Black Rain (Ozzy Osbourne album)

Black Rain is the tenth studio album by English heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne, released 22 May 2007 via Epic Records.^[1] It is Osbourne's last album to date to feature drummer Mike Bordin, and the first to feature bassist Rob Nicholson. It is also the first album since 2001's Down to Earth to feature guitar player Zakk Wylde. However, he left again after the album's release, but reappeared again on Osbourne's 2022 album Patient Number 9. Black Rain debuted at No. 3 on the US Billboard 200,^[2] selling about 152,000 copies in its first week; making it Osbourne's highest debut to date. The album has been certified Gold in US.^[3]

Black Rain
Cover photography by Joseph Cultice
Studio album by Ozzy Osbourne
Released	22 May 2007
Recorded	2006
Studio	The Music Machine, Beverly Hills, California
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	46:28
Label	Epic
Producer	Ozzy Osbourne Kevin Churko
Ozzy Osbourne chronology
Under Cover (2005) Black Rain (2007) Scream (2010)
Alternative cover
Original cardboard slipcase released in the US
Singles from Black Rain
"I Don't Wanna Stop" Released: 17 April 2007 "Not Going Away" Released: 11 July 2007 "Black Rain" Released: 14 November 2007

Releases

The album was released in several different versions. The original US version was released in a thin, brown digipak with the crowned skull Ozzy Osbourne logo (pictured lower right), and for the rest of the world, it was released in a standard jewel case featuring cover art of Osbourne with "Black Rain" falling. This cover included a booklet complete with lyrics and album credits. The US version did not include a booklet, lyrics, or album credits. The Japanese release was the same as the other releases outside of the US, except for the fact that it included two bonus tracks, "I Can't Save You", and "Nightmare". The iTunes release of the album included the aforementioned "Nightmare", plus an exclusive bonus track, (only for those who preordered through iTunes) "Love to Hate". It also included a printable pdf file of the booklet, complete with lyrics and album credits. This same booklet was later made available as a free pdf download from Osbourne's website on 1 June. The song "I Don't Wanna Stop" was also featured as the theme song for WWE Judgment Day 2007.

In the US, limited edition copies of the album were sold with special codes inside of the packets, which could be used to redeem a pair of Ozzfest 2007 tickets. Ozzfest 2007 was nicknamed "Freefest" because all tickets were free.

The album was reissued in the US on 14 August in a new jewel-case package containing the full booklet with lyrics and new colour cover art and photos, also containing CD extra bonus content featuring behind-the-scenes footage from the "Black Rain" photo shoot.

A "tour edition" version of the album was released on 20 November 2007. This release includes an extra CD with 3 recently recorded live tracks and 3 studio tracks originally available on international releases or digital versions.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[4]
Blabbermouth	[5]
Entertainment Weekly	C+[6]
Rolling Stone	[7]
Sputnikmusic	[8]
Yahoo! Music	[9]

Black Rain received mixed reviews. Rolling Stone referred to the album as "highly skippable"^[7] and Sputnikmusic called it "quite embarrassing".^[8] AllMusic was somewhat less harsh in its assessment, giving the album 3.5 out of 5 stars while noting that "Nothing on Black Rain could really qualify as an Osbourne classic."^[4]

Usage in media

Television

• WWE used "I Don't Wanna Stop" at the official theme song to the 2007 PPV Judgment Day. Osbourne later performed the song live on the May 18, 2007 edition of WWE Friday Night SmackDown.
• Osbourne performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on 21 May and 22 May.
• Osbourne appeared on the second annual VH1 Rock Honors, and performed three songs, "Crazy Train", "Bark at the Moon" and "I Don't Wanna Stop". It was aired on 24 May 2007 on VH1 (TV airing cut the "Bark at the Moon" performance, but it airs as a music video on shows like Rock Fest and Metal Mania.)
• Osbourne appeared on BBC1's Friday Night with Jonathan Ross on 25 May 2007 and performed "I Don't Wanna Stop".
• Osbourne performed "Not Going Away" on Spike's Scream Award Ceremony.

Video games

• The song "I Don't Wanna Stop" is featured in the video games Guitar Hero: On Tour and Madden NFL 08 It is also featured as DLC for Rock Band and Rock Band 2 in the Ozzy Osbourne Pack 01.

Radio

• "I Don't Wanna Stop" is used as the opening bumper music on the Boomer and Gio morning drive sports-talk program on WFAN.

