Uriah Heep were one of the first heavy metal bands to ever form, striking the scene with a hard-hitting album in 1970 that could easily rival Black Sabbath´s debut from the same year, or even Deep Purple´s crushing "In Rock" album which had already soared through British charts. Led Zeppelin had not yet hit their peak, and so it was a very interesting time for the fledgling genre of bone-crushing bluesy rock music people would later term "heavy metal."
One of the most intriguing (both musically and lyrically) bands to emerge from this style of music was the great Uriah Heep. At heart, their incredible sound was characterized by by-the-books progressive rock with a much harder edge. Much of the hard guitar sound was balanced by soaring organ melodies that would remind one of Deep Purple and it was to little surprise as the group drew a significant influence from bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd. But the band added an extra element to the mix, which would set them apart from their contemporaries: the epic, story-telling lyrics and ear-piercing harmonies of vocalist extraordinaire David Byron.
In 1970, Uriah Heep released their first album entitled "Very 'eavy... Very 'umble." Initially the full-length did not receive much interest from rock critics, who discounted the band as "gothic" and "cartoonish." Little did they know that 30 years later this album would still be regarded by many as an all-time classic of heavy metal. The LP began with the fiery anthem "Gypsy" which told the story of a man who had fallen in love with a girl whose father disapproved of him and portrays his fight to win her heart regardless. The next tune, "Walking In Your Shadow" begins with what is considered to be among the greatest electric guitar riffs ever written. The real gem of this album is the fifth track "Dreammare" where the band gets a chance to flex their heavy metal muscle and fuse it with their stylish brand of progressive rock. Each song is chock full of complex vocal arrangments, harmonies and choruses which beg the listener to sing along and could easily rival the work of Queen.
In the following year, the band managed to record two more full-length albums, and were beginning to find their niche in heavy music. The first album of the year, "Salisbury", generated the radio hit "Lady In Black", a haunting acoustic ballad with extensive vocals harmonies. Uriah Heep seemed to effortlessly fuse heavy metal, progressive rock, and folk music all into one epic mass, and in doing so, they slowly began to form a loyal cult following not only in the UK but also the in Russia and other nations. On "Salisbury", Uriah Heep began to experiment with many different styles of music. There was the folk ballad "Lady In Black", the ethereal gospel tune "The Park", the crushing heavy metal thunder of "Bird of Prey", and finally the 16-minute long title track, which saw them exploring and expanding their style of progressive rock with a massive live orchestra.
Uriah Heep´s ascent in the world of heavy metal was only just beginning. In the early years it was not uncommon for them, overflowing with creativity and musical know-how, to release two splendid albums within the same year, and that is exactly what they did in 1971. To follow up the magnificent "Salisbury" would be a difficult task, but the band did just that by releasing "Look At Yourself". This album continued in the same vein as "Salisbury", except the experimentation and progressive complexity would only continue to rise. "Look At Yourself" opened up with the pounding title track that boasted the band's muscular rhythm section and elastic vocal abilities. The second track "I Wanna Be Free" put the spotlight on vocalist David Byron and his incredible, soaring range. But it was the third track "July Morning" which truly solidifies this as one of their most classic and essential albums. Boasting a swirling moog solo from none other than Manfred Mann, this 10-minute long epic contains each and every trademark of the Uriah Heep: the glass-shattering vocal harmonies, thick guitar layering and solo virtuosity (I'd like to hear Ritchie Blackmore replicate the solos in this one), the epic balladry and story-telling lyrical themes, the swirling keyboards. Add it all together and the equation can only be heavy metal in its purest form. But the tireless experimentation would not stop there. The next track, "Tears In My Eyes" is another classic, combining a twangy rockabilly riff with soulful lyrics and a bit of heavy metal. The album ends with the upbeat "Love Machine", which could easily be mistaken for a Deep Purple tune.
In the year 1972, they released what would become their most well-known and classic album, "Demons and Wizards". "Demons and Wizards" was a very focused album which combined heavy metal and progressive rock with epic themes that could almost bring Dungeons and Dragons to mind at times. The opening track, "The Wizard" is a heartfelt acoustic ballad about a man's encounter with a wizard that recalls J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Ring trilogy. "Traveller In Time" displays guitarist Mick Box's proficiency with his wah pedal. But it was the third track, "Easy Livin'" which solidified Uriah Heep as a household name in Britian and an international success. This stomping metal anthem became an instant radio hit, and to this day remains their most successful song, still receiving airplay on many rock stations around the world. The album continues with outstanding quality and muscianship with the acoustic ballad "Circle of Hands", the eerie "Rainbow Demon", the vocal acrobatics of "All My Life", and the swords-and-sorcery themes of "The Spell." All in all, "Demons and Wizards" is simply a masterpiece, a landmark for the band, and a milestone for heavy metal as we know it.
