Bark At The Moon

I know it's considered blasphemy...but this is my favorite Ozzy solo album. Yes, I know how groundbreaking Blizzard and Diary are...but I think Bark At The Moon is the most solid all the way through (especially the European version with Spiders on it).

There is probably some sentimental attachment involved, Bark was the first Ozzy solo record I got. The songwriting on here is some of the best of his career (thanks to Bob Daisley I'm sure). Now You See It (Now You Don't), Rock N Roll Rebel, Centre Of Eternity, Waiting For Darkness, Bark At The Moon, You're No Different. Even the ballad "So Tired" is one of Ozzy's most mature (the excellent string arrangements help).

Plus...JAKE E. LEE, still one of my favorite 80's guitarists and he just flat out DESTROYS throughout this album.

If I could only take 1 Ozzy solo record to a desert island, it's this one.

Yeah this was my first Ozzy solo album I ever had, I don't know if I would say it's my favorite I kinda lean more towards Diary of a Madman as my favorite, but like you said Bark at the Moon probably having some sentimental attachment? that's how it is for me, lot's of good memories attached to this album, it's a great listen anytime, and the cover is my favorite being a werewolf fan and all, and that's considering the artwork on The Ultimate Sin is pretty awesome, but Bark at the Moon is still my favorite cover of all his albums. I would struggle between this one and Diary on what one album I could keep if I could only keep one.

Yeah, I dig this album, Lee just slays on this record. Not my fave but up there.

Great album and an excellent follow up to the post-Randy albums!!! Had this on cassette as a new release back in the day

Love this album, even liked the sappy ballad 'So Tired', my favs are still the first two but this is a great album in its own right and Jake E Lee kicks ass and now seems to be a forgotten guitar hero

It's amazing to me how underrated Jake is. I mean, people are still talking about Vivian Campbell? CMON. Jake was the man.

Lol! Too true man, he needs to start a new band with Corabi on vox, Newsted on bass and (fill in the blank) on drums.

Well Campbell has had a very high profile career and gigs since he was thrown out of Dio, he was in the short lived Shadow King with Lou Gramm, Whitesnake and finally Def Leppard.

Jake E Lee had the critically acclaimed Badlands, which faltered commerically, and one or two low key solo albums, and has not done any interviews or been on TV to discuss his career with Ozzy.

Campbell is essentially a hired sideman for Leppard.

I'd love to hear those Dio/J. E. Lee demos.

Good album. Not a favorite, but up there.

I like this one better than Ultimate Sin. Both sound a bit dated to my ears though with their slick 80's keyboards and production. More noticable on Ultimate Sin, but still noticable on Bark.

And yes, I agree that Jake is underrated as far as guitar players go. Anyone know why he left Ozzy? Did he quit or was he fired?

This is one of my favorites as well, quite overlooked.

I think MG, that he left b/c of the Tribute To Randy cd.

I remember reading an interview with Jake where he mentioned he was frustrated because of the narrow scope of styles that Ozzy would let him write. He said he felt stifled creatively and also mentioned that Max Norman ghost-wrote a good bit of The Ultimate Sin. I think that interview was around the time of the first Badlands album, sorry I can't remember the source.

That would not surprise me in the least...buy all accounts of former band members, Ozzy's participation in the creative process is pretty much nil...he surrounds himself with talent and utilizes it.

As for BATM...I remember stealing the cassette from a Dart store in Lexington, KY in the 10th grade...by this time it was a bargain bin album (1986) and I just walked in and stuck it in my back pocket and walked out...not proud of that, but it is what it is. I think its a great record and Jake is indeed severly unsung as a guitar hero...the live show from the BATM tour in Utah shows off what he can do...amazing player.

I seem to remember there was a live concert VHS released from "The Ultimate Sin" tour, but I can't remember what the title was.

That was the video where the drummer's riser gets stuck halfway down during the first song, he ends up performing the entire track suspended about 15 feet above the stage. LOL