The Ultimate Sin

Last updated

The Ultimate Sin
The ultimate sin.jpg
Cover art by Boris Vallejo
Studio album by
Ozzy Osbourne
Released24 January 1986 (US) [1]
10 February 1986 (UK) [2]
Recorded1985
Studio
Genre
Length40:51
Label CBS Associated (US)
Epic (UK)
Producer Ron Nevison
Ozzy Osbourne chronology
Bark at the Moon
(1983)		The Ultimate Sin
(1986)		 Tribute
(1987)
Singles from The Ultimate Sin
  1. "Shot in the Dark"
    Released: 20 January 1986 (UK) [7]
  2. "The Ultimate Sin" / "Lightning Strikes"
    Released: 28 July 1986 [8]
  3. "Lightning Strikes"
    Released: 1986 (Aus)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [4]
Martin Popoff Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [9]
Rolling Stone (favorable) [10]

The Ultimate Sin is the fourth studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. It was released on 24 January 1986, and was remastered and re-issued on CD on 22 August 1995. It is the second and last of Osbourne's albums to feature lead guitarist Jake E. Lee, the first to feature drummer Randy Castillo, and the only album to feature bassist Phil Soussan, who co-wrote the album's hit single "Shot in the Dark". [11]

Contents

The album was awarded Platinum status in May 1986 and was awarded Double Platinum status in October 1994 by the RIAA. [12]

Overview

Upon returning from the Betty Ford Center in 1985 where he had undergone treatment for substance abuse, Osbourne was presented with a substantial quantity of music written by guitarist Jake E. Lee. After having been cheated out of his writing and publishing claims for Osbourne's previous album, 1983's Bark at the Moon , Lee says this time he refused to contribute anything until he had a contract in front of him guaranteeing his writing credit and publishing rights. [13] Much of this music would form the basis of the album. The album's lyrics were largely written by long-time Osbourne bassist and lyricist Bob Daisley.

Daisley left the band prior to recording after having a disagreement with Osbourne, prompting the hiring of Greg Chaisson as his replacement. Chaisson claims to have written many of the bass parts on the album, but he was quickly fired after Osbourne decided his image did not fit the band; [14] Chaisson would reunite with Lee a few years later in Badlands. [15] Phil Soussan was ultimately hired just before recording commenced. Neither Daisley nor Chaisson were credited for their songwriting contributions on the initial 1986 pressing of the album, though Daisley did receive credit on subsequent pressings.

Future Y&T, Suicidal Tendencies and Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso worked with Lee and Daisley on demos for the album, but this version of the band fell apart due to Osbourne's commitment to the Black Sabbath summer 1985 reunion concert at Live Aid; Castillo and Soussan ultimately replaced DeGrasso and Daisley once recording commenced. [16] [17]

The working title for the album was Killer of Giants[ citation needed ] after the album's song of the same name. Osbourne opted to change the title to The Ultimate Sin at the last minute. On 1 April 1986, a live performance promoting the album in Kansas City, Missouri, was filmed and released later that year as the home video The Ultimate Ozzy. In 1987, after the various tours in support of the album had concluded, guitarist Lee was unexpectedly fired by Osbourne's wife and manager Sharon. [18] The specific justification for Lee's dismissal remains unknown. Bassist Soussan also departed, with Bob Daisley once again entering the fold.

Reception

At the time of its release, The Ultimate Sin was Osbourne's highest-charting studio album, as heavy metal was enjoying a surge in popularity during the mid-1980s. The RIAA awarded the album Platinum status on 14 May 1986, soon after its release; it was awarded Double Platinum status on 26 October 1994. [19] The album sold over 2,000,000 copies worldwide. In the UK, it was the final of four Osbourne albums to attain Silver certification (60,000 units shipped) by the British Phonographic Industry, achieving this in April 1986. [20]

Despite its commercial success, Osbourne cites The Ultimate Sin as his least favorite solo album, saying "If there was ever an album I'd like to remix and do better, it would be The Ultimate Sin." Much of the vocalist's blame has been placed on the shoulders of producer Ron Nevison, saying "(He) didn't really do a great production job. The songs weren't bad, they were just put down weird. Everything felt and sounded the fucking same. There was no imagination." [21] [22]

