The Ultimate Sin

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title: "The Ultimate Sin" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1986-albums", "ozzy-osbourne-albums", "albums-produced-by-ron-nevison", "epic-records-albums", "albums-with-cover-art-by-boris-vallejo"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ultimate_Sin" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]

FieldValue
nameThe Ultimate Sin
typestudio
artistOzzy Osbourne
coverthe_ultimate_sin.jpg
captionCover art by Boris Vallejo
released27 January 1986 (US)
10 February 1986 (UK)
recorded1985
* Heavy metal{{cite weburl
* glam metal<ref name"allmusic"/
length40:51
producerRon Nevison
prev_titleBark at the Moon
prev_year1983
next_titleTribute
next_year1987
misc{{Singles
nameThe Ultimate Sin
typestudio
single1Shot in the Dark
single1date20 January 1986
single2The Ultimate Sin" / "Lightning Strikes
single2date28 July 1986
single3Lightning Strikes
single3date1986 (Aus)
::

| name = The Ultimate Sin | type = studio | artist = Ozzy Osbourne | cover = the_ultimate_sin.jpg | alt = | caption = Cover art by Boris Vallejo | released = 27 January 1986 (US) 10 February 1986 (UK) | recorded = 1985 | venue = | studio =

The Ultimate Sin is the fourth studio album by the English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released on 27 January 1986. It is the second and last of Osbourne's albums to feature lead guitarist Jake E. Lee, the first to feature drummer Randy Castillo, and the only album to feature bassist Phil Soussan, who co-wrote the album's hit single "Shot in the Dark". It is also Osbourne's last album to feature his classic logo on the cover until 2010's Scream.

The album was awarded Platinum status in May 1986 and was awarded Double Platinum status in October 1994 by the RIAA.

Overview

Upon returning from the Betty Ford Center in 1985 where he had undergone treatment for substance abuse, Osbourne was presented with a substantial quantity of music written by guitarist Jake E. Lee. After having been cheated out of his writing and publishing claims for Osbourne's previous album, 1983's Bark at the Moon, Lee says this time he refused to contribute anything until he had a contract in front of him guaranteeing his writing credit and publishing rights. Much of this music would form the basis of the album. The album's lyrics were largely written by long-time Osbourne bassist and lyricist Bob Daisley. The album was Osbourne's first to not feature bass playing from Daisley.

Daisley left the band prior to recording after having a disagreement with Osbourne, prompting the hiring of Greg Chaisson as his replacement. Chaisson claims to have written many of the bass parts on the album, but he was quickly fired after Osbourne decided his image did not fit the band; Chaisson would reunite with Lee a few years later in Badlands. Phil Soussan was ultimately hired just before recording commenced. Neither Daisley nor Chaisson were credited for their songwriting contributions on the initial 1986 pressing of the album, though Daisley did receive credit on subsequent pressings.

Future Y&T, Suicidal Tendencies and Megadeth drummer Jimmy DeGrasso worked with Lee and Daisley on demos for the album, but this version of the band fell apart due to Osbourne's commitment to the Black Sabbath summer 1985 reunion concert at Live Aid; Castillo and Soussan ultimately replaced DeGrasso and Daisley once recording commenced.

The working title for the album was Killer of Giants after the album's song of the same name. Osbourne opted to change the title to The Ultimate Sin at the last minute.

On 1 April 1986, a live performance promoting the album in Kansas City, Missouri, was filmed and released later that year as the home video The Ultimate Ozzy. In 1987, after the various tours in support of the album had concluded, guitarist Lee was unexpectedly fired by Osbourne's wife and manager Sharon. The specific justification for Lee's dismissal remains unknown. Bassist Soussan also departed, with Bob Daisley once again entering the fold.

Reception

At the time of its release, The Ultimate Sin was Osbourne's highest-charting studio album, as heavy metal was enjoying a surge in popularity during the mid-1980s. The RIAA awarded the album Platinum status on 14 May 1986, soon after its release; it was awarded Double Platinum status on 26 October 1994. The album sold over 2,000,000 copies worldwide. In the UK, it was the final of four Osbourne albums to attain Silver certification (60,000 units shipped) by the British Phonographic Industry, achieving this in April 1986.

