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Uriah Heep 1970 – 2008
Uriah Heepare an English rock band, formed in December 1969 when record producer Gerry Bron invited keyboardist Ken Hensley (previously a member of The Gods and Toe Fat) to join Spice, a band signed to his own Bronze Records label.
They were sometimes jokingly referred to as “The Beach Boys of heavy metal” for their melodic songs, and trademark multi-part harmony backing vocals, although their music draws on diverse influences including: progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal, jazz, and even country on occasion. As one of the first bands to fuse progressive with metal, they are a precursor to the progressive metal genre.
In spite of their huge popularity in Britain and continental Europe, Uriah Heep were never able to break into the American market in a big way, with the exception of three hit songs, “Easy Livin’ ” from the 1972 album Demons and Wizards, “Sweet Lorraine” from the 1972 album The Magician’s Birthday (a top ten album in Australia), and “Stealin’ ” from the 1973 release Sweet Freedom. The band released several commercially successful albums in the 1970s, including the seminal Uriah Heep Live (1973), but their audience declined by the 1980s, to the point where they became essentially a cult band in the US and UK. Uriah Heep maintain a significant following in Germany, the Netherlands, the Scandinavian Peninsula, the Balkan Peninsula, Japan and Russia, where they still perform at stadium-sized venues.
Iconic progressive rock graphic artist Roger Dean painted several of their album covers, most notably Demons & Wizards (1972), The Magician’s Birthday (1972), and Sea of Light (1994). ….More
1970 Very ‘eavy… Very ‘umble ,
Very ‘eavy… Very ‘umble is the debut album of British hard rock band Uriah Heep. It was released in the United States as Uriah Heep with alternate sleeve artwork, and with “Bird of Prey” in place of “Lucy Blues.”
The album was generally panned by the mainstream critical press upon its release, although it has since been acknowledged as an early classic of the heavy metal genre. The most famous criticism came from Rolling Stone magazine reviewer Melissa Mills, who began her review, “If this group makes it I’ll have to commit suicide. From the first note you know you don’t want to hear any more.”
The original vinyl release was a gatefold-sleeve, featuring David Byron on the front sleeve, almost unrecognisable beneath the cobwebs.
The album was first released on the Vertigo label in the UK, as was the follow-up Salisbury, but both were quickly reissued by Bronze when the band signed to that label.
Track Listing :
01. Gypsy (Box, Byron)
02. Walking in Your Shadow (Byron, Newton)
03. Come Away Melinda (Hellerman, Minkoff)
04. Lucy Blues (Box, Byron)
05. Dreammare (Newton)
06. Real Turned On (Box, Byron, Newton)
07. I’ll Keep on Trying (Box, Byron)
08. Wake Up (Set Your Sights) (Box, Byron)
1971 Salisbury ,
Salisbury is the second album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
More squarely in the progressive rock genre than their debut album from the previous year, it featured their first foray into large–scale composition, with the 16–minute title track featuring a 24–piece orchestra. It also includes the largely acoustic ballad “Lady In Black”, a perennial fan favorite, played in concert by the band to this day.
The album was originally released on the Vertigo label, as had been the band’s debut Very ‘eavy… Very ‘umble, but both were soon re-released when the band signed to Bronze for their third album.
The connection of the artwork to the title is readily explained. Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, is an Army training-area. On the front of the album sleeve is a British Chieftain tank. The original LP release was a gatefold-sleeve, with a b/w picture inside of a British tank of the First World War, over which were printed Hensley’s comments on each track. Later reissues would be in a single sleeve.
Track Listing :
01. Bird of Prey (Box/Byron/Newton)
02. The Park (Hensley)
03. Time to Live (Box/Byron/Hensley)
04. Lady in Black (Hensley)
05. High Priestess (Hensley)
06. Salisbury (Byron/Hensley/Box)
1971 Look at Yourself ,
Look at Yourself is the third album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
The title track and “July Morning” were released as singles in North America in 1971 and 1973, respectively.