Availability

Despite being one of Osbourne's most successful solo albums, The Ultimate Sin was the only album among Osbourne's back catalog to not be reissued or remastered in 2002. Though no official reason was given, rumors circulated that an ongoing legal struggle with bassist/songwriter Phil Soussan over his song "Shot in the Dark" was responsible for the album's failure to be re-issued. The only available CD version of The Ultimate Sin remains the 1995 remastered version, which is missing four measures of music between the first chorus and second verse of "Shot in the Dark" found on the original CDs, vinyl copies, and cassettes.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Bob Daisley, Jake E. Lee and Ozzy Osbourne, except where noted

Side A
No.TitleLength
1."The Ultimate Sin"3:45
2."Secret Loser"4:08
3."Never Know Why"4:27
4."Thank God for the Bomb"3:53
5."Never"4:17
Side B
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
6."Lightning Strikes" 5:16
7."Killer of Giants" 5:41
8."Fool Like You" 5:18
9."Shot in the Dark" Phil Soussan, Osbourne4:16
Total length:40:51

Note

Personnel

Additional performers
Production

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA) [36] Gold35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada) [37] Platinum100,000^
United Kingdom (BPI) [20] Silver60,000^
United States (RIAA) [12] 2× Platinum2,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ozzy Osbourne</span> English musician and TV personality (born 1948)

John Michael "Ozzy" Osbourne is an English musician and media personality. He rose to prominence during the 1970s as the lead singer of the heavy metal band Black Sabbath, during which period he adopted the nickname "Prince of Darkness".

<i>Blizzard of Ozz</i> 1980 studio album by Ozzy Osbourne

Blizzard of Ozz is the debut studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released on 12 September 1980 in the UK and on 27 March 1981 in the US. The album was Osbourne's first release following his firing from Black Sabbath in 1979. Blizzard of Ozz is the first of two studio albums Osbourne recorded with guitarist Randy Rhoads prior to Rhoads' death in 1982. In 2017, it was ranked 9th on Rolling Stone's list of "100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time".

<i>Diary of a Madman</i> (album) 1981 studio album by Ozzy Osbourne

Diary of a Madman is the second studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. It was released in October 1981, and re-issued on CD on 22 August 1995. This is the last Osbourne studio album to feature guitarist Randy Rhoads and drummer Lee Kerslake. An altered version appeared in 2002 with the original bass and drum parts removed and re-recorded. In 2011, a Deluxe 30th Anniversary Edition was released with all original parts restored. To date, the album has sold over 3 million copies worldwide.

<i>Tribute</i> (Ozzy Osbourne album) 1987 live album by Ozzy Osbourne

Tribute is a live album by British heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, featuring his work with hard rock guitarist Randy Rhoads, in whose honor the album was released. The album was released in April 1987 in the US and May 1987 in the UK, five years after the death of Rhoads, then it was reissued on 22 August 1995, and again remastered and reissued in 2002. It peaked at number 6 on the US Billboard 200 chart.

<i>No Rest for the Wicked</i> (Ozzy Osbourne album) 1988 studio album by Ozzy Osbourne

No Rest for the Wicked is the fifth solo studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. It was released on 28 September 1988, and was re-issued / remastered on 22 August 1995, and again on 25 June 2002. The album was certified gold in December 1988 and has since gone double platinum. It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200. It was the first album to feature guitarist Zakk Wylde, keyboardist John Sinclair and the first to feature bassist Bob Daisley since Bark at the Moon.

