To exit a successful band and be forced to proceed as a solo artist can be a daunting task, but it is one that paid off for Ozzy Osbourne, who has created a career that has become so accomplished, it is in the category of the Michael Jackson, as he is also in the Hall of Fame for his solo career as well, making him a two-time inductee.
Ozzy's venture into an accomplished musical journey began all the way back in 1967. After Black Sabbath was properly formed in 1968, his life would never be the same. With hits like "Paranoid," "Iron Man," and "War Pigs," Black Sabbath became ingrained in pop culture, and as the lead singer, so did Ozzy. Even on his own, Ozzy continued to find new ways to make his empire as powerful as possible. He surrounded himself with great musicians, pursued various business opportunities, and had a reality show that endeared the world to his family, but perhaps the one thing that has kept him in the spotlight more than anything, is his magical voice, which has entertained generations with anthem after anthem.
10 Mr. Crowley
Album: Blizzard Of Ozz (1980)
On his first solo album in 1980, Ozzy decided to tackle a subject that many bands had broached before. Aleister Crowley, who was a famous English occultist, had previously been referenced by the likes of fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and David Bowie. Now it was Ozzy's turn, and this track was heavy metal at its finest, featuring some of the greatest guitar work by Randy Rhoads.
One of the most iconic pieces in music history was created when Ozzy said "Mr. Crowley," and the instrumental kicked in. This is arguably the most notoriety Crowley ever received, as this song has been considered one of the greatest heavy metal songs of all time. To this day, the track remains one of Ozzy's most popular. It was a staple of his early solo career, and has subsequently become a necessary addition when discussing his greatest hits.
9 Bark at the Moon
Album: Bark at the Moon (1983)
During the early 1980s, plenty of forms of entertainment were getting in on the werewolf trend. One of the most famous examples was the 1981 movie, An American Werewolf in London. Following that, Michael Jackson produced a music video based on the same premise for "Thriller." Ozzy developed his own version for his album, Bark at the Moon, and its title track, which became the first single released from his third studio album.
While this album is ed for the song and its unforgettable music video, it was also Ozzy's first album since the death of his guitarist Randy Rhoads.
The song would end up at number 12 on Billboard's US Mainstream Rock chart, and it kept Ozzy's solo career buzzing after he had just faced tragedy. While this album is ed for the song and its unforgettable music video, it was also Ozzy's first album since the death of his guitarist Randy Rhoads. Taking his place was Jake E. Lee, but "Bark at the Moon" was Lee's opportunity to showcase some of what he was capable of.
8 I Don’t Wanna Stop
Album: Black Rain (2007)
One of the most iconic duos of all time between a singer and a guitar player is Ozzy Osbourne and Zakk Wylde. The two first teamed up in 1988 for Ozzy's fifth studio album, No Rest for the Wicked. They would then collaborate on three more albums, before Wylde stepped away for a few years. However, in 2007, Wylde was back, and Ozzy was ready to create magic with him again. The world's first introduction to their reunion was "I Don't Wanna Stop."
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This tune was symbolic of Ozzy's career. No matter what had come his way, he had shown no signs of quitting. This track was guitar-heavy, it was catchy, and it had a vibe similar to some of Ozzy's earlier work. The song became another hit for them as it reached number one on Billboard's US Mainstream Rock chart. In pop culture, it was used multiple times by WWE and on Madden 08. Ultimately, it helped Black Rain become a gold-certified album in the United States.
7 Shot In The Dark
Album: The Ultimate Sin (1986)
Although Jake E. Lee was only with Ozzy for two albums, with The Ultimate Sin being his last, he was able to leave his mark with the song "Shot in the Dark." It was arguably his greatest guitar work while with Ozzy and it helped make the song magical. The catchy riffs are iconic, and the solo he delivers is phenomenal. It demonstrated the power of a guitar to elevate lyrics from being just another tune into an anthem.
Not only did the song reach the number 10 spot on Billboard's US Mainstream Rock chart, but it also broke through onto Billboard's Hot 100.
Not only did "Shot in the Dark" reach the number 10 spot on Billboard's US Mainstream Rock chart, but it also broke through onto Billboard's Hot 100, which was a huge accomplishment for Ozzy and his band. It also received a lot of play on MTV and all the publicity it garnered worked. The Ultimate Sin is now 2x platinum in the United States, so no matter what the relationship between Ozzy and Jake E. Lee has turned out to be, they will always have this incredible accomplishment together.
