It’s remarkable that this album came to light in the way it did. The recordings were done without any clear idea as to what they wanted to do with them, just how they were to be released, if at all. At the time Ozzy was still in a period of one-upmanship with his former band, trying to find a way to out manoeuvre them. In the weeks leading up to Randy’s death, Ozzy had wanted to do some shows that included only songs from his Black Sabbath days, to record and release in order to show that he was still more Black Sabbath than his former band. It was only when both Randy and drummer Tommy Aldridge refused to do so that it fell through. And then the accident occurred, Randy was gone, and this was what was left. So, it is truly very fortunate that these recordings were made. Imagine our music world since if we had not had this amazing album, showcasing just how brilliant Randy Rhoads the guitarist was in the live environment, playing on these brilliant songs that he helped to create?
And of course, it would be remiss not to mention the other parties involved. On the majority of the songs played on this album, the band consists of drummer Tommy Aldridge and bass guitarist Rudy Sarzo, and both deliver wonderful performances here. The day and age of live drum solo, in order to give the other band members a rest during proceedings, allows Tommy to show off his amazing skills on this album, and throughout his drum sound is top notch. Rudy’s performance is excellent here too, acting as the lineal standard whenever Randy’s guitar moves off into his own projections of the song. On the two songs at the end of the album, “Goodbye to Romance” and “No Bone Movies”, which are from a different gig a year earlier, original Blizzard of Ozz members, drummer Lee Kerslake and bassist Bob Daisley are playing. And then there is Ozzy himself. It’s interesting to hear him for the majority of this album. By the time this was recorded, he had recovered from the loss he felt of leaving Black Sabbath, his reputation had been restored by the albums “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary of a Madman” and the writing and performing efforts of Randy, Bob and Lee, and you can hear that confidence again flowing through him, that he is back on top of the world and his fans are there for him. For him, the world was once again his oyster. All of this never ceases to bring a tinge of sadness when listening to the album, knowing that it was the last we would hear of this band in its current lineup.
And of course, it would be remiss not to mention the other parties involved. On the majority of the songs played on this album, the band consists of drummer Tommy Aldridge and bass guitarist Rudy Sarzo, and both deliver wonderful performances here. The day and age of live drum solo, in order to give the other band members a rest during proceedings, allows Tommy to show off his amazing skills on this album, and throughout his drum sound is top notch. Rudy’s performance is excellent here too, acting as the lineal standard whenever Randy’s guitar moves off into his own projections of the song. On the two songs at the end of the album, “Goodbye to Romance” and “No Bone Movies”, which are from a different gig a year earlier, original Blizzard of Ozz members, drummer Lee Kerslake and bassist Bob Daisley are playing. And then there is Ozzy himself. It’s interesting to hear him for the majority of this album. By the time this was recorded, he had recovered from the loss he felt of leaving Black Sabbath, his reputation had been restored by the albums “Blizzard of Ozz” and “Diary of a Madman” and the writing and performing efforts of Randy, Bob and Lee, and you can hear that confidence again flowing through him, that he is back on top of the world and his fans are there for him. For him, the world was once again his oyster. All of this never ceases to bring a tinge of sadness when listening to the album, knowing that it was the last we would hear of this band in its current lineup.
When you listen to all of these songs, I still wonder at how bands go about doing their set lists, and then decide what they are going to play and what they are not. Obviously for this release, more than five years after they were recorded, it came out to showcase the marvellous talents of the guitarist. And they all do. “I Don’t Know” is a great opening track, coming in as it does after the band’s intro music, ballsy and ballistic straight from the get-go. Followed by its sister track from the same album, and this version of “Crazy Train” is still probably the ultimate of all of the versions live and studio released over the years. Randy just smokes on guitar throughout, and it is the perfect tribute song for him. But then you have two just majestic songs that also not only showcase his guitar, but the awesome bass lines and improving melody lines of Ozzy’s vocals. “Believer” has such an amazing tone and atmosphere, but this live version just brings it to life more than the studio version does, and it has always been one of my favourites. And then this is followed by “Mr Crowley” which even after all these years perhaps highlights just how good Randy was, his guitar playing on this track is that segue from metal to classical that it feels like he was looking for. Both of these songs gell those pieces together, and are brilliantly done here.
