Ozzy Osbourne-Randy Rhoads Tribute (1987)

Far from the most optimistic predictions, Ozzy Osbourne achieved enormous success after leaving Black Sabbath (actually, after being kicked out of the band due to his persistent drug and alcohol abuse). Much of that success was due to guitarist Randy Rhoads, a young and talented guitarist who was instrumental in the creation of two absolute heavy metal classics: the albums "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary of a Madman". These albums catapulted the vocalist's career to almost the same heights he had reached with his former band. Rhoads, in a way, reinvented guitar playing, drawing influences from neoclassical heavy metal and employing dizzying pyrotechnics on the six strings. However, it all came to an end on March 19, 1982, when Rhoads died in a tragic plane crash during the "Diary of a Madman" tour. Five years later, Ozzy wanted to pay tribute to the young guitarist by releasing the double album "Tribute", a record featuring a series of live tracks from the "Diary of a Madman" tour. Improvised solos, heavier and more energetic songs than the studio versions, and a wide array of the young guitarist's spontaneous skills elevate this album to the status of a heavy metal masterpiece. Undoubtedly, what truly matters here, more than the repertoire itself, is the recognition of a tragically short-lived talent that made Ozzy a solo megastar and an essential historical document.