30 Songs That Defined Ozzy Osbourne's Legendary Career

Forbes

7 hours ago

A 1991 portrait of Ozzy Osbourne in London.
The Prince of Darkness, Ozzy Osbourne, has long stood as the godfather of heavy metal in the eyes of metal fans and through the lens of pop-culture. There's never been a rock personality that's been so multifaceted in both their music career and in their public life quite like Ozzy Osbourne has. From fronting the world-renowned pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath to forging one of most successful solo careers in the genre, the Birmingham, England singer's musical legacy remains one of the most respected in contemporary music. His joyously crazed out personality and thrilling live performances have established him as rightful poster-child for the rock and heavy metal counter-culture he helped to pioneer. Osbourne truly is the first and most iconic heavy metal frontman there ever was.
Top Ozzy Songs
By consistently reinventing himself throughout his career, Ozzy Osbourne has managed to produce and contribute to some of the most cherished hard-rock and metal records of all time. Between Black Sabbath and his solo career, Ozzy Osbourne has 22 studio albums under his belt – 13 from his solo career and nine with Black Sabbath.
While this list does include a number of Black Sabbath songs, particularly songs that highlight Osbourne's personality and songwriting, the songs from Osbourne's solo career were prioritized in the ranking of this list, as Black Sabbath's work tends to be appreciated for the collective contributions of its members. Of course, the many hits from Osbourne's solo career would also be nothing without the virtuosic guitarists and instrumentalists he had by his side. That being said, this list aims to highlight the best songs from Ozzy Osbourne's vast career, and more specifically songs that have contributed to his revered status amongst rock and metal connoisseurs.
Ozzy Osbourne's career saw quite the change prior to the recording of his 11th studio album, Scream. Longtime guitarist Zakk Wylde had exited the band, and Osbourne had brought in shredder Gus G.
Despite the album not reaching the same highs of Osbourne's previous work, the lead single 'Let Me Hear You Scream' was a solid track that showcased Gus G's incredible guitar talents, as well as Osbourne's knack for writing a hooky chorus – even if the lyrics are a bit below average.
Apart from a select few tracks, Ozzy Osbourne's seventh studio album Ozzmosis doesn't offer much compared to the albums before it. However, 'I Just Want You' is one of the few tracks that shine, and a lot of that is due to guitarist Zakk Wylde's performance. It's not as strong as some of Osbourne's other ballads but it's a solid song nonetheless.
After not releasing an album for nearly a decade, Osbourne's twelfth studio album Ordinary Man was the sonic switch up he needed. The title track to Osbourne's comeback album features the legendary Elton John, and it's an emotive ballad that walks listeners through Osbourne's chaotically beautiful life as a rockstar.
Guitarist Slash adds the cherry on top with a guitar solo worthy of being on any golden-era Guns N' Roses LP.
If there's one thing 2020's Ordinary Man did better than any of Ozzy Osbourne's previous LPs, it was taking a risk. 'Take What You Want,' the 2019 single which first appeared on Post Malone's Hollywood's Bleeding, showcases Osbourne alongside modern music titans Malone and Travis Scott. While the song is less centered around Osbourne, the fact Osbourne is able to hold his own and fit amongst these other big names truly is an achievement in its own right.
With over 700 million streams on Spotify, the song is the most successful track Osbourne has appeared on in well over a decade.
Although it's a less favored album of the Zakk Wylde-era Osbourne LPs, tracks like 'Fire in the Sky' exemplify why No Rest For The Wicked is full of under appreciated gems. From the heavy chords laid out in the chorus, to verses and bridge section that sounds reminiscent to the seminal Randy Rhoads-Osbourne albums, 'Fire in the Sky' is a track that often goes unnoticed when discussing great Ozzy Osbourne tracks.
Lyrically and thematically 'Desire' is a definitive Ozzy Osbourne anthem. The 1991 uptempo groover off the multiplatinum LP No More Tears, has Osbourne candidly expressing his love for the rockstar lifestyle, and how it's been an innate desire since the beginning of his career. Sure, the abrupt and randomly placed 'Crazy Train' chants at the end are a bit goofy, but that's part of the wild, unpredictable persona of the Prince of Darkness, which 'Desire' ultimately showcases.
