Tuesday, March 07, 2006
SPEAK OF THE DEVIL
It makes sense. Randy had just died. Sharon saw Ozzy headed for yet another breakdown. In order to keep the Crazy Train rolling while Ozzy could take a quick break, get a new band, and get back out there, new product was needed. Book the Ritz in NYC, record a couple nights of Sabbath tunes, get it in the bins fast.
I bought it. I listened to it quite a bit back in 82. I recently revisited it after many years of neglect. Rudy Sarzo sucks. His tone is limp and his playing a shambles. Tommy Aldridge sounds like he's having a blast just winging it. Brad Gillis.....too much whammy! In their defense, they probably didn't know they were gonna have to play all those Sabbath tunes. I'm sure 'Paranoid', 'Iron Man' and maybe 'War Pigs' were on the Ozzy tour set list, but 'Symptom of the Universe'? 'Children of the Grave'? Certainly Rudy, Tommy, and Brad hadn't been playing 'Never Say Die' very frequently.
Given the back story it becomes an interesting document of the time, and a fun listen. Ozzy comes off well. There's some suspicious doubling going on in the breakdown sections of 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' and elsewhere. Methinks Ozzy visited The Record Plant after The Ritz. I don't think Sharon wanted to pay for anybody else to do any fixin'.
All in all, I can't recommend the record to those who don't already have it. It's one for the faithful, but a fun revisit if your so inclined.
It makes sense. Randy had just died. Sharon saw Ozzy headed for yet another breakdown. In order to keep the Crazy Train rolling while Ozzy could take a quick break, get a new band, and get back out there, new product was needed. Book the Ritz in NYC, record a couple nights of Sabbath tunes, get it in the bins fast.
I bought it. I listened to it quite a bit back in 82. I recently revisited it after many years of neglect. Rudy Sarzo sucks. His tone is limp and his playing a shambles. Tommy Aldridge sounds like he's having a blast just winging it. Brad Gillis.....too much whammy! In their defense, they probably didn't know they were gonna have to play all those Sabbath tunes. I'm sure 'Paranoid', 'Iron Man' and maybe 'War Pigs' were on the Ozzy tour set list, but 'Symptom of the Universe'? 'Children of the Grave'? Certainly Rudy, Tommy, and Brad hadn't been playing 'Never Say Die' very frequently.
Given the back story it becomes an interesting document of the time, and a fun listen. Ozzy comes off well. There's some suspicious doubling going on in the breakdown sections of 'Sabbath Bloody Sabbath' and elsewhere. Methinks Ozzy visited The Record Plant after The Ritz. I don't think Sharon wanted to pay for anybody else to do any fixin'.
All in all, I can't recommend the record to those who don't already have it. It's one for the faithful, but a fun revisit if your so inclined.
Comments:
No, you'd never do anything like that...har har...
I saw the Jake E. Lee lineup just before 'Bark At The Moon' came out at the Mid Hudson Civic Center. Mr. L. Smart and myself got riped off by a scalper, so we sold our studded wristbands (no lie) for twenty bucks and bribed a security guy to let us in teh back door. We missed Vandenberg - oh well - Ozzy was great. No stage set - just a band with gear.
I saw the Jake E. Lee lineup just before 'Bark At The Moon' came out at the Mid Hudson Civic Center. Mr. L. Smart and myself got riped off by a scalper, so we sold our studded wristbands (no lie) for twenty bucks and bribed a security guy to let us in teh back door. We missed Vandenberg - oh well - Ozzy was great. No stage set - just a band with gear.
I caught the Jack E Lee line up, RATT opened.
Speak of the Devil is only for the avid fans. Your quote about Rudy was spot on.
I often wonder what kind of mega star Randy would have been.
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Speak of the Devil is only for the avid fans. Your quote about Rudy was spot on.
I often wonder what kind of mega star Randy would have been.
