As a high schooler in the 70s, no one had enough money to buy all the records we wanted. So, my friends and I had a sort of shared record collection and this album was owned by my friend, Craig. I was the guy with all the Yes albums. Another friend had all the Jethro Tull and Alice Cooper -- those were the days. Thanks for helping me remember good friends and good times.
We must be doppelganger. My best friend's name in high school was Craig. He had all the Zeppelin albums (and Uriah Heep). I had all the Yes albums. Weird...
I remember those days. That was the only way to cover so many great bands at that time. Every time you walked into the record shop there was an astronomical choice of great records. We also has very busy cassette recorders too.
@@your_local_dummy4137 Yes, so many great records, so little funds. I even resorted to hoarding my lunch money until I got 5 bucks, then rode my bike to the record store.
Other great Heep songs: Easy Livin', Circle of Hands, Why, Gypsy, Firefly, Salisbury, July Morning, Bird of Prey, Look at Yourself, Sunrise, High Priestess.
Ohh almost made me cry. Their albums were on permanent rotation in our house. My mum and dad took me and my brother! I met the drummer, Lee Kerslake in a club when I was 18. I recognised him immediately and told him about my first gig and we had a chat and he agreed it was a great gig. Cool guy I was chuffed to pieces. David Byron was an epic rock voice and they totally brought it live. THANK YOU JP.
Dude, one of my favourite 70s groups! And this is from one of their five or six best albums. Btw, look carefully at the waterfall on the cover for some interesting revelations...😁
Oh man! This brings back so many memories. This was one of those bands only the real music heads were into. We all used to say "Friday Night in Birmingham " in the worse British accents you can imagine, when we listened to the live album "Bronze ". Kinda lost track of them by the 80s, but as a young music fan in the 70s, Bronze was gold. Traveler in Time - killer track!
I remember as a teenager reading David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and getting a kick out of the fact that the band was named after the despicable, oily character in the book.
Hi JP! This whole album really needs to be listened to in one setting. A absolute masterpiece! They are still going and creating new music today. I saw them as recently as 2019 and they still deliver the goods! Guitarist Mick Box said a new album is already recorded, but no release date set yet. I'm ready for it.
That was one of the great things about having friends with older brother and sisters. They always turned you onto great music (since I was born in Dec. '61, I was a little too young). I was introducing to Alice Cooper's album Welcome to my Nightmare, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, BTO, Pink Floyd and the list goes on and on...I remember my dad always telling me to turn that shit down! My fav from UH is Stealin' and Easy Living (Easy Living is on this album, which I can't wait for you to get to) As always, great reaction JP! ❤️
Yes, this is a great album, I was in to Jethro Tull at that time, this really got my attention, at the same time I had just heard Close to the Edge by Yes, what a great time for this kind of music. The thing I really liked about this album, even on the first introduction was that it felt like meeting some one you knew would become a friend... I consider this and the Magicians Birthday a pefect pair of albums by this band. Thanks again JP for making me smile at your reactions, and insightful thoughts. I will be Just in time to be one of those guys you welcome to your reviews... I look forward to more, as always take care everyone.
I still listen to this LP a lot. I always thought "Paradise" would make a great soundtrack for a romantic scene in a movie about kids in the 70s. I'm not really a fan of anything else the band ever did, but "Demons and Wizards" to me is a classic of the era.
Lovely hearing your reaction. If you have time try July Morning next, it features a synthesizer part with Manfred Man and is overall one of Uriah Heeps best songs.
Excellent Justin. Yeah you should just hear this whole album, so it's good to start at the beginning. These first two songs are great, I dig them. Bought the vinyl of this in the 70s and played it a lot. The next song "Easy Livin'" I used to play with my band. Uriah Heep was right in there with the other prog rock bands of the 70s. Can't wait until you get to their album "The Magician's Birthday", cuz it is just epic!
Whin I was thirteen I bought this album and loved it, still do. As I grew older and I learned more about music I realized how Uriah Heep used and adapted the structures of classical music. I go back to them to this day and still learn more each time about music.
