Blizzard of Ozz [Vinyl LP]

After the quiet implosion of Black Sabbath, the wise money was not on former vocalist, Ozzy, being the one to redeem himself musically. However, with shrewd management by his wife and a hotshot Californian in the shape of ex-Quiet Riot guitarist, Randy Rhoads, he reinvented himself and his musical persona, and created a startling debut album. Combining Rhoads' impetuous flurries of heavily stylized guitar, his own series of lyrical caricatures--"Crazy Train" and "Revelation (Mother Earth)"--and a healthy dose of controversy, citing renowned satanist Aleister Crowley as the subject matter for "Mr. Crowley," he ensured himself acclaim and commerciality in equal measure.