Besides their incredible discography, Uriah Heep is still nowadays such a great live band! Mick Box is a fantastic underrated guitar player and a friendly nice person.
I dont mean to be off topic but does anybody know a way to log back into an Instagram account? I stupidly forgot the account password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me
@Asher William thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm. Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
Hello Pete, greetings from England ! Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for this review of your favourites in the Heep output. I was out shopping yesterday and I saw a bunch of Heep albums in a charity shop. I remembered this review and you saying how great the later Heep studio albums are, so I bought all six for £1 each ! I first saw the band live way back in the Demons and Wizards/Magicians Birthday era, and like a lot of people I guess I kind of lost touch with them after Return To Fantasy. Now, thanks to you, I have Different World, Sonic Origami, Raging Silence, Into The Wild and Wake The Sleeper, along with the live Spellbinder album. Loving the Heep again, all thanks to you mate. Cheers, and keep up the great work, you've made an old rocker feel young again !!
1- Demons And Wizards 2- Magician's Birthday 3- Salisbury 4- Return To Fantasy 5- Look At Yourself 6- Very Heavy, Very Umble 7- Sweet Freedom 8- Wonderworld Looks like their latest album rules. Gotta buy it !
These rankings are so relaxing to watch. My ranking: 1. Look at Yourself 2. Demons and Wizards 3. Salisbury 4. The Magician’s Birthday 5. Very ’eavy... very ’umble 6. Sweet Freedom 7. Firefly Haven't much heard / don't much care about the rest.
Yes 100% agreed. I don't know what happened on The Magician's Birthday but Heep never were able to come close to that album imo My next fav is Very 'eavy Very 'umble. The rest just don't do it as full albums to me. Sure I love The Wizard but even on The Spell I'd like to edit out the 1st 2 & 1/2 minutes. I don't like The Promise. I seem to compare all of heep to the Magician & none are up to it so if I'm in the Heep mood it's always The Magician that I have to play & occasionally Very Heavy Very Humble lol
I haven't heard most of their albums but what I have heard I love! I know there is a heep of good stuff I still need to check out but here are the ones I do know: 7.Sweet Freedom 6.Firefly 5.Very 'Eavy...Very 'Umble 4.The Magician's Birthday 3.Look At Yourself 2.Salisbury 1.Demons & Wizards Those top 3 especially are so hard to rank! Love the '73 live album as well of course
The young guy who was on the shift in my local record shop in the late afternoons was the only one who played rock LPs on their PA but only if no jazz fans protested against it. I came in when he played "Very 'eavy" but I only arrived for the second song. I bought the album and he told me to turn it up really loud. I followed his advice my little room exploded when Gypsy woke up the neighbourhood that evening. (That was in 1970.) I have followed the band all through their career - they were never among my top bands but always a band that counted for me. Even though I own all their studio albums, there are those that I never much listened to after the initial release, so I would not dare to rank them other than saying they are not among the top ones. However, they made a very strong return in the recent years, so it was right not to write them off. 1. Very 'eavy Very 'umble (Funny thing, Come Away Melinda was also on the debut of UFO that appeared at the same time) 2. Demons and Wizards 3. Look At Yourself 4. Salisbury (Again funny thing, I got Atom Heart Mother with another full LP side track at that time as well) 5. Sweet Freedom 6. Magician's Birthday 7. Wake the Sleeper (They "slept" for almost 20 years - what a return!!) 8. Firefly 9. Return to Fantasy 10. Fallen Angel 11. Living the Dream (Another great one that came late, 2018!) 12. Wonderworld 13. High & Mighty 14. Abominog 15. Everything not listed above (There are interesting tunes here and there but I cannot really distinguish them) PS - In my country we had the albums as Japanese imports which were equal releases to the original UK ones, just recognized that some of your early US albums differ.
What is the deal with small record stores only playing jazz. Lol Sane at my store..to this day. I like a lot of jazz but it would be cool if they mixed it up from time to time.
Man I am right there with you at about 90% of your ranking…hearing your description of Salisbury gave me chills. I’ve had the privilege of seeing Heep at just about every Chicago show from 72 through 2019 and they never, I mean NEVER disappoint. A writer once described them as an “honest’” band and that is so very true. Had the pleasure of meeting the boys a few times including one time had about a 15 minute chat with Bernie Shaw, what a great guy, took a genuine interest in my own 48 year history seeing their shows. They continue to put out fantastic albums including the last decade releases with Russell and Daley. Anyone sitting on the fence considering a re-discovery of this band is really missing out.
Innocent Victim will always be special for me because I saw them on that tour and John Lawton was magnificent. Deserves to be higher in your ranking and the same with Fallen Angel which has my favourite track of theirs: I'M ALIVE with Mick Box at his brilliant best.
Thank You Thank You Thank You Pete. Too many old fans become complacent in what they’ll listen to. Uriah Heep and others continue to pump out great material when their old fans seem to be stuck in an era of their “high school and college days”. It’s frustrating that so many of those same friends won’t give the “jam band” scene a listen because “they don’t know their songs”……when many of these bands have take the old rock influences (and expanded on it). Anytime I’m been able to drag a friend to a show they feel as though they’ve just crawled from under a rock. Why must this be like pulling teeth?
Hello Pete! This happened: I ask Alexa to play the record "Pale Communion" by Opeth -who have become one of my favorite band of all time thanks to your suggestion in an Opeth show of yours- and when the record end, Alexa go crazy and shuffled songs Alike. There I heard Phil Lanzon's "Donna and Joe". Fell deep in love immediately with the song and digging a little found he was keyboardist of Uriah Heep. I've already ordered the magical "If you think I'm crazy!" album, but wanted to know about the band he is into and so iconic. That's the reason I came to this show and will follow your ranking. I may differ later on, but that's what is all about, right? Big hug for you man. Greetings and thank you.
Why? is such a great song. The long edit with the huge BASS sound is amazing! And it's a B side! I agree with your top five, I really should check their most recent albums.
Im a huge and loyal heep fan. love them to death. Hard to rank, but my top five are: 1) Salisbury. 2)Innocent victim. 3)Living the dream. 4)The Magician's Birthday. 5)Demons and Wiards. Secial affection I have for Abominog and Return To Fantasy. I love most of their albums. Equator, Different World and Conquest are the weakest. Thanks a lot Pete. You brighten up my days !
