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

2016 marks the 30th anniversary (time flies!) of OZZY OSBOURNE‘s 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’, hence, his weakest effort, I completely disagree.
It was Ozzy’s ‘more Melodic Hard Rock’ album, and I love it. Love the sonic approach.
Produced & engineered by my favorite knob-twiddler 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 this 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. This was because Osbourne had sole writing credit on all of Bark At The Moon, even though Lee and Daisley had written on the album.
And Daisley left in the middle of recording the album, resulting in talented Phil Soussan being hired for the bass slot.
In fact, it might have been Soussan being hired that led to the album being out of print. He co-wrote the classic, top 10 single ‘Shot In The Dark’, and while there’s been no official reason as to why the album hasn’t been re-released, arguments over royalties might have something to do with it.

‘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 the time? Sure. Not that ‘metal’? Yeah, but as a Melodic Hard Rock / Hair Metal sucker, I 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
.