The fifth studio album No Rest for the Wicked, was the first album to feature now fan-favorite guitarist Zakk Wylde. Wylde had a far more blues inspired approach to the guitar than any of the previous guitarists in Osbourne's crew, and the main riff and tornado shredding solo on 'Miracle Man' showcases this. As the opening track on the album, 'Miracle Man' made it clear this fifth album was the start to an exciting new era, and even more animated Ozzy Osbourne.
'Believer,' the fourth track off Ozzy Osbourne's sophomore opus Diary Of A Madman, has less of the spotlight pointed at Osbourne than it does at his god-like guitar player, Randy Rhoads. The song goes through a spectrum of hypnotic chord progressions overtop some sinister sounding synths. However, the real climax is Rhoads' guitar solo. Apart from Eddie Van Halen, in 1981 Rhoads was doing things beyond comprehension with guitar and 'Believer' offers a glimpse into his ingenious mind.
Many Black Sabbath songs' lyrics weren't actually penned by frontman Ozzy Osbourne, but the track "Fairies Wear Boots" off Black Sabbath's sophomore LP Paranoid was actually written by Osbourne. Supposedly the song describes Black Sabbath's encounter with a group of skinheads, which resulted in guitarist Tony Iommi getting injured and having to postpone a show. The track's swinging blues groove complements Osbourne's frantic vocal range, and it's one of the first Sabbath songs to showcase Osbourne's more untamed vocal approach.
Guitarist Jake E. Lee's career with Ozzy Osbourne is often overlooked, despite him contributing to some of Osbourne's biggest hits. One of the lesser known Lee jams that's an absolute must listen is the self-titled track off 1986's The Ultimate Sin. Lee's ability to amalgamate rhythm and lead playing rivals that of Rhoads, and it also complements Osbourne's powerful and straightforward vocal inflections throughout this track.
"Close My Eyes Forever," the duet with fellow revered rock icon Lita Ford is still Osbourne's highest charting single to date and it's the biggest hit of Ford's career. The slow ballad gives plenty of room for both Osbourne and Ford to shine, and it's one of the few instances in the '80s of two massive rock icons joining forces and producing something substantial.
The opening track off Osbourne's 1991 opus No More Tears is a joyride of heavy groovy riffs and explosive choruses. Up until this point, no record in Ozzy Osbourne's career sounded so pristine. All the elements of the heightened production from this record are in full swing with 'Mr. Tinkertrain,' and to date it's still one of his most underrated tracks even if the lyrics and subject matter may feel dated.
Jake E. Lee's masterful guitar work, coupled with Osbourne's gripping themes of nuclear annihilation, make for a surprisingly poignant composition. There aren't many tracks in Osbourne's solo career that deal with such an intense and relevant subject matter, and that also wields such emotively intricate instrumentals like 'Killer of Giants."
The heavy swinging riffs and vocal hooks on the album opener 'Perry Mason,' don't attempt to knock on the door; rather, they immediately kick it down right from the get-go. Featured on Osbourne's less favored seventh studio album Ozzmosis, 'Perry Mason" is the most popular and the best track on this LP, on top of being a essential Zakk Wylde tune.
'Flying High Again' is a joyous track on so many different levels. After his firing from Black Sabbath, and then experiencing the massive success of his first solo LP, Ozzy Osbourne's second album with guitarist Randy Rhoads had the singer finally living the rockstar dream once again. From the iconic guitar work of Rhoads to the endless good vibes throughout this song, 'Flying High Again' showcases why much of Ozzy Osbourne's solo work has become so timeless.
Marijuana has been a part of Ozzy Osbourne's brand since the early days of him fronting Black Sabbath. Along with being a quintessential Sabbath track, 'Sweet Leaf' helped pave the way for Osbourne's outlandish and alternative brand of music that's inspired so many millions of listeners and musicians.
Down To Earth, Ozzy Osbourne's eighth studio album, isn't the most praised record in his discography, which may have something to do with the fact that guitarist Zakk Wylde wasn't involved in the writing process. However, other songwriters were recruited for this record, and one of which was the founding member of Foreigner, Mick Jones, who would help pen the album's biggest hit 'Dreamer.' It's still one of Ozzy Osbourne's most beloved ballads and it's easily the best track off this LP.