The original cover art (not pictured opposite) was innovative, the LP coming in a single sleeve with a die-cut opening on the front through which a reflective foil ‘mirror’ was seen. This relates the cover art directly to the album title. The idea was that of guitarist Mick Box. Not being a perfect reflecting surface, one sees a distorted image of oneself. Indeed, this theme is carried on with the band photos on the rear of the LP sleeve, which have also been distorted.
The LP itself was housed in a heavy-duty card inner, complete with lyrics.
The song “July Morning” has become the inspiration for a Bulgarian Hippie tradition, known eponymously as July Morning.
Track Listing :
01. Look at Yourself (Hensley)
01. I Wanna Be Free (Hensley)
02. July Morning (Byron, Hensley)
03. Tears in My Eyes (Hensley)
04. Shadows of Grief (Byron, Hensley)
05. What Should Be Done (Hensley)
06. Love Machine (Box, Byron, Hensley)
1972 Demons & Wizards ,
Demons and Wizards is the fourth album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, the front of which was designed by Roger Dean. The inner of the gatefold had pictures of the band and notes by Ken Hensley, whilst the LP itself was housed in a liner on which were printed the lyrics.
The songs “The Wizard” and “Easy Livin’” were released as singles in the United Kingdom and North America, as well as many other markets. “Easy Livin’” entered the US Top 40 at #39, making it Heep’s first American hit. “Easy Livin’” was also a mega hit in New Zealand and Germany, countries which were becoming a strong market for the band. It reached a disappointing #75 in Australia.
Demons and Wizards was certified Gold on October 27, 1972.
“Demons and Wizards” has gone Platinum in the USA.
Track Listing :
01. The Wizard (Clarke/Hensley)
02. Traveller in Time (Box/Byron/Kerslake)
03. Easy Livin’ (Hensley)
04. Poet’s Justice (Box/Hensley/Kerslake)
05. Circle of Hands (Hensley)
06. Rainbow Demon (Hensley)
07. All My Life (Box/Byron/Kerslake)
08. Paradise (Hensley)
09. The Spell (Hensley)
1972 The Magician’s Birthday ,
The Magician’s Birthday is the fifth album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, the front of which was designed by Roger Dean. The inner of the gatefold had pictures of the band and the LP itself was housed in a liner which had the lyrics printed on it.
Two songs charted in the United States, “Blind Eye” (#97) and “Sweet Lorraine” (#91). “Spider Woman” reached #13 in Germany.
The Magician’s Birthday was certified Gold on January 22, 1973.
Track Listing :
01. Sunrise (Hensley)
02. Spider Woman (Box, Byron, Kerslake, Thain)
03. Blind Eye (Hensley)
04. Echoes in the Dark (Hensley)
05. Rain (Hensley)
06. Sweet Lorraine (Box, Byron, Thain)
07. Tales (Hensley)
08. The Magician’s Birthday (Box, Hensley, Kerslake)
1973 Sweet Freedom ,
Sweet Freedom is the sixth studio album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
The original vinyl release was as a gatefold-sleeve, reproducing the lyrics within. There was also a central page with a photograph of each band member.
It was the first album of Uriah Heep’s to be released by Warner Bros. Records in the USA.
Arguably the best-known song from Sweet Freedom is “Stealin’ “. On the Billboard charts, Sweet Freedom was received #33 in the U.S., and #18 in the UK
Sweet Freedom was certified Gold on March 5, 1974.
Track Listing :
01. Dreamer (Thain, Box)
02. Stealin’ (Hensley)
03. One Day (Hensley, Thain)
04. Sweet Freedom (Hensley)
05. If I Had the Time (Hensley)
06. Seven Stars (Hensley)
07. Circus (Thain, Box, Kerslake)
08. Pilgrim (Hensley, Byron)
1974 Wonderworld ,
Released in 1974, Wonderworld is the seventh album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
The original vinyl release was a single sleeve, with the lyrics reproduced on the inner-liner.
