Remembering and enjoying the best songs of the "old guys" of Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep - a group that has successfully balanced genres of rock, heavy metal and progressive rockIt's no wonder it's one of the most successful of all time. '70s rock bands years! In total, Heep released 24 studio albums, 20 live records, and more than forty compilations! At the same time, 12 of the band's albums made it to the UK Albums Chartand one of the most famous Demons and Wizards - made it to number 23 Billboard 200 в 1972 year! By the end of the decade, Uriah Heep were already enjoying resounding international success! And their iconic single "Lady in Black" was a big hit in Germany... Actually, such a huge catalogue of songs makes it very difficult to compile a list of the best ones... But we decided to do it, and this is what we got! Below you can see the top of popular and most successful hits from the "old guys" Uriah Heep! Enjoy listening, we are starting....

"Sunrise" (1972)

Powerful opening track from the fifth album The Magician's Birthdayin time. "Sunrise." has become a staple of almost every tour or live album Uriah Heep! The song also perfectly illustrates the band's uncanny ability to balance the straightforwardness of hard rock with the dynamic variety of progressive rock....

Written by Ken Hensley and performed by the magnificent by David Byronalmost unanimously. "Sunrise." is considered a great Uriah Heep classic!

"Look at Yourself" (1971).

The title track from the third album Uriah Heep, "Look at Yourself." Written and performed by the same Ken Hensley, the song became the band's first UK single!

Why, then. "Look at Yourself." performed Hensleyand not Byron? The thing is that vocalist David Byron had throat problems during the recording... However - during Heep's live performances he was the one who sang it (at least until he was fired...).

"Bird of Prey" (1970)

One of the most dramatic songs in the repertoire. Uriah Heep and early heavy metal in general, "Bird of Prey" became a massive hit for the band...

"Sweet Lorraine" (1972).

"Sweet Lorraine." - this is the romanticised title of the second single from the band's fifth studio album! The composition won the hearts of fans and critics with its characteristic, oscillating melody and synthesiser solo Moogwhich was played Ken Hensley…

One of the band's most famous songs, gaining a lot of popularity during live concerts Uriah Heep…

"Gypsy" (1970)

Famous "Gypsy" by Uriah Heep. was clear proof that first impressions really do matter... This opening track from Heep's 1970 debut remains a firm favourite with many fans! The composition "Gypsy" carries an extremely scary and brutal power...

This is a timeless statement from Uriah Heep about their greatest strengths that they will build on in the years and decades to come....

"Return to Fantasy" (1975)

"Return to Fantasy." - it's probably Heep's best single of the mid-aughts. 1970-х years! It is thanks to him that the band's album of the same name broke into the UK top 10! By the way: this is the highest chart position of the band's career to date....

As for the vocalist Uriah Heep, David Byron.At the time of recording, he was already gripped by alcohol addiction, which soon led to his expulsion from the band and, a few years later, tragically took his life... However, that's another story.

"The Easy Road" (1974)

A catchy and thoughtful ballad written by the keyboardist Ken Hensley for their seventh album Wonderworld:

This track showcases the full wonderful range of the voice David Byron…

"Salisbury" (1971)

Another great track from Uriah Heep From their eponymous second studio album.....

"Easy Livin'" (1972)

This is probably one of the most famous and much-loved songs Uriah Heep…

With a beautiful soaring chorus and enhanced by the band's multi-voice harmonies, the anthemic "Easy Livin'." - it's not just "another meaningful passage" from the Demons And Wizards 1972 of the year. This track is still their big hit decades later.....

"The Wizard" (1972)

"The Wizard" 1972 of the year is remarkable because it is the first single of the band to have a video clip! In concept, it is a tender, semi-acoustic ballad whose lyrics tell the story of a man who wanders until he meets "The Wizard of a Thousand Kings..."

Amazingly, even half a century later, this mystical story about a wizard who dons a "golden cloak" remains a staple of the concert programme Uriah Heep! It is also the only composition recorded by the band with the bassist ! Mark Clark…

"Lady in Black" (1971)

The cherry on the cake is a composition about "The Lady in Black." is a perfect addition to the band's second studio album! The slightly gloomy lyrics tell the story of a man wandering through war-torn darkness: at some point he meets a goddess-like entity who comforts him... According to fans and critics alike, this is the most poetic work of all Hensley.

https://youtu.be/N0H48bpJziQ

Inspiration struck Hensley when he spotted a mysterious female pedestrian on a windy morning in the north of England... The most interesting thing about the whole story, however, is that his band mates were initially unimpressed when they first heard the "Lady in Black". Actually - this is not uncommon in rock music, which has seen many similar stories!

"Stealin'" (1973)

It's safe to say that this is Hensley in his best storytelling! This track is from the album Sweet Freedom 1973 of the year would have been a much bigger hit for Heep had it not been for the line "I f*cked the rancher's daughter" that got it banned....

"July Morning" (1971)

By turns fragile, beautiful, uplifting, edgy and bombastic, in unedited original form this ten minute epic from the third album Look At Yourself has had almost as many ups and downs as Heep themselves! It's really something special...