Featuring one of the most iconic drum intros in heavy metal, courtesy of Lee Kerslake, 'Over The Mountain' kicks off Ozzy Osbourne's sophomore LP with a more technical and hard-hitting instrumentation than heard from his debut. Nearly every track guitarist Randy Rhoads contributed to is required listening; however, due to the riffs and solo work on this track, 'Over the Mountain' is amongst the top 10 Rhoads-era songs.
Drugs have played a major influence in Ozzy Osbourne's career, just as they have for all the original members of Black Sabbath. Cocaine was especially used during the recording of Black Sabbath's seminal fourth LP, Vol. 4, which is exactly what the band's haunting and monolithic track 'Snowblind" is about. The track is a startling reminder and even a foreshadowing of the pain and mental anguish drug addiction will cause, and is a facet of Osbourne's career which he he has openly discussed.
Make no mistake, 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' is the best ballad of Ozzy Osbourne's solo career. Beautiful in its presentation and empowering with its lyrical themes, 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' showcases the best elements of Ozzy Osbourne and his band in a timeless fashion. Unknown to many, the lyrics for the song were actually penned by fellow heavy metal pioneer and Motörhead frontman, Lemmy Kilmister.
Standing as the saddest song in Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne's discography, 'Changes' reflects on the growing pains caused by a relationship gone sour. This song was particularly significant in that it showcased Ozzy Osbourne's tremendous range as a vocalist, and it was unlike any song he had performed on at the time. Retrospectively, 'Changes' is an interesting metaphor to the rollercoaster lifestyle Osbourne has endured, which has come with many unexpected turns, both high and low.
Written by Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, and Motörhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister, 'Hellraiser' drips with the iconic swagger of Wylde's pinch-harmonic riffs, and lyrically it embodies the rebellious attitudes of both Osbourne and Kilmister. While it's also an homage to the 1987 horror film of the same name, its interconnected metaphors for the rockstar persona, which Osbourne exemplified, make 'Hellraiser' one of his defining tracks.
"Paranoid" is the most popularized song in Black Sabbath's entire catalogue, and outside of one of his solo career hits, it's the biggest song of Ozzy Osbourne's career. There's a strange phenomenon with 'Paranoid' in that it's so addictive from its vocal hooks that by the time it's over you'd think the entire song was one long catchy chorus, despite there only being one chorus. It's an early demonstration for how unique Osbourne's voice was at the time, and showcases his natural ability to make simple vocal lines sound catchy.
Another one of Black Sabbath's early monolithic hits, 'War Pigs' is coated with Ozzy Osbourne's vocal vibrancy that makes its rebellious anti-war themes hit like a haymaker. Just like 'Paranoid,' 'War Pigs' is a defining Black Sabbath anthem, but without Osbourne's touch this Sabbath classic wouldn't have the personality that's helped leverage into to becoming the band's magnum opus.
Although Jake E. Lee only appeared on two of Ozzy Osbourne's solo albums, he helped produce some of Osbourne's greatest hits and most under-appreciated gems. While 'Shot in the Dark' was a massive hit, Osbourne's pristine vocals and Lee's amalgamative lead-rhyhtm playing never get enough praise on this track.
From the chorus to the bridge solo, to the hard hitting main riff, 'Shot in the Dark' exemplifies the best sonic qualities of Ozzy Osbourne's solo career.
Randy Rhoads is often cited as one of the greatest metal guitarists of all time, and the title track to Ozzy Osbourne's sophomore album is a testimony to why. 'Diary of a Madman' showcased the range of sonic emotions that Rhoads and Osbourne were capable of painting together when they were at their best.
There's a pain heard in Osbourne's voice throughout this track, and it's almost as if he's taking the character of the madman portrayed in the song. It's a brilliant showcase of the lengths Osbourne and his band would go to create rich sonic worlds.
There are a number of phenomenal and underrated Jake E. Lee-era Ozzy tracks, however, 'Bark at the Moon' will forever be viewed as the pinnacle Jake E. Lee song and one of Ozzy Osbourne's finest songs in his discography. At the time there was animosity towards Ozzy Osbourne and his camp for crediting Osbourne as the sole songwriter for the entire album (which is the only album in his discography to do so).
However, the fans see through this, and 'Bark at the Moon' is routinely hailed for Lee's masterful guitar work as well as Osbourne's frantic performance.
