OZZY OSBOURNE – The Other Side Of Ozzy Osbourne [Japan-only vinyl] (1985) *HQ*

320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2

One of our contributors tipped us off to this remarkable release: OZZY OSBOURNE‘s album “The Other Side Of Ozzy Osbourne” only released in Japan on vinyl & cassette back in 1985.
This obscure, ultra-rare release is quite a find for fans of Ozzy — it’s essentially a B-sides compilation of Osbourne’s early solo work (from 1980 up to 1984). This the only release that does not feature a logo of Ozzy. Side A features music with Randy Rhoads, and Side B with Jake E. Lee.
This is a HQ vinyl-rip, great sound. The LP was released with a two page informational / lyrics insert plus 3 album sized photo pinups: images include Ozzy Osbourne, Jake ‘E’ Lee and Randy Rhoads. All scans are in excellent quality.

And what makes ”The Other Side of Ozzy Osbourne” a must-have are the five tracks that feature guitar legend Randy Rhoads (three live, two outtakes). When Rhoads died in early 1982, he unfortunately had only two official albums to his credit (1980’s Blizzard of Ozz and 1981’s Diary of a Madman). Subsequently, fans have been subjected to abysmal-sounding bootlegs of material not up to the high standards set by these two classics.
Even with the release of the Ozzy/Randy posthumous Tribute live album and numerous Osbourne anthologies, these tracks have managed to slip through the cracks. “You, Looking at Me Looking at You” is a rocking outtake from the Blizzard of Ozz sessions and contains a classic Rhoads’ guitar solo. The other track, “You Said It All,” was never properly recorded in the studio, and only this in-concert take exists (but it deserves to be heard because of its powerful guitar riff). And while the three live Randy-era songs are pleasures to hear, similar versions were later featured on the above-mentioned Tribute album.

The other five tracks showcased on “The Other Side Of Ozzy Osbourne” feature Randy’s replacement, Jake E. Lee; while Lee only lasted for two studio albums himself, he was a very original and talented player.
For proof, just give a listen to his awesome playing on the killer studio track “One Up the ‘B’ Side” and the live version of “Bark at the Moon,” where he simply shreds.
It’s a mystery that this album was never released in countries besides Japan, since it contains a wealth of material that many Ozzy fans don’t even know exists to this day. It’s never been released on CD either, so happy hunting in used record stores (being sold for $600 now!)
HIGHLY Recommended

ＣＢＳ ～ ＳＯＮＹ ＭＵＳＩＣ ＪＡＰＡＮ
(Jet, 28AP 2982)

01 – Mr. Crowley (Live)
02 – I Don’t Know (Live)
03 – Suicide Solution (Live)
04 – You, Looking At Me Looking At You
05 – You Said It All
06 – Bark At The Moon (Live)
07 – One Up The ‘B’ Side
08 – Spiders
09 – Paranoid (Live)
10 – Suicide Solution (Live)

Tracks 1.2.3. were recorded in Southampton, England, Sept 1980
Tracks 6.9.10 were recorded in Salt Lake City, Utah, 18 March 1984

Expensive:
www.ebay.com/itm/405428656421