Thank you so much for doing this video. I am a one huge die-hard fan of the mighty Heep and saw them numerous times on stage. My first album was 'Innocent Victim' in 1977. I have collected any album they ever brought out and I also have many of the stuff they never released. You are totally right, those who stopped listening to Heep when Byron was kicked out are lacking an incredible amount of mindblowing music. I often think that the leaving of Ken Hensley in 1980 was a gift for the band. Of course, Hensley made Heep big, but after his departure Mick Box re-invented the band and they turned their style to way harder rock. From 2008 every album was better than the one before and reached a climax with their latest album 'Living The Dream' which blew my mind. In my opinion the best Heep album ever. It is as powerful as their debut way back in 1970. Concerning your rankings: I agree with 'Equator' being at the bottom, but I would have placed 'High and Mighty' much lower. There are two or three tunes that I consider the worst Heep songs ever, like 'Can't Stop Singing' (simply crap). 'Abominog' was a great re-start after the Hensley era, but I think it is too commercial. I like 'Head First' much better and think it is by far the best album with Pete Goalby on vocals. I also think that the Box-Shaw-Lanzon Line-Up in the last 20 years is better than the Hensley years' Heep and they produced one of the greatest unplugged-live-albums of all time: 'Acoustically Driven'. My top 5 ranking: 1. Living The Dream 2. Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble 3. Innocent Victim 4. Look At Yourself 5. Return To Fantasy
The first uriah heep song I ever heard. That's what got me hooked! 50 years later and still love this band. Just saw them in May. Thank God mick box didn't change there name!
I miss and love david Byron, really love the title track to salsbury, the first 3 minutes are breath taking and it just keeps puffing about for the whole side
My first Uriah Heep album was "Abominog", and I loved it - I am wearing the corresponding T-shirt as I am typing these lines - but I went back to the very beginning and learned to appreciate each and every era of this band. Like you said, fans will miss out if they do not give the newer albums a chance. Thank you for the great review!
Long time fan of U H , saw them in 74/75 with Tull. Great video to put their later work in perspective with the earlier work that I prefer. Gave their more recent work another go thanks to you.
Always my favorite band, since 1971 ( I was 14) and as a Bass player Gary Thain was the most influential to me. I learned all of side one of the Live album in the late seventies. Also was a fan of Wetton, and Boulder. (met Ken Hensley in '80, nice guy).
Hi Pete I owned Demons and Wizards for Years but just started picking up some of the other albums in the last year. I was blown away by how good Look at Yourself was. Definitely my number one of the albums I have so far. Keep up the great content.
Really cool ranking. I love what I have heard of Uriah Heep so far, but now I have a lot more to check out. I have been loving this channel for the past week. Have been watching all the videos, and I love all of them.
Uriah Heep has always been my favorite band. I agree with your ranking completely. Look at Yourself and Demons and Wizards were just like Boston or Van Halen's first album. Every song killed it.
I grew up, and still listen to all the greatest bands. I somehow missed these guys. So now in my 40s I am really loving them. They kick frickin ass!!! Going through their whole discography myself now, so much fun. Rock on!!!+
I'm about your age and grew up listening to the same stuff, but never gave Uriah Heep a try. At this minute I'm almost finished listening to the album "Look at Yourself," and I love it! Thanks for turning me on to them!
I really enjoyed this one, one of my favorite bands. I have them all except the last 2 and I getting them today. I saw them in Houston last year (first time in forever) and it was such a great show. Yes, Look at Yourself is my favorite and totally agree with your review of it.
Wow I dig your opinion. I was listening to Salisbury today and started flipping through some RUclips stuff on them. I was 16 in 82 myself and grew up in Old Bridge NJ so not far from you. Glad I found your channel you have a new follower. The clincher was once I saw you rate Death albums. Uriah Heep were always huge to me. My sister has 9 years on me and was always into Sabbath, Zeppelin, Purple and Heep. Looking forward to looking into past picks. Enjoy 🤘🏼
Lol Pete! I remember when Abominog came out. I saw that alum cover and I had to have it. Always loved that release. I'm going to check out some of the more recent ones now. Thanks for this ranking.
Enjoyed your video Pete (*double thumbs up*) . For me its always been Magician Birthday as my top and favourite. Felt its so underrated. Whilst David Bryon represents the original Heep's vocal, I also felt John Lawton deserves mention too with his powerhouse vocals .... he too is so underrated.
Excellent!!!! Mick box is SOOOOO underrated! I only know all of Heep's 70s albums. I don't know anything after that. I will have to check them out!!! I do love high and mighty. I remember at the time, the critics crapped all over it. I thought it was and still is great. In fact all of their 70s stuff is FANTASTIC!!! 😀
Must admit that until I stumbled across this I was guilty of ignoring Heep through the years after being a huge fan of the Byron era. All those early albums are rock classics but I have really enjoyed following some of your tips about the newer stuff and I currently absolutely love Living the dream! So many thanks for that!
My older brother brought home both "Look at Yourself" and "Demons and Wizards" back in the day. I had no idea they were still around! Will have to check it out.
I remember when Abominog came out. I bought it without having heard any track from the album because the album cover just blew me away, plus it was Uriah Heep. I was not disappointed when I got home and played it, what a great album!
I bought plenty of albums just based on the cool cover -- Kill 'em All, Mercyful Fate's Melissa, and Ciruth Ungol, to name a few. Back in the day, you just didn't hear any heavy underground metal on the radio, and there was no internet, so we had to roll the dice and buy an album without having heard any music from it. My instincts were usually pretty good!
I was like 8-9 when Abominog came out, and that cover scared me with its grinning demon. Later I came to love most of the songs on it. Running All Night With The Lion has one of my favourite riffs ever
First album I bought from them in my teens was Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble, 'cause of the cover, the version with the cobwebbed face. Some songs definitely sounded like it looked, but there was also more sides to the album's music and it has a special place in my memories. I still keep it displayed.
It’s about time....love this band. First saw them opening for Def Leppard or Judas Priest , can’t remember exactly...in the early 80’s in Saskatchewan Canada. Started collecting their records after that. Have most of the classic stuff on vinyl, with the most prized being an English copy of Salsbury on the original Vertigo Label. Keep it coming..cheers
Great job! I can live with your ranking. Salisbury, look at yourself, magicians birthday . Ever notice how birds of prey captures the vocal, keyboard and guitar stylings so well along with heep’s heaviness? And it was done right out of the gate.. oh and to hear it live now... even heavier. Glad you noted the Wake the sleeper from the current Shaw era. Excellent album. There is an anger, sorrow, and nostalgia that comes across really well on this album. Wake the sleeper is their heaviest song. This line up is excellent live and to hear the early stuff played on modern equipment brings out the heavy metal elements with such beautiful energy. Great showcase of such strong composition.. love this band
You were 16 and saw this on a cover and bought it. I was 20 and in college and saw it on a concert poster…..and went! Before the show all I knew was “Stealin’, The Wizard, Sweet Freedom and July Morning. They played a small club in Hammond, La where I got to drink a beer with Mick Box and meet Lee Kerslick and Bob Daisley (and Peter Goalby). I’ve been a fan ever since….but haven’t seen them since. Thanks for putting these albums in (your opinion) significant context. You are always spot on and I can’t wait to discover some of the more eclectic stuff.
