Guitarist Jake E. Lee has revisited his opinion of Ozzy Osbourne’s 1986 album, ‘The Ultimate Sin,’ expressing a newfound appreciation for the record. The guitarist’s reflections were shared on Guitar World.
The article poses a question regarding the album’s reception over time and whether Lee’s viewpoint has shifted.
“It got shit on a lot,” Jake E. Lee said. “A lot of people said, ‘This is Ozzy’s worst record ever.’ Ozzy even said in an interview that he didn’t like it and that it was terrible.”
Lee elaborated on his initial negative perception of the album.
“By the late ’90s, I thought, ‘I guess it was a shitty record. I just really sucked on it.’ I wouldn’t listen to it. I didn’t listen to it for maybe a dozen years.”
His perspective began to change through conversations with others.
“Then a friend of mine said, ‘You don’t listen to it? It’s great. What are you talking about?’ And then Chris Jericho told me, ‘The Ultimate Sin is the best’ and started pointing out things I did on it, and I was like, ‘You really like it?’”
After re-listening to the album, Lee’s assessment shifted significantly.
“I went back and listened to it front-to-back, and I thought, ‘This is actually a pretty good record. Why was this shit on so much? Why did I think it sucked when I worked so hard on it?’ Now I think it’s a really good record. I don’t care what anyone says. It’s fantastic. I don’t know why it got shit on. I don’t care.”
The Ultimate Sin marked Jake E. Lee’s second and final studio album with Ozzy Osbourne, following the success of “Bark at the Moon.” Its production, helmed by Ron Nevison, was notably different from previous Osbourne efforts, with a cleaner, more polished sound that polarized some listeners at the time.
Critics often cite the album’s more commercial leanings compared to Osbourne’s earlier, rawer material. Songs like “Shot in the Dark” and “Secret Loser” featured prominent keyboard parts and a more radio-friendly structure, which diverged from the traditional heavy metal sound fans had come to expect.
The departure of drummer Tommy Aldridge and the addition of Randy Castillo on drums for “The Ultimate Sin” also contributed to a sonic shift. Castillo brought a different rhythmic approach, impacting the overall feel of the album’s rhythm section.
Jake E. Lee’s guitar work on the album is characterized by his signature melodic solos and powerful riffs, even amidst the criticisms. His contributions are a key element that fans and critics alike have often pointed to as a strong point of the record.