Uriah Heep, I believe, deserve a place on reaction channels. I have many favourites by them, but "Return To Fantasy" is one I particularly like. Liking the reaction there, Justin.
The end of Gary Thain's career inspired part of This is Spinal Tap. Gary was tragically electrocuted on stage during a show. He survived, but never performed again.
Between your channel and the Alex & Andy channel, y'all have been hitting so many of my favorite bands and songs, lately. It's been real fun, so thanks to all three of you guys. "The Wizard" is #10 on my Top 100 Songs list. Those beautiful keybords by Ken Hensley, the amazing guitars of Mick Box, and of course, the unbelievable vocals of David Byron. And don't forget the co-lead vocals from Mark Clarke. Such an easy song to love. The next two songs, "Traveller In Time" and "Easy Livin' " are just flat out party rockers, something that Uriah Heep were so damn good at. I hope you keep going with this album. Every song is worth your attention.
Song for song, "Demons and Wizards" is one of the best albums of all time, IMO. Reminds me so much of my late teens, and playing guitar along with this (and others). There's a cool "live" video of "The Wizard" that's pretty cool.
A lovely track from their classic 'Demons & Wizards' album, a great live British band with a large following in Europe too, beautiful acoustic intro and stiring vocals while 'Traveller in Time' is a firm favourite with fans with great Mick Box guitar licks.
Great! One of my favorite bands, especially in their early years. On a later album, Sweet Freedom, they taught me to say the alphabet backwards, because I like to sing along. :)
This album was so important to me as a teenager and young musician. Ken Hensley the keyboard player also wrote, sang, and played guitar. He went solo and had a lot of good albums. JP I really enjoy how you break down the composition of the songs and go through the lyrics. Most reactors don't. I wish you would react to a very proggy Argent song called- Music of the Spheres. The lyrics are profound and the arrangement, transitions, time signatures, composition are a real fusion of influences. The writer of the song, has a really long interesting career back story of his own as well .
Man! I bought this album when it first came out and apparently, I listened to it so much, that as I hear this, I can sing along word for word! Goes to show how well they annunciated! And my memory is still intact! lol
I just got home from a month-long intensive inpatient rehab for alcohol addiction, during which I had no access to my phone or the Internet. I'm feeling the best I've felt for many years. Looks like I have some catching up to do here, and this here is a marvelous start. This album is a perennial favorite in our home, my personal best being Poet's Justice and Rainbow Demon. It's good to be back!
If you haven't already, be sure to give Uriah Heep's song "Rainbow Demon" a listen. It's my favorite by them. I read somewhere it was based on a Roger Dean painting. Or maybe Roger Dean made the painting based on the song.
I was a kid when this album came out and I didn't pay attention to it as it was more of a groove for the "stoner kids" and I wasn't in that crowd. When I got older and explored more variety in my musical tastes I really grew to appreciate Uriah Heep and especially this album...much more sophisticated than I expected.
If you carry on with this album youll come to one of the best Uriah Heep songs and heaviest and most underrated Rainbow Demon which is awesome sounding. Youd enjoy this album. Also i recommend Other Uriah Heep SONGS Like: Bird of Prey, Lady In Black, Gypsy, Stealin, High Priestless, Return to Fantasy, Easy Livin. This band has so many classics
I haven't heard this for decades but it was surprising how fast it came back to me. Another album I bought for the cover. I really liked it for awhile. For some reason I mentally associate it with Humble Pie's "Performance Rocking the Fillmore". I have no idea what happened to either album.
Love me some Uriah Heep. Been a while, but it certainly brings back memories. David Byron, one of the greatest lead vocalists in the early 70's. They had a few great ones after he passed in '76, w/ Wetton taking over lead vocals in '76 and playing bass on a couple of albums. They always had Hensley too, of whom is a great vocalist in his own right.
