Speak of The Devil (Ozzy Osbourne Album) - Overview

Overview

The album sleeve states that it was recorded at The Ritz in New York on the 26th and 27 September 1982. In a June 2007 interview with producer/engineer Max Norman posted at KNAC.COM, he states that the album features 3 songs that were recorded during the rehearsal for the show rather than the show itself. The songs were then completed with additional tracks of crowd noise. Norman did not identify specifically the songs. This album culled the song from all but one album during the time Osbourne was in Black Sabbath between 1970 to 1978; the only album during the said era that was not represented in this release is Technical Ecstasy, released in 1976.

This is the only official Osbourne recording to feature Night Ranger guitarist Brad Gillis, who had stepped in for the recently deceased Randy Rhoads, following Bernie Torme's brief stint. However, Gillis did tour with Osbourne during this time period, and the group did play material from Osbourne's first two solo albums during this tour. Examples can be heard/seen on the Speak of the Devil VHS/Laserdisc and more recently the Japan only DVD release.

Osbourne has publicly renounced the album, stating that it was only recorded due to pressures from the record label. At the time, a live album featuring guitarist Randy Rhoads was being prepared, but it was scrapped indefinitely upon Rhoads's sudden death in a 1982 plane crash. Speak of the Devil was recorded and released in its place. The live album featuring Rhoads would eventually be released, entitled Tribute, in 1987. In April 2002, Speak of the Devil was deleted from Osbourne's US/North American catalogue and is no longer being made. However, the album is still widely available in other markets, particularly Japan.

The song "Sweet Leaf" was omitted on the initial pressing Compact Disc releases of the album, due to "timing restrictions". It was restored, however, when the album was reissued for the UK by Castle Communication in 1991 and then remastered in 1995.

Though they had been in Osbourne's band for some time, this is Osbourne's first album to feature bassist Rudy Sarzo (who left to rejoin Quiet Riot less than a month later) and drummer Tommy Aldridge. Guitarist Brad Gillis would also soon depart to form Night Ranger. Bob Daisley, who had been the bassist for both of the previous studio albums, would continue in that role, while Jake E. Lee would replace Gillis for the next album, Bark at the Moon.

Speak of the Devil was released one month before Osbourne's old band Black Sabbath released Live Evil. In the US, sales of Speak of the Devil were much better than those of Live Evil. In the UK it was Live Evil which attained the higher chart-placing: figures on ultimate sales are not widely available.