Writers: Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Wylde, and Lemmy Kilmister
Producers: Duane Baron and John Purdell
Recorded: Spring 1991 at A&M Studios and Devonshire Studios in Los Angeles, California
Released: Fall 1991
| Players: | Ozzy Osbourne—vocals Zakk Wylde–guitar Mike Inez–bass Randy Castillo–drums John Sinclair–keyboards |
| Album: | No More Tears (Epic/Associated, 1991) |
An atypical ballad for the hard rock legend, "Mama, I'm Coming Home" is Black Sabbath frontman Ozzy Osbourne's biggest hit as a solo artist, reaching Number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1992.
Osbourne said, "I had been walking around with the melody in my head for a couple of years but never got a chance to finish it until I was working with Zakk (Wylde) on the No More Tears album. At the time, Zakk and I were doing a lot of writing on the piano."
Osbourne added that the song was inspired by conversations he had with his wife and manager, Sharon: " 'Mama, I'm Coming Home' was always something I'd say on the phone to my wife near the end of a tour." The song also delves into some details of his unhappy childhood.
Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead was recruited to help Osbourne and Wylde finish off the song.
The No More Tears album was one of Osbourne's most successful solo projects, reaching Number Seven on the Billboard 200 chart and selling more than three million copies. It peaked at Number 17 in the U.K.
Also among those working on No More Tears was Alice In Chains bassist Mike Inez.