Um... Gary Thain the bass player died in '75 and was replaced with Wetton who played bass and sang back-up vocals with the group for just 2 years. He was then replaced by bassist Trevor Bolder. Byron was fired in '76 for his alcoholism (and eventually died in 1985). He was replaced by singer John Lawton (from Lucifer's Friend).
Great to see someone giving a little attention to Traveller in Time - Uriah Heep is the Band I´ve seen live the most in my life, the first time when a was 9 - Demons & Wizards is an classic, one of the Big Rock Records of the 70s - the first time withe the classic Line up - Think my favorit track on this one will always be Circle of Hands, but there is no weak spot on this record.
This album was one of my favourites in my early teens. A nice mixture of heavy rock and pop, not as good as Deep Purple but better than Slade or Sweet. Their earlier albums were more proggish but this one has still a special place in my heart. And the art work of Roger Dean is also very cool. Talking about the musicians. Gary Thain was highly underrated bassist. His playing reminds me of the great Jack Bruce but Thain never got the same amount of recognition as Mick Box and Ken Hensley.
"Circle of Hands" the best song on the album and is so fitting for the times we live in. The invasion of England by the Vikings !! Listen to "Stealing" and "Easy Living"
This.... This right here.... This is why I love your channel, JP. Concise breakdowns and the way you really listen to, and analyze the lyrics, is why I keep coming back. Magician's Birthday is my favorite album of theirs, but this is a super close second place. ... Like, quantum measurement kind of close. Thank you for another great reaction. Cheers!
Most everyone in this line up has passed away, Byron and Thain of booze and drugs at an early age. Box is the survivor and still keeps this band touring!
Hey glad that you're finally checking out more from my favorite band! Check out Shadows of Grief or Pilgrim if you want, both awesome songs, but really you can't go too wrong with 70s Heep (except for a couple tracks here and there from the end of the Byron days). Maybe check out some modern Heep aswell, anything from the last couple albums is a fantastic choice too.
I absolutely do enjoy listening to music with you. Your intelligent reviews are enlightening and amusing. I loved this album through and through. The band never got the recognition they deserved.
@@JustJP Of all the request I've seen on your channel I'm surprised there is no mentioning of Golden Earring. I got something for you, their album "Moontan" that came out in 1973. It's mostly heard of from the song "Radar Love". When this album came out Golden Earring was just emerging from Europeion underground status to gaining popularity making it onto the radio with Radar Love. In 1973 they were way ahead of there time, something like pre-punk, as The Who were (god fathers of punk, some would say) in there early days. I'd like to suggest 2 songs from this album. First one is "Big Tree, Blue Sea". When I was in the military I'd listen to this one on my way to work to get jazzed up for my day. Second suggestion is "Are You Receiving Me". I promise you, you've never nothing hardly like it and you've a critical ear and very orally talented, I'd love to hear what you got to say about these songs. If your like'n my choices I can send you more.
Good morning Justin! Hope you are well? Been listening to UH for years. Awesome band, great album covers done by Roger Dean. Another album to check out would be Magician's Birthday. Recently got a DVD. These guys still kick major butt!😎
Commenting late after work. Justin it's a great album. Hope you do a full album listen. Bought this back then. My first album by them. The next album "The Magicians Birthday" is just as great, maybe even better. Their 70's albums are fabulous!!!!
Thank you Justin. Traveller in Time is one of my favorites. The Wizard is great too of course and there's a lot more greatness on the album. The Wizard is also interesting because Mark Clarke co-wrote that song. He was in Uriah Heep for a very short while and this might be the only song that features him as a member of the band. I didn't actually know that and had to check it out when you mentioned his name. I've sometimes been wondering about those different sounding vocals in the middle of the song. You can listen to some albums for decades and still don't know so much about them. :-) I also found out that in Finland, the album hit No. 1 in May 1972 and remained on top of the charts for 14 weeks. I knew it was a successful album but I didn't know that. I think they were more popular here in Finland than anywhere else. I really enjoyed watching one of your videos again. I try and catch more of them when I can. Take care and I hope that the springtime will bring you a lot of joy.
