Music Review
Copyright (c) 1994, Tommy Van Hook
All rights reserved



Diary Of A Madman by Ozzy Osbourne
Jet Records ZK 37492
Copyright/Production 1981

Track Listing
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


This will sound kind of scary, but I really identify with John
"Ozzy" Osbourne.  No, I don't want to run around snacking on the
heads of small animals, nor do I want to shave all the hair off
of my head (been there, done that, got the T-Shirt).  I identify
with the angry, bitter lyrics that he wrote during his early
Black Sabbath days, and during the early part of his solo career.

This album, his second, is easily considered a classic among the
Heavy Metal crowd.  To me, it is easily the one album that
accurately described my life during that period:  confused,
angry, and scared.

The album opens with "Over The Mountain," which is one of the
most over-looked and under-played songs in the Ozzy repertoire. 
It's got a quick, catchy beat that has you wondering how far the
talent of the late-Randy Rhoads could have gone.  "Flying High
Again" is a bit overplayed on the radio, but it is one of the
very best pieces of work Ozzy has ever done.  Following these two
is the Metal anthem, "You Can't Kill Rock And Roll."  It's lyrics
approach the level of Robert Conrad daring you to knock the
Everyready battery off his shoulder.  Sadly, the music is written
close to the level of a ballad, which deflates the power of the
lyrics greatly.  "Believer" is one of the many songs that Ozzy
has written to attack the people that attack him.  It is angry
and sarcastic in nature, but is not helped by the "funky" bass
grove that Rudy Sarzo lays down in it's support.  Randy Rhoads
pulls off one of the most incredible solos I have ever heard on
this song.  "Little Dolls" is a play on the concept of Voo-doo
and comes off a bit "cheesy" in a lyrical manner.  The music for
it, however, is tight and extremely well done.  "S.A.T.O." is one
of the weirdest songs that he has ever put on a recording.  You
need to borrow a De-Ciphering Specialist from the Army just to
understand the lyrics.  The music comes off weak, despite another
stellar guitar solo by Rhoads.  "Diary Of A Madman" is the
clinching track on the recording.  It's look inside the sick and
twisted mind of a madman makes an erie ending to the album.  The
lyrics are some of the best I have EVER read.  In short, this
song is a masterpiece.

Granted, I see you reading this and wondering, how can he speak
so lovingly of this album in the beginning and then proceed to
trash all but three of the songs?  Easily.  This album, in 1981,
was one of the best I have ever heard.  However, it has not
withstood the acid-test of time.

Grade:  B-
