." He was really killin' it on those albums. Some of the best rock singing ever. Sabbath was an incredible band and the solo stuff doesn't come close to holding up to that material and their influential sound. Doesn't mean it's bad - most bands don't meet the standard of the great Sabbath stuff.

 

[Bongocaster]

OMG! I just listened to Ozzy Osbourne. Intentionally.

Damn your scaly metal hides.

 

[Brad Pittiful]

i like the 70s ozzy sabbath...not much liking of sabbath after that...not that big into ozzy solo either

 

[Old Mother Hell]

One of the great things about Iommi was that he everything he did with Sabbath was perfectly formed. Nothing out of place. The brilliance was in the economy. He didn't need three notes if two would do.

 

[Agave_Blue]

Black Sabbath with Ozzy is unbeatable. Even on the verge of crashing and burning they were able to put together several good songs; just not as consistent in sound and quality as some earlier albums.

After Sabbath, Ozzy did some really good "80's metal" work, but it had a different vibe. Pesonally I like Jake E Lee's style best, but that's just a subjective opinion. Ozzy did good work with a lot of guitarists.

The break up did both sides good; both Ozzy and Sabbath came out with new energy and new direction.

Ozzy's getting old; he's pushing 65 and as he aged, it showed in his voice, which has never been the most "musical" in rock.

 

[jjkrause84]

Blizzard of Oz and Diary of a Madman are both CLASSIC albums. Randy Rhoads absolutely deserves his place among the rock greats. Sabbath is the better group, but sometimes their albums can "not hit the spot". I have to be in the mood for them.

That said, LIVE, I'll take Sabbath over Ozzy ANY day. They still bring a power that absolutely cannot be touched.

 

[Mike Eskimo]

I will say some of the early solo Ozzy stands up as "metal" far more than most of the "pop" that was passed off as "metal" in the 80's.

A lot of the music that was put out then had production that was sooooo bad it's hard to separate the music from the reverbed drums and layers and layers of hoo hah they slathered on everything.

 

[Commodore 64]

Perhaps the OP is referring to Ozzy's most recent album. It's garbage, as was the one before it. I don't think anyone would argue that.

Vintage Sabbath (And Dio Sabbath, IMHO) is freakin' awesome. And early Ozzy solo is pretty decent stuff though.

 

[Fred Garvin]

 

[68 Shovelhead]

I'm a big fan of 70's Ozzy era Sabbath, didn't follow the later stuff too much. That said, there is no finer metal singer ever than Ronnie James Dio, but I prefer his Rainbow and Solo stuff.
My favorite of the Ozzy solo stuff was with Randy Rhodes. The other guys are great, but Randy was really something special IMO.

 

[Leep Dog]

I agree that Sabbath and Ozzy are a match made in heaven (or should that be hell). The 4 of them together was greatness, the original lineup was definitely a great BAND. I liked Ozzy's solo work through No More Tears but his work with Sabbath was much better in my opinion.

 

[ghall]

Blizzard of Oz and Diary of a Madman are both CLASSIC albums. Randy Rhoads absolutely deserves his place among the rock greats.

+1
Randy Rhoads was one of the biggest reasons I picked up a guitar in the first place. Listen to his lead in "I Don't Know" on Blizzard of Oz. Amazing and defining tone as well as incredible skill.

 

[Walker]

Wasn't a big Sabbath fan growing up. I really liked the first 2 Ozzy albums when they came out as well as the Dio/Sabbath stuff, but in my opinion, Ozzy's music hasn't aged well and I think, as the OP suggested, it's because I don't like Randy's tone, way too thin. Sabbath's stuff has aged well and now I really enjoy it.

 

[User Name:]

If you think Zakk's tone is thin, take a listen to the Pride & Glory record. Great southern rock stuff. I wish he would have kept doing this kinda stuff.

I watched an interview with Zakk where he talked about that period. He mentioned that Ozzy hated his "southern rock" phase and to show it, he lit Zakk's guitar on fire (the southern flag guitar with the bottle caps glued on).

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