BOO vs. DOAM production quality

[juray]

Well, the thing is, Chris was hoping that Jet was going to give him another production assignment when the Ozzy album came up and he was actually bummed that they assigned him the Ozzy record! I don't think anyone wanted to produce it! It seems like Chris mentioned that they might've done some stuff initially at Rockfield studios in Monmouth before Ridge Farm got booked but I'm a little foggy about that...I don't think it was demos though - I think that's where the sessions may have been started?

Anyway, I know Chris said that he had to initially sit the guys down with Jet staff very early on and basically busted them for not having their shit together to record - I think the issue might've been that they had just gotten Lee in the band and Chris said it was really not quite together like it should've been...

He and Randy got pretty close and they had alot more in common due to them being the same age - Chris is a REALLY funny guy and likes to joke around ALOT...Chris recorded the Crazy Train solo and he jokingly says "I actually recorded it three times" (referring to Randy's triple tracking)! I also know that Randy HATED the tone of his Marshall's in the studio and Chris asked Randy what he'd rather use - he said that he'd love to have his tweed Fender Harvard! I suppose it's one of those cases where, as a guitar player, you learn how to "play" your amp - amps are funny because they are like an instrument in and of themselves and I'm sure for studio purposes he was really wanting to have something he "knew"...As I understand it, they still used the Marshalls but he had a REALLY tough time getting his tone together...

I also know that Chris, Randy, and Tommy Aldridge met up sometime after the album had been finished - they were all in Chris's car somewhere in London and Randy told Chris personally that he really wasn't happy with the sound of Blizzard and wished that Chris could've stayed on as the producer...

I don't want any politics off of this - this is what was told to me as I recall it - I may be missing a few details but I will be seeing Chris in Feb. to record another record with my band Blanco Diablo...I'll hit him up for some more stories then and share with you guys...Cheers...

Jamie

PS - Chris was initially hired to do the Ultimate Sin also and I was fortunate enough to hear all those demos a few years ago...Jake is really an amazing guitar player and the songs sounded really cool as demos - very very raw sound to the demos - Ozzy was singing different lyrics but all the vocal melodies and music (and most of the solos as well) were the same as what you hear on the record...

[DMRX]

Awsome,Thanks

[Trigger]

I think the Diary album is a high in quality and the live recordings shift it up a gear even further! I don't know how Diary became so much bette than Blizzard but I find it difficult to listent to Blizzard, I would rather listen to live versions of the Blizzard songs because they have more soul.

[Sky]

I was puzzled by what I'd read in Juray's postings so I wrote to ask Bob Daisley about Chris Tsangarides' input on BOO and listed the things that Chris is supposed to have said. Bob sent me the following reply, 'It's all bollocks'. He then went on to tell me what actually happened. Apparently, Bob's kept a diary since 1976 so everything is documented. The band arrived at Ridge Farm on Saturday 22nd of March 1980. No preliminary meeting with members of Blizzard, Jet staff and Chris Tsangarides ever took place and and no-one 'busted them for not having their shit together to record'. Recording started on Sunday the 23rd with Chris producing and Max Norman engineering. After a few days of experimenting and recording, neither Randy, Bob, Ozzy nor Lee were happy with the sound or with Chris as producer, so on Friday the 28th of March the band had a meeting and the four of them reached a unanimous decision to scrap everything that had been recorded to that point and to tell Chris that he was no longer needed. Chris was told on Saturday 29th of March, he didn't work with the band that day and he left Ridge Farm on Sunday 30th March after working on BOO for 6 days in total. Then the band started recording everything again from scratch.
It's been reported more than once that Chris had an ear-infection but that had nothing to do with his dismissal. Everyone in the band thought that Chris was a nice bloke but he didn't work out, so the band decided to produce the album themselves with Max Norman staying on as engineer.
Bob also said that in 2003, when working on The Power of the Blues album with Gary Moore, he told Chris Tsangarides, who was producing the album, that everything on BOO was recorded again after his departure, so it's surprising that these rumours are still circulating.
As for The Ultimate Sin, Bob said that Chris was only ever booked to produce 4 songs as demos, with Bob on bass and Jim Degrasso on drums. Bob wrote the lyrics for the album after the demos were recorded, which is why Ozzy sings different words on the demos.
I was told that there's a lot more detailed information in Bob's book along with many unpublished photos from his private collection, including several pics of Randy that only close friends and family have seen. Sounds good to me!

[DMRX]

Awsome,I would Love to hear those Demos!

[axeman_12656]

years ago... maybe 15 or so.. i seem to recall reading somewhere that their was a complete copy of "the ulitmate sin" record that was never released. Like a different version of that album. Does anyone else recall anything like this? Its probably just the alt lyrics that were mentioned above.

[Trigger]

years ago... maybe 15 or so.. i seem to recall reading somewhere that their was a complete copy of "the ulitmate sin" record that was never released. Like a different version of that album. Does anyone else recall anything like this? Its probably just the alt lyrics that were mentioned above.

I remember reading Ozzy say that it was the first album of his that a record company refused! he said that it was over produced and and Epic said it had to be simplified and if I remember correctly it was re-recorded from scratch which delayed it and I remember at the time that after word came out of release dates they kept being delayed month after month.

[axeman_12656]

I remember correctly it was re-recorded from scratch which delayed it.

Yes.. thats the story. I would love to hear the original. I think the Ultimate Sin is way under-rated.

[sytharnia]

I remember correctly it was re-recorded from scratch which delayed it.