Hi Pete great review and no surprise as to the top 5 albums you picked. I first came across UH in the early eighties when I was about 14 or 15 years old. I picked up an album at a jumble sale for next to nothing (Return to Fantasy) and if my memory serves me correct the title track and Shady Lady were me favourites. At the time I was the only one who ever heard of the band so I never pursued them with any interest though always felt some sort of connection. Nearly 40 years later I was listening to RUclips and decided to search UH name and was amazed to learn they are still playing live and recording albums today. I just bought 4 albums which I think are absolutely amazing, Look AT Yourself, Very Heavy Very Umble, Slaisbury and Demons And Wizards. Love July Morning, Lady in Black, Salisbury, Come away Melinda, Rain, Sympathy, Gypsy, Lok at Yurself, Easy Livin, Come Back to Me, The Spell.... etc I've a lot of catching up to do. My heart is breaking for David Byron, what a tragic end to an amazing singer. Thanks you. John
I am sure I am a lot older than you, I am 61 but we have a lot in common with music taste. Although I am mostly into vinyl but have a lot of CD's too. It's all about the music & thank you for what you do.🎼🎼🎼🎼
classic!...heep are the best...david byron was one of my favorite vocalists...loved his solo 'take no prisoners' and even his gig with rough diamond....as for the albums.. top 5...1...salisbury,,,2,,,look at yourself...3...wonderworld...4...outsider...5...living the dream... i do like bernie shaw alot as well...salisbury is number one because of the title track...nothing better...look at yourself is obvious...always had a soft spot for wonderworld and definitely their best cover...outsider and living the dream are both just prime heep...outsider kinda takes you away while living the dream brings you back...so much to say about heep...so little time...peace pardo....
Yes, Salisbury has always been one of my favorites. There is no song that sounds the same or has the same arrangement. Unbelievable time for a band to experiment on an album.
You killed it, Sir... Shit-3 I totally agree, as I do with the very most you said here. I also love most of these albums. And I have a special place in my heart for the Lawton era. Saw Heep just weeks ago live in Germany and they have been 'eavy and 'umble like always. Great guys, great music. Keep on rockin'.
Pete, you're doing a great job with these videos by getting me to think outside the peak era box I tend to use for bands. I've owned albums up to Return to Fantasy but then stopped except for a few live albums. It's hard to look past Look at Yourself and Demons and Wizards. Two fantastic albums from the early seventies.
Love Heep and agree with Pete's first 6 picks. Never liked them without David Byron's unique voice and vibrato. Gary Thain was one of the best Hard Rock bass players ever!
Thanks for returning me to Heep.From the early70s, they were a mainstay on m turntable. After seeing them in the 70s opening for Rod Stewart (yes they did Norfolk Va.) cemented them Last couple of days I have listened to at least 20 tracks from various releases !
Wow... very surprised to see just how many albums the Heep recorded! Although they were the FIRST rock band I saw live in concert (back in 1971), I stopped following them after “Magician’s Birthday” because I thought they had become too commercial and “Americanized” (as with Sabbath at the time). Love “Salisbury” and “Very ‘eavy”, Very ‘umble’.”Look at Yourself” was okay, but the first two are absolute CLASSIC heavy, dark rock! Btw - I suggest a Gentle Giant countdown... Love the show!
New subscriber here, and big Heep fan. The album Salisbury is actually pronounced Solsbury, and for those who don’t know, Salisbury is a small City in southern England famous for its Cathedral and for Salisbury plain used by the British army for training and manoeuvres, hence the tank on album cover.
For my money the song Sell Your Soul on Abominog is the heaviest I know from these guys. Then again I have only listened to 9 or 10 of their records. Very glad to see Living the Dream this high. What a fantastic album that is...heavy as all hell! :)
First band I ever saw live on the Return to Fantasy tour. my top five albums by Uriah Heep are, 1 Demons and Wizards 2 Magicians Birthday 3 Look at yourself 4 Salisbury .5 Very heavy very humble, Thank you Pete for a wonderful show, Excellent band one of my top ten.
Great review! I was late to get on the Heep train. I bought Abominog when it came out for the exact same reason that you did, that freaky cover! And while I liked some songs, it wasn't enough to make me a fan. It wasn't until Wake the Sleeper came out that I really started exploring the band's back catalog. And you are correct, the Bernie Shaw years are excellent! I saw Uriah Heep open for Judas Priest on the Firepower tour and they were tight and sounded incredible! I was so happy to hear them play Too Scared to Run as well, what a treat! Long live the Heep!
I have always loved the Heep. I used to see them live many times back in the 70's and early 80's. I know you don't include live albums but that first live album is still one of my all time favorite albums.
The beauty of this band is that every era is great. Currently have been listening to Wake the Sleeper a lot. Even though it is not even in their top ten CD's for me, it is still better than most other bands' best of offerings.
I really enjoy your show. Still one of my favorite bangs. Stopped with Wonderworld. Now that I listened to this show I have Firefly a listen. I do like it.
Overall I agree with most of the assessments in your ranking. Thank you for this video! There´s just one personal comment, I´d like to leave here: I always had a soft spot for "Fallen Angel". Don´t ask me why, but "Falling in love" is one of my personal favourite UH-songs. Yeah, it doesn´t make sense when I think about it, but that´s just how I feel... Apparently it´s like your personal soft for Abominog (which I probably would have swapped in my personal ranking with "Fallen Angel"). However, thanks again for this great video! Good to see all the Uriah Heep stuff here in one place.
Love Gypsy....that riff is killer. Peter Goalby underated as a singer imo. He did one studio album with Trapeze "Hold On" which is a great listen and a so so live album "Dead Armadillos Live in Texas"
My top 5...not counting Live '73... 1.Demons and Wizards 2.Look at Yourself 3.The Magicians Birthday 4.Wonderworld 5.Sweet Freedom.... That being said..Heep long been my fav band...
About the cover of Innocent Victim... Mick Box told me personally that the snake eyes are actually the eyes of Lee Kerslake! :) Yeah, I have met the band at least three times. Lee Kerslake actually played a whole Heep gig on my drums!
