The Ozzman Cometh
Encyclopedia
The Ozzman Cometh is a compilation album by Ozzy Osbourne
released in 1997. It is his second greatest hits collection (The first being Ten Commandments released in 1990 and now out of print) and its initial, limited edition 2 CD pressing contained five previously unreleased songs. Versions released in 2002 and later copies of this compilation have only one disc, and "Shot in the Dark" is replaced by "Miracle Man". This was due to a legal action brought about by the song's co-writer, Phil Soussan, for unpaid royalties.
Note on versions post-2002: The album tracks are from the 2002 remasters, for which Blizzard of Ozz
and Diary of a Madman
were partially re-recorded. The original drum and bass tracks were replaced with recordings by Osbourne's then-current bassist Robert Trujillo
and drummer Mike Bordin
, as a management response to legal action by original bassist Bob Daisley
and drummer Lee Kerslake
for unpaid royalty fees. Note also the deliberate mis-spelling of Daisley's and Soussan's names in this CD's sleeve notes: 'Bob Daisy', 'Bill Susan.'
The tracks from Bark at the Moon
are the original recordings, though with some remixing changes that are of questionable integrity.
On the 2002 re-release track 9, "Shot in the Dark", is replaced with "Miracle Man."
The interview found on this disc is from 1988 where Osbourne is interviewed about his latest album at the time (No Rest For The Wicked) and some other topics about his new guitarist, Zakk Wylde and his past days on Black Sabbath.
The tracks "Black Sabbath", "War Pigs", "Fairies Wear Boots", and "Behind the Wall of Sleep" are taken from a session for the BBC
's John Peel
Sunday Show dated 4.26.70. "Fairies Wear Boots" and "War Pigs" are early versions of tracks that would finally be recorded on the Paranoid album and thus have different lyrics.
Singles - Billboard (America)
certification
(United States)
CRIA
certification
(Canada)
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...
released in 1997. It is his second greatest hits collection (The first being Ten Commandments released in 1990 and now out of print) and its initial, limited edition 2 CD pressing contained five previously unreleased songs. Versions released in 2002 and later copies of this compilation have only one disc, and "Shot in the Dark" is replaced by "Miracle Man". This was due to a legal action brought about by the song's co-writer, Phil Soussan, for unpaid royalties.
Note on versions post-2002: The album tracks are from the 2002 remasters, for which Blizzard of Ozz
Blizzard of Ozz
Blizzard of Ozz is the first solo studio album by British singer/songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, recorded in Surrey, UK and released on September 20, 1980 in the UK and on March 27, 1981 in the U.S.. It is the comeback album of Osbourne following his firing from Black Sabbath the previous year...
and Diary of a Madman
Diary of a Madman (album)
Diary of a Madman is the second studio album by Ozzy Osbourne. It was recorded from the 9th of Feb to the 23 of March 1981 inclusively - the end of winter in the UK and recording ending just into spring equinox. It was released on November 7, 1981, and re-issued on August 22, 1995. An altered...
were partially re-recorded. The original drum and bass tracks were replaced with recordings by Osbourne's then-current bassist Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo
Robert Trujillo is an American bassist who currently plays bass in Metallica. He has also played in Suicidal Tendencies, Infectious Grooves, Black Label Society, and with Jerry Cantrell and Ozzy Osbourne.-Career:...
and drummer Mike Bordin
Mike Bordin
Mike Bordin is the co-founder and drummer of rock band Faith No More. He is also known for playing with Ozzy Osbourne. As a left-handed drummer, he notably plays with a right-handed kit with his ride cymbal on the left...
, as a management response to legal action by original bassist Bob Daisley
Bob Daisley
Robert John "Bob" Daisley is an Australian musician, bassist and lyricist who has performed in genres of rock, blues, R&B, hard rock and metal.-Early career:...
and drummer Lee Kerslake
Lee Kerslake
Lee Kerslake is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Uriah Heep, in addition to his work in the Ozzy Osbourne band...
for unpaid royalty fees. Note also the deliberate mis-spelling of Daisley's and Soussan's names in this CD's sleeve notes: 'Bob Daisy', 'Bill Susan.'
The tracks from Bark at the Moon
Bark at the Moon
- Credits :* Ozzy Osbourne – vocals* Jake E. Lee – guitar* Bob Daisley – bass guitar* Tommy Aldridge – drums* Don Airey – keyboardsProduction* Produced by Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Daisley, and Max Norman* Engineered by Max Norman...
are the original recordings, though with some remixing changes that are of questionable integrity.
Track listing
- "Black SabbathBlack Sabbath (song)"Black Sabbath" is a song by British heavy metal band of the same name, written in 1969 and released on the band's debut album, Black Sabbath...
" (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...
