Uriah Heep - The Live Broadcasts

Uriah Heep - The Live Broadcasts

Track List:
01. Easy Livin’ 03:00
02. Tears in My Eyes 4:37
03. Stealin’ 04:58
04. Sunrise 03:59
05. So Tired 03:33
06. Interview with Mick Box and David Byron 00:28
07. Love Machine 02:07
08. Traveller in Time 03:18
09. The Easy Road 02:21
10. Sympathy 04:44
11. One More Night 03:11
12. Wise Man 03:02
13. Come Back to Me 03:59
14. Easy Livin’ (Reprise) 03:20

Uriah Heep - (1975) The Best Of Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep - (1975) The Best Of Uriah Heep

Boxset/Compilation, released in 1985

Track Listings

1. Free me (3:35) from Innocent Victim 1977
2. Lady In Black (4:33) from Salisbury 1971
3. Sealin' (4:49) from Sweet Freedom 1973
4. The Wizard (2:59) from Demons And Wizards 1972
5. Look At Yourself (5:07) from Look At Yourself 1971
6. Gypsy (6:37) from Very 'Eavy ... Very 'Umble 1970
7. Easy Livin' (2:36) from Demons And Wizards 1972
8. Return To Fantasy (5:52) from Return To Fantasy 1975
9. Your Turn To Remenber (4:22) from Return To Fantasy 1975
10. Sweet freedom (6:37) from Sweet Freedom 1973
11. Shady Lady (4:46) from Return To Fantasy 1975
12. Firefly (6:18) from Firefly 1977

Total Time: 58:11
Line-up/Musicians

See original albums for line-ups

Uriah Heep - (1974) Wonderworld

Uriah Heep - (1974) Wonderworld

Studio Album, released in 1974

In my opinion this is not a weak album. Here are some good moments like The easy road, what a beautiful track. All the album are more hard rock than progressive but fits for me very well. I always enjoy listen to this band, so my rating is 3 stars. A good one, maybe not their best but close enough. Enjoy every track, worth a spin...

Track Listings
1. Wonderworld (4:29)
2. Suicidal Man (3:38)
3. The Shadows And The Wind (4:27)
4. So Tired (3:39)
5. The Easy Road (2:43)
6. Something Or Nothing (2:56)
7. I Won't Mind (5:59)
8. We Got We (3:39)
9. Dreams (6:10)

Total Time: 37:30
BONUS TRACKS ON 1996 REMASTERED CD:
1. What Can I Do (3:10) - single b-side
2. Dreams [long version] (7:08) - unedited long version, previously unreleased
3. Something Or Nothing (3:09) - live version recorded at Shepperton 1974, previously unreleased
4. The Easy Road (2:53) - live version recorded at Shepperton 1974, previously unreleased

BONUS TRACKS ON 2004 EXPANDED DE-LUXE CD:
1. What Can I Do - single b-side
2. Love, Hate and Fear - previously unreleased version
3. Stone's Throw - previously unreleased version
4. Dreams - extended version
5. I Wont Mind - live version
6. So Tired - live version

Line-up/Musicians
- Ken Hensley / organ, guitars & vocals
- David Byron / vocals
- Mick Box / lead guitars
- Gary Thain / bass
- Lee Kerslake / drums

Uriah Heep - (1974) Live At Shepperton

Uriah Heep - (1974) Live At Shepperton

Live, released in 1986

(Review from progarchives.com)

The recordings on this album are taken from a Television special that Uriah Heep recorded in 1974. Although the special was never actually broadcast, a number of extracts from it appeared on the now deleted “Easy Livin’, a history of Uriah Heep” video. The performance was never intended for commercial release in any format, but with the ongoing demand for Byron era material by the band, a belated release took place in 1986.

The original album was rather brief, but this was rectified by the remastered version, which incorporates a number of additional tracks from the same performance, plus some other relevant additions. A few of the tracks duplicate the superior versions on the “Live 1973” album, but as these recordings took place around the time of the release of the “Wonderworld” album, tracks from that album and “Sweet Freedom” also appear.

The performance by the band is not one of their best, tempered perhaps by the fact that they were conscious of the need to appeal visually as well as audibly. The recording quality too reflects the fact that it was intended only for television broadcast.

While it is good to hear early live versions of tracks such as “Sweet freedom” and “Stealin’”, only the emotive ballad “The easy road” shines through as anything more than average here. Uriah Heep made one of the best live albums ever. Unfortunately, this wasn’t it!