Track listing

Standard Edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Not Going Away"	Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, Kevin Churko	4:32
2.	"I Don't Wanna Stop"	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	3:59
3.	"Black Rain"	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	4:42
4.	"Lay Your World on Me"	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	4:16
5.	"The Almighty Dollar"	Osbourne, Churko	6:57
6.	"11 Silver"	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	3:42
7.	"Civilize the Universe"	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	4:43
8.	"Here for You"	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	4:37
9.	"Countdown's Begun"	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	4:53
10.	"Trap Door"	Osbourne, Churko	4:03
Total length:			46:28

'Tour Edition' Disc 2

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Don't Wanna Stop" (live)		3:44
2.	"Not Going Away" (live)		4:36
3.	"Here for You" (live)		4:50
4.	"Nightmare" (originally a Japanese and iTunes bonus track)	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	4:40
5.	"I Can't Save You" (originally a Japanese bonus track)	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	3:32
6.	"Love to Hate" (originally an iTunes pre-order bonus track)	Osbourne, Wylde, Churko	3:57

Personnel

• Ozzy Osbourne – vocals, harmonica, production
• Zakk Wylde – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals^[10]
• Rob "Blasko" Nicholson – bass
• Mike Bordin – drums

Production

• Kevin Churko – producer, engineer, mixing
• Zack Fagan – additional engineering
• Kane Churko – additional Pro Tools
• Vlado Meller – mastering
• Joshua Marc Levy – art direction and new logo design

Charts

Chart (2007)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[11]	37
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[12]	7
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[13]	78
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[14]	69
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[15]	5
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)[16]	6
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[17]	56
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)[18]	2
French Albums (SNEP)[19]	91
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[20]	9
Hungarian Albums (MAHASZ)[21]	17
Irish Albums (IRMA)[22]	53
Italian Albums (FIMI)[23]	22
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[24]	17
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[25]	9
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[26]	2
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[27]	22
Scottish Albums (OCC)[28]	9
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[29]	66
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[30]	2
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[31]	23
UK Albums (OCC)[32]	8
UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC)[33]	2
US Billboard 200[34]	3
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[35]	8
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[36]	2

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[37]	Platinum	100,000^
Russia (NFPF)[38]	Platinum	20,000*
United States (RIAA)[39]	Gold	500,000^
* Sales figures based on certification alone. ^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain. MTV Retrieved 12 April 2007
2. "Black Rain Billboard Albums". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 17 December 2015.
3. "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". Retrieved 17 February 2009.
4. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
5. Kaye, Don. "Ozzy Osbourne - "Black Rain"". Blabbermouth.net. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
6. Vozick-Levinson, Simon (18 May 2007). "Black Rain". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
7. Greene, Andy (25 May 2007). "Album Reviews: Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 18 May 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
8. Stagno, Mike (22 May 2007). "Ozzy Osbourne - Black Rain". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
9. Marszalek, Julian (21 May 2007). "Ozzy Osbourne - 'Black Rain'". Yahoo! Music. Archived from the original on 27 May 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2015.
10. "Zakk Wylde Interview". Music Legends. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
11. "Australiancharts.com – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
12. "Austriancharts.at – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
13. "Ultratop.be – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
14. "Ultratop.be – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
15. "Ozzy Osbourne Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
16. "Danishcharts.dk – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
17. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
18. "Ozzy Osbourne: Black Rain" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
19. "Lescharts.com – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
20. "Offiziellecharts.de – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
21. "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2007. 21. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
22. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ozzy Osbourne". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
23. "Italiancharts.com – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
24. "ブラック・レイン". Oricon.co.jp. Retrieved 30 June 2024.
25. "Charts.nz – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
26. "Norwegiancharts.com – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
27. "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
28. "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
29. "Spanishcharts.com – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
30. "Swedishcharts.com – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
31. "Swisscharts.com – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
32. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
33. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
34. "Ozzy Osbourne Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
35. "Ozzy Osbourne Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
36. "Ozzy Osbourne Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 30, 2024.
37. "Canadian album certifications – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Music Canada. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
38. "Russian album certifications – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain" (in Russian). National Federation of Phonogram Producers (NFPF). Retrieved 17 June 2020.
39. "American album certifications – Ozzy Osbourne – Black Rain". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 17 June 2020.

External links

• Black Rain at Discogs (list of releases)