I love that they also did “Revelation Mother Earth” and “Steal Away the Night” back to back like they did on the album, because they fit together so perfectly in that way, and both sound sensational here. “Steal Away the Night” is one of the most underrated songs in the Ozzy Osbourne discography, a song to me that would be a sensational opening to a gig. “Suicide Solution” is also terrific, and is where Randy’s guitar solo is inserted into, which works well in the fact that this is, of course, his tribute. We then have the three Sabbath songs to close out with, which sound terrific. This version of “Children of the Grave” is one of my favourites, and Randy does an outstanding job of playing his own version without trying to pinpoint copy Tony Iommi’s guitar but yet remaining faithful to the original. It is superb.
Getting back to my opening point about set lists, I guess my one regret here is the songs that the band didn’t play. “Over the Mountain”, “S.A.T.O”, “You Can’t Kill Rock n Roll”, “Diary of a Madman”… but that album didn’t come out for another six months after these live recordings were made and so the songs were not played. More is the pity… I just would have loved to have heard Randy play these live.
I love that they also did “Revelation Mother Earth” and “Steal Away the Night” back to back like they did on the album, because they fit together so perfectly in that way, and both sound sensational here. “Steal Away the Night” is one of the most underrated songs in the Ozzy Osbourne discography, a song to me that would be a sensational opening to a gig. “Suicide Solution” is also terrific, and is where Randy’s guitar solo is inserted into, which works well in the fact that this is, of course, his tribute. We then have the three Sabbath songs to close out with, which sound terrific. This version of “Children of the Grave” is one of my favourites, and Randy does an outstanding job of playing his own version without trying to pinpoint copy Tony Iommi’s guitar but yet remaining faithful to the original. It is superb.
Getting back to my opening point about set lists, I guess my one regret here is the songs that the band didn’t play. “Over the Mountain”, “S.A.T.O”, “You Can’t Kill Rock n Roll”, “Diary of a Madman”… but that album didn’t come out for another six months after these live recordings were made and so the songs were not played. More is the pity… I just would have loved to have heard Randy play these live.
Randy Rhoads had come and gone before I knew about him, and before I had begun listening to metal music at all. That came a few short years later when, as you do, your group of mates at school all gravitate towards the same kind of music, and begin to share their loves into the conglomerate. About twelve months before this album was released, perhaps had been even thought about being released, one of my best friends – again, my metal music dealer that I have mentioned in past episodes – came back from an expedition to the second hand record stores in Sydney rather excited. He had come across an album that was enclosed in just a white cover, with the simple “Iron Maiden – LIVE!” printed across it. Without any clue as to what was actually on the album he made the purchase, brought it home, put it on… and thought ‘wow, that doesn’t sound like Iron Maiden….’
What he had actually found… was the recordings that ended becoming the basis of this album. Sure, the official release was cleaned up and mastered, but he had essentially found this album, and as a result those of us in our listening circle at Kiama High were listening to this album for pretty much 18 months before we actually got to buy this album. Which was cool before we knew this album was going to be released, but was soooo much cooler once it had been announced, and we heard it for the first time and thought ‘far out we’ve had this for ages!’ I wish I still had that cassette, but it died after being listened to a thousand times.
But I still had this album, and I still play it frequently, because how can you not? Not only because the songs are awesome and the versions are better, but once again because it reminds me of those simpler times back in my last couple of years of high school, when the world seemed a much simpler place.
It is 40 years to the day that Randy was killed while sleeping in a bus that a light plane then flew into, and it is 35 years to the day that this album was released as his Tribute. I don’t think there is a better way to remember his guitar playing by, than to take an hour and a half of your day, put this album on, and let Randy Rhoads amaze you all over again.
What he had actually found… was the recordings that ended becoming the basis of this album. Sure, the official release was cleaned up and mastered, but he had essentially found this album, and as a result those of us in our listening circle at Kiama High were listening to this album for pretty much 18 months before we actually got to buy this album. Which was cool before we knew this album was going to be released, but was soooo much cooler once it had been announced, and we heard it for the first time and thought ‘far out we’ve had this for ages!’ I wish I still had that cassette, but it died after being listened to a thousand times.
But I still had this album, and I still play it frequently, because how can you not? Not only because the songs are awesome and the versions are better, but once again because it reminds me of those simpler times back in my last couple of years of high school, when the world seemed a much simpler place.
It is 40 years to the day that Randy was killed while sleeping in a bus that a light plane then flew into, and it is 35 years to the day that this album was released as his Tribute. I don’t think there is a better way to remember his guitar playing by, than to take an hour and a half of your day, put this album on, and let Randy Rhoads amaze you all over again.
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