Ozzy

The song title is a random, unrelated and out of context jab at the famed heavy metal singer Ozzy Osbourne.

The song is notorious for having heavily influenced seminal, legendary and influential grunge band Green River. Something they were not ashamed of or subtle enough not to wear on their sleeves; as they covered Tales of Terror’s song 'Ozzy' (re-titled 'Ozzie') from their sole album on their 1987 EP, 'Dry as a Bone'. Not just the song itself was influential to Green River, as many elements Green River used to create grunge are present across Tales of Terror's limited output.

Tales of Terror, at some point; through touring, wound up in Seatle during the early 80s and played gigs Green River members attended. Apparently they were so 'blown away' by the band that they derived a significant amount of their own style from Tales of Terror.

Kurt Cobain himself, as a fan of Green River; also ended up acknowledging Tales of Terror's music as an influence, as evidenced by their presence on his Top 50 albums ever. This influence even still reached Mark Arm and Steve Turner’s subsequent band Mudhoney, as decades later, they named a song after Tales of Terror for their 2008 record 'The Lucky Ones'.

Green River modified the lyrics slightly according to what they could understand but they are close enough to the original. They also added an unidentified sample at the beginning that they thought was appropriate and relevant to the song as it fits with the lyrical themes.

Green River's version features a re-worked guitar solo which is obviously different from the original, not as technical and complex and less heavy metal inspired as they had no access to or way of knowing what the original guitarists played. The ending also differs from the original.

Green River's version also offers a more desperate urgent feeling due to the increased speed and erratic drumming. Mark Arm's frantically playful, idiosyncratic unique vocals open up a new dimension to the song not present in the original.

Tales of Terror's original version is more sombre, imposing, foreboding and heavier. Pat Stratford's vocals, as imcomparable as they are as well, obviously offer a very different feeling than Green River's version.

The song showcases various heavy metal influences that were very unusual for hardcore punk of the era. Namely early tremolo picking riffing at the start that conveys a creepy feeling and as mentioned before, a complex guitar solo featuring outright heavy metal shredding as well as use of palm mutting riffing. The drumming and bass playing are exceptional too which should not go unnoticed.

The song even gets doomy at times and has their signature 'Terrorific' riffing style, the fear is palpable. Stratford's hardcore punk snarl is at its most vicious and venomous here. There is even an actually very funny snore present that Green River did not feel like replicating. Additionally, near the end of the song; he lashes out intensely and drops a series of, so far; undecipherable lines, one after the other without much efffort. Then the song ends abruptly.

The lyrics allude to an unknown 'girl' which is described by the singer and he also describes what she makes him feel. He just ends up he will find a better girl that actually pleases him. They also self-reference the band.

These are the reasons why Green River singled out this particular song and covered it. It is the quintessential Tales of Terror song, as revolutionary as the rest of them are. This is the song that gave Tales of Terror the 'proto-grunge' status.