Thursday, December 01, 2005
Demons And Wizards
In 1972 Uriah Heep finally managed to decide who they were. Vacillating between being a Floyd or Zepplin clone, they had released three LP's; 1970's 'Very 'eavy, Very 'umble', and 1971's 'Salisbury' and 'Look At Yourself'. Though those records contain moments of what Heep would come to be, it wasn't until their fourth record that they settled on what the Heep sound was, which was huge organ, tons of wah, tight bass and drums, with lots of vocal harmonies.
Holed up at Lansdowne Studios in London for March and April of that year they recorded what would ultimately be their opus; 'Demons and Wizards'. Containing such classics as 'Easy Livin', 'The Wizard', and 'Traveler in Time', Uriah Heep had the ability to deliver quick rock anthems, as well as the nine minute prog indulgence that critics loved to hate, and I loved to take drugs and listen to. Since then, on both accounts, not much had changed.
Uriah Heep has changed. Oh, they're still around. Mick Box (guitar) has kept the band going since original band honcho Ken Hensley (organ) left in the mid seventies. The Heep of the late seventies was a Spinal Tap style roustabout of band members and just plain bad albums. Settling in the early eighties with a line-up that featured former Spinal Tap keyboardist John Sinclair (not a joke, seriously ironic) and former Ozzy bassist Bob Daisley, who brought with him, from the Ozzy camp, former Heepster Lee Kerslake (drums). The Heep was back, and if not better than ever, certainly better than they had been for some time. During this time they recorded the ridiculously titled, and even more ridiculously packaged 'Abominog', and 'Head First', the latter of which is simply a great record.
Heep is however Heep, and there's a new lineup of old memebers.
If you like heavy music with progressive leanings, you still may not like Uriah Heep, but I do, and so does Ken, and Tony Alva (to a degree).
In 1972 Uriah Heep finally managed to decide who they were. Vacillating between being a Floyd or Zepplin clone, they had released three LP's; 1970's 'Very 'eavy, Very 'umble', and 1971's 'Salisbury' and 'Look At Yourself'. Though those records contain moments of what Heep would come to be, it wasn't until their fourth record that they settled on what the Heep sound was, which was huge organ, tons of wah, tight bass and drums, with lots of vocal harmonies.
Holed up at Lansdowne Studios in London for March and April of that year they recorded what would ultimately be their opus; 'Demons and Wizards'. Containing such classics as 'Easy Livin', 'The Wizard', and 'Traveler in Time', Uriah Heep had the ability to deliver quick rock anthems, as well as the nine minute prog indulgence that critics loved to hate, and I loved to take drugs and listen to. Since then, on both accounts, not much had changed.
Uriah Heep has changed. Oh, they're still around. Mick Box (guitar) has kept the band going since original band honcho Ken Hensley (organ) left in the mid seventies. The Heep of the late seventies was a Spinal Tap style roustabout of band members and just plain bad albums. Settling in the early eighties with a line-up that featured former Spinal Tap keyboardist John Sinclair (not a joke, seriously ironic) and former Ozzy bassist Bob Daisley, who brought with him, from the Ozzy camp, former Heepster Lee Kerslake (drums). The Heep was back, and if not better than ever, certainly better than they had been for some time. During this time they recorded the ridiculously titled, and even more ridiculously packaged 'Abominog', and 'Head First', the latter of which is simply a great record.
Heep is however Heep, and there's a new lineup of old memebers.
If you like heavy music with progressive leanings, you still may not like Uriah Heep, but I do, and so does Ken, and Tony Alva (to a degree).
Comments:
It's just such a funny name.
"Uriah Heep."
It sounds like the 70's, doesn't it?
Say it again.
"Uriah Heep."
"Uriah Heep."
It sounds like the 70's, doesn't it?
Say it again.
"Uriah Heep."
Just don't buy UH willy nilly, Ken bought 'Wonderworld'and found out the hard way. Stick to 'Greatest Hits', 'Demons and Wizards', and 'Magicians Birthday'. 'Look at Yourself' isn't bad.
I think we've all made the impulsive Uriah Heep purchases, only to find out later that:
"Uriah Heap's One On The Heap."
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"Uriah Heap's One On The Heap."
