OZZY OSBOURNE – OZZMOSIS DEMOS (2 CD)

Description

Unreleased studio demo tracks recorded in London 1992 STEREO SBD(from Original Masters)
and ‘OZZMOSIS’ Rarities & Alternate Demos

　OZZMOSIS is the masterpiece that brought songwriter Ozzy Osbourne to his awakening. This treasured demo album is being reissued as a deluxe edition.

　This album permanently preserves 24 studio recordings, all of which are related recordings such as demos and outtakes produced during the “OZZMOSIS” era. It’s roughly divided into three sections, so let’s introduce each one individually.

[DISC 1: 1992 demo leaked from insiders]
　The album’s core is comprised of demos recorded in London in 1992. 1992 was the year of Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell tour, “No More Tours.” While Ozzy Osbourne had already decided to retire, he also began studio work at the same time. While it’s unclear whether he had already planned a comeback, it’s been repeatedly said that Ozzy Osbourne was passionate about songwriting at the time. His previous album, “No More Tears,” was his first sober album, and marked the first time he’d written the lyrics, a role previously held by Bob Daisley. It also marked one of his biggest hits, and Ozzy Osbourne’s complete obsession with songwriting.

　DISC 1 of this album was produced shortly after his retirement. It was discovered by our own master in 2014, and its completely official quality caused a sensation. While various labels have copied it, this is the highest-quality version directly from the original master. Even more shocking than the quality is the content. It’s packed with delicious unreleased tracks and rare alternate versions of classics. While this album is recorded in the same order as the original tape, let’s organize it here by dividing it into “unreleased songs” and “demos.”

● Unreleased songs that are not just demos (7 songs)
・Feels So Good To Be Bad／Too Far Gone／Frustrated Yes I’m Hated／Dream For Tomorrow／Say Yeah Yeah／Oh No the Bitch Won’t Go／My New Rock And Roll

　What’s amazing about this demo is that it’s packed with unreleased songs. Usually, demos are alternate versions of album tracks, and you’re lucky if you find even one or two unreleased tracks, but this album is all about unreleased songs. A whopping seven songs have been unearthed. And none of them feel half-finished. While the light drums and other elements give it a demo-like feel, the lyrics and melodies are well-written, and there are even overdubs of choruses. Playing the seven songs together makes it a complete and enjoyable “unreleased mini-album.”

　The songs are also quite good. “Feels So Good To Be Bad,” “Frustrated Yes I’m Hated,” and “Oh No the Bitch Won’t Go” are light, up-tempo tracks; if they had been included, “OZZMOSIS” would have been “NO MORE TEARS 2.” It’s surprising that tracks like “Too Far Gone,” with its impressive oriental-sounding riff, and “Say Yeah Yeah,” with its ominous guitar riff and Beatles-infused, authentic Ozzy Osbourne style, weren’t included on the album.

　And the ultimate masterpiece is “Dream For Tomorrow”! It’s a deeply moving ballad with a peaceful intro that instantly grabs your heart, and the chorus explodes with Ozzy’s signature melancholic melody. It’s a far cry from his image as the “king of darkness,” but it’s amazing that such a great song would remain unreleased. At worst… well, it’s not bad at all, it’s a hidden gem that’s even better than the official tracks on “OZZMOSIS.”

●Early demos of album songs (5 songs)
Ozzy & Mark Hudson / Duane Barron: Denial / Ghost Behind My Eyes
Ozzy & Zakk Wylde / John Purdell: Perry Mason / Old LA Tonight
Ozzy & Zakk Wylde / Lemmy: See You On The Other Side

　This work also includes five early demos of songs that would be included on the album. While “OZZMOSIS” featured songs written in collaboration with various outside writers, as of 1992, three songwriting sessions had already taken place: Mark Hudson/Duane Barron, Zakk Wylde/John Purdell, and Zakk Wylde/Lemmy.

　While the official album was recorded after 1994 under the production of Michael Beinhorn, this release is “pre-Beinhorn.” Unlike the over-produced official release, this one prioritizes rawness and sounds closer to “NO MORE TEARS.” Even though it’s a demo, the chorus and keyboards are dubbed well, and the cries of the guitar solos are conveyed directly. Strip away the heavy makeup and you’ll be amazed at how good the songs were.

　”Ghost Behind My Eyes” in particular is a refreshing ballad that is different from the album. It may have been arranged heavily in consideration of the balance of the album, but this demo is probably the “original form of the song.”

