Shot in the Dark is a song by Ozzy Osbourne, released on January 20, 1986 in (UK). It is the ninth and final track on his 1986 album The Ultimate Sin. A top-ten hit on mainstream rock radio, the song also became his first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 68. The official music video for the song was directed by Andy Morahan, and was played in power rotation on MTV.
Shot in the Dark was originally composed sometime around 1983 by members of Wildlife, a band featuring Steve Overland, Chris Overland, Simon Kirke of Bad Company, keyboardist Mark Booty, and future Ozzy Osbourne bassist Phil Soussan. Wildlife recorded a demo version of the song that was never officially released. When Soussan joined Ozzy Osbourne‘s band a couple of years later, he and Osbourne then reworked the song for Ozzy Osbourne‘s recording and release in early 1986, with Osbourne supposedly writing new lyrics. However, there is ambiguity in terms of which parts of the original version were left intact in Osbourne‘s rendition, and as a result, there has been much debate over the proper authorship of the song. Although the writing is credited solely to Soussan and Osbourne on the single and its parent album, The Ultimate Sin, some question whether other members of Wildlife (the Overland brothers, in particular) deserve writing credit for Osbourne‘s rendition.
Tracklist:
SIDE A
- Shot in the Dark
SIDE B
- Rock ‘N’ Roll Rebel
Credits:
Ozzy Osbourne: vocals
Jake E. Lee: guitars
Phil Soussan: bass
Randy Castillo: drums
Additional performers
Mike Moran: keyboards
Production
Produced and engineered by Ron Nevison
Additional engineers: Martin White, Richard Moakes
Remastered by Brian Lee with Bob Ludwig (1995 reissue)
Randy Castillo (December 18, 1950 – March 26, 2002)
John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne (December 3, 1948 – 22 July 22, 2025)
