Tribute

Ozzy's best live album without question, `Tribute' received a belated release (understandably) five years after its first conception as a result of the death of the mercurial Randy Rhoads. It is still hard to believe that much of this man's legacy rests on only three albums (not counting the two Quiet Riot LPs). Goes to show you how profound Randy's influence has been over all these years (much like Hendrix and Duane Allman, who had similar short careers). `Tribute' featured Ozzy's best live band in their only album together as both Tommy Aldridge and Rudy Sarzo were NOT on `Diary' despite the false credits on that album. `Tribute' also fulfills my requirements of a classic live album as it features a legendary artist in his prime performing some of his greatest songs when they were still fresh. "I Don't Know", "Crazy Train", "Flying High Again", "Suicide Solution" and "Mr. Crowley" are all dressed to impress with "Solution" acting as Randy's solo showcase (albeit too short!) My one and only gripe is that while all of `Blizzard' is featured only two songs from `Diary' get an airing which I guess is understandable since most of `Tribute' was recorded before the latter record was finished but it is a shame that "Over the Mountain" or "You Can't Kill Rock n' Roll" were not included. Still well worth a download or two especially for "Crazy Train" for those of you that are tired of the studio version. `Tribute' features a madman and a true guitar god both in their primes and for that it is a godsend and a must buy!

This "Tribute" cd to the late, great Randall "Randy" Rhoads is mostly compiled from a concert at Cleveland, Ohio on May 11, 1981. The other band members besides Messrs. Osbourne and Rhoads are drummer Tommy Aldrige (ex-Black Oak Arkansas & Pat Travers) and bassist Rudy Sarzo (Randy's former band-mate in Quiet Riot). Aldrige and Sarzo replaced Lee Kerslake and Bob Daisley, who were both fired two days after recording the Diary Of A Madman (Legacy Edition) album. Bob Daisley was highly influential in helping Ozzy with his solo career as he wrote the lyrics to most of the songs on Ozzy's first two albums Blizzard Of Ozz (Expanded Edition) & Diary Of A Madman (Legacy Edition)).Anyway, this live cd capturing the brilliance of guitarist Randy Rhoads, truly is a fantastic tribute as it shows a rare glimpse of the phenomenal playing and improvising of Randy. The concert begins with the background music of the most famous movement from Carl Orff's Carmina Burana cantata, "O Fortuna". Ozzy asks the energetic crowd, "Are you ready to rock-n-roll?" The crowd roars and Ozzy tells them, "You're beautiful!" As "O Fortuna" nears climax, Ozzy yells to the audience, "Rock-n-roll!" Randy then rips into the opening chords of "I Don't Know" and the energy hits the roof! Ozzy and Randy proceed to blaze through "Crazy Train", "Believer" and "Mr. Crowley". Each song delivered with the intensity of.......well, Randy Rhoads! Randy re-invents his solos on each tune, adding incredibly fast trills and progressions to the songs. You can tell that every fiber of his being was flowing into his guitar and coming forth as divine music. The live renditions of these classic songs allow us to hear/feel the thought process and infinite energy flowing from Randy, and they are also the definitive versions of each tune."Flying High Again" has Ozzy telling the raucous audience to "keep on smokin' them joints!" Randy then proceeds to put his stamp on this tune with guitar playing that is beyond words (in a good way). Alright now! This rendition blows away the album version! Randy takes over and delivers the goods! "Suicide Solution" is another song where Randy really cuts loose. Randy's guitar solo at the end of the tune was actually recorded at another show (Montreal, Canada, 7/28/81), and spliced onto the end of the track. Randy plays three Black Sabbath songs and proceeds to take each tune to another level previously thought unattainable. The final two numbers were recorded during Ozzy's UK "Blizzard" tour when the previously mentioned Daisley and Kerslake were still in the band.The cd ends with Randy's studio takes of his instrumental number "Dee".There is not much more to say other than if you are looking to hear one of the greatest guitarist at the peak of creativity, and if you enjoy soulful music (if you know what I mean), then you should by all means get this cd.Randy died March 19, 1982, in Leesburg, Florida. A small plane crashed after "buzzing" Ozzy's tour bus three times, on the forth time, the plane's wing clipped the bus causing the plane to pinwheel into a mansion and burst into flames. The crash killed guitarist Randall Rhoads, 25, the pilot of the Beechcraft Bonanza - Andrew Aycock, 36 - and Rachel Youngblood, 58, the group's makeup artist and hairdresser. The plane's pilot was also the group's bus driver.Randy may be physically gone but his spirit is eternal!The lyrics to the final stanza of"O Fortuna" are as follows:Fate is against mein healthand virtue,driven on and weighted down,always enslaved.So at this hourwithout delaypluck the vibrating strings;since Fate strikes down the string man,everybody weep with me!

I remember I had this on cassette tape back in the 80s a couple of times. I don't know if it was my tape player or if the tape was just made cheap. But it would eat up in the tape machine. But then I had it on CD and now I've got a digitally. So this is just one of those great classic 1980s Ozzy Osbourne CD downloads that you got to have in your collection. It's great to be able to hear Randy rhoads and Ozzy just rocking it out in the way that Ozzy would do it. Got to love Ozzy osbourne! And it's great that he put this album out with Randy rhoads. It just rocks!

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Totally excellent 👍.

This album was the original release for Speak of the Devil. It's a great live tribute to Randy Rhodes, a great guitar player. Thank You, Joe C.

Gone but never forgotten

It's a shame I was too young to see this concert in person, but you can turn up the stereo, close your eyes and you can picture it in your mind. The musicianship in this live performance is first rate. I find myself wondering what we have missed out on when Randy Rhodes passed way. He had mare talent in his little finger then any two to today's musicians. God Bless Randy Rhodes.