| "Mr Crowley" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Ozzy Osbourne | ||||
| from the album Blizzard of Ozz | ||||
| B-side | "You Said it All" | |||
| Released | 20 September 1980 | |||
| Format | 7" Vinyl (45 rpm) | |||
| Recorded | 22 March–19 April 1980 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 4:55 | |||
| Label | Epic | |||
| Writer(s) | Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley | |||
| Producer | Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley, Lee Kerslake | |||
| Ozzy Osbourne singles chronology | ||||
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"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 number 46 on the United Kingdom 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 organ introduction. In more recent Deep Purple shows, Airey will incorporate the song's intro into his keyboard solo spot.
The song is one of two singles ("Crazy Train" being the other) released from the Blizzard of Ozz album. (1980)
The second guitar solo in "Mr Crowley", played by Rhoads, is ranked number 28 on Guitar World Magazine's poll of the "100 greatest guitar solos" and number 34 on Planet Rock's list of the 50 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.
The song is featured in Brütal Legend, during Ophelia's drowning in the Sea of Black Tears.
The video game Fallout 3[1] contains an implied reference to this song in an optional quest titled "You Gotta Shoot 'Em in the Head". In which the owner of a tower asks you to kill former associate who is a zombie-like creature (called a ghoul) whose name is Mister Crowley.
Noted covers include Moonspell (Darkness and Hope, 2001) and Cradle of Filth (Nymphetamine Special Edition, 2005). Tim 'Ripper' Owens, (with Yngwie Malmsteen on guitar), Joe Lynn Turner, George Lynch and The Cardigans have also recorded covers of the song.
It is also a playable song in the 2008 music rhythm video game Guitar Hero World Tour, along with "Crazy Train". In May 2011, the song was made available as downloadable content for Rock Band 3.
The ending guitar solo of the song is paid tribute to by DragonForce on the song Evening Star, although it's played at a faster pace than the original.
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