Despite its commercial success, Osbourne cites The Ultimate Sin as his least favorite solo album, saying "If there was ever an album I'd like to remix and do better, it would be The Ultimate Sin." Much of the vocalist's blame has been placed on the shoulders of producer Ron Nevison, saying "(He) didn't really do a great production job. The songs weren't bad, they were just put down weird. Everything felt and sounded the fucking same. There was no imagination."

Track listing

| headline = Side A | all_writing = Ozzy Osbourne, Bob Daisley and Jake E. Lee, except "Shot in the Dark" written by Osbourne and Phil Soussan | title1 = The Ultimate Sin | length1 = 3:45 | title2 = Secret Loser | length2 = 4:08 | title3 = Never Know Why | length3 = 4:27 | title4 = Thank God for the Bomb | length4 = 3:53 | title5 = Never | length5 = 4:17 | headline = Side B | title6 = Lightning Strikes | length6 = 5:16 | title7 = Killer of Giants | length7 = 5:41 | title8 = Fool Like You | length8 = 5:18 | title9 = Shot in the Dark | length9 = 4:16 | total_length = 40:51 Note

  • "Shot in the Dark" runs 4:28 on the original vinyl and CD issues. The 1995 CD reissue uses the 4:16 single edit.

  • "Shot in the Dark" was originally performed by Soussans previous band Wildlife. Although the writing is credited solely to Soussan and Osbourne, some question whether other members of Wildlife (the Overland brothers, in particular) deserve writing credit for Osbourne's rendition.

Personnel

Personnel taken from The Ultimate Sin liner notes.

Additional performers

Production

Charts

Weekly charts

::data[format=table] | Chart (1986) | Peak position | Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) | European Albums Chart | Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) | |---|---|---|---|---| | 36 | | | | | | 14 | | | | | | 3 | | | | | ::

Year-end charts

::data[format=table]

Chart (1986)PositionUS Billboard 200
30
::

Certifications

References

References

  1. "RIAA certifications".
  2. "Brit certifications for Ozzy Osbourne".
  3. "Ozzy Osbourne: The Ultimate Sin". spirit-of-metal.com.
  4. "Top 50 Glam Metal Albums".
  5. (2015-07-10). "Justify Your Shitty Taste: Ozzy Osbourne's The Ultimate Sin".
  6. "Music Week".
  7. "Music Week".
  8. Huey, Steve. "Ozzy Osbourne - The Ultimate Sin review". [[All Media Network]].
  9. (1 November 2005). "The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties". [[Collector's Guide Publishing]].
  10. Holmes, Tim. (24 April 1986). "Ozzy Osbourne: The Ultimate Sin : Music Reviews".
  11. Saulnier, Jason. (2 October 2008). "Phil Soussan Interview Ozzy Osbourne Bassist talks Jake E. Lee". Music Legends.ca.
  12. (10 December 2014). "Jake E. Lee: Why I Gave Up Songwriting Credit for Ozzy Osbourne's ''Bark at the Moon''". [[Blabbermouth.net]].
  13. "Jake E. Lee's Ozzy Warning to Greg Chaisson, "BE AWARE"". Full In Bloom.
  14. (9 December 2021). "An Interview with Greg Chaisson of Badlands & Atomic Kings".
  15. Syrjälä, Marko. (19 January 2010). "Jimmy DeGrasso: Interview and Live Pictures". [[Metal Rules]].
  16. (28 May 2013). "Jimmy DeGrasso of Black Star Riders". They Will Rock You.com.
  17. DiVita, Joe. (February 21, 2023). "37 Years Ago: Ozzy Osbourne Releases 'The Ultimate Sin'".
  18. "Jake E. Lee Says Interview: He Found Out He Was Fired From Ozzy From His Guitar Tech".
  19. "OZZY OSBOURNE-THE ULTIMATE SIN".
  20. (29 August 2019). "Why Ozzy Osbourne Hates His Album "The Ultimate Sin"". Society of Rock.
  21. Grow, Kory. (23 August 2019). "Fetus Jars and Werewolves: Ozzy Osbourne Looks Back Ahead of Box Set Release". [[Rolling Stone (magazine).
  22. (1995). "The Ultimate Sin (1995 CD) credits". Epic Records.
  23. Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
  24. (March 1, 1986). "European Top 100 Albums".
  25. Pennanen, Timo. (2006). "Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972". Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava.
  26. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1986".

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