6 Ordinary Man
Album: Ordinary Man (2020)
Throughout his legendary career, Ozzy has collaborated with many incredible artists. His iconic status has made him a favorite partner of those in the music industry, particularly in this latter part of his career. In 2020, he debuted his 12th studio album, Ordinary Man. The title track showcased a remarkable collection of talent. On vocals, Ozzy was ed by Elton John. On guitar were Slash and Duff McKagan of Guns N' Roses, and on drums was Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
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This power ballad will always be ed for Ozzy's vulnerable lyrics, but it has also achieved significant success. Not only did it finish fourth on Billboard's US Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart, but it also won the 2021 Planet Rock award for Best British Single. In addition, it has helped the 2020 album become gold-certified, and may help it go platinum in the future, especially since this record also features the likes of Post Malone and Travis Scott.
5 No More Tears
Album: No More Tears (1991)
With almost 232 million streams on Spotify and over 105 million views on YouTube, the title track from Ozzy's 1991 album, No More Tears, is a pure heavy metal track that still holds up to this day. This was prime Ozzy, and when you watch the video, you see the rock star at his finest. Additionally, you get to see a young Zakk Wylde, who absolutely shreds on guitar during this track and adds a sound that is unmistakably his.
Another cool element to this track is the piano that comes in toward the middle. This adds a unique vibe to the song that creates a heightened suspense. It may be surprising that the song only reached 71 on the Billboard's US Mainstream Rock chart, but it could be because of the other great songs that also came from this album. Thankfully, the legend of this tune has only grown with time, and it seems a larger audience has come to see just how special it is.
4 Over The Mountain
Album: Diary Of A Man (1981)
Ozzy began his solo career with Randy Rhoads as his guitarist, but it only lasted until his sophomore album, Diary of a Man, in 1981, as Rhoads died only a few months after the record's release in 1982. Although their time together was cut short, the two albums they created together were legendary. Currently, this 1981 release is certified 3x platinum in the United States.
Randy Rhoads died in a plane crash on March 19, 1982, at age 25 while on tour with Ozzy Osbourne.
One of the best tracks from it is "Over the Mountain." This song, which follows a classic rock structure, truly showcases Rhoads' amazing skill on guitar, especially in his solo. Additionally, Ozzy's vocals are powerful and the aspects that have made him stand apart from other artists shine through. Unfortunately, fans did not get more work between Ozzy and Rhoads, but they are known as being so iconic together, that it shows just how good what they created was.
3 Mama, I’m Coming Home
Album: No More Tears (1991)
Ozzy's 1991 album, No More Tears, not only included the famous title track and the Grammy Award-winning "I Don't Want to Change the World," but also the classic "Mama, I'm Coming Home." This is one of Ozzy's most vulnerable and honest songs ever produced, and he did everything he could to ensure the track was perfect. First, he enlisted Motörhead's legendary frontman, Lemmy Kilmister, to help write the lyrics. Lemmy has written his fair share of hits, and this was no different.
Regarding the music video, two recorded versions were made. Ozzy was not a fan of the first video, feeling that it didn't fit the song. A second version was created, which featured similar effects to those in Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" music video (both were directed by Samuel Bayer). Ultimately, this deeply personal song turned out perfectly.
2 Patient Number 9
Album: Patient Number 9 (2022)
Patient Number 9 was Ozzy's 13th studio album as a solo artist. This marked an incredible accomplishment for the singer, who at one time was simply hoping to continue his career. The record won Best Rock Album at the 65th Grammy Awards. A significant contributor to the album's success was the title track, which also received Grammy nominations. It is an incredible tune that features the legendary Jeff Beck on guitar, Metallica's Robert Trujillo on bass, and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers on drums.
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The track itself is a great heavy metal song that sees Ozzy contemplating his mortality. It represents yet another anthem in his catalog. Additionally, the music video adds to the allure of the song as it alternates between reality and animation. Throughout it, there is a wealth of imagery that serves as callbacks to Ozzy's legendary career. It feels like a walk down memory lane, and is a perfect representation of the Hall of Famer.
1 Crazy Train
Album: Blizzard Of Ozz (1980)
In what was one of the greatest ways to start his solo career, Ozzy Osbourne created one of the most legendary heavy metal songs ever, "Crazy Train." Ozzy's solo career needed a strong start after he exited Black Sabbath and was replaced by Ronnie James Dio. This was his first single from Blizzard of Ozz, and it performed well, as it landed at the ninth spot on Billboard's US Mainstream Rock chart. In fact, the song is so great, it has charted in multiple years following its debut, with the most recent occurrence in 2022, where it finished the year as the 21st most-streamed hard rock song.
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Perhaps what makes the song resonate across generations is its iconic guitar riff. Randy Rhoads created something that is easily recognizable and has served as an inspiration to many up-and-coming guitarists. With over 763 million streams, it is Ozzy's top track on Spotify. The song itself is 2x platinum, which only adds to the legend of the album, which is 5x platinum in the United States. With this, Ozzy showed the world exactly how to kick off a solo career.