Description

2011 picture disc release with die-cut cover

Ozzy second solo album, the follow-up to the masterful Blizzard of Ozz, Diary of a Madman was rushed into existence by a band desperate to finish its next album before an upcoming tour. It was released on November 7, 1981. As a result, it doesn’t feel quite as fully realized, a couple of the ballads are overly long and slow the momentum, and Randy Rhoads’ guide solo on ‘Little Dolls’ was never replaced with a version intended for the public. Yet despite the fact that some songs could have used a longer gestation period, there are numerous moments of brilliance on Diary of a Madman, at least half of it stands up to anything on Blizzard, and the title track is a jaw-droppingly intricate epic that represents the most classically influenced work of Rhoads’ all-too-brief career. It’s not uncommon to find fans who prefer Diary to Blizzard, since it sets an even more mystical, eerie mood, and since Rhoads’ playing is progressing to an even higher level. One can only wonder what the Osbourne/Rhoads collaboration might have produced in the future, had Rhoads not been killed in a bizarre and sadly avoidable plane crash. Although bassist Rudy Sarzo and drummer Tommy Aldridge are credited in the liner notes and pictured on the inner sleeve, it was bassist Bob Daisley and drummer Lee Kerslake who performed all bass and drum parts on the original release. The RIAA certified Diary of a Madman Gold (500,000 units sold) on January 04 1982, Platinum (1 million units sold) on May 10 1982, Multi-platinum (2 million units, known unofficially as Double Platinum) on August 11 1992 and MP (3 million units, known unofficially as Triple Platinum) on October 26 1994.

Track list:
1. Over The Mountain
2. Flying High Again
3. You Can’t Kill Rock And Roll
4. Believer
5. Little Dolls
6. Tonight
7. S.A.T.O.
8. Diary Of A Madman