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(More customer reviews)The 2002 remastered "Bark at the Moon" CD is actually more of a remix than a remaster. Needless to say, a side by side comparison will show that the music itself (not just the tonal quality) sounds different from all previous releases of this album. If you're a young fan who's brand new to Ozzy's music and thus have never really heard the "Bark at the Moon" album, you might like this somewhat modern-sounding remix. Otherwise, if you're a long-time fan who knows the original album inside and out, you may be totally repulsed by the difference in the CD's music.
Ozzy re-re-released his first two solo albums on CD in 2002, but without any mention on the outside packaging that they were actually RE-RECORDINGS done with different musicians! In an attempt to get out of paying royalties to the musicians who played on the original album, Ozzy had the original bass and drum tracks re-recorded by his current band mates. (Quite an insulting way to treat the remaining band who not only made the late Randy Rhodes' a legend, but also helped bring Ozzy out of Black Sabbath's shadow -- if not reverse that situation entirely.)
The 2002 "Bark at the Moon" CD is essentially a remix of the 1983 original, not a re-recording. But you'd have no way of knowing from reading the outside packaging or even the CD booklet. In and of itself, the remixed album admittedly sounds rather good in places. Although in a few other places it sounds like Ozzy's singing behind a wall (which is not an uncommon side effect found on badly produced metal albums). Overall the CD music is very cohesive sounding, unlike what you get when you, oh say, try to re-record drums. Here there's a little more boominess, different guitar and drum fills, more rhythm guitar and less keyboards. It's now a somewhat modern-sounding metal album.
But is this what people expect when they buy a "remaster"? For the long-time Ozzy fans: please be aware that this simply isn't the same "Bark at the Moon" you bought in the 80s! If, like me, you've become very familiar with "Bark at the Moon" after years of listening, then listening to the remixed album might come as a shock. Not that it's been remixed as a dance album or anything extreme like that, but gone are all those little fills and solos your ears have come to learn. The bell tolling at the start of "Center of Eternity" sounds like it's been shifted down an octave, like somebody throwing a rock at a pot of water.
If you still need a replacement for your scratchy vinyl or warbled cassette copy of "Bark At The Moon", try to get the 1995 remaster instead. It will sound like what a remastered CD should sound like: just as you remembered it musically, but with superior audio quality.
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Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. 2007.--This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.
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