Ozzy Osbourne - Speak of the Devil
- FaceOff - עימות חזיתי
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On November 27, 1982 Ozzy Osbourne released the live double-album “Speak of the Devil”.
It arrived during one of the most intense and chaotic periods in Ozzy’s life. Earlier that year, a plan was formed to record an album made entirely of 1970s “Black Sabbath” songs, a business decision driven by publishing rights, label profits, and a desire to beat "Sabbath’s "own upcoming live record to shelves. Randy Rhoads and Tommy Aldridge hated the idea, tensions rose, and Ozzy spiraled into one of the darkest stretches of his career. Rhoads’s tragic death in March shattered the original recording plans, the band rapidly reshuffled, and guitarist Brad Gillis joined in April to rebuild the lineup.
With grief still fresh and pressure rising, the band was given only five days of rehearsals in a gloomy Manhattan studio. The album was recorded during two intense nights at “The Ritz” in New York City, September 26–27, 1982. With barely any preparation time, the new lineup - Brad Gillis on guitar, Rudy Sarzo on bass, and Tommy Aldridge on drums - was thrown straight into the fire. They learned the entire "Sabbath" catalog at breakneck speed, reshaping riffs, tightening grooves, and injecting a sharper, more metallic edge into the old material. The shows themselves were raw, loud, imperfect, and unmistakably alive. Some songs were later polished in the studio, and a few were secretly taken from an empty-room recording session with added crowd noise, but the beating heart of those nights remains intact. Ozzy was fighting for his life, and you can hear it in every scream, every breath, and every desperate push forward.
The album erupts with “Symptom of the Universe”, Gillis attacking the riff with fresh aggression as Ozzy delivers it with defiant power. “Snowblind” follows, steeped in its narcotic haze and pushed by a dangerous, jagged swing. “Black Sabbath” descends nextת slow, ominous, ritualistic' with Ozzy facing the very mythology he helped create.
Side B begins with “Fairies Wear Boots”, start soft and slow later bursting forward with raw urgency and punk-like velocity. “War Pigs” comes after, one of the album’s most commanding performances, stretched and hammered with live fury. “The Wizard” shifts the atmosphere again, bluesy and gritty, a smoky mid-set breather before the next wave hits.
Side C opens with “N.I.B.”, where Gillis’s modern, fiery approach replaces Tony Iommi’s original blues-driven edge. “Sweet Leaf” follows, thick, grinding, and swaggering, a highlight made for the intimate chaos of "The Ritz". “Never Say Die” gets a heavier, more muscular edge than its studio version ever carried, lifted by Tommy Aldridge’s sharp and relentless drumming.
Side D starts with “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, one of the album’s heaviest and most dramatic moments, believed to have been recorded during the no-audience afternoon session. Then comes the final three-part strike: “Iron Man / Children of the Grave”, delivered as a snarling medley, and the closing blow, “Paranoid”, short, frantic, and triumphant. These final tracks were originally rehearsed loosely because the band had been told they wouldn’t appear on the recordת a decision later reversedת resulting in performances that feel reckless, imperfect, and alive.
Upon release, critics pointed to the rushed production, the rough edges, and the studio edits, but fans embraced the rawness, honesty, and sheer emotional force. In the UK, where it appeared as “Talk of the Devil”, it quickly reached Silver certification. Over the years, the album became a cult favorite - not polished, not perfect, but truthful. A live snapshot of a band holding together through grief, pressure, and exhaustion.
“Speak of the Devil” is more than a live album. It is a survival document - a portrait of Ozzy Osbourne standing in the wreckage of his past, performing the songs that defined him, and proving that even at his lowest, he still owned them.
For Listening: YouTube Full Album Playlist