Look, if you’re a fan of the Prince of Darkness, you already know the deal. Ozzy doesn’t do anything small. When the Ozzy Osbourne See You on the Other Side vinyl box set first dropped back in 2019, it wasn't just a release; it was a 9-kilogram statement of intent. But fast forward to 2026, and the landscape has shifted. We've seen the "V2.0" version hit the shelves, and suddenly, everyone with a turntable is debating whether their original splatter-vinyl set is a museum piece or if they need to drop another $600 to keep the collection "complete."
Honestly, it’s a bit of a mess for the average fan.
You've got people on Discogs arguing about the "Certificate of Ozzthenticity" and others scouring eBay for the gold bat slipmat. Let's be real: buying a box set this big is basically like adopting a small, heavy child that only eats needles and dust. It takes up a massive amount of shelf space. It’s expensive. But for those of us who grew up with Blizzard of Ozz on a loop, it’s the only way to hear some of these tracks without the digital compression of a streaming service killing the soul of Randy Rhoads' guitar.
Why the V2.0 Update Changed the Game
The original 2019 set was a beast—24 LPs, hand-pressed splatter vinyl, and most importantly, it included the Flippin' the B-Side compilation. That was the holy grail. It finally put tracks like "You Looking at Me Looking at You" and "Walk on Water" on wax. But then, Ozzy kept working. He released Ordinary Man (2020) and Patient Number 9 (2022), and suddenly that "complete" box set was a liar.
Enter See You on the Other Side V2.0, released in March 2025.
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This wasn't just a reprint. It bumped the count up to 18 albums and 27 pieces of vinyl. Sony Legacy realized they couldn't just ignore the new records, so they stuffed them in along with some updated posters. If you missed the first run, the V2.0 was your second chance, but for the 2,000 people who owned the original signed version, it sparked a bit of a "collector's crisis."
What's actually in the box?
- The Studio Classics: Everything from Blizzard of Ozz to Scream.
- The Live Material: Tribute, Live & Loud, and Live at Budokan (which sounds surprisingly beefy on vinyl).
- The Rarities: Flippin' the B-Side is still the standout here.
- The Swag: 10 vintage-style posters, that gold bat slipmat, and a certificate signed by the man himself (if you got the limited edition).
The v2.0 version switched to black vinyl for the most part, whereas the original was all about that multi-colored splatter. Some purists say the black vinyl actually has a lower noise floor—basically, it sounds cleaner—but try telling that to someone who paid $2,000 for a splatter-vinyl original on the secondary market. They won't want to hear it.
The "Flippin' the B-Side" Factor
If you're looking for a reason to justify the price tag of Ozzy Osbourne See You on the Other Side, it’s this specific LP. Most casual fans think they’ve heard everything Ozzy has to offer. They haven't.
Think about "Living with the Enemy." Or "Voodoo Dancer." These were tracks relegated to the dark corners of UK CD singles in the 90s. Putting them all in one place on a 150-gram record was a massive win for the die-hards. It’s the kind of deep-dive material that reminds you Ozzy wasn't just a reality TV star or a "heavy metal caricature"—the guy was a songwriter who knew how to pick a melody. Even his "throwaway" tracks often had more hook than most bands' lead singles.
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Is it Actually Worth $600?
Let's do some quick math. At the 2025/2026 retail price of $599.99 for the signed V2.0, you're looking at roughly $22 per LP. When you consider that a new 2LP set of No More Tears can easily go for $45 on its own, the "value" is technically there. But that's only if you actually want every single live album and the EPs.
If you’re just a fan of the Randy Rhoads and Jake E. Lee eras, you might be better off hunting for individual reissues. But if you’re a completionist who needs the Zakk Wylde era and the recent Andrew Watt-produced stuff in one cohesive package, there is no substitute. The weight of the thing—9kg or about 20 lbs—is enough to make your mailman quit on the spot. It's a physical monument to a career that has outlived almost all its contemporaries.
The augmented reality (AR) triggers are a nice touch too, though if we're being honest, most people use them once and then forget they exist. It’s the vinyl that matters. The warmth of "Mama, I'm Coming Home" coming off a spinning platter just hits different than a 256kbps stream.
Navigating the 2026 Marketplace
If you're hunting for a copy now, you have to be careful. The limited-run nature of these sets (only 2,000 for the signed V2.0) means the "Sold Out" sign is a common sight. You'll see them on eBay for $1,200, $1,500, or even more.
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Don't panic-buy.
Occasionally, shops like Rough Trade or local indie stores get "deadstock" or returns. Also, keep an eye on the "unnumbered" versions. Sony released some unsigned, unnumbered black vinyl versions that are significantly cheaper but contain the same music. If you're in it for the songs and not the investment potential of Ozzy's signature on a piece of vellum, that’s your play.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you’ve decided to take the plunge into the Ozzy Osbourne See You on the Other Side world, don't just throw it on a cheap suitcase record player. You’ll ruin the grooves and the experience.
- Check the Vellum: If you're buying a used "signed" copy, ensure the Certificate of Ozzthenticity is actually there and the numbering matches. People lose these all the time.
- Inspect the Box Corners: Because the set is so heavy (did I mention it’s 9kg?), shipping damage is incredibly common. Look for "seam splits" on the individual jackets and crushed corners on the outer box.
- Clean the Records: Even "factory new" records from these massive sets can have paper dust or static. Use a carbon fiber brush before your first spin.
- Storage: Do not store this box set flat. It’s too heavy; the weight will warp the records at the bottom. Store it vertically, like a book.
Ultimately, this collection is for the person who wants the full story. It’s for the fan who wants to hear the transition from the raw, hungry energy of 1980 to the polished, stadium-filling power of the 90s, and finally into the elder statesman era of the 2020s. It’s a lot of Ozzy. But then again, there’s no such thing as "too much" of the Prince of Darkness.