<i>No More Tears</i> 1991 studio album by Ozzy Osbourne

No More Tears is the sixth studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. Released on 17 September 1991, the album charted at number 17 on the UK Albums Chart and number seven on the US Billboard 200 albums chart. No More Tears spawned four singles which reached the top ten of the US Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, including the number two "Mama, I'm Coming Home", and the Grammy-winning track "I Don't Want to Change the World". Along with 1980's Blizzard of Ozz it is one of Osbourne's two best-selling solo albums in North America, having been certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA and double platinum by CRIA. It was Osbourne's final album to feature drummer Randy Castillo and longtime bassist and songwriter Bob Daisley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jake E. Lee</span> American guitarist (born 1957)

Jake E. Lee is an American musician best known as lead guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne between 1982 and 1987 and later as a member of the heavy metal band Badlands with Ray Gillen. He formed the band Red Dragon Cartel in 2013, and their debut album released in January 2014 entered the Billboard Album Chart at number 69. He has also recorded solo works under his own name—examples being the instrumental album A Fine Pink Mist (1996) and cover album Retraced (2005).

<i>Live & Loud</i> 1993 live album by Ozzy Osbourne

Live & Loud is a live album recorded by the former Black Sabbath singer Ozzy Osbourne, released on 28 June 1993. At the time, it was to be Osbourne's final album following Osbourne's final tour before retiring, aptly titled "No More Tours". The track "Black Sabbath" featured the original line-up of Black Sabbath, the members of which were invited to join Ozzy as guest stars for the Costa Mesa Reunion shows.

<i>Ozzmosis</i> 1995 studio album by Ozzy Osbourne

Ozzmosis is the seventh studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. Recorded in Paris and New York with producer Michael Beinhorn, it was released on 23 October 1995 by Epic Records. The album reached number 22 on the UK Albums Chart and number four on the US Billboard 200. "Perry Mason", "See You on the Other Side" and "I Just Want You" were released as singles.

<i>Best of Ozz</i> 1989 compilation album by Ozzy Osbourne

Best of Ozz is a compilation album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. Released on 1 March 1989 by CBS/Sony in Japan only, it features songs from Osbourne's first four studio albums, ranging from 1980's Blizzard of Ozz to 1986's The Ultimate Sin.

<i>Bark at the Moon</i> 1983 studio album by Ozzy Osbourne

Bark at the Moon is the third studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released on 18 November 1983 in the US and on 2 December 1983 in the UK. The album marks Ozzy's change to a synth infused pop-metal sound, with both its "sonic production, and in Ozzy's imaging".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil Soussan</span> British bassist

Philip Raphael Soussan is an English bass guitarist, songwriter and producer, known as a member of Last in Line, Ozzy Osbourne, Vince Neil Band and Big Noize, as well as writing and producing for Dokken and Toto.

<i>The Essential Ozzy Osbourne</i> 2003 greatest hits album by Ozzy Osbourne

The Essential Ozzy Osbourne is a compilation album by British heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released in 2003. It reached No. 81 on US charts and No. 21 in the UK. Tracks featured here from the first two albums are the re-recorded versions from recent reissues as well as the remixed Bark at the Moon tracks. The album was certified Gold by the RIAA on 5 February 2005 with an excess of 500,000 copies sold, then certified Platinum by the RIAA on 3 March 2016. This compilation was re-released in 2009 as a Limited Edition 3.0 package with an additional disc of bonus songs that were not on the original release.

<i>Just Say Ozzy</i> 1990 EP (Live) by Ozzy Osbourne

Just Say Ozzy is a live EP by Ozzy Osbourne. It was released in March 1990, and was remastered on August 22, 1995. It entered the UK charts on 17 March and reached number 69.

<i>Ten Commandments</i> (Ozzy Osbourne album) 1990 compilation album by Ozzy Osbourne

Ten Commandments is a compilation album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. Released in 1990 by Priority Records and CBS Records, it contains songs from Osbourne's first four studio albums, ranging from Blizzard of Ozz (1980) to The Ultimate Sin (1986).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bark at the Moon (song)</span> 1983 single by Ozzy Osbourne

"Bark at the Moon" is a song by heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. It was the first single released from his 1983 album of the same name. The music video produced for the song was Osbourne's first. It peaked at #21 on the UK Singles Chart and #12 on Billboard's Album Rock Tracks. The song has received critical praise, frequently being voted one of Ozzy's best songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shot in the Dark (Ozzy Osbourne song)</span> 1986 single by Ozzy Osbourne

"Shot in the Dark" is a song recorded and performed by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne. It is the ninth and final track on his 1986 album The Ultimate Sin. A top-ten hit on mainstream rock radio, the song also became his first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 68. The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan, and was played in power rotation on MTV.

