OZZY OSBOURNE – The Ultimate Sin [LTD Japanese miniLP remastered] Out Of Print *HQ*

You keep asking for more OZZY OSBOURNE, and here’s the Prince of Darkness fourth album “The Ultimate Sin“. This remastered Japanese Limited Edition was the only released on a Cardboard Sleeve miniLP replica, now out of print and highly sought after by collectors.
While many, including Ozzy, view “The Ultimate Sin” as ‘not heavy enough’, we completely disagree. It was Ozzy’s ‘more Melodic Hard Rock’ album, and we love it. Love the sonic approach. And we love the classic song ‘Shot In The Dark’.
Produced & engineered by one of the best knob-twiddlers from the ’80s – Ron Nevison – who kept the sound in step with the times (1986) providing a wonderful glossy texture, the album hit new commercial heights for Osbourne after its release peaking at No. 6 and going platinum before the year was out.

It was, in many ways, a transitional album for Ozzy. With him having been checked for detox into the Betty Ford Clinic for a while, guitarist Jake E. Lee and bassist Bob Daisley worked on material while he was away, presenting him with a lot of music upon his release.
And in the time between previous album Bark At The Moon and 1986, hair metal had gotten much more popular, so Ozzy adjusted by making “The Ultimate Sin” more mainstream than his first three solo albums.

“The Ultimate Sin” was Jake E. Lee second album with Ozzy, and refused to contribute with his penned songs until he had a contract in front of him. And Daisley left in the middle of recording the album, resulting in talented Phil Soussan being hired for the bass slot. He co-wrote the classic, top 10 single ‘Shot In The Dark’.
Though no official reason was given, rumors circulated that an ongoing legal struggle with Soussan over “Shot in the Dark” was responsible for the album’s failure to be re-issued in 2002 with the rest of Ozzy’s catalog.
So this Japanese SHM-CD uses the 1995 remastered version, which is missing four measures of music between the first chorus and second verse of “Shot in the Dark” found on the original CDs, vinyl LP, and cassettes.

”Shot In The Dark” by the way, is easily the best song on the album. It’s the more commercial song in Ozzy’s catalog, a Melodic Hard Rock gem, even with an AORish feel thanks to Nevison’s polished production. And the accompanying music video, in which a girl at an Ozzy concert transforms into the girl on the Boris Vallejo-illustrated album cover, is cheesy fun.
Off the strength of the single, the album quickly went platinum, going double platinum some years later.

But there’s more on this record than just that single. The title track is a good way to start off the album, but ‘Killer Of Giants’ is a monster song. Starting off with an acoustic intro and building from there, it’s Jake E. Lee’s finest work on an Ozzy album.
Other numbers like ‘Lightning Strikes’ and ‘Never Know Why’ are great as well, with driving melodic riffs, lovely keys, pumping bass lines and clean vocals by Ozzy.

A product of its time? Sure. Not that ‘metal’? Yeah, but being Melodic Hard Rock / Hair Metal fans, we love “The Ultimate Sin”. And you should too.
It was Ozzy’s last album with Jake E. Lee playing guitar, and he deliver some of the best, flashing guitar riffs & solos from his career. You can hear why Lee was part of pre-Ratt years before.
This Japanese Limited Edition sounds great presenting a high quality package including the original LP artwork, sleeves, etc. – an out of print version fetching ridiculous prices on eBay.
Highly Recommended

ＳＯＮＹ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ 【EICP～783】
ＨＲ／ＨＭ · 「 罪と罰 」

01 – The Ultimate Sin
02 – Secret Loser
03 – Never Know Why
04 – Thank God For The Bomb
05 – Never
06 – Lightning Strikes
07 – Killer Of Giants
08 – Fool Like You
09 – Shot In The Dark

Ozzy Osbourne – vocals
Jake E. Lee – guitar
Phil Soussan – bass
Randy Castillo – drums
Mike Moran – keyboards

Out Of Print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/EICP-783