Following in the epic and majestic footsteps of "Demons and Wizards", they released a second album in 1972 entitled "The Magician's Birthday". Though not as focused as the previous album, the experimentations found on this latest installment were amusing and entertaining at the very least. Beginning with the dark anthem of "Sunrise" and following with the country-rock tinged "Spider Woman" the band proved that they could not be confined to one specific genre. Another highlight of this album is the acoustic "Rain", one of the Heep's best ballads. But the real centerpiece of this album is the 10-minute title track, in which the band sings along to the tune of the Happy Birthday song: "Happy birthday, dear magician / Happy birthday to you"
Unfortunately Uriah Heep saw a decline in the following years and their material was not as fresh and exciting as the older albums, although there are many more scattered highlights to be found throughout their extensive discography. But it was vocalist David Byron who truly set this band apart from any other, and his departure due to problems with alcohol in 1976 marked the end of the classic era for them.
Uriah Heep are not only a classic band who is still going strong after 30 years in the business, they are one of the true originators of what we today call "Heavy Metal"!
source: extracts from TARTAREAN DESIRE WEBZINE - Thanks!
Band Members:
Mick Box: Composer, guitarist and singer. Original member Box is still with the band today and apperar as the leader of the band. He is a very skillful guitarist.
Ken Hensley: Composer, Keyboards and singer. Hensley was the group´s most important writer in the heyday of the band. He was very skillful lyricist. He left the band in 1979.
David Byron: Leadsinger. Byron´s impressive vocals were one of the early trademarks of the band. He left the band to pursue solo-career in 1976.
Lee Kerslake: Drummer. Joined in 1971 and he´s still with the band. (2005)
Gary Thain: Bassist. Former member member of Keef Hartley Band. He joined in 1971 and plays on Heep´s most appreciated albums from the 1971-75 era. Thain was a very talented bassist with a great sense of melody. Unfortunately his drug-addiction forced him out of the group and he died soon after from an overdose.
Paul Newton: Original bassist. Left in 1971
Nigel Olsson: Drummer. Elton John´s drummer was only in the band for a short while in 1970.
Alex Napier: Original drummer. Left in 1970.
Keith Baker: Drummer. In the band for a short while in 1970.
Ian Clarke: Drummer. In the band for a short while in 1970-71.
Mark Clarke: Bassist. In the band for a short while in 1970-71.
John Wetton: Bassist. In the band for a short while in 1975-76.(2005)
John Lawton: Leadsinger. Lawton replaced Byron in 1976, and his strong vocals made the loss of their front-man less significant.
Trevor Bolder: Bassist. Joined in 1976 and still with the band today. (2005)
Bernie Shaw: Lead-singer in the present day Heep (2005).
Phil Lanzon: Keyboards in the present day Heep (2005).
Discography:
1. Very 'eavy... Very 'umble - Vertigo 1970
Tracks:
1. Gypsy / 2. Walking in Your Shadow / 3. Come Away Melinda / 4. Lucy Blues / 5. Dreammare / 6. Real Turned On / 7. I'll Keep on Trying / 8. Wake Up / 9. Bird of Prey [US Vers.]/ 10. Born in a Trunk / 11. Come Away Melinda / 12. Gypsy [Extended Vers.]/ 13. Wake Up / 14. Born in a Trunk [Instrum.] 15. Dreammare [BBC] / 16. Gypsy [BBC)
