Ozzy Osbourne - Blizzard of Ozz/Diary of a Madman (Epic)

Two milestone releases, albums that established Ozzy Osbourne as a solo artist, and introduced guitarist Rnady Rhoads to the masses. Sadly, these were the only studio albums Rhoads performed on before his tragic demise. Both albums are released as expanded versions, and in the case of "Diary of a Madman" it's the deluxe 2 CD edition. Re-mastered from the original tapes, both albums sound pristine, and as powerful as we remember them sounding. Also, the original Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley tracks are restored, unlike the last reissue where the rhythm tracks were re-recorded, a sacrilege if you ask me. "Blizzard of Ozz" comes with a few bonus tracks, whereas "Diary of a Madman" is supplemented by a live disc. Great packaging is a plus as well, but it's the music that withstood the test of time, and will do so for many decades to come.

Mark Kadzielawa