Blizzard of Ozz is Ozzy Osbourne’s debut studio album. Which was released on September 12, 1980 in the UK and March 27, 1981 in the United States. The album marked Osbourne’s first release after leaving Black Sabbath in 1979. Blizzard of Ozz is the first of two studio albums Osbourne made with guitarist Randy Rhoads before his death in 1982.
The album tracks “Crazy Train” and “Mr. Crowley” were released as singles in 1980.
In a live-in rehearsal guitarist Randy Rhoads, bassist Bob Daisley and Ozzy Osbourne wrote much of the album. With a friend of Osbourne’s named Barry Screnage serving as the group’s drummer. Screnage was never considered for the group’s permanent drummer position and had no involvement in the songwriting process.
The band produced demos of the songs “I Don’t Know”, “Crazy Train”, “Goodbye to Romance” and “You Looking at Me Looking at You” in Birmingham with ex-Lone Star drummer Dixie Lee. They had thought Lee would be a permanent member. But “he wasn’t the final piece of the puzzle” bassist Daisley explains.
After testing numerous drummers former Uriah Heep member Lee Kerslake was recruited as the regular drummer. The entire lineup went to Clearwell Castle in Gloucestershire for six days to practice and allow Kerslake time to master the new tunes. A week later, they went to Ridge Farm Studio to start recording.
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