Rating : 5
2. Salisbury - Vertigo 1971
Tracks:
1. Bird of Prey / 2. Park / 3. Time to Live / 4. Lady in Black / 5. High Priestess / 6. Salisbury / 7. Simon the Bullet Freak [US Vers.] / 8. Here Am I [#] / 9. Lady in Black [#] / 10. High Priestess [Single) / 11. Salisbury [Single] / 12. Park [#] / 13. Time to Live [#]
Rating : 7
3. Look At Yourself - Bronze 1971
Tracks:
1. Look at Yourself / 2. I Wanna Be Free / 3. July Morning / 4. Tears in My Eyes / 5. Shadows of Grief / 6. What Should Be Done / 7. Love Machine / 8. What's Within My Heart [*] / 9. Why [*] / 10. Look at Yourself [Alt.] / 11. Tears in My Eyes [*] / 12. What Should Be Done [*] / 13. Look at Yourself [BBC] / 14. What Should Be Done [BBC]
Rating : 7
4. Demons And Wizards - Bronze 1972
Tracks:
1. Wizard / 2. Traveller In Time / 3. Easy Livin / 4. Poet's Justice / 5. Circle Of Hands / 6. Rainbow Demon / 7. All My Life / 8. Paradise / 9. Spell / 10. Why (Extended) / 11. Home Again To You (*) / 12. Green Eye (*) (Bonus Track) / 13. Rainbow Demon (*) / 14. Untitled Demo (*)
Rating : 8
5. The Magician's Birthday - Bronze 1972
Tracks:
1. Sunrise / 2. Spider Woman / 3. Blind Eye / 4. Echoes in the Dark / 5. Rain / 6. Sweet Lorraine / 7. Tales / 8. Magician's Birthday / 9. Crystal Ball [*] / 10. Silver White Man [*] / 11. Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf [Alt.] / 12. Echoes in the Dark [Edit.] / 13. Rain [Edit.] / 14. Happy Birthday [*] / 15. Sunrise [Single] / 16. Gary's Song [*] / 17. Silver White Man [*]
Rating : 7
6. Sweet Freedom - Bronze 1973
Tracks:
1. Dreamer / 2. Stealin' / 3. One Day / 4. Sweet Freedom / 5. If I Had the Time / 6. Seven Stars / 7. Circus / 8. Pilgrim / 9. Sunshine [*] / 10. Seven Stars [Extended Version][*] / 11. Pilgrim [Extended) / 12. If I Had the Time [*] / 13. Sweet Freedom [*] / 14. Stealin' [*]
Rating : 5
7. Wonderworld - Bronze 1974
Tracks:
1. Wonderworld / 2. Suicidal Man / 3. Shadows and the Wind / 4. So Tired / 5. Easy Road / 6. Something or Nothing / 7. I Won't Mind / 8. We Got We / 9. Dreams / 10. What Can I Do [*] / 11. Love, Hate and Fear [*] / 12. Stones Throw [*] / 13. Dreams [Extended ) / 14. I Won't Mind [Alt.] / 15. So Tired [Live]
Rating : 7
8. Return To Fantasy - Bronze 1975
Tracks:
1. Return to Fantasy / 2. Shady Lady / 3. Devil's Daughter / 4. Beautiful Dream / 5. Prima Donna / 6. Your Turn to Remember / 7. Showdown / 8. Why Did You Go? / 9. Year or a Day / 10. Shout It Out / 11. Time Will Come / 12. Beautiful Dream [*] / 13. Return to Fantasy [Edited]
Rating :
9. High And Mighty - Bronze 1976
Tracks:
1. One Way or Another / 2. Weep in Silence / 3. Misty Eyes / 4. Midnight / 5. Can't Keep a Good Band Down / 6. Woman of the World / 7. Footprints in the Snow / 8. Can't Stop Singing / 9. Make a Little Love / 10. Confession / 11. Name of the Game / 12. Sundown
Rating :
10. Firefly - Bronze 1977
Tracks:
1. Hanging Tree / 2. Been Away Too Long / 3. Who Needs Me / 4. Wise Man / 5. Do You Know / 6. Rollin' On / 7. Sympathy / 8. Firefly / 9. Crime Of Passion (B Side) (Bonus Track) / 10. Do You Know (Demo Version) (Bonus Track) / 11. Far Better Way (*) / 12. Hanging Tree (Demo) / 13. Who Needs Me (Live) / 14. Dance Dance Dance (*) / 15. Put Your Music Where Your Mouth Is (*) / 16. Been Away Too Long (Alt.)