, Tony IommiTony IommiAnthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
, Geezer ButlerGeezer ButlerGeezer Butler is an English musician and songwriter. Butler is best known as the bassist and lyricist of heavy metal band Black Sabbath. He was also involved in Heaven & Hell from 2006 to 2010.-Career:Butler formed his first band, Rare Breed, with old friend John "Ozzy" Osbourne in the autumn of...
, Bill Ward) - 9:25- Previously unreleased Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
track, recorded for BBC Radio 1, "The John Peel Sessions" program on 4/26/70, featuring extra verse not on debut album Black SabbathBlack Sabbath (album)Black Sabbath is the debut studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Released on 13 February 1970 in the United Kingdom, and later on 1 June 1970 in the United States, the album reached number eight on the UK Albums Chart and has been recognised as the first main album to be credited...
.
- Previously unreleased Black Sabbath
- "War Pigs" (Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, Ward) - 8:15
- Previously unreleased Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
track, early version of "War Pigs" (titled "Walpurgis") with different lyrics, recorded for BBC Radio 1, "The John Peel Sessions" program on 4/26/70. Studio version can be found on ParanoidParanoid (album)Paranoid is the second studio album by English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. Released in September 1970, the album was the only one by the band to top the UK Albums Chart, and as a result is commonly identified as the band's magnum opus...
, 9/18/70 UK, 1/7/71 US.
- Previously unreleased Black Sabbath
- "Goodbye to Romance" (Osbourne, Randy RhoadsRandy RhoadsRandall William "Randy" Rhoads was an American heavy metal guitarist who played with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. A devoted student of classical guitar, Rhoads often combined his classical music influences with his own heavy metal style. While on tour with Ozzy Osbourne, he would seek out...
, Bob DaisleyBob DaisleyRobert John "Bob" Daisley is an Australian musician, bassist and lyricist who has performed in genres of rock, blues, R&B, hard rock and metal.-Early career:...
) - 5:35- Originally from Blizzard of OzzBlizzard of OzzBlizzard of Ozz is the first solo studio album by British singer/songwriter Ozzy Osbourne, recorded in Surrey, UK and released on September 20, 1980 in the UK and on March 27, 1981 in the U.S.. It is the comeback album of Osbourne following his firing from Black Sabbath the previous year...
- Originally from Blizzard of Ozz
- "Crazy TrainCrazy Train"Crazy Train" is a song written by Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads and Bob Daisley. It was released as the first single in 1980 on Osbourne's first solo studio album, Blizzard of Ozz. The song was recorded in 1980, a year after leaving Black Sabbath, and later included on the live album Tribute,...
" (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley) - 4:51- Originally from Blizzard of Ozz
- "Mr. CrowleyMr. Crowley"Mr Crowley" is a 1980 heavy metal song performed by Ozzy Osbourne, released on the album Blizzard of Ozz, Osbourne's first solo effort following his firing from Black Sabbath. It peaked at number 46 on the United Kingdom charts. Musicians playing on the song are guitarist Randy Rhoads, bass...
" (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley) - 4:56- Originally from Blizzard of Ozz
- "Over the MountainOver the Mountain"Over the Mountain" is the opening track of heavy metal musician Ozzy Osbourne's album Diary of a Madman. It's one of Osbourne's most well known songs, and easily recognized by its drum introduction. This song has been released on several compilation albums. It peaked at 13 on Mainstream Rock Tracks...
" (Osbourne, Rhoads, Daisley, Lee KerslakeLee KerslakeLee Kerslake is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Uriah Heep, in addition to his work in the Ozzy Osbourne band...
) - 4:32- Originally from Diary of a MadmanDiary of a Madman (album)Diary of a Madman is the second studio album by Ozzy Osbourne. It was recorded from the 9th of Feb to the 23 of March 1981 inclusively - the end of winter in the UK and recording ending just into spring equinox. It was released on November 7, 1981, and re-issued on August 22, 1995. An altered...
- Originally from Diary of a Madman
- "Paranoid [LiveParanoid (song)"Paranoid" is a song by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, featured on their second album Paranoid . It is the first single from the album, while the B-side is the song "The Wizard". It reached number 4 on the UK Singles Chart and number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100...
]" (Osbourne, Rhoads, Butler, Ward) - 2:53- Originally from Tribute
- "Bark at the MoonBark at the Moon (song)"Bark at the Moon" is a metal song by Ozzy Osbourne. It is the opening track on his 1983 album Bark at the Moon. The song was composed by Jake E. Lee and Bob Daisley; lyrics were written solely by Osbourne. "Bark at the Moon" is a metal song by Ozzy Osbourne. It is the opening track on his 1983...
