Top 10 Best Ozzy Osbourne Songs Of All-Time

Ozzy Osbourne has already done 15 tracks for his new album

The Prince of Darkness has had a career spanning 54 years, releasing 22 studios as part of Black Sabbath and his own solo band. While he is winding down his work due to health reasons, at the age of 72 he still has plenty to give to the world and is still writing music and touring.

Here are the top 10 best Ozzy Osbourne songs of all time.

10. Ordinary Man – Ordinary Man (2020)

While many would argue that Ozzy Osbourne is past his prime, which is understandable as the Prince of Darkness is now 72 years old, his latest album Ordinary Man showed that he still has songs left in him. The album’s title track features a who’s who of iconic musicians, which includes Elton Joh on piano and providing co-lead vocals, Chad Smith from the Red Hot Chilli Peppers on drums, and Slash and Duff McKagen from Guns N’ Roses on guitar and bass.

9. Dreamer – Down To Earth (2001)

If you were just getting into music in the early 2000s, Dreamer is potentially the first Ozzy Osbourne song that you ever heard, it was for me. Reaching 18th on the UK Singles Chart, Dreamer has been described as Ozzy Osbourne’s version of John Lennon’s “Imagine”, and it is easy to hear the similarities, which could explain why it has become one of his most popular songs, with 69 million plays on Spotify, showing the lasting impact that the song has had.

8. Shot in the Dark – The Ultimate Sin (1986)

The Ultimate Sin is an often-overlooked album, despite reaching double Platinum in the US. The album would end up being the final album that Jake E. Lee would perform on before being replaced by Zakk Wylde. Despite being a very good song, Shot in the Dark is often left off various compilations, with Osbourne claiming that he hates The Ultimate Sin album.

7. Miracle Man – No Rest for the Wicked (1988)

Miracle Man was a song aimed at televangelist Jimmy Swaggart, who had been critical about Ozzy Osbourne’s music and performances before finding himself at the centre of a prostitution scandal in 1988. The No Rest for the Wicked marks the debut album of guitarist Zakk Wylde, who would become a key part of Ozzy’s music and band for the next couple of decades, with him still performing with the Prince of Dark today.

6. Suicide Solution – Blizzard Of Ozz (1980)

Perhaps the most controversial song the Prince Of Darkness has ever penned, the song caused a lawsuit to be filed against the singer after 19-year-old John Daniel McCollum committed suicide after allegedly listening to the song. However, the lawsuit was dropped after the plaintiffs failed to provide evidence that Osbourne was responsible.

5. No More Tears – No More Tears (1991)

Created during a jam session, Osbourne referred to the song as a “gift from God”, No More Tears is Ozzy’s longest studio song, coming in at 7:23, with an edited single version clocking in at 5:54. No More Tears is a much slower and groove-driven song than we’re used to hearing from the Prince Of Darkness, incorporating elements of glam metal and prog rock, the song has been a long-lasting hit with fans, currently with over 71 million plays on Spotify, showing its legacy and impact 30 years later.

4. Mama, I’m Coming Home – No More Tears (1991)

It is unusual to hear a ballad from Ozzy Osbourne, what is even more strange is that Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead penned the lyrics for the song. Despite being a slower and softer song, it is still full of shred licks and plenty of pinch harmonics from Zakk Wylde, would we expect anything less? Mama, I’m Coming Home is Ozzy Osbourne’s only solo single to reach the top 40 in the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, with his only other appearances being his duet with Lita Ford, “Close My Eyes Forever”, and the 2019 Post Malone song “Take What You Want”, which both reached number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

3. Bark at the Moon – Bark At The Moon (1983)

Bark At The Moon was the first album to feature Jake E. Lee following the tragic death of Randy Rhoads in 1982 following a plane crash. With Ozzy’s future being in jeopardy, with the singer unsure whether he wanted to continue to make music without Randy, Lee helped Ozzy through the grieving process by helping him pen a new album. Through the years there has been much controversy surrounding their relationship, with Lee claiming to help write most of the album, while Osbourne received full writing credits after Sharon Osbourne presented him with a contract stating he had no legal rights to any of the music.

Despite the legal issues surrounding the album, Bark at the Moon is one of Ozzy Osbourne’s standout songs and showed that, while the future looked bleak without Rhoads, Ozzy still had plenty left in the tank to give to the world.

2. Mr Crowley – Blizzard Of Ozz (1980)

Ranking 23rd in Gibson’s top-heavy metal songs of all time, Mr Crowley is the second single from the Blizzard Of Ozz album, the first being Crazy Train. The song is one of the most ominous and dark metal songs of the time, with the lyrics centring around Aleister Crowley, an English occultist and ceremonial magician who had founded the Thelemite religion in the early 20th century. The song’s solo ranked 28th in Guitar World’s best guitar solos list, and we can see why. Many metal guitarists see Mr Crowley as a key song to learn in their journey to becoming a musician, with Randy Rhoads incorporating classical elements into the song, as well as being a great lesson in playing fast.

As a young guitarist, I discovered this song through a cover version and tab in Total Guitar magazine and was instantly blown away by the song, turning me on to Ozzy Osbourne and opening the door for a whole new genre and style to learn and take inspiration from.

1. Crazy Train – Blizzard Of Ozz (1980)

Released in 1980, Crazy Train was Ozzy Osbourne’s first solo single following his departure from Black Sabbath in 1979. Following his departure from the band, he set about putting together his own solo band, which included the now legendary Randy Rhoads, former guitarist for Quiet Riot. Crazy Train has become an iconic song, despite not initially charting very high, reaching 49 in the UK Singles Chart. Since its release the song has gone 4x Platinum in the US, selling over 4 million copies, and the ringtone even went 2x Platinum with 1,750,000 sales.

The future may have looked uncertain for Ozzy Osbourne following his departure from Black Sabbath, but we’re sure that doubt lifted once the Blizzard of Ozz was released.

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