Track Listings

Side A
1. Easy Livin' (2:57)
2. So Tired (3:58)
3. I Won't Mind (5:41)
4. Something Or Nothing (2:51)

Side B
1. Stealin' (4:42)
2. Love Machine (2:16)
3. The Easy Road (2:43)
4. Rock 'N' Roll Medley (5:52)

Total Time: 31:00
TRACK LISTING ON REMASTERED 1997 RELEASE:
1. Easy Livin' (4:01)
2. So Tired (3.32)
3. I Won't Mind (5:54)
4. Sweet Freedom (6:59)*
5. Something Or Nothing (3:21)**
6. The Easy Road (2:49)
7. Stealin' (5:26)
8. Love Machine (2:23)
9. Rock 'N' Roll Medley (7:45)
10. Out-Takes (5:28)
a) The Easy Road
b) Sleazy Livin'
c) Easy Livin' *
11. Stealin' (6:19)*

Line-up/Musicians

- David Byron / vocals
- Mick Box / guitar, vocals
- Gary Thain / bass, vocals
- Lee Kerslake / drums, vocals
- Ken Hensley / keyboards, vocals

Uriah Heep - (1973) Sweet Freedom

Uriah Heep - (1973) Sweet Freedom

(Review from progarchives.com)

The third album by the Byron/Box/Hensley/Kerslake/Thain line up found them moving away from the fantasy theme, but producing what was probably their most melodic album of all. The sleeve was the first clue of the changes as, unlike the previous two albums, Roger Dean was not involved. This was compensated for to some extent by the double fold out, but it still lacks the impact of Dean’s work.

Musically however, the band were still in top form. Hensley dominates the song writing once again, and the tracks generally lean towards his keyboard work, with Box’s lead guitar outings being less frequent. The album includes one of Heep’s most famous works in “Stealin’”, which in many ways is a slightly slowed down version of “Easy Livin’”. The band were as close as they’ve ever come to a world-wide hit single with this track, foiled only by it being banned from radio play because of the reference to “doing the rancher’s daughter”!

The title track is a wonderful power ballad on which Byron interprets Hensley’s sensitive lyrics in a very emotive and effective way. I remember a reviewer at the time described the track as “swimming in organ”. It was intended as a criticism, but while quite correct, is in fact a strong recommendation.

“If I had the time” sees Hensley still in power ballad writing mode, this time using the synthesiser to create the depth of sound. It’s interesting to compare the demo version of this track which first appeared on Hensley’s “From time to time” album with the finished article here. It demonstrates clearly how, while Hensley was the main songwriter, the band as a whole created the finished articles.

“Pilgrim” closes the album in more progressive mode. The track has two distinct sections, separated by a screaming guitar solo from Box. Byron exercises the full range of his vocal capabilities during the track, cumulating in a screamed finale. While the track is truly excellent, it could have been even better. This may be due in part to the fade out ending which seems to imply that the band couldn’t come up with a satisfactory conclusion.

In all, another fine, polished product from the band, which generally finds them moving further away from their “’eavy” beginnings.

Track List :
01. Dreamer (3:41)
02. Stealin' (4:49)
03. One Day (2:47)
04. Sweet Freedom (6:37)
05. If I Had The Time (5:43)
06. Seven Stars (3:52)
07. Circus (2:44)
08. Pilgrim (7:10)

Line-up :
- David Byron / vocals
- Ken Hensley / keyboards, guitars and vocals
- Mick Box / guitars
- Lee Kerslake / drums, percussion, vocals
- Gary Thain / bass guitar

Uriah Heep - (1973) Live

Uriah Heep - (1973) Live

Live, released in 1973

Track Listings

Record One, Side A
1. Sunrise (3:50)
2. Sweet Lorraine (4:27)
3. Traveller In Time (3:20)
4. Easy Livin' (2:43)
Record One, Side B
1. July Morning (11:23)
2. Tears In My Eyes (4:34)

Record Two, Side A
1. Gypsy (13:32)
2. Circle Of Hands (8:47)
Record Two, Side B
1. Look At Yourself (5:57)
2. The Magician's Birthday (1:15)
3. Love Mchine (3:07)
4. Rock 'N' Roll Medley (8:17)

Total Time: 71:12
BONUS TRACKS ON 2003 EXPANDED DE-LUXE CD:
The Radio Show:
1. Something Or Nothing
2. I Won't Mind
3. Look At Yourself
4. Gypsy
The Film Mixes:
5. Easy Livin'
6. So Tired
7. I Won't Mind
8. Something Or Nothing
9. The Easy Road
10. Stealin'
11. Love Machine
12. Rock and Roll Medley


Line-up/Musicians
- David Byron / vocals
- Mick Box / guitar, vocals
- Gary Thain / bass, vocals
- Lee Kerslake / drums, vocals
- Ken Hensley / keyboards, vocals

Uriah Heep - (1972) The Magician's Birthday

Uriah Heep - (1972) THE MAGICIAN´S BIRTHDAY

Studio Album, released in 1972

The Magician's Birthday followed the enormously successful Demons And Wizards album. No doubt it was an overwhelming task to come up with a record that maintained that immense flow and energy. Uriah Heep was up for the challenge and responded with another metal-prog classic, and to boot they pulled it off in the same year.