1. Firefly (A very personal album for me, and Lawton is just incredible) 2. Demons and Wizards 3. Look At Yourself 4. Salisbury 5. Innocent Victim 6. Wonderworld 7. Fallen Angel 8. Sweet Freedom 9. Head First 10. Abominog
ONE HELL OF DISCOGRAPHY I LOVE THE EARLY RECORDS BUT I WILL CHECK OUT THE LATER ALBUMS FOR SURE PETE GREAT VIDEO KEEP THEM COMING TAKE CARE PETE AND ROCK ON
The older brother of one of my best friends in high school turned me on to Heep right around when Sweet Freedom and Stealin' came out. After that, I felt like I was in my own little world with this band for decades. I literally did not know any other Heep fans. I've met people who "know of" the Heep, but their response is always as if the band is somewhere "out there" beyond normal access. It wasn't until I found videos like this one on RUclips that I could feel like I wasn't alone. So good to see this one! For me, the American Salisbury / Simon the Bullet Freak combo is my favorite side of any Heep album. Nearly half a century later, and I never get tired of those two songs.
They young guy who was on the shift in my local record shop was the only one who played rock LPs on their PA in the late afternoons but only if no jazz fans protested against it. I came in when he played "Very 'eavy" but I only arrived for the second song. I bought the album and he told me to turn it up really loud. I followed his advice my little room exploded when Gypsy woke up the neighbourhood that evening. I have followed the band all through their career - they were never among my top bands but always a band that counted for me. Even though I own all their studio albums, there are those that I never much listened to after the initial release, so I would not dare to rank them other than saying they are not among the top ones. However, they made a very strong return in the recent years, so it was right not to write them off. 1. Very 'eavy Very 'umble (Funny thing, Come Away Melinda was also on the debut of UFO that appeared at the same time) 2. Demons and Wizards 3. Look At Yourself 4. Salisbury (Again funny thing, I got Atom Heart Mother with another full LP side track at that time as well) 5. Sweet Freedom 6. Magician's Birthday 7. Wake the Sleeper (They "slept" for almost 20 years - what a return!!) 8. Firefly 9. Return to Fantasy 10. Fallen Angel 11. Living the Dream (Another great one that came late, 2018!) 12. Wonderworld 13. High & Mighty 14. Abominog 15. Everything not listed above (There are interesting tunes here and there but I cannot really distinguish them) PS - In my country we had the albums as Japanese imports which were equal releases to the original UK ones, just recognized that some of your early US albums differ.
I discovered this band around 82’ when I was in high school and quickly bought all their albums. Magician’s Birthday was the first album I heard. You never forget your first anything. Which may explain why it remains my favorite. A great album to kick back with headphones on and escape. Demons and Wizards is similar. They had already morphed 3 times by 82’. Heavy folk prog band, then lighter almost country influenced years with Innocent Victim and the surrounding records, then a drastic change with Abominog to hard rock. I agree with you Pete, Abominog remains a classic hard rock album today. The follow-up, Head First was also respectable. After that I drifted apart from the band so I can’t comment on that material. I think morphing into Hard Rock was about staying relevant in the early 80’s when metal was where it was at. That the same band that wrote Lady In Black and The Dance would change to writing Too Scared To Run shows remarkable adaptability and resilience. I need to go back and revisit their catalog.
I was front and center in 73 in Louisville ,Ky. When Mic just walked right off the stage. David just looked over at him in the pit shrugged his shoulders and they didn’t miss a beat. They were awesome. One of my favorite bands. Go heep✌🏻
Besides their incredible discography, Uriah Heep is still nowadays such a great live band!
Mick Box is a fantastic underrated guitar player and a friendly nice person.
I dont mean to be off topic but does anybody know a way to log back into an Instagram account?
I stupidly forgot the account password. I appreciate any tricks you can give me
@Maddux Camden instablaster =)
@Asher William thanks for your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im waiting for the hacking stuff atm.
Looks like it's gonna take quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.
@Asher William It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy:D
Thank you so much you saved my account!
@Maddux Camden You are welcome xD
Hello Pete, greetings from England ! Just wanted to say a HUGE thank you for this review of your favourites in the Heep output. I was out shopping yesterday and I saw a bunch of Heep albums in a charity shop. I remembered this review and you saying how great the later Heep studio albums are, so I bought all six for £1 each ! I first saw the band live way back in the Demons and Wizards/Magicians Birthday era, and like a lot of people I guess I kind of lost touch with them after Return To Fantasy. Now, thanks to you, I have Different World, Sonic Origami, Raging Silence, Into The Wild and Wake The Sleeper, along with the live Spellbinder album. Loving the Heep again, all thanks to you mate. Cheers, and keep up the great work, you've made an old rocker feel young again !!
1- Demons And Wizards
2- Magician's Birthday
3- Salisbury
4- Return To Fantasy
5- Look At Yourself
6- Very Heavy, Very Umble
7- Sweet Freedom
8- Wonderworld
Looks like their latest album rules. Gotta buy it !
Exactly! I absolutely agree!!!
Looks like a Dave Byron fan. So m i
Fave five:
5. Salisbury
4. Demons and wizards
3. Magicians birthday
2. Sweet Freedom
1. Look at yourself
Love the classic line up
Finally getting into Heep. Making my way through the 70’s at the moment. No clunkers so far. Fantastic band!
My Top 5
1. Demons and Wizards
2. Look At Yourself
3. Magicians Birthday
4. High And Mighty
5. Salisbury
Love 3 out of 5 of your list. Mi Top 3 are Salisbury, Look at Yourself & Demons and Wizards, then i really love Fallen Angel
@@rinaldopalladino740 I always say the Dave Byron albums and the 3 albums with John Lawton are best
@@mikekeeler6362 No doubt about it!
These rankings are so relaxing to watch. My ranking:
1. Look at Yourself
2. Demons and Wizards
3. Salisbury
4. The Magician’s Birthday
5. Very ’eavy... very ’umble
6. Sweet Freedom
7. Firefly
Haven't much heard / don't much care about the rest.
Yeah to me if it doesnt have David Byron its not 100% Heep.
@@markpalavosvrahotes5575 agree
Sure, "Demons and Wizards" is fantastic, but "The Magician's Birthday" is something truly special. Timeless and legendary.