In a way, 'No More Tears' is like Ozzy Osbourne's upside down version of Queen's 'Bohemian Rhapsody' – epic in length, often progressive in structure, and addictive for its anthemic qualities. The song showcases the best of Zakk Wylde – from the thunderous main riff to the climactic solo – and easily cements itself as the greatest Wylde-era track.
Ozzy Osbourne's electrifying vocal layers further elevate 'No More Tears' into the ranks of the all-time greatest rock anthems.
Arguably the hit that jumpstarted Ozzy Osbourne's solo career, 'Crazy Train' will forever be the Prince of Darkness' most popular song. While its immense popularity keeps it from being the greatest Ozzy Osbourne track, it's certainly the song that has defined his solo career since the '80s.
Between Osbourne's infectious cry-outs in the chorus and guitarist Randy Rhoads' iconic riffs and solos, there are countless reasons why 'Crazy Train' has remained among the greatest rock anthems ever created.
Few songs from Ozzy Osbourne's solo career single-handedly changed the playing field for rock guitar music like his epic opus, 'Mr. Crowley.' Of course, a lot of the success of Osbourne's solo career is due to guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoads, however, the chemistry that the two had together was pure lightning in a bottle, and it's ultimately what has made Osbourne's early albums so timeless.
Bottom Line
There aren't many musicians in heavy metal who have a career as illustrious as Ozzy Osbourne's. His early albums with guitarist Randy Rhoads are often cited as his career-defining work, and the many masterfully crafted tracks on these records showcase why. While his tenure with Black Sabbath already established him as a rock icon, the sheer number of hit records Osbourne produced in the '80s and '90s further cemented his place in the Mount Rushmore of heavy metal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Many Albums Has Ozzy Osbourne Released?
Over the course of his solo career which began in 1980, Ozzy Osbourne has released 13 studio albums.
Blizzard of Oz (1980)
Diary of a Madman (1981)
Bark at the Moon (1984)
The Ultimate Sin (1986)
No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
No More Tears (1991)
Ozzmosis (1995)
Down to Earth (2001)
Under Cover (2005)
Black Rain (2007)
Scream (2010)
Ordinary Man (2020)
Patient Number 9 (2022)
What Are Ozzy Osbourne's Best Albums?
The discourse around which Ozzy Osbourne solo albums are best usually starts and ends with the Randy Rhoads albums, which were Osbourne's first two records. However, more recently fans have come around more to appreciate the Zakk Wylde era as well as the Jake E. Lee albums more. Here are the rankings Ozzy Osbourne's 10 best studio albums, from least to most favored:
10. Scream (2010)
9. Patient Number 9 (2022)
8. Ordinary Man (2020)
7. Ozzmosis (1995)
6. Bark at the Moon (1984)
5. No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
4. The Ultimate Sin (1986)
3. No More Tears (1991)
2. Blizzard of Oz (1980)
1. Diary of a Madman (1981)
Why Did Ozzy Osbourne Leave Black Sabbath?
Ozzy Osbourne was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979 for many reasons. The band's previous records, Technical Ecstasy (1976) and Never Say Die! (1978), were commercial flops and to this day they're not favored amongst Black Sabbath fans, especially compared to the band's near flawless albums between 1970 to 1975. At the time, all members of Black Sabbath were heavily under the influence of drugs, though it's said that Ozzy Osbourne began to quickly spiral with alcohol around this time, possibly due to lack of self-worth and self-confidence which came as a result of the band's poorly received albums.
Guitarist Tony Iommi was also pushing for a new sonic direction for the band. Around 1978 the band was gearing up to rehearse and record the follow up to Never Say Die!, but Osbourne was nowhere to be found. 'Ozzy was going to clubs and getting really out of it and not coming home,' Iommi states in the book Louder Than Hell: The Definitive Oral History of Metal. 'It got to a stage where nothing was happening with him. He came apart on us.' As result of Ozzy Osbourne's unpredictable behavior and drug abuse, Black Sabbath decided it was time to move on without Osbourne.
Over the coure of the next few decades Black Sabbath's original lineup would reunite on numerous occasions, one in 1985 for a special Live Aid performance, and then again in 1997 for a full scale reunion tour. Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne are set to close the book with their final farewell reunion performance taking place July 5th, 2025, in the band's hometown of Birmingham, England.