Mr. Crowley

Infobox Single
Name = Mr. Crowley


Artist = Ozzy Osbourne
from Album = Blizzard of Ozz
B-side = "You Said it All"
Released = September 20, 1980 & August 22, 1995 (re-issue)
Format = 7" Vinyl (45RPM)
Recorded = March 22 to April 19, 1980
Genre = Heavy metal
Length = 4:55
Writer = Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley
Label = Jet, Epic
Producer = Max Norman
Certification =
Chart position = * #46 (UK Singles)
Last single = "Crazy Train"
(1980)
This single = "Mr. Crowley"
(1980)
Next single = "Flying High Again"
(1981)

"Mr. Crowley" is a 1980 heavy metal song performed by Ozzy Osbourne (with Bob Daisley contributing lyrics, and Randy Rhoads the music), released on the album "Blizzard of Ozz". The song is one of Osbourne's first two singles as a solo artist following his expulsion from Black Sabbath. It reached #46 on the UK charts.

The songs' melody and chord progressions recall Gary Moore's song "Parisienne Walkways". Moore was a major influence on guitarist Randy Rhoads.Fact|date=July 2008

The second guitar solo in "Mr. Crowley" is ranked number 28 on "Guitar World" Magazine's poll of the "100 greatest guitar solos". According to band mythology, Osbourne was dissatisfied with the first guitar solo that Randy Rhoads recorded for the song. Rhoads, in angry protest, went into the studio right away and banged out the famous solo. Afterwards, he stormed out and asked how that solo was. Osbourne smiled and said: "This is it!".Fact|date=February 2007

Ozzy came up with the song's title, a reference to the infamous Aleister Crowley, and Bob Daisley's subsequent lyrics are addressed to him. The song's lyrics do not display a profound knowledge of Aleister Crowley. His last name is mispronounced (it rhymes with "holy"). The lyrics ask "did you talk with the dead?", where Crowley believed in reincarnation. The lyrics state that Crowley "waited on Satan's call", where -- despite his reputation as a Satanist -- Crowley did not believe that Satan even existed.

Noted covers include Moonspell (Darkness and Hope, 2001) and Cradle of Filth (Nymphetamine Special Edition, 2005). Tim 'Ripper' Owens (with Yngwie Malmsteen on guitar), Joe Lynn Turner, George Lynch and The Cardigans have also recorded covers of the song.

Also, in the game Guilty Gear XX, the character I-No plays part of the ending solo to "Mr. Crowley" as one of her win poses.

It is also confirmed to be a playable song in the upcoming video game Guitar Hero World Tour, along with Crazy Train, both are master tracks.

Personnel

* Ozzy Osbourne - vocals
* Randy Rhoads - guitar
* Bob Daisley - bass
* Don Airey - keyboards
* Lee Kerslake - drums