Yes 100% agreed. I don't know what happened on The Magician's Birthday but Heep never were able to come close to that album imo
My next fav is Very 'eavy Very 'umble. The rest just don't do it as full albums to me. Sure I love The Wizard but even on The Spell I'd like to edit out the 1st 2 & 1/2 minutes. I don't like The Promise. I seem to compare all of heep to the Magician & none are up to it so if I'm in the Heep mood it's always The Magician that I have to play & occasionally Very Heavy Very Humble lol
Look at yourself 😊
@@dimethaltryptamine1 Magician's birthday would be amazing if the middle portion of the title track was more coherent with the jamming.
must say, demons was my fave magicians b/day coming very close. Their rest? nah, not really
I haven't heard most of their albums but what I have heard I love! I know there is a heep of good stuff I still need to check out but here are the ones I do know:
7.Sweet Freedom
6.Firefly
5.Very 'Eavy...Very 'Umble
4.The Magician's Birthday
3.Look At Yourself
2.Salisbury
1.Demons & Wizards
Those top 3 especially are so hard to rank! Love the '73 live album as well of course
Always the Magician for me.
@@dimethaltryptamine1 Love it! 🤘🤘
we need camel album rankings
And a YES one
And Barclay James Harvest
And Man (from the valleys)
And a KISS ranking
Killer!!! Ken Hensley is one of the best songwriters ever. But the band still going strong with good old Mick at the helm.
Ken was always the backbone of the band whether good or bad
Yeah Ken is awsome, but High and Mighty where he wrote al the songs is one of their worst album and the worst Byron album.
The young guy who was on the shift in my local record shop in the late afternoons was the only one who played rock LPs on their PA but only if no jazz fans protested against it. I came in when he played "Very 'eavy" but I only arrived for the second song. I bought the album and he told me to turn it up really loud.
I followed his advice my little room exploded when Gypsy woke up the neighbourhood that evening. (That was in 1970.)
I have followed the band all through their career - they were never among my top bands but always a band that counted for me. Even though I own all their studio albums, there are those that I never much listened to after the initial release, so I would not dare to rank them other than saying they are not among the top ones.
However, they made a very strong return in the recent years, so it was right not to write them off.
1. Very 'eavy Very 'umble (Funny thing, Come Away Melinda was also on the debut of UFO that appeared at the same time)
2. Demons and Wizards
3. Look At Yourself
4. Salisbury (Again funny thing, I got Atom Heart Mother with another full LP side track at that time as well)
5. Sweet Freedom
6. Magician's Birthday
7. Wake the Sleeper (They "slept" for almost 20 years - what a return!!)
8. Firefly
9. Return to Fantasy
10. Fallen Angel
11. Living the Dream (Another great one that came late, 2018!)
12. Wonderworld
13. High & Mighty
14. Abominog
15. Everything not listed above (There are interesting tunes here and there but I cannot really distinguish them)
PS - In my country we had the albums as Japanese imports which were equal releases to the original UK ones, just recognized that some of your early US albums differ.
Yep, my favorite album is also the first. Wake UP may be my favorite all-time Heep song.
What is the deal with small record stores only playing jazz.
Lol
Sane at my store..to this day.
I like a lot of jazz but it would be cool if they mixed it up from time to time.
I love the ‘Innocent Victim’ cover!
A classic album cover back in the day yes, so memorable what's not to love there. :)
Apparently the snake's eyes are actually Lee Kerslake's eyes.
Me too I always liked it too, fun snake I like it
Man I am right there with you at about 90% of your ranking…hearing your description of Salisbury gave me chills. I’ve had the privilege of seeing Heep at just about every Chicago show from 72 through 2019 and they never, I mean NEVER disappoint. A writer once described them as an “honest’” band and that is so very true. Had the pleasure of meeting the boys a few times including one time had about a 15 minute chat with Bernie Shaw, what a great guy, took a genuine interest in my own 48 year history seeing their shows. They continue to put out fantastic albums including the last decade releases with Russell and Daley. Anyone sitting on the fence considering a re-discovery of this band is really missing out.
Innocent Victim will always be special for me because I saw them on that tour and John Lawton was magnificent. Deserves to be higher in your ranking and the same with Fallen Angel which has my favourite track of theirs: I'M ALIVE with Mick Box at his brilliant best.
Thank You Thank You Thank You Pete. Too many old fans become complacent in what they’ll listen to. Uriah Heep and others continue to pump out great material when their old fans seem to be stuck in an era of their “high school and college days”. It’s frustrating that so many of those same friends won’t give the “jam band” scene a listen because “they don’t know their songs”……when many of these bands have take the old rock influences (and expanded on it). Anytime I’m been able to drag a friend to a show they feel as though they’ve just crawled from under a rock. Why must this be like pulling teeth?
Hello Pete! This happened: I ask Alexa to play the record "Pale Communion" by Opeth -who have become one of my favorite band of all time thanks to your suggestion in an Opeth show of yours- and when the record end, Alexa go crazy and shuffled songs Alike. There I heard Phil Lanzon's "Donna and Joe". Fell deep in love immediately with the song and digging a little found he was keyboardist of Uriah Heep. I've already ordered the magical "If you think I'm crazy!" album, but wanted to know about the band he is into and so iconic. That's the reason I came to this show and will follow your ranking. I may differ later on, but that's what is all about, right? Big hug for you man. Greetings and thank you.
Why? is such a great song. The long edit with the huge BASS sound is amazing! And it's a B side! I agree with your top five, I really should check their most recent albums.
Why is awesome, I can listen to it and Salisbury all day long
The bass player on Why and the first three albums is the wonderful Paul Newton. His bass playing is vastly underrated.
Im a huge and loyal heep fan. love them to death. Hard to rank, but my top five are: 1) Salisbury. 2)Innocent victim. 3)Living the dream. 4)The Magician's Birthday. 5)Demons and Wiards. Secial affection I have for Abominog and Return To Fantasy. I love most of their albums. Equator, Different World and Conquest are the weakest. Thanks a lot Pete. You brighten up my days !
Thank you so much for doing this video.
I am a one huge die-hard fan of the mighty Heep and saw them numerous times on stage. My first album was 'Innocent Victim' in 1977. I have collected any album they ever brought out and I also have many of the stuff they never released.
You are totally right, those who stopped listening to Heep when Byron was kicked out are lacking an incredible amount of mindblowing music. I often think that the leaving of Ken Hensley in 1980 was a gift for the band. Of course, Hensley made Heep big, but after his departure Mick Box re-invented the band and they turned their style to way harder rock. From 2008 every album was better than the one before and reached a climax with their latest album 'Living The Dream' which blew my mind. In my opinion the best Heep album ever. It is as powerful as their debut way back in 1970.
Concerning your rankings: I agree with 'Equator' being at the bottom, but I would have placed 'High and Mighty' much lower. There are two or three tunes that I consider the worst Heep songs ever, like 'Can't Stop Singing' (simply crap). 'Abominog' was a great re-start after the Hensley era, but I think it is too commercial. I like 'Head First' much better and think it is by far the best album with Pete Goalby on vocals.