Track Listing :
01. Wonderworld (Hensley)
02. Suicidal Man (Box, Byron, Hensley, Kerslake, Thain)
03. The Shadows and the Wind (Hensley)
04. So Tired (Box, Byron, Hensley, Kerslake, Thain)
05. The Easy Road (Hensley)
06. Something or Nothing (Box, Hensley, Thain)
07. I Won’t Mind (Box, Byron, Hensley, Kerslake, Thain)
08. We Got We (Box, Byron, Hensley, Kerslake, Thain)
09. Dreams (Box, Byron, Hensley)
1975 Return to Fantasy ,
Return to Fantasy is the eighth studio album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
The experienced John Wetton was the band’s new bassist.
The original vinyl release was as a gatefold-sleeve, with the lyrics reproduced on the inner-liner.
The band finally made the UK Top 10, reaching #7. Return to Fantasy remains one of Uriah Heep’s best selling works. The singles were “Return to Fantasy” and “Prima Donna”.
Track Listing :
01.Return to Fantasy (Hensley, Byron)
02. Shady Lady (Hensley, Box, Byron, Kerslake)
03. Devil’s Daughter (Byron, Box, Hensley, Kerslake)
04. Beautiful Dream (Hensley, Byron, Box, Kerslake)
05. Prima Donna (Byron, Box, Kerslake, Hensley)
06. Your Turn to Remember (Hensley)
07. Showdown (Hensley, Box, Byron, Kerslake)
08. Why Did You Go (Box, Byron, Hensley, Kerslake)
09. A Year or a Day (Hensley)
1976 High and Mighty ,
High and Mighty is the ninth studio album released by British progressive rock band Uriah Heep.
“High and Mighty” was the last Uriah Heep album to feature vocalist and founding member David Byron, who was subsequently fired due to his troubles with alcohol.
The album was not terribly well-received, as stylistically it veers from the vein of experimental rock and ventures into slightly more mainstream territory, i.e. no overly lengthy compositions and a decided lack of songs dealing with fantastical subject matter.
John Wetton and Ken Hensley share vocal duties on One Way Or Another
Track Listing :
01. One Way or Another (Ken Hensley)
02. Weep in Silence (Hensley, John Wetton)
03. Misty Eyes (Hensley)
04. Midnight (Hensley)
05. Can’t Keep a Good Band Down (Hensley)
06. Woman of the World (Hensley)
07. Footprints in the Snow (Hensley,Wetton)
08. Can’t Stop Singing (Hensley)
09. Make a Little Love (Hensley)
10. Confession (Hensley)
1977 Firefly ,
Firefly is the tenth album released by British rock band Uriah Heep. It was first album without David Byron, lead vocalist and a founder-member of the band, and the first of three albums with John Lawton.
Bassist Trevor Bolder made his Heep-debut on this album and has been (almost) ever-present since, bar a break of about 18 months in 1981-82.
The single from the album was “Wise Man”. Also, “Sympathy” became a hit which was crucial for fans to accept the new lineup.
“Who Needs Me” was written by drummer Lee Kerslake and is about his unhappiness at the rejection, by manager and label boss Gerry Bron, of pretty-much any material by any one other than Ken Hensley. This is ultimately somewhat ironic, given the song’s acceptance for recording.
Kerslake was credited as Lee “The Bear” Kerslake on this album only, due to his strong physical build and then newly-acquired beard growth.
The original vinyl album was a gatefold sleeve, with a cardboard lyric-liner.
Track Listing :
01. The Hanging Tree (Hensley, Jack Williams)
02. Been Away Too Long (Hensley)
03. Who Needs Me (Kerslake)
04. Wise Man (Hensley)
05. Do You Know (Hensley)
06. Rollin’ On (Hensley)
07. Sympathy (Hensley)
08. Firefly” (Hensley)
1977 Innocent Victim ,
Released in 1977, Innocent Victim is the eleventh album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
Although it did not chart in the US or UK, Innocent Victim was highly successful in Germany and New Zealand.
The single “Free Me” was a #1 hit in NZ. Innocent victim went on to sell well over 1 million copies in Germany alone. It reached #19 and #44 in NZ and Australia respectively.
