It is nearly impossible to overstate the importance of Ozzy in the metal community in my HS years. Randy Roads had only been dead about a year (1982), and the Black Sabbath cannon and the first two Ozzy solo LPs were in high rotation on everyone's personal playlist. Even as the metal community divided over glam/hair metal vs. thrash/black metal, everyone loved Ozzy.
Last month, as I listened to Ozzy do four songs from "Blizzard of Ozz", I was surprised at the wave of nostalgia I felt listening to "I Don't Know", "Mr. Crowley". and "Suicide Solution". You still hear "Crazy Train" on the radio regularly, and I've continued to listen to Black Sabbath to this day, but it's been maybe 30-40 years since I've heard the others? Why don't I listen to these LPs more often?
To mark Ozzy's passing, I thought about reviewing either "Blizzard of Ozz" (better singles?) or "Diary of a Madman" (start-to-finish, a more solid LP?), but I'm not quite ready to revisit them. Instead, I'm going to highlight the fifth song last month's solo set, 1991's "Mama, I'm Coming Home". To be honest, it's not even a favorite song of mine. Ozzy arguably invented the metal ballad genre with 1972's "Changes", but I just never cared for this this one compared to, say, "Goodbye to Romance" or "So Tired". But thematically, it's an obvious choice in retrospect, in part because Ozzy was clearly emotionally moved while singing it last month.
It's safe to say, there will never be another Ozzy.
"Mama, I'm Coming Home" -- studio, live (Back to the Beginning, July 2025; watch this version instead)
Bonus link: Drew made me aware of this great roots/Americana cover by Larkin Poe, from their 2020 LP "Kindred Spirits". This version made me think that what I really don't like about Ozzy's version is the modish over-the-top production.
Bonus fact: This is one of a handful of songs that Ozzy co-wrote with Lemmy.