<i>Memoirs of a Madman</i> (album)

Memoirs of a Madman is a CD/DVD compilation album by heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released by Epic Records and Legacy Recordings on 14 October 2014.

The Ultimate Sin Tour was a concert tour by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne in 1986, supporting his album The Ultimate Sin.

References

  1. ↑ "RIAA certifications". Recording Industry Association of America .
  2. ↑ "Brit certifications for Ozzy Osbourne".
  3. ↑ "Ozzy Osbourne: The Ultimate Sin". spirit-of-metal.com.
  4. 1 2 Huey, Steve. "Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin review". AllMusic . All Media Network . Retrieved 2 November 2015.
  5. ↑ "Top 50 Glam Metal Albums". Metal Rules . Archived from the original on 26 November 2017. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  6. ↑ "Justify Your Shitty Taste: Ozzy Osbourne's The Ultimate Sin". Decibel Magazine. 10 July 2015. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
  7. ↑ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 18.
  8. ↑ "Music Week" (PDF). p. 95.
  9. ↑ Popoff, Martin (1 November 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. ISBN   978-1-894959-31-5.
  10. ↑ Holmes, Tim (24 April 1986). "Ozzy Osbourne: The Ultimate Sin : Music Reviews". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 5 February 2007. Retrieved 4 June 2012.
  11. ↑ Saulnier, Jason (2 October 2008). "Phil Soussan Interview Ozzy Osbourne Bassist talks Jake E. Lee". Music Legends.ca. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  12. 1 2 "American album certifications – Ozzy Osbourne – The Ultimate Sin". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  13. ↑ "Jake E. Lee: Why I Gave Up Songwriting Credit for Ozzy Osbourne's Bark at the Moon". Blabbermouth.net. 10 December 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  14. ↑ "Jake E. Lee's Ozzy Warning to Greg Chaisson, "BE AWARE"". fullinbloom.com. Full In Bloom. Retrieved 30 November 2023.
  15. ↑ "An Interview with Greg Chaisson of Badlands & Atomic Kings". vwmusicrocks.com. 9 December 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2024.
  16. ↑ Syrjälä, Marko (19 January 2010). "Jimmy DeGrasso: Interview and Live Pictures". Metal Rules. Archived from the original on 25 January 2010. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  17. ↑ "Jimmy DeGrasso of Black Star Riders". They Will Rock You.com. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2015.
  18. ↑ "Jake E. Lee Says Interview: He Found Out He Was Fired From Ozzy From His Guitar Tech".
  19. ↑ "OZZY OSBOURNE-THE ULTIMATE SIN". Recording Industry Association of America .
  20. 1 2 "British album certifications – Ozzy Osbourne – The Ultimate Sin". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  21. ↑ "Why Ozzy Osbourne Hates His Album "The Ultimate Sin"". Society of Rock. 29 August 2019. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
  22. ↑ Grow, Kory (23 August 2019). "Fetus Jars and Werewolves: Ozzy Osbourne Looks Back Ahead of Box Set Release". Rolling Stone . Retrieved 23 August 2019.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The Ultimate Sin (1995 CD) credits. Epic Records. 1995. p. 10.
  24. ↑ Ozzy Osbourne- The Ultimate Sin album images @Discogs.com Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  25. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  26. ↑ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 0651". RPM . Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Ozzy Osbourne – The Ultimate Sin" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  28. ↑ Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN   978-951-1-21053-5.
  29. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Ozzy Osbourne – The Ultimate Sin" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  30. ↑ "Charts.nz – Ozzy Osbourne – The Ultimate Sin". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  31. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Ozzy Osbourne – The Ultimate Sin". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Ozzy Osbourne – The Ultimate Sin". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  33. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  34. ↑ "Ozzy Osbourne Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
  35. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1986". Billboard. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  36. ↑ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association . Retrieved 30 April 2021.
  37. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Ozzy Osbourne – The Ultimate Sin". Music Canada . Retrieved 30 April 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.