@@xomthood Thanks for the info. I changed my text to "might be the only song". Now my original post will still have the same context. Your reply still works as well. :-) That might even be the version of "Why" on the b-side of "The Wizard" single.
Yes. The Major scale has an optimistic sound, the Minor scale has a mournful sound. Another interpretation is that the Major scale as an Oxford sound while the Minor scale has an Oriental sound.
Always dug that album. An early purchase. Great to hear it again. As a budding, so to speak, wizard, so to speak, it found me at the correct node of my journey. Now here's your challenge. Go listen to another song which came out the same year, then ask: Who is copying whom? Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" or Uriah Heep's "Traveller in Time"? Both came out in '72 so maybe they are both aping someone else? Some of the groove and changes are remarkably similar. Both great songs.
Came across your channel because I was interested in hearing some people breaking down Uriah Heep. How these guys are so overlooked now I don’t know: certainly not many in the RUclips reaction circle are doing them. Gary Thain should be in every bassist’s top 10 list as well, he’s criminally under appreciated. (Or is that just because he’s a fellow NZer?) Anyway really enjoyed this, and the Magician’s Birthday one too. Seem like you have good musical knowledge and the focus on the lyrics is a great touch too. Earnt a sub from me.
Started today to listen your channel. Thank you. I really enjoy listening tracks with you ! Uriah heep I like and noticed that you have done some Alice Cooper. This Demons and Wizards was the 1st album I bought myself when I was 14. Alice Cooper Killer album I bought like 3rd. Will meet you again. BTW have you done Uriah Heep Look at yourself ? That is a treat.
I heard this when Easy Living was on the radio. Friends had this but I never really connected with band, in fact, I had a ugly view of them for some reason. Surprise, I liked these two songs… now, fingers crossed, maybe I can enjoy them like I should have. Peace and ugly Music
Well I have all the albums and i like them all and i would not know, which song i should recommend. Maybe two complete different ones like the strong „Been Away too long“ and „Out on the street“, a most underrated song from an underrated album. Anyway „Circus“ will always be my fav. song from that lovely band.
Liking Traveller in Time means you'll love *Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble* when you get to it one day. (Certainly some of songs, anyway). When they go a bit wild there, they're going back to their "classic Heep" sound, with all the vocalizations the Wizard of Wah can extract from a guitah. (And they've kept something of that sound through all the years. They might still be going. Were in action not very long ago. Weren't selling so many albums, so they went touring, touring, touring. Must have covered more miles over this Earth than most bands have. When they fell in popularity, they started to work harder.) They had terrible luck with some of their band members. You might have heard that David Byron's problems with alcoholism eventually killed him, after first forcing them to fire him for being too unreliable. And then Gary Thain was accidentally electrocuted on stage (I think at a show in Texas), and was killed by this. One disaster and tragedy after another. All the friends lost along the way. They're not everyone's favourite. Some people have them down as "Deep Purple's second team", and others have them down as, "prog wannabes that never were", but they're none of that; they're their own thing, have a "voice" (if you hear a song by them you know it's them without having to be told), and if they actually were in those music competitions, I doubt if they knew it; they were just making music. In a way the mix of songs you get from them is an indication of musical sincerity, even. (They don't hold to some formula; that's not what the "Heep sound" is). Anyway, glad to see you're enjoying their music. If find there's something to like in even their less popular albums. To this very day (or till quite recently) they keep coming up with great songs. (Not just good. More than that.) (Which is sort of like saying they "won the music contest" this week, so I suppose I shouldn't say it.)
I can remember buying Very Heavy, Very Humble around 1977 from Virgin Records. This was before Virgin became a more polished megastore and the assistants considered themselves to be hip. When I put the sleeve on the counter an assistant nudged his colleague and nodded at my choice. They gave each other an imperious sneer and served me without speaking!!
Talking of singers who just keep going (and going strong, too), there's a new *Robert Pollard* song out. *Feeling Not Crushed* ruclips.net/video/8Y-qShh6p_I/видео.html
JP, great choices, would love to see you get into their Sweet Freedom and Return to Fantasy albums. Both of which I think are their 2 best albums. Thanks brother.
