No Rest for the Wicked (Ozzy Osbourne album)


No Rest for the Wicked is the fifth studio album by English heavy metal vocalist Ozzy Osbourne. It was released on October 22, 1988, and was re-issued / remastered on August 22, 1995, and again on June 25, 2002. The album was certified gold in December 1988 and has since gone double platinum. It peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200. It was the first album to feature guitarist Zakk Wylde, keyboardist John Sinclair and the first to feature bassist Bob Daisley since Bark at the Moon.

Overview

No Rest for the Wicked is the recording debut of lead guitarist Zakk Wylde. After firing lead guitarist Jake E. Lee in 1987, Osbourne received a demo tape from Wylde and later hired him after an audition.
Bassist/lyricist Bob Daisley made his return to Osbourne's band after the two had a falling out in 1985. Once the album's recording was complete, Daisley was once again out, replaced by Osbourne's former Black Sabbath bandmate Geezer Butler for subsequent promotional tours.
"Miracle Man", "Crazy Babies", and "Breakin' All the Rules" were released as singles with accompanying music videos. The song "Hero" was an unlisted hidden bonus track on the original 1988 CD and cassette releases. The song "Miracle Man" was a pointed barb aimed at disgraced televangelist Jimmy Swaggart. Swaggart had long been critical of Osbourne's music and live performances, before he himself was involved in a 1988 prostitution scandal, giving Osbourne the last laugh.
Creative Director John Carver was hired by Sharon Osbourne to conceptualise and art direct the album sleeve for "No Rest For the Wicked". John's concept was to position and portray Ozzy as Jesus Christ. John commissioned legendary photographer Bob Carlos Clarke to photograph the sleeve. John's image of Ozzy has achieved legendary status and has appeared in various "best album sleeve..." books.

Track listing

Personnel

Album

Singles

Certifications