Blizzard of Ozz : Remastered And Expanded

ファースト・アルバム『Blizzard Of Ozz』（ブリザード・オブ・オズ～血塗られた英雄伝説）がファン待望のオリジナル音源で復活！ ファースト及びセカンド・アルバムは、“リズム・トラック差し替え問題”としてファンの間でも有名な2枚であり、02年のリマスターの際に、ベースとドラムのリズム・トラックを当時バンドに在籍していたロバート・トゥルージロ（B）、マイク・ボーディン（Dr）のプレイに差し替えられたという経緯があった。この度、30年の時を経て、オリジナル音源であるボブ・デイズリー（B）、リー・カースレイク（Dr）のトラックでオリジナル・アナログ・マスターより最新リマスタリング音源として復刻！しかも3曲の未発表音源入り。
SMJ

Rolling Stone (p.72) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he locomotion of 'Crazy Train' proved indelible..." Uncut (8/02, p.112) - 3.5 out of 5 - "...Surprisingly melodic..." Kerrang (Magazine) (p.53) - "[A] work of genius....[With] some superb songs, many of which are now regarded as timeless classics." Record Collector (magazine) (pp.98-99) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "The obvious hits are 'Crazy Train,' 'Mr Crowley' and 'Revelation'..."

Ozzy Osbourne's 1981 solo debut Blizzard of Ozz was a masterpiece of neo-classical metal that, along with Van Halen's first album, became a cornerstone of '80s metal guitar. Upon its release, there was considerable doubt that Ozzy could become a viable solo attraction. Blizzard of Ozz demonstrated not only his ear for melody, but also an unfailing instinct for assembling top-notch backing bands. Onetime Quiet Riot guitarist Randy Rhoads was a startling discovery, arriving here as a unique, fully formed talent. Rhoads was just as responsible as Osbourne -- perhaps even more so -- for the album's musical direction, and his application of classical guitar techniques and scales rewrote the rulebook just as radically as Eddie Van Halen had. Rhoads could hold his own as a flashy soloist, but his detailed, ambitious compositions and arrangements revealed his true depth, as well as creating a sense of doomy, sinister elegance built on Ritchie Blackmore's minor-key innovations. All of this may seem to downplay the importance of Ozzy himself, which shouldn't be the case at all. The music is a thoroughly convincing match for his lyrical obsession with the dark side (which was never an embrace, as many conservative watchdogs assumed); so, despite its collaborative nature, it's unequivocally stamped with Ozzy's personality. What's more, the band is far more versatile and subtle than Sabbath, freeing Ozzy from his habit of singing in unison with the guitar (and proving that he had an excellent grasp of how to frame his limited voice). Nothing short of revelatory, Blizzard of Ozz deservedly made Ozzy a star, and it set new standards for musical virtuosity in the realm of heavy metal. ~ Steve Huey

元ブラック・サバスのオジーが、元クワイエット・ライオットの故ランディー･ローズを起用してのファーストアルバム。今もなお高いクォリティを感じさせるランディの美しいギターとオジーならではの世界観が見事に融合した完成度の高い作品。 (C)yajt