The artwork is generally regarded by fans as the worst in the band’s career, just pipping High and Mighty.[citation needed] The snake uses the eyes of drummer Lee Kerslake. In the US the sleeve was a live photo-montage.
Track Listing :
01. Keep on Ridin’ (Hensley, Williams)
02. Flyin’ High (Hensley)
03. Roller (Bolder, Ian McDonald)
04. Free ‘n’ Easy (Box, Lawton)
05. Illusion (Hensley)
06. Free Me (Hensley)
07. Cheat ‘n’ Lie (Hensley)
08. The Dance (Jack Williams)
09. Choices (Williams)
1978 Fallen Angel ,
Fallen Angel is the 12th album released by British rock band Uriah Heep in 1978. The ever-evolving story of Uriah Heep found them exploring a more commercial vein than usual on this 1978 release. Fallen Angel reached #186 in the US but in Germany the band was at the height of their popularity.
The album was originally released in a gatefold-sleeve, opening in the vertical- rather than the customary horizonatal-axis. The lyrics were printed on the LP-liner. The artwork was licenced from artist Chris Achilleos, although there seems to have been some alteration to the bodice: the breasts are not so exposed on the original. Whether this was done by Achilleos himself, or even with his approval, is currently unclear. Achilleos’ website lists the original artwork as missing.
Track Listing :
01. Woman of The Night (Box, Lawton, Kerslake)
02. Falling in Love (Hensley)
03. One More Night (Last Farewell) (Hensley)
04. Put Your Lovin’ on Me (Lawton)
05. Come Back to Me (Kerslake, Hensley)
06. Whad’ya Say (Hensley)
07. Save It (Bolder, Pete McDonald)
08. Love or Nothing (Hensley)
09. I’m Alive (Lawton)
10. Fallen Angel (Hensley)
1980 Conquest ,
Released in 1980, the band’s 10th Anniversary year, Conquest is the 13th album by British rock band Uriah Heep.
1980 was a period of change for Heep, with John Sloman taking over lead vocal duties, Lee Kerslake bowing out from behind the drumstool, and main songwriter Ken Hensley ultimately leaving the band.
This album is perhaps the most controversial of all Heep recordings, with many fans taking the position that Sloman’s Geddy Lee-like vocals were simply not a good fit for the band, with others maintaining that the change was a refreshing one. As a result, Conquest is often considered by fans to be either the band’s best or worst album.[citation needed]
The original UK release came in a single, matte LP sleeve, stickered with ‘Special 10th Anniversay Price £3.99′, with the liner being heavy-stock card, complete with lyrics. It credits Trevor Bolder with vocals on “It Ain’t Easy” but it is, in fact, Sloman.
Track Listing :
01. No Return (Bolder/Box/Hensley)
02. Imagination (Hensley)
03. Feelings (Hensley)
04. Fools (Bolder)
05. Carry On (Hensley)
06. Won’t Have to Wait Too Long (Bolder/Box/Hensley)
07. Out on the Street (Hensley)
08. It Ain’t Easy (Bolder)
1982 Abominog ,
Abominog was the 14th album for British progressive rock group Uriah Heep. It was the first album without the recognised leader of the group – keyboardist Ken Hensley. Despite this fact, it was a critically-acclaimed and fairly successful album, due to the band retooling and updating their sound to a fresh, contemporary Heavy-Rock style. It featured their last U.S. hits, “On the Rebound” and “That’s the Way that It Is”.
Track Listing :
01. Too Scared to Run (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair)
02. Chasing Shadows (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair)
03. On the Rebound (Ballard)
04. Hot Night in a Cold Town (Cushing-Murray, Littlefield)
05. Running All Night (with the Lion)*
06. That’s the Way That It Is (Bliss)
07. Prisoner (Lance, Cooper, Riparetti)
08. Hot Persuasion (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair)
09. Sell Your Soul (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair)
10. Think It Over (Sloman, Bolder)
* (Farr, Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair)
1983 Head First ,
Head First was the 15th studio album from British Rock band Uriah Heep. It was released in 1983, on the producer Gerry Bron’s UK label Bronze Records. The album was recorded by the line-up responsible for the previous year’s Abominog, but this time with a greater proportion of the songs written by the band members.
