I forgot to mention a couple other things in my Dio/Sabbath bit. I had misplaced, but recently found my copy of Past Lives, the only official live Ozzy-era Black Sabbath album and had a listen to it. Unfortunately, the first disc is terrible and probably doesn’t deserve to be released. Fortunately, the second disc has a couple tracks from the absolutely fucking amazing 1975 New Jersey show (Hole In The Sky, Symptom of the Universe and Megalomania) and has led me to re-locate and listen to the bootleg again. You can read about it and download it here, and I promise it’s worth it. If you’re only going to listen to one track, listen to Sabbra Cadabra, and yes, the whole thing. Actually, the whole second disc is quite good and well worth the listen.

If you only made it to the first disc of the two disc set (which is is the logical way to listen to a 2 disc album), you would realize it’s not very impressive or representative of the generally above average to excellent studio albums, and would probably keep you from bothering with the second cd. Because someone made the choice to have it be the first of two, I’m going to briefly and arbitrarily pit Past Lives Disc 1 against the newly released solo Ozzy live show coupled as a second disc to the restored reissue of Diary of a Madman that I’ve been listening to recently.

While I generally enjoy Black Sabbath songs to solo Ozzy material, Past Lives Disc 1 (Disc 1) has the shit totally kicked out of it by by Diary of a Madman Disc 2 (Disc 2). Disc 2 sounds better, the performance is superior pretty much across the board, and it’s overall a more enjoyable listen that I wouldn’t be completely embarrassed to show a non-fan. I can’t say the same about Disc 1. Although there are some awesome moments, it’s not presented in a flattering manner and at other times is so bad at times Im embarrassed for the Black Sabbath.

End result: Past Lives Disc 1 suffers a horrible defeat a the hands of Ozzy Disc 2, and if you have it throw it in the garbage and just listen to the second Past Lives cd or Ozzy Disc 2.

The interesting part (and roundabout point) came in my realization that there’s no way the best live solo Ozzy trumps the best Black Sabbath. It took the awfulness of Past Lives Disc 1 make me compare the two, but I’m glad it did because it led me to re-find the Jersey ’75 show. Have a listen to the New Jersey show (which is just a straight sound board recording), turn it up really loud, and you’ll understand what I mean. It’s by no means perfect. There are fuck ups and missed notes (looking at you Ozzy) everywhere, but the energy and approach is so bang on that it leaves even a non fan no choice but to appreciate the awesomeness of Supernaut. Apparently there were failed plans to officially release it in the late ‘70s and I wish they would have if not only so more people would be able to listen to it.

Till next time!