I also think that the Box-Shaw-Lanzon Line-Up in the last 20 years is better than the Hensley years' Heep and they produced one of the greatest unplugged-live-albums of all time: 'Acoustically Driven'.
My top 5 ranking:
1. Living The Dream
2. Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble
3. Innocent Victim
4. Look At Yourself
5. Return To Fantasy
Saw the Heep with Blue Oyster Cult in 1976. Priceless!
jenny stryker they remain friends to this day.
saw that tour 2 wicked crazy good
Wow NICEEEEE
Wow, must've been an amazing concert. With Byron, they ruled the world
This is my #1 favorite youtube channel!! This man knows even more than I do about classic hard rock ✌✌✌✌
How cool would it have been if Dio covered Rainbow Demon?
Or Scorpions' Fly to the Rainbow. There's just no escape!
Could you imagine if Dio replaced Byron or Lawton even? He would've tightened that ship right up.
The first uriah heep song I ever heard. That's what got me hooked! 50 years later and still love this band. Just saw them in May. Thank God mick box didn't change there name!
Thanks, Pete, for getting me back into the band!!!
Cool to see the live UK album on the shelves.
I miss and love david Byron, really love the title track to salsbury, the first 3 minutes are breath taking and it just keeps puffing about for the whole side
My first Uriah Heep album was "Abominog", and I loved it - I am wearing the corresponding T-shirt as I am typing these lines - but I went back to the very beginning and learned to appreciate each and every era of this band. Like you said, fans will miss out if they do not give the newer albums a chance. Thank you for the great review!
I first saw Uriah Heep in 1969 in Ghent [Belgium]. They gave a version of Gipsy for about 40 minutes with a killer guitar solo.
OMG who do I need to kill to go back in time to see that done! I adore Gypsy man! LMFAO
Thank you very much for this Pete! I appreciate the insight.
Long time fan of U H , saw them in 74/75 with Tull. Great video to put their later work in perspective with the earlier work that I prefer. Gave their more recent work another go thanks to you.
Always my favorite band, since 1971 ( I was 14) and as a Bass player Gary Thain was the most influential to me. I learned all of side one of the Live album in the late seventies. Also was a fan of Wetton, and Boulder. (met Ken Hensley in '80, nice guy).
Uriah Heep is certainly known for their bass players!! AND their very first drummer was fantastic, listen to Wake Up (set your sights).
For me, Demons and Wizards was their peak. The addition of Gary Thain sent them to another level.
I love your passion for music pete.
I've gotta go and play some heep now
Hi Pete I owned Demons and Wizards for Years but just started picking up some of the other albums in the last year. I was blown away by how good Look at Yourself was. Definitely my number one of the albums I have so far. Keep up the great content.
Thanks for the tip on Abominog! Never heard it before but I've got it on now and you're right - it's great.
Been trying to get into Uriah Heep for years, thanks for the primer!
Really cool ranking. I love what I have heard of Uriah Heep so far, but now I have a lot more to check out. I have been loving this channel for the past week. Have been watching all the videos, and I love all of them.
Uriah Heep has always been my favorite band. I agree with your ranking completely. Look at Yourself and Demons and Wizards were just like Boston or Van Halen's first album. Every song killed it.
👍👍👍
Great ranking URIAH HEEP albums PETE 🤘🎶🎸🤘
I grew up, and still listen to all the greatest bands. I somehow missed these guys. So now in my 40s I am really loving them. They kick frickin ass!!! Going through their whole discography myself now, so much fun. Rock on!!!+
I'm about your age and grew up listening to the same stuff, but never gave Uriah Heep a try. At this minute I'm almost finished listening to the album "Look at Yourself," and I love it! Thanks for turning me on to them!
I really enjoyed this one, one of my favorite bands. I have them all except the last 2 and I getting them today. I saw them in Houston last year (first time in forever) and it was such a great show. Yes, Look at Yourself is my favorite and totally agree with your review of it.
Wow I dig your opinion. I was listening to Salisbury today and started flipping through some RUclips stuff on them. I was 16 in 82 myself and grew up in Old Bridge NJ so not far from you. Glad I found your channel you have a new follower. The clincher was once I saw you rate Death albums. Uriah Heep were always huge to me. My sister has 9 years on me and was always into Sabbath, Zeppelin, Purple and Heep. Looking forward to looking into past picks. Enjoy 🤘🏼
You should do an Alice Cooper ranking! It's also his birthday today!
I love when you give the dates of when the albums came out. Thanks Pete!
Sea Of Light would be in my top 5. I love that album ! A favorite.......The songwriting, the playing, the vocals all epic !
Lol Pete! I remember when Abominog came out. I saw that alum cover and I had to have it. Always loved that release. I'm going to check out some of the more recent ones now. Thanks for this ranking.
I have listened to every UH album. Huge fan! Thanks for your fun rankings. I enjoy listening
Enjoyed your video Pete (*double thumbs up*) . For me its always been Magician Birthday as my top and favourite. Felt its so underrated. Whilst David Bryon represents the original Heep's vocal, I also felt John Lawton deserves mention too with his powerhouse vocals .... he too is so underrated.
Thanks for mentioning the years of release Pete. Great review as well.
Demons and Wizards, my number 1. Although, look at yourself is also a great album. IMHO
I have all of UH too. Great sequence Pete ! as usual, nice job. I tend to agree with most of your comments on these ! Cheers !
Excellent!!!! Mick box is SOOOOO underrated! I only know all of Heep's 70s albums. I don't know anything after that. I will have to check them out!!! I do love high and mighty. I remember at the time, the critics crapped all over it. I thought it was and still is great. In fact all of their 70s stuff is FANTASTIC!!! 😀
Must admit that until I stumbled across this I was guilty of ignoring Heep through the years after being a huge fan of the Byron era. All those early albums are rock classics but I have really enjoyed following some of your tips about the newer stuff and I currently absolutely love Living the dream! So many thanks for that!
Hey Pete, when are you going to do a album ranking or best songs of Saxon/
Saxon is another band where their more recent albums Rival the originals. Same with WASP.
My older brother brought home both "Look at Yourself" and "Demons and Wizards" back in the day. I had no idea they were still around! Will have to check it out.
I remember when Abominog came out. I bought it without having heard any track from the album because the album cover just blew me away, plus it was Uriah Heep. I was not disappointed when I got home and played it, what a great album!
I bought plenty of albums just based on the cool cover -- Kill 'em All, Mercyful Fate's Melissa, and Ciruth Ungol, to name a few. Back in the day, you just didn't hear any heavy underground metal on the radio, and there was no internet, so we had to roll the dice and buy an album without having heard any music from it. My instincts were usually pretty good!
