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I've always liked Ozzy Osbourne, but the main focus of this album (for me, anyway) is Randy Rhoads, as it is a tribute to him. All of the songs from "Blizzard of Ozz" are here, and only a few from "Diary of a Madman". I would have liked to hear more from the latter, but oh well. Ozzy is in good form, as he could still sing well back then. The rhythm section is good (a good rhythm section is important, and this one does the job), and they support one of the best lead guitarists I've heard.

The album opens with a performance of "I Don't Know", which is a much more intense and energetic live song. When Randy hit that first bend of the solo, filled with vibrato, I almost died. The classic "Crazy Train" is played, with added fills and little bits. "Mr. Crowley" is another highlight, with some added improvising at the end. "Suicide Solution" is one of the biggest highlights. Firstly, the fills Randy adds are crazy, and then he gets a solo spot, which is outstanding. He switches between lightning fast pentatonic and harmonic minor shredding to dimished scale runs and classically influenced arpeggio bits. It's inspirational, not just because it's fast or anything. The Sabbath covers are OK, not really what I wanted to hear, but good nonetheless. The classic ballad "Goodbye to Romance" is here, and it's very good as well.

Any fan of Randy-era Ozzy needs this album, as well as guitar players looking for inspiration, or just amazing playing.


Awe-inspiring   February 14, 2006
 7 out of 11 found this review helpful

Like most great guitarists (i.e. Jimi Hendrix, "Dimebag" Darrell, etc.), Randy Rhodes sounded a little more than awesome in the studio, but, as "Tribute" proves, he was just freaking amazing live! "Tribute" was recorded in 1987 (on the "Diary of a Madman" Tour), so its sound quality can be sub-par at times. Plus, even though Ozzy hits most hooks, his singing isn't quite as good as usual (he can sometimes, as in the beginning of the first track, be somewhat indecipherable.) Fortunately, there is more than enough wonderful guitar shredding to make up for these flaws. Randy (who would, a short while after this was released, die in a plane crash) plays every song perfectly. He plays superb, chunky riffs, skillful and infectious leads, and some of the best guitar solos ever known to man with virtuosic ease.

The crowd noise is kept to a bearable minimum. Ozzy frequently tells the audience to "stand up and clap," but their clapping is almost never heard over Randy's soaring guitar.

The album/concert begins with "I Don't Know," which features a fast, running guitar lead and a great, several parted solo. Next comes the world-renowned "Crazy Train." It's executed without a flaw, and includes careening guitar work (Randy's fret board must be smoking by the time this song is over!) The next two songs, "Believer" and "Mr. Crowley," are both highlighted by more great, long, technical, classical-sounding guitar solos. Track six, "Revelation (Mother Earth)," is a power ballad with soft strumming and even a piano. "Steal Away (The Night)" is very catchy, and ends with an extended, everything but the kitchen sink drum solo. "Suicide Solution" also has a solo, but this one is performed by the guitarist. This solo, which is very long, is simply incredible.

"Paranoid" is the first song of the concert's encore, and even though it was originally performed by Black Sabbath, Ozzy Osbourne's band play it perfectly. The last track worth mentioning on here is "Dee," which is a Randy Rhodes studio out-take. This C.D. is worth buying just for this song, which has beautiful acoustic noodling.

So, this is definitely Ozzy's best live album, and it's also probably the best disc for showcasing Randy's sheer, pure, undisputed and unparalleled talent. Essential listening for all Ozzy fans, and heavy metal aficionados in general.


The tragedy is just too much   October 11, 2006
 7 out of 7 found this review helpful

Musicians dying before their time is nothing unique in rock'n'roll history. SRV, Hendrix, Joplin, Holly, Morrison, etc.. However, there was always an innocence attached to Randy Rhoads. Here was a classically trained guitarist that was interested in incorporating brilliant and complex guitar arraingments with popular music. He took an alcohilc and believed to be washed-up rocker like Ozzy and helped him to produce his two greatest works ever. You know, a lot of players sound great in the studio, when they can triple track their recordings, but here, Rhoads shreds in fluid beauty, live and in person. Just incredible playing. The only man that could make Ozzy take a backseat on stage, God Bless him.


The Best Live Album Ever   April 23, 2002
 6 out of 8 found this review helpful

I love this album, have owned all three versions commited to CD, and this is the one to own. One important note: this has the same bass and drum tracks it has always had, unlike the recent rerecording done to Blizzard of Ozz and Diary of a Madman. It is difficult to say something about this album that hasn't been said already, but if you love Ozzy and Randy, then you should own this already. While all of the tracks are awesome, the standouts are Suicide Solution with an amazing guitar solo and Paranoid, where Randy makes Tony Iommi sound like a beginner guitar player (I do enjoy the Sabbath version, but this one is sooooo much better). Enjoy this piece of history!!!


A couple average nights of now mythic proportions...   May 14, 2002
 6 out of 6 found this review helpful

I'm glad in this latest reissue of this classic album they've restored the longer clip of the intro number Carmina Burana from the original lp.Listening to it one could get the feeling that perhaps Randy had seen the movie Excalibur and seeing King Arthurs Knights charge forth to one more victory during that piece,it seemed an image that could sit well with Ozzy aswell.
Listening to this particular section always gave me chills as the music slowly faded in,you hear the roar of the crowd as the band enters,Ozzy's extended elation filled remarks,than bang like a sledge hammer Randy's first guitar burst just hits you like a lightning bolt,and it continues from there...
More hair raising on the opening and closing strains of crazy train,the solo to suicide solution,the list could go on.
It's hard to believe now that during this particular point of his career,Ozzy's first shows as a solo artist were almost universally greeted by the press with negative reviews.This was the era that saw him bight the head off a bat and dove,saw him pissing on the alamo,and saw him pegged by various religious organiztions as the human embodiment of the prince of darkness himself.
So while the media was concentrating on the controversial aspects
both on and off stage of Ozzy,something very special was going on
to which I'm sure alot of those same reviewers had now wished they'd been more objective.
Taken alledgedly from two shows taped in Montreal and Indianapolis,this recording finds Ozzy and the band in fine form.
If anyone had any doubts as to Ozzy's intentions during this period one could hear it in his stage chatter here.
And if you thought this was an amazing night like I did when I first heard this album,you'd be floored that amongst alot of tape collectors that at least I knew this was just average for them.One recording in particular I remember was I believe a radio
broadcast for some Swedish radio station,and I remember playing that for one of my friends and seeing her jaw drop.
And as for that guitar solo,it was an ever evolving thing from Randy's Quiet Riot stay.Later on during the tour it eventually begins to evolve into band jam session complete with it's own mucial interlude...But what those and alot of other tapes in circulation don't have is the clarity in sound production.So whilst it may be cool to search around for that live version of other Diary tracks like Over the Mountain from this period (which
believe it or not got alot of radio airplay back than but seldom performed)this is the album I bet you'd return to time and time again for your guitar fix.Listening to it one could easily picture these guys blowing even the mighty Van Halen off stage.Highly recommended.