Diary of a Madman
Diary of a Madman is Ozzy Osbourne's second studio album, released on 7 November 1981 on Jet Records. It follows Blizzard of Ozz from the previous year and sits at the start of his solo career, when he was establishing himself as a heavy metal frontman in his own right. It is the last of his studio records to feature guitarist Randy Rhoads and drummer Lee Kerslake.
The album has an unusual afterlife. A 2002 version replaced the original bass and drum parts with newly recorded ones, and a 30th anniversary deluxe edition in 2011 restored the original performances. Its tour began just days after release and ran into 1982, but Rhoads died in a plane crash in Florida in March of that year. That gives the record extra weight as a document of his playing. It has sold over three million copies worldwide.
Diary of a Madman on Riffology
riffology.co →
Diary of a Madman: tracklist, credits and charts
8 tracks · 43:27Tracklist
- 1Over the MountainDaisley, Kerslake, Osbourne, Rhoads4:31
- 2Flying High AgainDaisley, Kerslake, Osbourne, Rhoads4:44
- 3You Can’t Kill Rock and RollDaisley, Osbourne, Rhoads7:00
- 4BelieverDaisley, Osbourne, Rhoads5:18
- 5Little DollsDaisley, Kerslake, Osbourne, Rhoads5:39
- 6TonightDaisley, Kerslake, Osbourne, Rhoads5:51
- 7S.A.T.O.Daisley, Kerslake, Osbourne, Rhoads4:07
- 8Diary of a MadmanDaisley, Kerslake, Osbourne, Rhoads6:17
- Produced by
- Max Norman, Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley
- Recorded at
- Ridge Farm Studios (Rusper, England)
- Recorded
- 1981
- Engineered by
- Max Norman
- Artwork
- Steve Joule
- Photography
- Fin Costello, Tony Harrison
- Labels
- Jet Records, Jet
- Length
- 43:27
Line-up
- Johnny Cook · keyboard
- Bob Daisley · bass guitar
- Lee Kerslake · drums (drum set), percussion
- Randy Rhoads · electric guitar
- Ozzy Osbourne · lead vocals, background vocals
Singles
- “Flying High Again” · 16 October 1981
- “Over the Mountain” · 4 December 1981
- “Tonight” · 1982 (US)
Peak chart positions
| Chart | Peak |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart · 1981–1982 | 14 |
| US Billboard 200 · 1981–1982 | 16 |
| US Hard Rock · 2021 | 3 |
| US Top Rock Albums · 2021 | 9 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums · 2011 | 11 |
| Canadian Albums (RPM) · 1981–1982 | 17 |
| New Zealand Albums · 1986 | 42 |
Certifications
| Region | Certification |
|---|---|
| Canada | Platinum |
| United Kingdom · 2024 | Silver |
| United States · 1994 | 3× Platinum |
From MusicBrainz, Wikipedia and Wikidata. Only what the sources record is shown.
Released the same week
Also released on 7 November
Every year →
More from Ozzy Osbourne
Full discography →
The best of 1981
All of 1981 →
More on Jet Records
The label →Releases and pressings
How we know the release date musicbrainz + wikidata
| Source | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|
| MusicBrainz | 7 November 1981 | |
| Wikipedia infobox | October 1981 | |
| Wikidata | 7 November 1981 | |
| US release | 7 November 1981 | earliest US date |
| UK / Europe release | 1981 | earliest UK or European date |
21 editions
| Date | Country | Label | Barcode | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | CA | Jet Records | 0612133749202 | other |
| — | CA | CBS | 074643749220 | other |
| 1981 | GB | Jet Records | other | |
| 7 November 1981 | US | Jet Records | 074643749213 | original |
| 1985 | XE | Jet Records | 5099700023728 | other |
| 21 May 1986 | JP | Jet Records | 4988009519654 | other |
| 1987 | US | Jet Records | 074643749220 | other |
| 1988 | XE | Epic | 5099746308629 | other |
| 1995 | XE | Sony Music | 5099748167729 | other |
| 1995 | CA | Epic | 074646723623 | other |
| 22 August 1995 | US | Epic | 074646723623 | other |
| 2002 | XE | Epic | 5099750204122 | other |
| 2002 | US | Epic | 696998524927 | other |
| 2 April 2002 | US | Epic | 5099750204122 | other |
| 20 June 2007 | JP | Epic | 4547366030464 | other |
| 2011 | XE | Epic | 886978747426 | other |
| 31 May 2011 | US | Legacy | 886977382123 | other |
| 1 June 2011 | JP | Epic | 4547366059663 | deluxe |
| 2014 | US | Legacy | 884977974553 | other |
| 2016 | XE | Epic | 889853636228 | other |
| 5 November 2021 | XW | Epic | 886449629367 | deluxe |
Cover art sources
deezer · upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25)
| Source | Size | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| deezer ✓ | 1200×1200 | upscaled: major: best source 1200x1200, upscaled to 1500 (x1.25) |
| fanarttv | 1000×1000 | upscaled |
| coverartarchive | 500×500 | upscaled |