Yes.. thats the story. I would love to hear the original. I think the Ultimate Sin is way under-rated.

I would like to hear the version's of the songs that jake did while ozzy was in prison.....apparently jake wrote and recorded the whole album instrumentally (without shot in the dark) while ozzy was locked up and gave it to ozzy when he was released and oz didn't like it and a lot of stuff got re arranged....being jake I reckon it would be awesome

[DMRX]

Ive hear that too about TUS (which I too thiink is Underrated )
But I do recall hearing that Bark at the moon was Remixed at least Once (before its initial release) Because I remember Ozzy saying that the Drums sounded great in UK when recorded & when they tried Mixing it in the USA it just didnt sound right?

[hansolo]

First, BOO was recorded in spring 1980. Randy took a break back to 'Merica. Then there was a small U.K. tour (Did they play Reading fest 8/80?) From Sept-Nov '80 then waiting for Blizzard to be released in the USA to tour, Sharon suggested do another another album (The guys were sitting 'round) over the winter 80-81 and then Lee and Bob were fired. Then they went to Merica...

Recollections Of the Blizzard of Ozz/Spring '81 - In 7th grade I was a troubled student in a troubled student class and it is ironic that we had more freedoms in there than other classes but I think they were teaching something else. Anyway, during "free time" boom boxes went on and I don't recall much but when I heard the new Ozzy song, I went up to Todd Thurley and asked him who it was. All of us know the answer but I had to get that album. When I bought it at Woolworth's, I took it home and put it on our Zenith stereo/turntable. Our speakers were set up in a long living room with left and right speakers farthest from each other (stereo separation). I put on Crazy Train and during the "aye" echos my mother freaked out and was looking out the window for a locomotive derailed and headed toward the homestead. Good times.
I don't know what the F people mean when they can't listen to this masterpiece because it sounds inferior. I won't quote but Jesus this album is classic. I get "man I played it a zillion times" because I have. I have gone through fazes where I didn't listen to it for years and drunken nights where I Air Randy... Diary is f'ing cool with The eerier guitar sounds. Agreed. He did branch out. I love Little Dolls even though Randy said it was incomplete or a dummy solo as Randy put it. Diary is great (red hot-minorish sounding) but Blizzard came first (blue Mellow-Bluesier) but don't ask me to choose. Don't you choose between albums or bands. Just because you love rock doesn't mean you can't like Jazz, Punk, Grunge, Polka (Randy), Country AND Western, Classical, Flamenco or Bulgarian Ska, because you don't have to choose. You can like them all for different reasons. One is BECAUSE YOU DO!

P.S. - There is a flaw on Blizzard during Goodbye to romance just before the second verse. On Vinyl, tape or CD it sounds like a digital skip. Probably a punch in or tape splice. It may affect you forever like the squeaky drum pedal on "Since I've been loving you." Beware.

[hansolo]

I've got the BATM demos. Those are badass. I don't think I wanna here a more polished Ulimate sin. Ozzy did the live at the Tubes 85/86 or Tubes (UK guys - What is it?) and I liked that. It had a nice raw sound. It might be the only time I heard of a band not sounding "raw" enough for a record company. My pet peeve. I wonder what Jake is up to? Thank to everyone making great music that we listen to!

[axeman_12656]

I wonder what Jake is up to?

Well... A video hit YouTube recently of Jake doing Shot In The Dark in a 3 piece band and it was less than spectacular. I don't recall the band name. But I have heard a lot of stories of late about some of Jakes demons getting the best of him. Sad too... he was so talented.

[Jazznroll]

Bark demo are fkin mega, i dislike fools though... ?

[DMRX]

Great Story HANSOLO!! I Loved it ,it took me back to when I was 6 & my brother played me Crazy Train on Vinyl.As soon as he would leave I'd be sneakin into (& Unintentionaly destroying) his room to play the record.And I remember a Cassette of Blizzard that I used to listen to on an Old late 70s style telephone answering machine!! I just had to hear it.
And listening to it w/just one speaker (before I understood Stereophonics) & wondering why
it was like All Aboard!!!!! I....._......I....._.....I.....,It is Perfect the way it is/was
Still sounds Amazing on Vinyl especially,I know it is sort of Garagy & well,no Super Produced
Record Fidelitywise,but I recall reading that Randy & the Band had wanted that "Demo Esque"
Sound to it as opposed to the Slick Diary Production.On the Liner Notes for the Original Blizzard
Album it says" Mixed May 6-19 1980 " or something of the likes meaning that they
"The Band" were there & had spent a few weeks just Mixing really just 8 Songs (Dee couldve been mixed simly since it was just two guitars) So after the month spent recording & tracking
everything the way they felt was Right & their own pace,they took a break & came back to it w/fresh ears & spent ALOT of time on 35 mins that we know as Blizzard.

While on the BLizzard Vs. Diary Debate to anyone who really practices/enjoys Critical Music Listening-I HIGHLY suggest listening to the Diary Pre-release Montage' /Flying High Again
Promotional single,For a different mix of Flying High & an 18 minute Sample of the rest of the Diary album.I cant believe I never considered it (because Ive had it for over 15 years) & hadnt noticed it then when I was 15 ,And to the majority & untrained ear-it Will sound the Same as Diary does.For it is the same Tracks/Takes that were used on the album but they are mixed Quite differently,a little closer to Blizzard.The Drum & Bass is way cool & little Nuances EVERYWHERE! Ive been listening to it pretty much daily the past few weeks & Every Time I hear something different!!! A MUST FOR ANY AUDIOPHILE!