Ozzy Osbourne – Under Cover (2005): Ozzy’s Tribute to Rock Classics
Under Cover is the tenth studio album by legendary heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released on 1 March 2005 through Epic Records. Unlike his previous solo albums, Under Cover consists entirely of cover versions of classic rock and hard rock songs, paying tribute to artists who influenced Ozzy’s musical journey.
🎵 Album Overview
The album features Ozzy’s interpretation of rock classics from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, blending his signature heavy metal style with the original spirit of each track. From Zeppelin-inspired riffs to bluesy ballads, the album showcases Ozzy’s versatility as a vocalist and his respect for rock history. While not a collection of original material, Under Cover allows fans to hear Ozzy’s take on some of the greatest songs of all time.
📀 Tracklist – Original Release
- Rock ‘n’ Roll Rebel (originally by Slade) — 3:40
- Woman — 3:55
- Sunshine of Your Love (Cream) — 4:15
- War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover, re-recorded) — 5:12
- Losing My Religion (R.E.M.) — 4:33
- Rock Bottom (UFO) — 4:45
- Doctor Doctor (UFO) — 4:10
- Speed King (Deep Purple) — 4:25
- I Don’t Want to Change the World (originally Ozzy) — 4:20
- Changes (Black Sabbath) — 4:00
Total length: 42:15
🎧 Deluxe / Expanded Tracks
- Additional bonus tracks featuring live cover performances
- Behind-the-scenes interviews with Ozzy about the original songs and artists
- Remastered editions highlighting clearer instrumentation and vocals
🎬 Album Credits
Band Members
- Ozzy Osbourne – Lead vocals
- Zakk Wylde – Guitar, backing vocals
- Rob “Blasko” Nicholson – Bass
- Mike Bordin – Drums
- Adam Wakeman – Keyboards
Production
- Produced by Mark Hudson
- Recorded at Los Angeles studios
- Engineered by Tim Palmer and Mark Hudson
🧠 Fun Facts
- The album includes covers of both hard rock and classic rock songs that influenced Ozzy, including Cream, UFO, and Deep Purple.
- “Rock ‘n’ Roll Rebel” was recorded as a tribute to the glam rock era that inspired Ozzy in the early 1970s.
- Zakk Wylde’s guitar work on the album pays homage to the original riffs while adding his signature heavy metal flair.
ℹ️ Trivia
- Under Cover is Ozzy’s first full album of covers, rather than original songs, highlighting his respect for the artists who shaped rock music.
- The album includes a re-recorded version of Ozzy’s own “I Don’t Want to Change the World” alongside classic covers.
- Despite being covers, the album received praise for Ozzy’s distinctive interpretation and for the high-quality production.
🎤 Did You Know?
✅ Under Cover features contributions from longtime collaborators Zakk Wylde and Mike Bordin, ensuring the album maintained a cohesive Ozzy sound.
✅ Ozzy stated in interviews that recording these covers helped him reconnect with his musical roots and the artists who inspired him.
✅ The album includes a mix of heavy riffs and melodic ballads, making it appealing to both new fans and longtime followers of Ozzy’s career.
Buy Ozzy Osbourne's albums from Amazon
Ozzy Osbourne Full Discography: Complete Guide to Albums & Covers Collection (1980--2020)
More Albums:
Ozzy Ozbourne - Blizzard of Ozz (1980)
Ozzy Ozbourne - Diary of a Madman (1981)
Ozzy Ozbourne - Bark at the Moon (1983)
Ozzy Ozbourne - The Ultimate Sin (1986)
Ozzy Ozbourne - No Rest for the Wicked (1988)