JP the vocalist is the magnificent David Byron with Ken Hensley also on backing vocals. Byron was for me along with Ian Gillan rock's greatest voice. Demons is my fave Heep album. Seen them many times in the 70's.
Дружище, тебе нужно было прослушать весь этот альбом целиком... с первой и до последней песни, и уж потом делать оценку (всему) только что тобой услышанному!! Этот альбом из разряда тех, что "...нужно обязательно услышать прежде, чем умереть!" / Buddy, you should have listened to this album entirely... from the first to the last song, and only then evaluate (everything) you just heard!! This album is one of those that "...must hear before you die!"
Talking about Wizards, this song makes me think about Home, and their third album: The Alchemist. Now talk about a forgotten prog gem. This album is magnificent. A good long song saturday. 2 epic sides. Laurie Wisefield (guitar and vocals) joined Wishbone Ash after this last album, and Cliff Williams (bass) joined AC/DC. Give this album a chance, you won't regret it.
Mark Clarke wrote the mid (heavier section) of "The Wizard" & sings it too - supposedly because David Byron could not get the power in his voice at that high range.
@@DawnSuttonfabfour This was just what i read in a magazine years ago - possibly no truth to it. But having said that, Mark's voice has a lot of power & grit in that section.
Random Manicdote Alert: I saw Uriah Heep play once. It was the final ever rock gig at the Apollo, Glasgow. Support band was the lesser known prog rock band Pallas. It was very enjoyable, although Heep are not high up on my list.
As a high schooler in the 70s, no one had enough money to buy all the records we wanted. So, my friends and I had a sort of shared record collection and this album was owned by my friend, Craig. I was the guy with all the Yes albums. Another friend had all the Jethro Tull and Alice Cooper -- those were the days. Thanks for helping me remember good friends and good times.
Great group of friends to have, fer sher.
We must be doppelganger. My best friend's name in high school was Craig. He had all the Zeppelin albums (and Uriah Heep). I had all the Yes albums. Weird...
That was how it was with me and my friends as well. I was the one with the Uriah Heep records.
I remember those days. That was the only way to cover so many great bands at that time. Every time you walked into the record shop there was an astronomical choice of great records. We also has very busy cassette recorders too.
@@your_local_dummy4137 Yes, so many great records, so little funds. I even resorted to hoarding my lunch money until I got 5 bucks, then rode my bike to the record store.
Other great Heep songs: Easy Livin', Circle of Hands, Why, Gypsy, Firefly, Salisbury, July Morning, Bird of Prey, Look at Yourself, Sunrise, High Priestess.
Demons and wizards and the magicians birthday are my 2 favourite albums of uriah heep
Me too ... love'em since the day .. very nostalgic.
Ohh almost made me cry. Their albums were on permanent rotation in our house. My mum and dad took me and my brother! I met the drummer, Lee Kerslake in a club when I was 18. I recognised him immediately and told him about my first gig and we had a chat and he agreed it was a great gig. Cool guy I was chuffed to pieces. David Byron was an epic rock voice and they totally brought it live. THANK YOU JP.
I wish I could have met them! I'm jealous! :)
The Wizard a fantastic Classic Hard Rock song, of the mello kind !!!!
Always Loved the vocals !! : D
My all-time favourite band.
The intro to The Wizard was the first thing I ever learned to play on guitar.
Not so Mad Sylvius, clearly!
My favorite Uriah Heep album by far. Always wonderful to go back to it every now and then
Dude, one of my favourite 70s groups! And this is from one of their five or six best albums. Btw, look carefully at the waterfall on the cover for some interesting revelations...😁
The Wizard is an AMAZING song.
Truly beautiful.
Oh man! This brings back so many memories. This was one of those bands only the real music heads were into. We all used to say "Friday Night in Birmingham " in the worse British accents you can imagine, when we listened to the live album "Bronze ". Kinda lost track of them by the 80s, but as a young music fan in the 70s, Bronze was gold. Traveler in Time - killer track!
