“Shot in the Dark” is the ninth and final track from the 1986 album The Ultimate Sin. The heavy metal classic features guitarist Jake Lee, bassist Phil Soussan, drummer Randy Castillo, and the haunting vocals of Ozzy Osbourne.

The arrangement was a joint yet controversial creative effort with a literal shot in the dark concerning authorship. Originally, a 1983 demo belonged to the band Wildlife whose members included Steve and Chris Overland, Bad Company drummer Simon Kirke, keyboardist Mark Booty, and Phil Soussan.

When Soussan joined Ozzy Osbourne’s band, the two rerecorded the song for an official release just a few years later. Soussan and Ozzy received songwriting credit, but some argue against Ozzy’s involvement in the written lyricism. Some believe that the Overland brothers and Booty deserve writing credit.

Despite the composition’s origins, it became a mainstay on rock radio and, ranking at No. 68, was the first single from Ozzy Osbourne to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The official music video was shot the same year by British director Andy Morahan.