Shot in the Dark (Ozzy Osbourne song)
Encyclopedia
"Shot in the Dark" is a song from Ozzy Osbourne
's 1986 album The Ultimate Sin
and was written by then Ozzy Osbourne's bassist Phil Soussan
. The song's lyrics were supposedly inspired by the movie Prizzi's Honor
.
An earlier, much slower and different version was derived from the original when Soussan was in Wildlife two years earlier. However Osbourne had favored the original song, wanting to create a new version of it, and Soussan had to re-write the song including the lyrics. Osbourne then requested 50% ownership of the song as a condition of recording it.
The video features a girl traveling with her friends to an Osbourne concert, and eventually turns into part of a billboard advertising Osbourne. Dweezil Zappa
can easily be seen playing a cameo part in the live crowd in the music video. This was one of Osbourne's biggest solo hits and was played live regularly up until 1992. There are rumors that Osbourne disliked the song for its very "un-Osbourne sound", however those rumors seem to have been spread by Osbourne's management to damage the claim for non-payment of royalties and lawsuit that was brought by Soussan and settled by Osbourne on two separate occasions once in 1989 and once in 1993. Still, Osbourne continued to play the song live regularly and it remains on the Osbourne's biggest hits, peaking at number 4 on Billboard
s Mainstream Rock Tracks
and number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
While Osbourne felt that the song might have been too "pop" sounding for his later and heavier tours, he did perform it on June 15, 2010's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. Since then he has performed the song several times in 2010 while promoting his new album Scream
.
The song was omitted from the 2002 re-mastered re-release of The Ozzman Cometh
and was replaced with Miracle Man. Just Say Ozzy and The Ultimate Sin were both omitted from Osbourne's catalog all together in 2002 when the remastered re-releases came out. Both contained the song as well.
Children of Bodom
covered the song for the Japanese version of their album Follow the Reaper
.
Jeff Scott Soto
covered the song with Bruce Kulick, Ricky Phillips, Pat Torpey & Derek Sherinian on the tribute album Bat Soup: A Tribute To Ozzy Osbourne
Ozzy Osbourne
John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
's 1986 album The Ultimate Sin
The Ultimate Sin
-Personnel:*Ozzy Osbourne - vocals*Jake E. Lee - guitar*Phil Soussan - bass*Randy Castillo - drumsAdditional performers*Mike Moran - keyboardsProduction*Produced and engineered by Ron Nevison*Additional engineers - Martin White, Richard Moakes...
and was written by then Ozzy Osbourne's bassist Phil Soussan
Phil Soussan
Phil Soussan is a bass guitarist, songwriter and producer who has gained notoriety as a member of a host of famed rock and roll bands, including some who have been fronted by such vocalists as Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Vince Neil, Johnny Hallyday and John Waite, as well as a membership in Beggars...
. The song's lyrics were supposedly inspired by the movie Prizzi's Honor
Prizzi's Honor
Prizzi's Honor is a 1985 American black comedy film directed by John Huston. It stars Jack Nicholson, Kathleen Turner, Robert Loggia and Anjelica Huston.The film was adapted by Richard Condon and Janet Roach from Condon's novel of the same name...
.
An earlier, much slower and different version was derived from the original when Soussan was in Wildlife two years earlier. However Osbourne had favored the original song, wanting to create a new version of it, and Soussan had to re-write the song including the lyrics. Osbourne then requested 50% ownership of the song as a condition of recording it.
The video features a girl traveling with her friends to an Osbourne concert, and eventually turns into part of a billboard advertising Osbourne. Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa
Dweezil Zappa is an American rock guitarist and occasional actor.-Early life:Zappa was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of musician Frank Zappa and Adelaide Gail Sloatman, who worked in business. He is the second of four siblings: his older sister, Moon, younger sister Diva and younger...
can easily be seen playing a cameo part in the live crowd in the music video. This was one of Osbourne's biggest solo hits and was played live regularly up until 1992. There are rumors that Osbourne disliked the song for its very "un-Osbourne sound", however those rumors seem to have been spread by Osbourne's management to damage the claim for non-payment of royalties and lawsuit that was brought by Soussan and settled by Osbourne on two separate occasions once in 1989 and once in 1993. Still, Osbourne continued to play the song live regularly and it remains on the Osbourne's biggest hits, peaking at number 4 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
s Mainstream Rock Tracks
Mainstream Rock Tracks
Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music. Modern rock tracks are counted in the Alternative Songs chart.This chart began with the March 21, 1981, issue...
and number 68 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
While Osbourne felt that the song might have been too "pop" sounding for his later and heavier tours, he did perform it on June 15, 2010's episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live. Since then he has performed the song several times in 2010 while promoting his new album Scream
Scream (Ozzy Osbourne album)
-Tour Edition CD2:-Personnel:Musicians*Ozzy Osbourne – vocals, production*Gus G – guitars*Rob "Blasko" Nicholson – bass*Tommy Clufetos – drums, percussion*Adam Wakeman – keyboardsAdditional personnel*Kevin Churko – production, engineering, mixing...
.
The song was omitted from the 2002 re-mastered re-release of The Ozzman Cometh
The Ozzman Cometh
The Ozzman Cometh is a compilation album by Ozzy Osbourne released in 1997. It is his second greatest hits collection and its initial, limited edition 2 CD pressing contained five previously unreleased songs...
and was replaced with Miracle Man. Just Say Ozzy and The Ultimate Sin were both omitted from Osbourne's catalog all together in 2002 when the remastered re-releases came out. Both contained the song as well.
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom
Children of Bodom is a Finnish heavy metal band from Espoo. Formed in 1993, the group currently consists of Alexi Laiho , Roope Latvala , Janne Wirman , Henkka Seppälä , and Jaska Raatikainen...
covered the song for the Japanese version of their album Follow the Reaper
Follow the Reaper
-Personnel:Children of Bodom*Alexi Laiho – vocals, lead guitar*Alexander Kuoppala – rhythm guitar*Janne Wirman – keyboards*Henkka Seppälä – bass*Jaska Raatikainen – drumsProduction*Peter Tägtgren – production, engineering...
.
Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto
Jeff Scott Soto is an American rock singer of Puerto Rican descent. He is best known for being the lead singer for the group Talisman from 1990 till the end of Talisman in 2007, the vocalist on Yngwie Malmsteen's first two albums, and for stepping up to the job of lead vocalist for Journey on...
covered the song with Bruce Kulick, Ricky Phillips, Pat Torpey & Derek Sherinian on the tribute album Bat Soup: A Tribute To Ozzy Osbourne
Personnel
- Ozzy OsbourneOzzy OsbourneJohn Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English vocalist, whose musical career has spanned over 40 years. Osbourne rose to prominence as lead singer of the pioneering English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, whose radically different, intentionally dark, harder sound helped spawn the heavy metal...
- vocals - Jake E. LeeJake E. LeeJakey Lou Williams , commonly known as Jake E. Lee, is an American guitarist best known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne in the mid-1980s and later in his own band Badlands.- Musical education :...
- guitarElectric guitarAn electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker... - Phil SoussanPhil SoussanPhil Soussan is a bass guitarist, songwriter and producer who has gained notoriety as a member of a host of famed rock and roll bands, including some who have been fronted by such vocalists as Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol, Vince Neil, Johnny Hallyday and John Waite, as well as a membership in Beggars...
- bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Mike Moran - keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
- Randy CastilloRandy CastilloRandolpho Francisco Castillo was best known as Ozzy Osbourne's drummer during the mid 1980s to the early 1990s, and later as drummer for Mötley Crüe, from 1999-2002.-Early years:...
- drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....