Here’s a head-scratcher for Ozzy Osbourne fans: Why is 'Shot in the Dark,' the song that marked his first solo foray into the pop charts, conspicuously missing from his greatest hits albums? It’s a question that’s left fans puzzled for nearly three decades. Released in February 1986 as the lead single from The Ultimate Sin, the track climbed to No. 68 on the Billboard Hot 100—a feat only four of his other songs have surpassed, including the iconic Top 10 hit 'Close My Eyes Forever' with Lita Ford. But despite its success, 'Shot in the Dark' has been oddly absent from every career-spanning compilation since 1998, including The Essential Ozzy Osbourne (2003), Prince of Darkness (2005), and Memoirs of a Madman (2014).
And this is the part most people miss: The song did appear on the original 1997 release of The Ozzman Cometh, but when the compilation was re-released in 2002, it was replaced by 'Miracle Man.' Why the swap? And why the silence? According to SetList.fm, Ozzy performed the song live only three times between 1993 and 2009, before bringing it back for the 2010-2011 Scream world tour. Even its official music video is nowhere to be found on his YouTube channel, which is otherwise packed with content.
But here’s where it gets controversial: Part of the reason might be Ozzy’s own disdain for The Ultimate Sin album. In his 2025 memoir Last Rites, he called it 'hands down the worst album I ever made,' blaming producer Ron Nevison for its 'late-eighties treatment' and lack of imagination. The album has since been largely excluded from remastering campaigns and is now out of print on CD and LP, with used vinyl copies fetching up to $100 on eBay as of February 2026. Is Ozzy’s dislike for the album enough to justify burying one of his chart-topping hits?
Another layer to this mystery? Ozzy wasn’t even involved in the early stages of The Ultimate Sin’s creation. Guitarist Jake E. Lee and bassist Bob Daisley began songwriting while Ozzy was in rehab for alcohol abuse. Daisley, who left the band before recording his bass parts, was replaced by Phil Soussan. It was Soussan who brought 'Shot in the Dark' to the table—a song he’d originally written for his previous band, Wildlife. 'It sat in a drawer for a long time,' Soussan told Face Culture in 2024, 'until Ozzy heard it and said, ‘Let’s do it.’’
But here’s the real kicker: Soussan’s departure from Ozzy’s band in 1988 has sparked speculation about a dispute over publishing rights and payments for the song. While Soussan admits he didn’t get 'the deal [he] wanted' for future songwriting, he insists there’s been no legal drama—despite rumors linking him to a lawsuit involving Bob Daisley and former drummer Lee Kerslake. 'I never sued anybody,' Soussan clarified in 2021. So, is it a rights issue, Ozzy’s personal distaste, or something else entirely?
As fans, we’re left wondering: Does 'Shot in the Dark' deserve to be forgotten, or is it a victim of circumstances beyond its control? Let’s spark a debate—what do you think? Is Ozzy right to leave it off his compilations, or is this a classic track that deserves its place in the spotlight? Sound off in the comments!