" (Osbourne) - 4:17- Originally from Bark at the MoonBark at the Moon- Credits :* Ozzy Osbourne – vocals* Jake E. Lee – guitar* Bob Daisley – bass guitar* Tommy Aldridge – drums* Don Airey – keyboardsProduction* Produced by Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Daisley, and Max Norman* Engineered by Max Norman...
- Originally from Bark at the Moon
- "Shot in the Dark" (Osbourne, Soussan) - 4:16
- Originally from The Ultimate SinThe 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...
- Originally from The Ultimate Sin
- "Crazy Babies" (Osbourne, Zakk WyldeZakk WyldeZachary Phillip Wylde , best known by the stage name Zakk Wylde, is an American musician, songwriter, and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society. He was the lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory,...
, Daisley, 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:...
) - 4:14- Originally from No Rest for the WickedNo Rest for the Wicked (Ozzy Osbourne album)No Rest for the Wicked is the fifth studio album by Ozzy Osbourne. It was released on October 22, 1988 and was re-issued / remastered on August 22, 1995 and again on June 25, 2002. The album was certified gold in December 1989 and has since gone double platinum. No Rest for the Wicked is the first...
- Originally from No Rest for the Wicked
- "No More TearsNo More Tears (song)"No More Tears" is the fifth song on the 1991 Ozzy Osbourne heavy metal album No More Tears. With a running time of 7:23, it is the longest solo song that Osbourne has ever recorded on a studio album. It reached #5 on U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks, #71 on the Billboard Hot 100, and #32 on the UK...
" (radio editRadio editIn music, a radio edit is a modification to make a song more suitable for airplay, whether it be adjusted for length, profanity, subject matter, instrumentation, or form...
) (Osbourne, Wylde, Mike InezMike InezMike Inez is a rock musician best known for his role as the bassist of Alice in Chains. Inez has also worked with other popular musical acts such as Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society, and Heart. Inez is of Filipino ancestry.-Career:...
, Castillo, John PurdellJohn PurdellJohn Purdell was a musician and record producer who is credited on such albums as the 1991 Ozzy Osbourne's heavy metal No More Tears and Dream Theater's Awake. He was born in San Diego and raised in Los Angeles...
) - 5:54- Originally from No More TearsNo More Tears- 2002 Reissue :- Personnel :Musicians* Ozzy Osbourne – vocals* Zakk Wylde – guitar* Bob Daisley – bass* Randy Castillo – drums* John Sinclair – keyboards, pianoAdditional personnel* Mike Inez – inspiration, musical direction...
, but edited for length
- Originally from No More Tears
- "Mama, I'm Coming HomeMama, I'm Coming Home"Mama, I'm Coming Home" is the third song on the 1991 Ozzy Osbourne heavy metal album No More Tears. The song is about his wife and manager, Sharon Osbourne, whom he nicknames "Mama", and his return to her following his imminent retirement. The song was co-written by Lemmy Kilmister, frontman of...
" (Osbourne, Wylde, Lemmy) - 4:11- Originally from No More Tears
- "I Don't Want to Change the World [Live]" (Osbourne, Wylde, Castillo, Lemmy) - 4:00
- Originally from Live and LoudLive and LoudLive & Loud is a live album recorded by Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, released on 28 June 1993 . At the time, it was to be Osbourne's final album....
- Originally from Live and Loud
- "I Just Want You" (Osbourne, Jim VallanceJim VallanceJames Douglas "Jim" Vallance, OC is a retired Canadian musician, songwriter, arranger and producer based out of Vancouver, British Columbia. He is best known as the former songwriting partner of Canadian international recording artist Bryan Adams...
) - 4:57- Originally from OzzmosisOzzmosis-Personnel:Musicians*Ozzy Osbourne – vocals*Zakk Wylde – guitar*Geezer Butler – bass*Deen Castronovo – drums*Rick Wakeman – keyboardsAdditional personnel*Michael Beinhorn – production, keyboards...
- Originally from Ozzmosis
- "Back on EarthBack on Earth"Back on Earth" was the main single from the 1997 album The Ozzman Cometh, reaching #3 in Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks. It was sung by heavy metal artist Ozzy Osbourne and written by Taylor Rhodes and Richard Supa....
" (Richard Supa, Taylor RhodesTaylor RhodesTaylor Laurence Rhodes is an American songwriter, producer, and musician from Nashville, Tennessee, most notable for his work with hard rock band Aerosmith since 1993.-Music Career:In 1993, he co-wrote the big hit "Cryin'" with Steven Tyler and Joe Perry...
) - 5:00- Unreleased track from OzzmosisOzzmosis-Personnel:Musicians*Ozzy Osbourne – vocals*Zakk Wylde – guitar*Geezer Butler – bass*Deen Castronovo – drums*Rick Wakeman – keyboardsAdditional personnel*Michael Beinhorn – production, keyboards...
sessions
- Unreleased track from Ozzmosis
On the 2002 re-release track 9, "Shot in the Dark", is replaced with "Miracle Man."