　The demo of “See You On The Other Side” was also included in the official box set “PRINCE OF DARKNESS,” but although this demo is quite close in take, it is a version that is about 30 seconds longer.
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[DISC 2: OZZMOSIS-related outtakes/alternative demos]
　Disc 2, in its place, is a bonus disc commemorating the album’s 30th anniversary. The “Ozzmosis” sessions were by far the most prolific of Ozzy Osbourne’s career, resulting in a plethora of outtakes that never made it onto the album, released as singles, compilations, or bonus tracks. This release compiles those outtakes as well as demos different from those on Disc 1. This is also divided into two sections, so we’ll introduce them separately.

Official Outtakes (7 songs)
・Michael Wagner Sessions: Aimee / Living With The Enemy / See You on the Other Side (Alternate Demo)
・1994 Sessions: Voodoo Dancer
・Others: Whole World’s Fallin’ Down / Back On Earth / Walk on Water (Jim Vallance Demo)

　First up is a collection of rare tracks scattered across official singles and best-of albums. OZZMOSIS was initially produced by Michael Wagner, who also mixed NO MORE TOURS. Later, Beinhorn took over and the album was reworked from scratch, but “Aimee,” “Living With The Enemy,” and “See You on the Other Side (Alternate Demo)” are demos from early Wagner sessions. (Note: Disc 1 also seems likely to be a Wagner session, but this has yet to be confirmed.)

　The following track, “Voodoo Dancer,” is also a B-side of the single, and there are also some mysteries surrounding it. It is described as a “1994 demo,” but details such as the producer are unknown. “Whole World’s Fallin’ Down” is a bonus track from “OZZMOSIS,” and “Back On Earth” is an outtake from “OZZMOSIS” that was included on the greatest hits album, “THE OZZMAN COMETH.”

　”Walk on Water” is a bit confusing. It was originally written for the film “Beavis and Butt-Head Do America,” but there are actually two versions. The original is the version featured on the film soundtrack, with Joe Holmes playing guitar. The other is a demo version with composer Jim Vallance playing all the instruments. Because Holmes plays guitar on the original, it’s not considered “Ozzmosis”-related, but the demo released later in life likely represents a precursor to that. It’s also likely from an “Ozzmosis” session around the same time as “I Just Want You,” also composed by Vallance, and is included on this album. (The Holmes version is available on our soundboard masterpiece, “Definitive Phoenix 1996 (Zodiac 726).”)

●Another demo (5 songs)
・Perry Mason／Denial／Tomorrow／I Just Want You／Old L.A. Tonight

　The final section is a demo of “OZZMOSIS” that differs from Disc 1. It includes “Tomorrow” and “I Just Want You,” which aren’t on Disc 1, and even the three overlapping tracks are different takes. This version is also quite close to the finished version, and you can enjoy different flavors, such as the piano on “Old LA Tonight.”

　This collection of 24 studio treasures is a 30th-anniversary edition of “OZZMOSIS,” compiled with underground recordings. While 2021 saw the release of “NO MORE TEARS” and “DOWN TO EARTH” for their 30th anniversary, the in-between album “OZZMOSIS” was overlooked due to its lack of anniversary status. This two-disc set serves as a substitute for the official release.
　
During his lifetime, Ozzy Osbourne once said, “I don’t want to be remembered as the man who ate the bat. I’d rather be remembered as the man who wrote good songs.” “OZZMOSIS” marked the peak of his songwriting talent. This two-disc set includes not only the original demos (10 tracks) for the album, but also a large number of previously unreleased tracks (14 tracks). Enjoy to your heart’s content.

This treasured demo album commemorates the 30th anniversary of “OZZMOSIS.” This two-disc set features exclusive leaked demos (Disc 1) unearthed by our store, plus Disc 2, a compilation of official rare tracks and other demos related to “OZZMOSIS.” This definitive album features 10 early takes of album tracks, plus 14 tracks not included on the album, all in official quality.

Disc 1(58:28)
LONDON 1992 DEMOS
Unreleased studio demo tracks recorded in London 1992
1. Feels So Good To Be Bad
2. Denial
3. Too Far Gone
4. Ghost Behind My Eyes
5. Frustrated Yes I’m Hated
6. Dream For Tomorrow
7. Say Yeah Yeah
8. Oh No the Bitch Won’t Go
9. My New Rock And Roll
10. Perry Mason
11. Old L.A. Tonight
12. See You On The Other Side

Disc 2(64:32)
‘OZZMOSIS’ RARITIES
1. Aimee
2. Living With The Enemy
3. Voodoo Dancer
4. Whole World’s Fallin’ Down
5. Back On Earth
6. Walk on Water (Jim Vallance Demo)
7. See You on the Other Side (Alternate Demo)

ALTERNATE DEMOS
8. Perry Mason (Alternate Demo)
9. Denial (Alternate Demo)
10. Tomorrow (Demo)
11. I Just Want You (Demo)
12. Old L.A. Tonight (Alternate Demo)

STEREO SOUNDBOARD RECORDING