Rating :
11. Innocent Victim - Bronze 1977
Tracks:
1. Keep On Ridin' / 2. Flyin' High / 3. Roller / 4. Free 'N' Easy / 5. Illusion / 6. Free Me / 7. Cheat 'N' Lie / 8. Dance / 9. Choices / 10. Illusion - Masquerade (Edited) / 11. River (*) / 12. Free 'N' Easy (Live) / 13. Dance (Extended)
Rating :
12. Fallen Angel - Bronze 1979
Tracks:
1. Woman of the Night / 2. Falling in Love / 3. One More Night / 4. Put Your Lovin' on Me / 5. Come Back to Me / 6. Whad'ya Say / 7. Save It / 8. Love or Nothing / 9. I'm Alive / 10. Fallen Angel / 11. Right to Live [*] / 12. Cheater [*] / 13. Gimme Love [*] / 14. Last Farewell [Alt.] / 15. Street Lady [Alt.] / 16. Struttin' [Alt.] / 17. Falling in Love [Live] / 18. Woman of the Night [Live]
Rating :
13. Conquest - Bronze 1980
Tracks:
1. No Return / 2. Imagination / 3. Feelings / 4. Fools / 5. Carry On / 6. Won't Have to Wait Too Long / 7. Out on the Street / 8. It Ain't Easy / 9. Love Stealer [*] / 10. Been Hurt [*] / 11. Think It Over [*] / 12. Lying [*] / 13. Feelings [Live]
Rating :
14. Abominog - Bronze 1982
Tracks:
1. Too Scared to Run / 2. Chasing Shadows / 3. On the Rebound / 4. Hot Night in a Cold Town / 5. Running All Night / 6. That's the Way That It Is / 7. Prisoner / 8. Hot Persuasion / 9. Sell Your Soul / 10. Think It Over / 11. Tin Soldier [EP] / 12. Son of a Bitch [EP] / 13. That's the Way That It Is [*) / 14. Hot Persuasion [*]
Rating :
15. Head First - Bronze 1983
Tracks:
1. Other Side of Midnight / 2. Stay on Top / 3. Lonely Nights / 4. Sweet Talk / 5. Love Is Blind / 6. Roll-Overture / 7. Red Lights / 8. Rollin' the Rock / 9. Straight Through the Heart / 10. Weekend Warriors
Rating :
16. Equator - Portrait 1985
Tracks:
1. Rockarama / 2. Bad Blood / 3. Lost One Love / 4. Angel / 5. Holding On / 6. Party Time / 7. Poor Little Rich Girl / 8. Skools Burnin' / 9. Heartache City / 10. Night of the Wolf
Rating :
17. Raging Silence - Legacy 1989
Tracks:
1. Hold Your Head Up / 2. Blood Red Roses / 3. Voice On My TV / 4. Rich Kid / 5. Cry Freedom / 6. Bad Bad Man / 7. More Fool You / 8. When The War Is Over / 9. Lifeline / 10. Rough Justice / 11. Miracle Child / 12. Look At Yourself / 13. Too Scared To Run / 14. Corina / 15. Hold Your Head Up (Extended) / 16. Blood Red Roses (Alt.)
Rating :
18. Different World - Legacy 1991
Tracks:
1. Blood On Stone / 2. Which Way Will The Wind Blow / 3. All God's Children / 4. All For One / 5. Different World / 6. Step By Step / 7. Seven Days / 8. First Touch / 9. One On One / 10. Cross That Line / 11. Stand Back / 12. Blood Red Roses (Re-Mix) / 13. Hold Your Head Up (Edited) / 14. Rockarama (Live)
Rating :
19. Sea Of Light - HTD 1995
Tracks:
1. Against The Odds: The Way Of Life That Must Change / 2. Sweet Sugar: Over Importance Of Money / 3. Time Of Revelation: Moving To A Fantasy World / 4. Mistress Of All Time: Enlightened Women / 5. Universal Wheels: Natures Retalliation / 6. Fear Of Falling: False Trust / 7. Spirit Of Freedom: Realizing The World / 8. Logical Progression: New Perceptions / 9. Love In Silence: Know Yourself / 10. Words In The Distance: Love Awareness / 11. Fires Of Hell: The Futility Of War / 12. Dream On: Being, In Love
Rating :
20. Sonic Origami - Eagle 1998
Tracks:
1. Between Two Worlds / 2. I Hear Voices / 3. Perfect Little Heart / 4. Heartless Land / 5. Only the Young / 6. In the Moment / 7. Question / 8. Change / 9. Shelter from the Rain / 10. Everything in Life / 11. Across the Miles / 12. Feels Like / 13. The Golden Palace / 14. Sweet Prentender [*]
Rating :
21. Wake the Sleeper - Sanctuary 2008
Tracks:
1. Wake the Sleeper / 2. Overload / 3. Tears of the World / 4. Light of a Thousand Stars / 5. Heaven's Rain / 6. Book of Lies / 7. What Kind of God / 8. Ghost of the Ocean / 9. Angels Walk With You" / 10. Shadow / 11. War Child
Rating :
22. Celebration - Sanctuary 2009
Tracks:
1. Only Human / 2. Bird of Prey / 3. Sunrise / 4. Stealin' / 5. Corridors of Madness / 6. Between Two Worlds / 7. The Wizard / 8. Free Me / 9. Free 'n' Easy / 10. Gypsy / 11. Look at Yourself / 12. July Morning / 13. Easy Livin' / 14. Lady in Black
Rating :
23. Into the Wild - Frontiers Records 2011
Tracks:
1. Nail on the Head / 2. I Can See You" / 3. Into the Wild / 4. Money Talk / 5. I'm Ready / 6. Trail of Diamonds / 7. Southern Star / 8. Believe / 9. Lost / 10. T-bird Angel / 11. Kiss of Freedom / 12. Hard Way to Learn
Rating :
24. Outsider - Frontiers Records 2015
Tracks:
1. Speed of Sound / 2. One Minute / 3. The Law / 4. The Outsider / 5. Rock the Foundation / 6. Is Anybody Gonna Help Me? / 7. Looking at You / 8. Can't Take That Away / 9. Jessie / 10. Kiss the Rainbow / 11. Say Goodbye
Rating :
25. Living the Dream - Frontiers Records 2018
Tracks:
1. Grazed by Heaven / 2. Living the Dream / 3. Take Away My Soul / 4. Knocking at My Door / 5. Rocks in the Road / 6. Waters Flowin' / 7. It's All Been Said / 8. Goodbye to Innocence / 9. Falling Under Your Spell / 10. Dreams of Yesteryear
Rating :
'
25. Chaos and Colour - Silver Lining 2023
Tracks:
1. Save Me Tonight / 2. Silver Sunlight / 3. Hail the Sunrise / 4. Age of Changes / 5. Hurricane / 6. One Nation, One Sun / 7. Golden Light / 8. You'll Never Be Alone / 9. Fly Like an Eagle / 10. Freedom to Be Free / 11. Closer to Your Dreams
Rating :
Essential Albums!
Original albums as listed and rated on “Rate Your Music” - December 25 - 2005
54 Demons and Wizzards - 1972
72 Look at Yourself - 1971
89 Salisbury - 1971
93 Magician´s Birthday - 1972
129 Very Éavy Very ´Umble - 1970
129 Live - 1973
144 High and Mighty - 1976
166 Sweet Freedom - 1973
170 Return to Forever - 1975
187 Firefly - 1977
209 Living the Dream - 2018
213 Abominog - 1982
232 Wonderworld - 1974
245 Head First - 1983
264 Sonic Origami - 1998
269 Fallen Angel - 1978
308 Equator - 1985
499 Sea of Light - 1995
565 Future Echoes of the Past - 2001
611 Raging Silence - 1989
982 Different World - 1991
Check and Rate Here!
December 25 - "rateyourmusic.com"
My Suggestion For a 80 minutes (app.) Best Of Compilation:
( More tracks will be added eventually!)
1. Wizzard ( Hensley ) Demons and Wizzards
2. Sweet Lorraine ( Box/Byron/Thain ) The Magician's Birthday
3. Easy Livin´ ( Hensley ) Demons and Wizzards
4. Wonderworld ( Hensley ) Wonderworld
5. Rain ( Hensley ) The Magician´s Birthday
6. Circle of Hands ( Hensley ) Demons and Wizzards
7. The Shadows and the Wind ( Hensley ) Wonderworld
8. Sunrise ( Hensley ) The Magician's Birthday
9. The Easy Road ( Hensley ) Wonderworld
10. Traveller in Time ( Byron/Box/Kerslake ) Demons and Wizzards
11. Blind Eye ( Hensley ) The Magician´s Birthday
12. Poet's Justice ( Box/Kerslake/Hensley ) Demons and Wizzards
13. Something or Nothing ( Box/Hensley/Thain ) Wonderworld
14. Tales ( Hensley ) The Magician's Birthday
15. Sweet Freedom ( Hensley ) Sweet Freedom
16. Crystal Ball ( Thain ) The Magician´s Birthday
17. If I Had the Time ( Hensley ) Sweet Freedom
18. Paradise ( Hensley ) Demons and Wizzards
19. Circus ( Thain/Box/Kerslake ) Sweet Freedom
20. The Spell ( Hensley ) Demons and Wizzards
21. Lady in Black ( Hensley ) Salisbury
22. Here Am I ( Hensley ) Salisbury
23. What Should Be Done ( Hensley ) Look at Yourself
24. The Park ( Hensley ) Salisbury
25. Salisbury ( Hensley/Byron/Box ) Salisbury
LINKS:
URIAH HEEP TARTAREAN DESIRE WEBZINE
The Official Uriah Heep