Bonus Disc
- "Fairies Wear BootsFairies Wear Boots"Fairies Wear Boots" is a Black Sabbath song from their 1970 album Paranoid.In the liner notes to Black Box: The Complete Original Black Sabbath , Tony Iommi states that the song title comes from when "Geezer and Ozzy were smoking outside and witnessed fairies in the park, running around wearing...
" (Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, Ward) - 6:53- Previously unreleased Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
track, recorded for BBC Radio 1, "The John Peel Sessions" program on 4/26/70, before Paranoid album release on 9/18/70 UK, 1/7/71 US.
- Previously unreleased Black Sabbath
- "Behind the Wall of Sleep" (Osbourne, Iommi, Butler, Ward) - 5:09
- Previously Unreleased Black SabbathBlack SabbathBlack Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
song, recorded for BBC Radio 1, "The John Peel Sessions" program on 4/26/70. Studio version on Black Sabbath
- Previously Unreleased Black Sabbath
- "Walk on WaterWalk on Water (Ozzy Osbourne song)"Walk on Water" is a song by British heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne produced by Moby. It was originally released on the soundtrack to the 1996 Mike Judge film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America. Though a demo version appears in the film itself, and on the second disc of Osbourne's 2005 compilation...
" - 4:19- Only in Japanese edition. Originally released on the soundtrack to the 1996 Mike JudgeMike JudgeMichael Craig Judge is an American animator, film director, writer and voice actor, best known as the creator and star of the animated television series Beavis and Butt-head , King of the Hill , and The Goode Family .He also wrote, directed and in some instances produced the films Beavis and...
film Beavis and Butt-Head Do AmericaBeavis and Butt-head Do AmericaBeavis and Butt-head Do America is a 1996 animated feature film, based on the TV series, Beavis and Butt-Head. It was produced by Paramount Pictures in association with Geffen Pictures and MTV Films, and co-written and directed by creator Mike Judge. The film grossed $20.11 million in its opening...
.
- Only in Japanese edition. Originally released on the soundtrack to the 1996 Mike Judge
- "Pictures of Matchstick MenPictures of Matchstick Men"Pictures of Matchstick Men" is the first hit single by Status Quo, released in November 1967. It reached number seven in the British charts, number eight in Canada, and number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming their only hit single in the United States...
" - 6:05- Only in Japanese edition. Released on the soundtrack to the 1997 Howard Stern bio-pic, Private PartsPrivate PartsPrivate Parts may refer to:*Intimate parts, such as the human sex organs*Private Parts , a 1993 autobiography by radio personality Howard Stern*Private Parts , a 1997 film based on Howard Stern's autobiography of the same name...
, cover of Status Quo 1968 song, recorded with Type O NegativeType O NegativeType O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
.
- Only in Japanese edition. Released on the soundtrack to the 1997 Howard Stern bio-pic, Private Parts
- 1988 Interview with Osbourne - 17:45
The interview found on this disc is from 1988 where Osbourne is interviewed about his latest album at the time (No Rest For The Wicked) and some other topics about his new guitarist, Zakk Wylde and his past days on Black Sabbath.
The tracks "Black Sabbath", "War Pigs", "Fairies Wear Boots", and "Behind the Wall of Sleep" are taken from a session for the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's John Peel
John Peel
John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE , known professionally as John Peel, was an English disc jockey, radio presenter, record producer and journalist. He was the longest-serving of the original BBC Radio 1 DJs, broadcasting regularly from 1967 until his death in 2004...
Sunday Show dated 4.26.70. "Fairies Wear Boots" and "War Pigs" are early versions of tracks that would finally be recorded on the Paranoid album and thus have different lyrics.
Charts
Album - Billboard (America)| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The Billboard 200 | 13 |
Singles - Billboard (America)
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | "Back on Earth" | 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... |
3 |
Sales accomplishments
RIAARecording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
certification
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
(United States)
| Date | Designation | Total Sales |
|---|---|---|
| January 14, 1998 |
Gold | 500,000 |
| January 14, 1998 |
Platinum | 1,000,000 |
| September 26, 2001 |
Double Platinum | 2,000,000 |
CRIA
Canadian Recording Industry Association
Music Canada is a Toronto-based, non-profit trade organization that was founded 9 April 1963 to represent the interests of companies that record, artists, manufacture, production, promotion and distribution of music in Canada...
certification
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
(Canada)
| Date | Designation | Total Sales |
|---|---|---|
| November 4, 1997 |
Gold | 50,000 |
| December 31, 1997 |
Platinum | 100,000 |