Mr. Crowley
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2008) |
| "Mr. Crowley" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
|||||
| Single by Ozzy Osbourne | |||||
| from the album Blizzard of Ozz | |||||
| B-side | "You Said it All" | ||||
| Released | September 20, 1980 & August 22, 1995 (re-issue) | ||||
| Format | 7" Vinyl (45RPM) | ||||
| Recorded | March 22 to April 19, 1980 | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal | ||||
| Length | 4:55 | ||||
| Label | Jet, Epic | ||||
| Writer(s) | Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley | ||||
| Producer | Max Norman | ||||
| Ozzy Osbourne singles chronology | |||||
|
|||||
"Mr. Crowley" is a 1980 heavy metal song performed by Ozzy Osbourne, released on the album Blizzard of Ozz, Osbourne's first solo effort following his firing from Black Sabbath. It peaked at #46 on the UK charts. Musicians playing on the song are guitarist Randy Rhoads, bass guitarist Bob Daisley, and drummer Lee Kerslake. Don Airey plays the song's distinctive funeral organ introduction.
This song and "Crazy Train" were released as singles.
The second guitar solo in "Mr. Crowley" is ranked number 28 on Guitar World Magazine's poll of the "100 greatest guitar solos".
The song was inspired by books about Aleister Crowley which Ozzy Osbourne had read and a deck of tarot cards that were found in the studio.[1]
The song's lyrical content arguably indicates that the lyricist had little familiarity with Aleister Crowley or his philosophies. While the lyrics ask "did you talk with the dead?", Crowley, who was called the "wickedest man alive", himself did believe in reincarnation, but was an atheist[citation needed] who believed in neither God nor Satan. Despite this, another lyric states that Crowley "waited on Satan's call".[2]
Additionally, Ozzy Osbourne mispronounces Crowley's surname; the proper pronunciation Crōw'-lee.
Noted covers include Moonspell (Darkness and Hope, 2001) and Cradle of Filth (Nymphetamine Special Edition, 2005)[citation needed]. Tim 'Ripper' Owens, (with Yngwie Malmsteen on guitar), Joe Lynn Turner, Judas Priest, George Lynch and The Cardigans have also recorded covers of the song.
Also, in the game Guilty Gear XX, the character I-No plays part of the ending solo to "Mr. Crowley" as one of her win poses.
It is also a playable song in the 2008 music rhythm video game Guitar Hero World Tour, along with "Crazy Train."
There is also a character found in the game Fallout 3 called Mr. Crowley, a reference to the song.
[edit] Personnel
- Ozzy Osbourne - vocals
- Randy Rhoads - guitar
- Bob Daisley - bass
- Don Airey - keyboards
- Lee Kerslake - drums
[edit] References
- ^ My Crowley by Ozzy Osbourne. Songfacts.
- ^ Cables, J. (2007). Aleister Crowley: There is no god but man
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
