Song of the Day 5/27: Ozzy Osbourne, “Crazy Train”

It’s been 40 years since Ozzy Osbourne and guitarist Randy Rhoads released what became one of heavy metal’s most iconic songs. Though the guitar riff retains its grungy glory, the tune itself — written about the Cold War –sounds rather tame in retrospect, especially nowadays, when we have an off-his-rocker president steering the crazy train. Ironically, Trump himself used the song last year in a Twitter video about one of the Democratic debates, earning a cease-and-desist response from the sane-by-comparison Mr. Osbourne.

Ol’ White Shoes, Pat Boone, included a cover on his “In a Metal Mood” LP from 1997. Its lyrics are easier to discern, but the big band horns are no match for Rhoads’ Jackson guitar.

To get a full appreciation of one of Rhoads’ most famous workouts, here’s his guitar in isolation.