Ozzy Osbourne's upcoming Ordinary Man album finally has a release date, Feb. 21, and you won't believe who joins him on the title track. As promised earlier in the week by wife/manager Sharon Osbourne, Golden Globe winner Elton John appears on the collection, adding some beautiful piano to the melancholy title track about the highs and lows of fame.
"I was unprepared for fame/ Then everybody knew my name/ No more lonely nights it’s all for you/ I have traveled many miles/ I’ve seen tears and I’ve seen smiles/ Just remember that it’s all for you/ Don’t forget me as the colors fade/ When the lights go down it’s just an empty stage," Osbourne croons on the emotional, Beatles-esque song in which Ozzy rages against the dying of the light.
In addition to Sir Elton, Ozzy's first solo album since 2010's Scream will feature collaborations with new bestie Post Malone, as well as Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and Slash, who appears on the recently released song "Straight to Hell." The album was recorded in Los Angeles and features producer Andrew Watt playing guitar, as well as Guns N' Roses' Duff McKagan on bass and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith.
“It all just came together,” Osbourne said in a statement about the star-studded line-up of the disc. “Slash is a dear friend of mine, as is Elton. When I was writing ‘Ordinary Man,’ it reminded me of an old Elton song and I said to Sharon, ‘I wonder if he would sing on it?’ We asked and lo and behold, he agreed and sings and play piano on the song.” Fans have heard "Hell" and "Under the Graveyard" so far and Ozzy said he had a blast making the album.
"It was a lot of fun to do though it’s a lot different from my other albums. We recorded it quickly, which I haven’t done since the first Black Sabbath album," he added. "This made it a different process, which I actually enjoyed.”
Man is available for pre-order now, with an instant download of the title track. The collection will come in standard CD format, as well as a deluxe CD, black vinyl, deluxe gatefold swirl color vinyl, picture disc and digital album. All physical copies will include a unique code to enter a sweepstakes with a chance to win one of more than 300 prizes, including a meet and greet with Osbourne, a laminate that guarantees entry to any show on the 2020 No More Tours 2 tour, a gift certificate to the Ozzy global store and more; click here for more details.
Listen to "Ordinary Man" below.
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