Description
Randy Rhoads and Ozzy Osbourne—a legendary duo, unparalleled in the history of hard rock and heavy metal. Now, a new live collection has arrived to capture that miraculous night when these two giants stood side by side! This release features the Long Beach Arena concert from June 27, 1981, captured in a pristine audience recording. The phrase “Long Beach from the Randy era” likely rings a bell for many fans. While we have introduced a title with this name in the past, this release is *not* simply an upgraded version of that one. It is something entirely different. We aren’t talking about a different generation or source path, nor is it merely a different recording of the same show; the concert itself is different. Recent research has revealed the truth behind the “authentic Long Beach recording”: the previous master tape was not actually from Long Beach. It is a common occurrence with vintage recordings: a new tape surfaces containing a different performance than the one previously in circulation, sparking debates like “Which one is the real deal?” and “When did the recording we believed in actually take place?” The same thing happened with Ozzy’s 1981 Long Beach recording. So, what is the true Long Beach recording? That is exactly what this release is. (Incidentally, the true identity of the previous master was the June 21, 1981, El Paso show—a rare recording of a different concert entirely, distinct from the similarly titled *El Paso 1982*, so if you own it, please cherish it.) Let’s begin by looking at the band’s activities at the time to understand where this show fits into the picture. 1980 “Blizzard of Ozz Tour” [B. Daisley, L. Kerslake, L. Bridgewater] – Sept. 3–Nov. 8: UK (37 shows). 1981 [R. Sarzo, T. Aldridge, L. Bridgewater] – Apr. 22–July 28: North America #1a (61 shows) ← ★Here★ – Aug. 1: HM Holocaust appearance – Aug. 2–Sept. 13: North America #1b (33 shows). “Diary of a Madman Tour” – Nov. 1–Dec. 2: Europe (11 shows) [R. Sarzo, T. Aldridge, D. Airey] – Dec. 30 & 31: North America #2a (2 shows). 1982 – Jan. 1–Mar. 18: North America #2b (45 shows) ← ※El Paso 1982 [Mar. 19: Randy Rhoads passes away]. This covers the Ozzy Osbourne era featuring Randy Rhoads. The Long Beach performance featured in this release was part of the main leg of the tour, “North America #1.” Given that this was a massive leg spanning over 90 shows, there is a vast number of recordings available. We have curated an archive of the finest recordings possible; let us now focus on the tour schedule and take a detailed look at the collection. “North America #1a” Details: April 22–28 (6 shows) *April 29: “THE CRAZY GANG” (Rochester) *April 30 & May 1 (2 shows) *May 2: “PALLADIUM 1981 1ST SHOW” & “2ND SHOW” *May 3: Poughkeepsie show *May 4: “SPRINGFIELD 1981 UPGRADE” *May 6–10 (4 shows) *May 11: “DEFINITIVE TRIBUTE” (Cleveland) *May 13–June 19 (18 shows) *June 21: El Paso show (using the conventional master) *June 23–26 (3 shows) *June 27: Long Beach show (this release) *June 28–July 27 (17 shows) *July 28: “DEFINITIVE TRIBUTE” (Montreal). Note: Items marked with “*” belong to the “Masterpiece Collection,” featuring pristine sound derived from the best possible master source. This concert took place six days (and four shows) after the El Paso performance—the source of the previously known master. This release, capturing the “true Long Beach show,” is a sonic gem with remarkably crisp, beautiful audio. While it doesn’t sound exactly like a soundboard recording, the contours of every single note are sharply defined, with absolutely no sense of distance. In fact, although the recording has been known since the LP era, previous masters were plagued by issues like heavy surface noise or severe digital compression artifacts, making them difficult to listen to. However, the “best master” provided by a researcher for this release is completely free of such flaws. Free from surface noise or tape hiss, the sound is rich and vibrant down to the finest detail; sustained notes ring out clearly, and sharp riffs remain distortion-free. It is truly a definitive recording—a sound quality worthy of preservation for posterity. This superb master recording captures every single note of every instrument in exquisite detail. You can clearly feel the elasticity in Tommy Aldridge’s drumming—reminiscent of a basketball dribble—while the bass, an instrument that often suffers in live recordings, remains crisp and distinct without buzzing or getting buried in the mix, driving a satisfying groove. Even more impressive is the star of the show, Ozzy. His vocals are rendered with such clarity that you can hear not just every word, but every nuance of his delivery; it is immediately apparent that he is in peak form—perhaps the best of his entire career. Then there is Randy Rhoads, whose virtuosity is nothing short of extraordinary. Long Beach Arena was his “home turf”—located just an hour’s drive from his house—and many family members and acquaintances were in the audience that day. Perhaps because of this, he is incredibly fired up and playing with razor-sharp precision. Not only is every phrase vibrant, but he also injects a dazzling array of techniques—string bending, whammy bar work, pinch harmonics, and “machine-gun” picking—creating a richly colorful sound. His mother, Delores Rhoads, has spoken in interviews about how vividly she remembers this concert. She recounted that Randy struggled that day because his effects pedals weren’t working properly. She advised him, “Why not just plug straight into the amp?” Whether or not that was the reason, his guitar tone that day is undeniably punchy and cuts through the mix beautifully. The energy of the crowd witnessing this historic performance is equally amazing. As mentioned earlier, the crisp, clear instrumental sound takes center stage, yet the raw intensity of the audience rising up through the gaps in the music feels incredibly real. The crowd goes wild for every single song; when the band members leave the stage after “Paranoid,” signaling the end of the show, a chorus of boos erupts—as if to say, “Give us more!” It was a night of burning passion that makes you wonder, “Is this really just their debut tour?” This is a genuine Long Beach Arena recording, confirmed by the latest research. It captures a night where Randy—immersed in the local atmosphere—delivered one of the most brilliant performances of his life, Ozzy belted out vocals with full force, and the capacity crowd went wild. This live album allows you to fully experience that authentic event through the finest existing master recording. It features a full show where a hard rock/heavy metal icon and a guitar genius are at the top of their game—an irreplaceable moment in time preserved forever with pristine sound quality. This is a superb audience recording of the June 27, 1981, Long Beach Arena concert. Unlike previous masters that were actually from a different show (El Paso, June 21), this is the *true* Long Beach recording. Provided by a researcher, this best-quality master is free of scratches or hiss, offering exquisite sound where every single note stands out with crystal clarity. Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA, USA 27th June 1981 TRULY AMAZING/PERFECT SOUND UPGRADE!! (63:47) 01. Carmina Burana 02. I Don’t Know 03. Crazy Train 04. Believer 05. Mr. Crowley 06. Flying High Again 07. Revelation (Mother Earth) 08. Steal Away (The Night) 09. Drum Solo 10. Suicide Solution 11. Guitar Solo 12. Iron Man 13. Children Of The Grave 14. Paranoid ★Includes the crowd’s boos when the show ended—a testament to just how great the performance was. Ozzy Osbourne – Vocals Randy Rhoads – Guitar Rudy Sarzo – Bass Tommy Aldridge – Drums Lindsay Bridgewater – Keyboards
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