The very first song, "Sunrise," is another Ken Hensley driving rocker with Mick Box providing the stinging guitar leads, David Byron the operatic shrieks, and Hensley the whirling dervish keyboard playing. "Spider Woman" was always one of my favorites; it's a straight ahead rocker that has a catchy riff by Box running through the entire song. "Rain" is a standout track that was typical of the Heep gothic metal sound complete with a great vocal treatment by Byron. The curtain falls on the title track "The Magician's Birthday." For over 10 minutes they show why they were one of the very best prog-rock bands in the world by changing gears several times without a hitch and offering the listener every facet of their complex makeup in one song. It's the kind of dark and mystical song that you never forget, it stays with you for a long time and when you listen to it again you hear what you missed the first time around.

What UH did in 1972 is quite incredible. To release one great album is a major feat, but two in one year? It's something very few bands have ever done. This was the final stamp of approval on their career; they had carved out a place in prog-rock history that would cement their legacy. In 2002, now more than ever, the relevance of what they did is more evident and valid when you listen to what they were creating over 30 years ago. It comes as no surprise that people want to hear all of that material as much today as they did back then. Its great music, so if you haven't found it yet its time to seek it out.

Track Listings

Side A
1. Sunrise (4:04)
2. Spider Woman (2:25)
3. Blind Eye (3:33)
4. Echoes In The Dark (4:48)
5. Rain (3:59)

Side B
1. Sweet Lorraine (4:13)
2. Tales (4:09)
3. The Magician's Birthday (10:23)

Total Time: 39:46
BONUS TRACKS ON 1996 REMASTERED CD:
1. Silver White Man (3:43) out-take, previously unreleased
2. Crystal Ball (4:08) out-take, previously unreleased

BONUS TRACKS ON 2003 EXPANDED DE-LUXE CD:
1. Gary's Song - Crystal Ball alternate version, previously unreleased
2. Silver White Man - vocal version, previously unreleased
3. Proud Words - alternate version, previously unreleased
4. Echoes In The Dark - edit, previously unreleased
5. Rain - edit, previously unreleased
6. Happy Birthday - out-take, previously unreleased
7. Sunrise - single edit
9. Crystal Ball - out-take
8. Silver White Man - out-take, instrumental version
Line-up/Musicians

- Gary Thain / bass guitar
- Lee Kerslake / drums and percussion
- Mick Box / guitars
- Ken Hensley / keyboards, guitars, Moog synthesizer
- David Byron / vocals

Uriah Heep - (1972) Demons and Wizards

Uriah Heep - (1972) DEMONS AND WIZARDS

Studio Album, released in 1972

Quite a landmark album, and very important for prog music (radical progheads will cringe at this). The fantasy themes are here for the first time and UH was the first major band to use this kind of subject that I can remember. It´d influence many other artists in the future, both in prog and heavy metal. And, as a band, they reached their peak here and on The Magician´s Birthday.

With the addition of Gary Thain on bass and Lee Kerslake on drums, the group finally found the right line up and the perfect overall sound. What was promising in the past was now fully delivered. The chemistry was perfect and I must say that Thain is one of the most underrated bassist is rock history. The guy was simply amazing, with a style that reminds of Paul McCartney (fluid, melodic, filling all the gaps, amazing!). Ken Hensley has always pointed how important he was to form the classic UH sound and often cited him as the best musician the band ever had. Too bad th guy wa also very shy and addicted to heroin. But that´s another story.

Teh music is also amazing and influential over the years. There are no weak tunes and the sound is quite unique. Personally I found Circle Of hands, Easy Livin´and the Wizard the most remarkable songs, but everything fits very well, with the fantastic Roger Dean cover to wrap up the perfect album.

Like Bob wrote, it´s not easy to write about this album without passion. It was one of the most important rock albums in history and if the band never really got the recognition they deserve it was not their fault. This is a truly prog album, in the deep (and subtle) meaning of the concept. And although I still think The magician´s Birthday is better, this is a classic, a masterpiece. And a must have in any prog music collection. Five stars.

Track Listings

Side A
1. The Wizard (2:59)
2. Traveller In Time (3:26)
3. Easy Livin' (2:36)
4. Poet's Justice (4:14)
5. Circle Of Hands (6:34)

Side B
1. Rainbow demon (4:30)
2. All My Life (2:46)
3. Paradise (5:15)
4. The Spell (7:26)

Total Time: 39:46
BONUS TRACKS ON 1996 REMASTERED CD:
1. Why (4:53) edited version released as single b-side
2. Why (7:39) original unedited version, previously unreleased
3. Home Again To You (5:20) out-take, previously unreleased

BONUS TRACKS ON 2003 EXPANDED DE-LUXE CD:
1. Why - extended mix, previously unreleased version
2. Rainbow Demon - edit, previously unreleased version
3. Proud Words - out-take
4. Home Again To You - out-take, previously unreleased version
5. Green Eye - out-take, previously unreleased song


Line-up/Musicians

- Gary Thain / bass guitar (except Mark Clarke on 'The Wizard' and remastered version bonus track 'Why')
- Lee Kerslake / drums and percussion
- Mick Box / guitars
- Ken Hensley / keyboards, guitars, percussion
- David Byron / vocals