Crescendo

“I’m Ozzy Osbourne! I’m the Prince of Fucking Darkness!”

Ozzy mumbled these words during an episode of MTV’s The Osbournes in protest of the bubble machine wife/manager Sharon had included in his stage setup for 2004’s Ozz Fest Tour. If Ozzy truly is the Prince of Darkness, Sharon must be the Queen because it is obvious that she always gets her way. Another thing Ozzy wasn’t too keen on was releasing a 4CD box set retrospective. According to the liner notes of Prince Of Darkness, Ozzy said if he had to release another collection featuring the same songs found on his other records. He agreed to do the set if it gave the fans their money’s worth rather than just retreading the same old material.

The Prince Of Darkness box set obviously is intended for the already hard core Ozzy fan. The first two discs are made up of highlights from his solo career. Anyone wishing for the familiar radio version of Flying High Again will not be pleased with the live version offered here. Those fans should instead purchase the 2003 double disc anthology The Essential Ozzy, which features the original studio versions of familiar tracks. This collection, however, eschews many of the original studio tracks for live and demo versions.

Many of the non standard tracks included here were previously available only as b-sides or limited edition releases. Three of the live tracks, however, are lifted from a VHS-only release from the Ultimate Sin tour. The real prize of the first two discs, though, is the track Bang Bang (You’re Dead), which is an early version of the Down To Earth cut Facing Hell. Ozzy rewrote the lyrics at the record company’s request, theorizing that the corporate guys were afraid that Wal-Mart might not carry a CD with a song ostensibly about shooting someone to death. Ironically, corporate didn’t think that the fiery pits of Hell would bother the Waltons.

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	OZZY OSBOURNE Prince Of Darkness Box Set CD & DVD Review by Ritchie Champagne with screen captures from the DVD
*“I’m Ozzy Osbourne! I’m the Prince of Fucking Darkness!”* Ozzy mumbled these words during an episode of MTV’s The Osbournes in protest of the bubble machine wife/manager Sharon had included in his stage setup for 2004’s Ozz Fest Tour. If Ozzy truly is the Prince of Darkness, Sharon must be the Queen because it is obvious that she always gets her way. Another thing Ozzy wasn’t too keen on was releasing a 4CD box set retrospective. According to the liner notes of Prince Of Darkness, Ozzy said if he had to release another collection featuring the same songs found on his other records. He agreed to do the set if it gave the fans their money’s worth rather than just retreading the same old material.
The Prince Of Darkness box set obviously is intended for the already hard core Ozzy fan. The first two discs are made up of highlights from his solo career. Anyone wishing for the familiar radio version of Flying High Again will not be pleased with the live version offered here. Those fans should instead purchase the 2003 double disc anthology The Essential Ozzy, which features the original studio versions of familiar tracks. This collection, however, eschews many of the original studio tracks for live and demo versions. Many of the non standard tracks included here were previously available only as b-sides or limited edition releases. Three of the live tracks, however, are lifted from a VHS-only release from the Ultimate Sin tour. The real prize of the first two discs, though, is the track Bang Bang (You’re Dead), which is an early version of the Down To Earth cut Facing Hell. Ozzy rewrote the lyrics at the record company’s request, theorizing that the corporate guys were afraid that Wal-Mart might not carry a CD with a song ostensibly about shooting someone to death. Ironically, corporate didn’t think that the fiery pits of Hell would bother the Waltons.