Track Listing :
01. The Other Side Of Midnight (Box/Daisley/Goalby/Kerslake/Sinclair)
02. Stay on Top (Jackson)
03. Lonely Nights (Adams/Vallance)
04. Sweet Talk (Box/Daisley/Goalby/J. & L. Sinclair/Kerslake)
05. Love is Blind (Carbone/Zito)
06. Roll-Overture (Box/Daisley/Goalby/Sinclair)
07. Red Lights (Box/Daisley/Goalby/Sinclair)
08. Rollin’ the Rock (Box/Daisley/Goalby/Sinclair)
09. Straight Through the Heart (Box/Daisley/Goalby/Sinclair/Kerslake)
10. Weekend Warriors (Box/Daisley/Goalby/Sinclair/Kerslake)
1985 Equator ,
Equator was the sixteenth album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
It marked the studio return of bassist Trevor Bolder, who had rejoined the band for the Head First tour.
The band also had a new record label, Portrait, a subsidiary of CBS.
“Rockarama” was released as a single, including a shaped picture-disc, and a video was made for the song. The B-side was non-album track ‘Backstage Queen’.
“Poor Little Rich Girl” was also released as a single, with live B-sides.
The tour programme would be Heep’s last in the UK until the Wake the Sleeper tour, which began in 2008.
When the Heep back catalogue was issued on CD in the early 1990s (Castle) and then remastered, with bonus tracks, in the mid-to-late 1990s (Essential), Equator was conspicuous by its absence. This was because Sony CBS wanted what was considered an extortionate sum for the rights. The album ultimately had a CD release in 1999, with no bonus material whatsoever. When the Essential remasters were expanded and reissued in the early 2000s by Sanctuary Equator had to be passed over once again.
Track Listing :
01. Rockarama
02. Bad Blood
03. Lost One Love
04. Angel
05. Holding On
06. Party Time
07. Poor Little Rich Girl
08. Skools Burning
09. Heartache City
10. Night of the Wol
* All songs by Goalby/ Sinclair/ Bolder/ Kerslake/ Box.
1989 Raging Silence ,
Raging Silence is the 17th album by British progressive rock group Uriah Heep. It marked the studio debut of Canadian vocalist Bernie Shaw.
It was the first Uriah Heep studio album to have a contemporary release on CD.
It opens with the old Argent hit “Hold Your Head Up”, although Mick Box was pleased to be able to add a guitar solo. This track was the lead single from the album.
The second single was “Blood Red Roses”, written by the band’s erstwhile vocalist Pete Goalby. The 7″ came as a poster-sleeve (UK cat. Legacy LGY 101) and had “Rough Justice” as the B-side. The 12″ p/s came with a patch and also added a previously unavailable live version of “Look At Yourself” (UK cat. Legacy LGYT 101).
Many of the tracks were in the set on the contemporary tour, as documented on the video Raging Through The Silence, and some have been featured in subsequent sets.
The original vinyl had the lyrics on the inner-bag.
Track Listing :
01. Hold Your Head Up (Argent/White)
02. Blood Red Roses (Goalby)
03. Voice On My TV (Box/Lanzon)
04. Rich Kid (Bolder)
05. Cry Freedom (Box/Lanzon)
06. Bad Bad Man (Lanzon)
07. More Fool You (Box/Lanzon)
08. When the War is Over (Prestwich)
09. Lifeline (Roddy/Medica/Frederiksen/Haselden)
10. Rough Justice (Box/Lanzon/Bolder/Shaw)
1991 Different World ,
Different World is the 18th album by British progressive rock group Uriah Heep. It was the second studio album to feature this line-up.
Bassist Trevor Bolder produced the album and has said that, although it was an experience, he found it tricky wearing the hats of both band member/ musician and producer.