I was like 8-9 when Abominog came out, and that cover scared me with its grinning demon. Later I came to love most of the songs on it. Running All Night With The Lion has one of my favourite riffs ever
Sifǔ Anthony Tarasca My favourite Heep album, absolute masterpiece.
couldn't have said it better myself....
First album I bought from them in my teens was Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble, 'cause of the cover, the version with the cobwebbed face.
Some songs definitely sounded like it looked, but there was also more sides to the album's music and it has a special place in my memories.
I still keep it displayed.
Weird. I was literally just thinking when you were going to do a Uriah Heep review! Love Innocent Victim.
Although I don’t always agree with your opinions, this channel is the best channel for classic rock, metal and prog. Keep up the good work!!
What about The late David Byron’s band Rough Diamonds from 1977. It was recently rereleased with remastered sound.
It’s about time....love this band. First saw them opening for Def Leppard or Judas Priest , can’t remember exactly...in the early 80’s in Saskatchewan Canada. Started collecting their records after that. Have most of the classic stuff on vinyl, with the most prized being an English copy of Salsbury on the original Vertigo Label. Keep it coming..cheers
Great job! I can live with your ranking. Salisbury, look at yourself, magicians birthday . Ever notice how birds of prey captures the vocal, keyboard and guitar stylings so well along with heep’s heaviness? And it was done right out of the gate.. oh and to hear it live now... even heavier.
Glad you noted the Wake the sleeper from the current Shaw era. Excellent album. There is an anger, sorrow, and nostalgia that comes across really well on this album. Wake the sleeper is their heaviest song. This line up is excellent live and to hear the early stuff played on modern equipment brings out the heavy metal elements with such beautiful energy. Great showcase of such strong composition.. love this band
You were 16 and saw this on a cover and bought it. I was 20 and in college and saw it on a concert poster…..and went! Before the show all I knew was “Stealin’, The Wizard, Sweet Freedom and July Morning. They played a small club in Hammond, La where I got to drink a beer with Mick Box and meet Lee Kerslick and Bob Daisley (and Peter Goalby). I’ve been a fan ever since….but haven’t seen them since. Thanks for putting these albums in (your opinion) significant context. You are always spot on and I can’t wait to discover some of the more eclectic stuff.
Hi Pete great review and no surprise as to the top 5 albums you picked.
I first came across UH in the early eighties when I was about 14 or 15 years old. I picked up an album at a jumble sale for next to nothing (Return to Fantasy) and if my memory serves me correct the title track and Shady Lady were me favourites. At the time I was the only one who ever heard of the band so I never pursued them with any interest though always felt some sort of connection. Nearly 40 years later I was listening to RUclips and decided to search UH name and was amazed to learn they are still playing live and recording albums today.
I just bought 4 albums which I think are absolutely amazing, Look AT Yourself, Very Heavy Very Umble, Slaisbury and Demons And Wizards. Love July Morning, Lady in Black, Salisbury, Come away Melinda, Rain, Sympathy, Gypsy, Lok at Yurself, Easy Livin, Come Back to Me, The Spell.... etc
I've a lot of catching up to do. My heart is breaking for David Byron, what a tragic end to an amazing singer.
Thanks you.
John
Been watching a few of your vids recently Pete, today finally subscribed, great stuff Sir!
After the Beatles, UH is my favourite classic band
I am sure I am a lot older than you, I am 61 but we have a lot in common with music taste. Although I am mostly into vinyl but have a lot of CD's too. It's all about the music & thank you for what you do.🎼🎼🎼🎼
im 53 and so agree
classic!...heep are the best...david byron was one of my favorite vocalists...loved his solo 'take no prisoners' and even his gig with rough diamond....as for the albums..
top 5...1...salisbury,,,2,,,look at yourself...3...wonderworld...4...outsider...5...living the dream... i do like bernie shaw alot as well...salisbury is number one because of the title track...nothing better...look at yourself is obvious...always had a soft spot for wonderworld and definitely their best cover...outsider and living the dream are both just prime heep...outsider kinda takes you away while living the dream brings you back...so much to say about heep...so little time...peace pardo....
Yes, Salisbury has always been one of my favorites. There is no song that sounds the same or has the same arrangement. Unbelievable time for a band to experiment on an album.
A heap of classic albums
Great one Pete, thanks for doing Heep...
You killed it, Sir... Shit-3 I totally agree, as I do with the very most you said here. I also love most of these albums. And I have a special place in my heart for the Lawton era. Saw Heep just weeks ago live in Germany and they have been 'eavy and 'umble like always. Great guys, great music. Keep on rockin'.
Love Uriah Heep ❤️great show agian Pete, thanks 👍🏻
Pete, you're doing a great job with these videos by getting me to think outside the peak era box I tend to use for bands. I've owned albums up to Return to Fantasy but then stopped except for a few live albums.
It's hard to look past Look at Yourself and Demons and Wizards. Two fantastic albums from the early seventies.
Love Heep and agree with Pete's first 6 picks. Never liked them without David Byron's unique voice and vibrato. Gary Thain was one of the best Hard Rock bass players ever!
Thain was the best bassist they had. His melodic basslines were awesome
Thanks for returning me to Heep.From the early70s, they were a mainstay on m turntable. After seeing them in the 70s opening for Rod Stewart (yes they did Norfolk Va.) cemented them Last couple of days I have listened to at least 20 tracks from various releases !
Wow... very surprised to see just how many albums the Heep recorded! Although they were the FIRST rock band I saw live in concert (back in 1971), I stopped following them after “Magician’s Birthday” because I thought they had become too commercial and “Americanized” (as with Sabbath at the time). Love “Salisbury” and “Very ‘eavy”, Very ‘umble’.”Look at Yourself” was okay, but the first two are absolute CLASSIC heavy, dark rock! Btw - I suggest a Gentle Giant countdown... Love the show!
The Magician was the masterpiece & I too found them way to commercial after that.
Great rankings. Totally agree about Salisbury and Mick's solos. Epic!!
Just the click on the guitar . . .
Love the rankings and comments. I strongly agree that everyone should checl out the later albums and see these guys live!
I'll do it in spring in Samara,Russia!
New subscriber here, and big Heep fan. The album Salisbury is actually pronounced Solsbury, and for those who don’t know, Salisbury is a small City in southern England famous for its Cathedral and for Salisbury plain used by the British army for training and manoeuvres, hence the tank on album cover.
Good info. Thanks!
