Prince Of Darkness. The Godfather of Heavy Metal. Ozzy Osbourne. The rock legend holds these titles for many reasons. Whether it was his wild antics both on and off stage, his unforgettable personality, or his role in creating both the look and sound of heavy metal, Osbourne's status in modern popular music is not something even casual music fans dare to question.
However, it's without a doubt that one of the biggest reasons for Osbourne's legendary presence in music is his trailblazing musical career -- not just as the frontman for Black Sabbath, but also through his highly successful solo work.
After he was fired from Black Sabbath, Osbourne went on to establish for himself a fiery and unrelenting solo career, creating hit tracks like "Crazy Train," "Bark At The Moon," "No More Tears," "Mama, I'm Comin' Home," and countless more.
Following his passing on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, the entire music world shared their love for Ozzy, celebrating his contributions to music, reminiscing over his hilarious antics, and sharing their respect for him, having lived the true rock 'n' roll life through and through.
Essential Ozzy Osbourne albums to own on vinyl
After Osbourne's death, which followed shortly after his historic final Back To The Beginning concert held on July 5 in Birmingham, U.K., his music poured through speakers across the world. With a career spanning over 50 years, he created music for numerous metalhead generations to come, and what better way to honor the Ozzman than to add his work to your record collection?
Whether you're a diehard Ozzy fan or if you just really loved watching The Osbournes growing up, here are the essential Ozzy Osbourne albums to put on your vinyl shopping list.
Blizzard of Ozz (1980)
The album that started it all. Blizzard of Ozz was the singer's first solo release since getting booted out of Black Sabbath and replaced by Ronnie James Dio. Over the years, Osbourne has spoken about how devastating it was to be fired from the group, but his debut solo effort proves that this was merely a boost in the right direction.
While songs like "Crazy Train," "Goodbye To Romance," "Suicide Solution," and "Mr. Crowley" are enough to certify this album as one of the greatest metal albums in history, the entire record is fueled by the marvelous relationship between Osbourne and guitarist Randy Rhoads. A pivotal album all on its own, Osbourne's musical legacy only continued to grow for the remainder of the decade.
Flying High Again (1981)
Staying true to the signature heavy metal identity that was previously introduced in Blizzard of Ozz, Flying High Again continued to cement Osbourne's status as a solo star. The second and final album to feature Rhoads before his death in 1982, the guitarist burns brighter on this album than ever before, with his contributions alone making the album a fan favorite.
Between "Flying High Again" and "Over The Mountain," the masterful guitar virtuoso of Rhoads, and the iconic figure of Osbourne in full horror garb on the cover, Flying High Again is simultaneously a nostalgic and timeless body of work.
Bark At The Moon (1983)
While Osbourne's first two albums are undoubtedly career- and genre-defining, it's truly Bark At The Moon where the singer truly comes into his own. Switching to a more synth-metal sound compared to the early heavy metal resonance found on his introductory albums, Bark At The Moon carries with it a dark, haunting, and unmistakably Ozzy sound.
Dressed as a werewolf on the front cover, tracks like "Bark At The Moon" and "Rock 'n' Roll Rebel" define Osbourne as the epitome of primal rebellion. Exuding reckless abandon and wild debauchery while fully embracing the dark and unknown, the album also contains a softer side through ballads like "You're No Different" and "So Tired."
Not only does Osbourne take his musicianship to new sonic and lyrical heights, but he also masters a balance of both beauty and darkness, which perhaps makes this album his greatest.
The Ultimate Sin (1986)
Just as Osbourne began to truly hone in on his signature sound, heavy metal faced a new wave of popularity. The final result was The Ultimate Sin, Osbourne's fourth studio album, becoming his highest-charting record.
While Osbourne himself admitted that the album was probably his least liked, the album has become a fan favorite among his listeners through tracks like "Shot In The Dark," "Secret Loser," "Killer Of Giants," and "Never."
No More Tears (1991)
Osbourne faced great success in the 1980s as he made a new name for himself as a solo artist, and this continued well into the following decade -- particularly thanks to No More Tears. Somewhat going back to more heavy metal roots and less of the synth- and glam metal-inspired sounds found on recent albums, No More Tears is now considered one of Osbourne's greatest.
Truly fueling that niche fire that seemed to burn so bright for rock music in 1991 (see Metallica, Badmotorfinger, Use Your Illusion I & II, etc.), No More Tears is a definitive body of work. Through songs like the title track (who could forget that bass line?), "Hellraiser," "Zombie Stomp," and the heartbreaking "Mama, I'm Comin' Home," the album is as moving as it is hard-hitting.
Ordinary Man (2020)
For the next 30 years after No More Tears, Osbourne was a household name, a figure synonymous with biting the heads off bats and whose albums children would hide from their parents. However, the life of fast-paced rock 'n' roll came to a stop for Osbourne around 2018, when he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.
While Osbourne spoke about the difficulty and health issues he faced following the diagnosis, Osbourne was equally vocal about how his favorite thing to do in this life was to create music for his fans. Thus, after partnering with renowned producer Andrew Watt, as well as Chad Smith and Duff McKagan, Osbourne's twelfth studio album, Ordinary Man, came to life.
Upon its release, many critics heralded the album as Osbourne's greatest in many years. Putting his entire heart and soul into the record, as well as contributions from Post Malone, Elton John, and Travis Scott, Osbourne further made himself known to seasoned fans while introducing himself to music's next generation.