The UK vinyl and cassette releases had the lyrics on the inner sleeve: the CD had nothing at all printed inside the insert, although whether this was by accident or design is unclear. Subsequent CD reissues printed the lyrics and had bonus tracks.
The UK tour was Heep’s first in support of new studio product since 1985. (They had played just the one UK show for Raging Silence.)
Different World was the first Uriah Heep studio album from which no single was released in the UK.
Track Listing :
01. Blood on Stone (Bolder)
02. Which Way Will the Wind Blow (Bolder)
03. All God’s Children (Box/Lanzon)
04. All for One (Bolder)
05. Different World (Box/Lanzon)
06. Step by Step (Bolder)
07. Seven Days (Box/Lanzon)
08. First Touch (Lanzon)
09. One on One (Box/Lanzon)
10. Cross That Line (Box/Lanzon)
1995 Sea of Light ,
Sea of Light was the 19th album for British progressive rock group Uriah Heep. It is well-regarded by fans and the songs have remained part of the band’s live set to this day.
Bassist Trevor Bolder sings lead on “Fear Of Falling” and gets his highest songwriting count on any Heep album to date.
Roger Dean was responsible for the sleeve painting, his third for Uriah Heep.
Track Listing :
01. Against the Odds (Box/Lanzon)
02. Sweet Sugar (Bolder)
03. Time of Revelation (Box/Lanzon)
04. Mistress of All Time (Lanzon)
05. Universal Wheels (Box/Lanzon)
06. Fear of Falling (Bolder)
07. Spirit of Freedom (Box/Lanzon)
08. Logical Progression (Box/Lanzon)
09. Love in Silence (Box/Lanzon)
10. Words in the Distance (Box/Lanzon)
11. Fires of Hell (Your Only Son) (Bolder)
12. Dream On (Bolder)
1998 Sonic Origami ,
Sonic Origami is the 20th studio album by Uriah Heep and was released in September 1998.
Track Listing :
01. Between Two Worlds (Box/Lanzon)
02. I Hear Voices (Bolder)
03. Perfect Little Heart (Box/Lanzon)
04. Heartless Land (Box/P. Lanzon/Matthew Lanzon)
05. Only the Young (Bolder)
06. In the Moment (Box/Lanzon)
07. Question” (Box/Lanzon)
08. Change (Box/Lanzon)
09. Shelter from the Rain (Bolder)
10. Everything in Life (Box/Lanzon/Bolder/Kerslake)
11. Across the Miles (J. Peterick/F. Sullivan)
12. Feels Like (Box/Lanzon)
13. The Golden Palace (Box/Lanzon)
14. Sweet Pretender (Bolder)
2008 Wake the Sleeper ,
Wake the Sleeper is the 21st studio album by the progressive rock band Uriah Heep. It is their first studio album since 1998’s Sonic Origami. It is also their first album since 1980’s Conquest without long-time drummer Lee Kerslake, who had to withdraw from the band due to ill health.
The album was released on June 2, 2008 in Europe, after having the September 2007 release rescheduled (initially to March 2008) as a result of the purchase of Sanctuary Records by Universal Music. Wake the Sleeper was released in the U.S.A. on August 26, 2008.
This album will also be released as a 12″ vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve.
The song “What Kind of God” was inspired by the book “Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee” by Dee Brown (1970), which refers to the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Wake the Sleeper has been nominated by Classic Rock Magazine the Album of the Year.
Track Listing :
01. Wake the Sleeper (Box/Lanzon)
02. Overload (Box/Lanzon)
03. Tears of the World (Box/Lanzon)
04. Light of a Thousand Stars (Box/Lanzon)
05. Heaven’s Rain (Box/Lanzon)
06. Book of Lies (Box/Lanzon)
07. What Kind of God (Box/Lanzon)
08. Ghost of the Ocean (Box/Lanzon)
09. Angels Walk With You (Bolder)
10. Shadow (Lanzon)
11. War Child (Bolder/Gallagher)
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