For my money the song Sell Your Soul on Abominog is the heaviest I know from these guys. Then again I have only listened to 9 or 10 of their records. Very glad to see Living the Dream this high. What a fantastic album that is...heavy as all hell! :)
Totally agree, look at yourself is my fave Heep album, the slide playing on Love Machine is epic!
First band I ever saw live on the Return to Fantasy tour. my top five albums by Uriah Heep are, 1 Demons and Wizards 2 Magicians Birthday 3 Look at yourself 4 Salisbury .5 Very heavy very humble, Thank you Pete for a wonderful show, Excellent band one of my top ten.
Great review! I was late to get on the Heep train. I bought Abominog when it came out for the exact same reason that you did, that freaky cover! And while I liked some songs, it wasn't enough to make me a fan. It wasn't until Wake the Sleeper came out that I really started exploring the band's back catalog. And you are correct, the Bernie Shaw years are excellent! I saw Uriah Heep open for Judas Priest on the Firepower tour and they were tight and sounded incredible! I was so happy to hear them play Too Scared to Run as well, what a treat! Long live the Heep!
I have always loved the Heep. I used to see them live many times back in the 70's and early 80's. I know you don't include live albums but that first live album is still one of my all time favorite albums.
The beauty of this band is that every era is great. Currently have been listening to Wake the Sleeper a lot. Even though it is not even in their top ten CD's for me, it is still better than most other bands' best of offerings.
I really enjoy your show. Still one of my favorite bangs. Stopped with Wonderworld. Now that I listened to this show I have Firefly a listen. I do like it.
Overall I agree with most of the assessments in your ranking. Thank you for this video!
There´s just one personal comment, I´d like to leave here: I always had a soft spot for "Fallen Angel". Don´t ask me why, but "Falling in love" is one of my personal favourite UH-songs. Yeah, it doesn´t make sense when I think about it, but that´s just how I feel... Apparently it´s like your personal soft for Abominog (which I probably would have swapped in my personal ranking with "Fallen Angel"). However, thanks again for this great video! Good to see all the Uriah Heep stuff here in one place.
Love Gypsy....that riff is killer. Peter Goalby underated as a singer imo. He did one studio album with Trapeze "Hold On" which is a great listen and a so so live album "Dead Armadillos Live in Texas"
Śpiewał jeszcze w Fable!
My top 5...not counting Live '73...
1.Demons and Wizards
2.Look at Yourself
3.The Magicians Birthday
4.Wonderworld
5.Sweet Freedom....
That being said..Heep long been my fav band...
I have never stopped loving Uriah Heep from 1969
Loved Abominog,Pete Goalby reminds me of Lou Gramm,plus 1 of thee best album covers ever!
That and innocent Victim
About the cover of Innocent Victim... Mick Box told me personally that the snake eyes are actually the eyes of Lee Kerslake! :)
Yeah, I have met the band at least three times. Lee Kerslake actually played a whole Heep gig on my drums!
Abominog!!! I was also stunned by this cover when I was a kid! And felt happy that it was ranked that high
1. Firefly (A very personal album for me, and Lawton is just incredible)
2. Demons and Wizards
3. Look At Yourself
4. Salisbury
5. Innocent Victim
6. Wonderworld
7. Fallen Angel
8. Sweet Freedom
9. Head First
10. Abominog
Love your enthusiasm for our bands! Heep! Purple! But have you heard Threshold? Be interested to hear your opinion.
ONE HELL OF DISCOGRAPHY I LOVE THE EARLY RECORDS BUT I WILL CHECK OUT THE LATER ALBUMS FOR SURE PETE GREAT VIDEO KEEP THEM COMING TAKE CARE PETE AND ROCK ON
The older brother of one of my best friends in high school turned me on to Heep right around when Sweet Freedom and Stealin' came out. After that, I felt like I was in my own little world with this band for decades. I literally did not know any other Heep fans. I've met people who "know of" the Heep, but their response is always as if the band is somewhere "out there" beyond normal access. It wasn't until I found videos like this one on RUclips that I could feel like I wasn't alone. So good to see this one! For me, the American Salisbury / Simon the Bullet Freak combo is my favorite side of any Heep album. Nearly half a century later, and I never get tired of those two songs.
Peat ur awesome!! I am I new subscriber, I love ur content brother. My favorite band is budgie bro!!
They young guy who was on the shift in my local record shop was the only one who played rock LPs on their PA in the late afternoons but only if no jazz fans protested against it. I came in when he played "Very 'eavy" but I only arrived for the second song. I bought the album and he told me to turn it up really loud.
I followed his advice my little room exploded when Gypsy woke up the neighbourhood that evening.
I have followed the band all through their career - they were never among my top bands but always a band that counted for me. Even though I own all their studio albums, there are those that I never much listened to after the initial release, so I would not dare to rank them other than saying they are not among the top ones.
However, they made a very strong return in the recent years, so it was right not to write them off.
1. Very 'eavy Very 'umble (Funny thing, Come Away Melinda was also on the debut of UFO that appeared at the same time)
2. Demons and Wizards
3. Look At Yourself
4. Salisbury (Again funny thing, I got Atom Heart Mother with another full LP side track at that time as well)
5. Sweet Freedom
6. Magician's Birthday
7. Wake the Sleeper (They "slept" for almost 20 years - what a return!!)
8. Firefly
9. Return to Fantasy
10. Fallen Angel
11. Living the Dream (Another great one that came late, 2018!)
12. Wonderworld
13. High & Mighty
14. Abominog
15. Everything not listed above (There are interesting tunes here and there but I cannot really distinguish them)
PS - In my country we had the albums as Japanese imports which were equal releases to the original UK ones, just recognized that some of your early US albums differ.
I discovered this band around 82’ when I was in high school and quickly bought all their albums. Magician’s Birthday was the first album I heard. You never forget your first anything. Which may explain why it remains my favorite. A great album to kick back with headphones on and escape. Demons and Wizards is similar. They had already morphed 3 times by 82’. Heavy folk prog band, then lighter almost country influenced years with Innocent Victim and the surrounding records, then a drastic change with Abominog to hard rock. I agree with you Pete, Abominog remains a classic hard rock album today. The follow-up, Head First was also respectable. After that I drifted apart from the band so I can’t comment on that material. I think morphing into Hard Rock was about staying relevant in the early 80’s when metal was where it was at. That the same band that wrote Lady In Black and The Dance would change to writing Too Scared To Run shows remarkable adaptability and resilience. I need to go back and revisit their catalog.
I was front and center in 73 in Louisville ,Ky. When Mic just walked right off the stage. David just looked over at him in the pit shrugged his shoulders and they didn’t miss a beat. They were awesome. One of my favorite bands. Go heep✌🏻