Talk about memories one of my very first 8-tracks a white one on the Mercury label
I remember as a teenager reading David Copperfield by Charles Dickens and getting a kick out of the fact that the band was named after the despicable, oily character in the book.
And that great Roger Dean artwork!!!
Hi JP! This whole album really needs to be listened to in one setting. A absolute masterpiece! They are still going and creating new music today. I saw them as recently as 2019 and they still deliver the goods! Guitarist Mick Box said a new album is already recorded, but no release date set yet. I'm ready for it.
5:38...oh my JP when you hit those high notes I closed my eyes and...well it was like Dave Byron was back walking the Earth, amazing! 😉
That was one of the great things about having friends with older brother and sisters. They always turned you onto great music (since I was born in Dec. '61, I was a little too young). I was introducing to Alice Cooper's album Welcome to my Nightmare, Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, BTO, Pink Floyd and the list goes on and on...I remember my dad always telling me to turn that shit down! My fav from UH is Stealin' and Easy Living (Easy Living is on this album, which I can't wait for you to get to) As always, great reaction JP! ❤️
When you get around to "Magician's Birthday" hold on to your seat for the middle section. My top 3 EVER when you hear it.
Yes, this is a great album, I was in to Jethro Tull at that time, this really got my attention, at the same time I had just heard Close to the Edge by Yes, what a great time for this kind of music. The thing I really liked about this album, even on the first introduction was that it felt like meeting some one you knew would become a friend... I consider this and the Magicians Birthday a pefect pair of albums by this band. Thanks again JP for making me smile at your reactions, and insightful thoughts. I will be Just in time to be one of those guys you welcome to your reviews... I look forward to more, as always take care everyone.
I still listen to this LP a lot. I always thought "Paradise" would make a great soundtrack for a romantic scene in a movie about kids in the 70s. I'm not really a fan of anything else the band ever did, but "Demons and Wizards" to me is a classic of the era.
Lovely hearing your reaction. If you have time try July Morning next, it features a synthesizer part with Manfred Man and is overall one of Uriah Heeps best songs.
The best concert I ever went to was in '78 Cincinnati where Uriah Heep Was the leading band for Jethro Tull, a truly epic night.
Look at yourself from Look at Yourself. Percussion alone is insane. Great roving rocker.
Excellent Justin. Yeah you should just hear this whole album, so it's good to start at the beginning. These first two songs are great, I dig them. Bought the vinyl of this in the 70s and played it a lot. The next song "Easy Livin'" I used to play with my band. Uriah Heep was right in there with the other prog rock bands of the 70s. Can't wait until you get to their album "The Magician's Birthday", cuz it is just epic!
Ken Hensley, keyboards, guitars and vocals, and principal songwriter left us without warning last year. RIP Ken. ✌️
Whin I was thirteen I bought this album and loved it, still do. As I grew older and I learned more about music I realized how Uriah Heep used and adapted the structures of classical music. I go back to them to this day and still learn more each time about music.
Uriah Heep, I believe, deserve a place on reaction channels. I have many favourites by them, but "Return To Fantasy" is one I particularly like. Liking the reaction there, Justin.
The end of Gary Thain's career inspired part of This is Spinal Tap.
Gary was tragically electrocuted on stage during a show. He survived, but never performed again.
“July Morning” is my favourite. The Wacken 2019 video is exceptional.
Between your channel and the Alex & Andy channel, y'all have been hitting so many of my favorite bands and songs, lately. It's been real fun, so thanks to all three of you guys.
"The Wizard" is #10 on my Top 100 Songs list. Those beautiful keybords by Ken Hensley, the amazing guitars of Mick Box, and of course, the unbelievable vocals of David Byron. And don't forget the co-lead vocals from Mark Clarke. Such an easy song to love.
The next two songs, "Traveller In Time" and "Easy Livin' " are just flat out party rockers, something that Uriah Heep were so damn good at.
I hope you keep going with this album. Every song is worth your attention.
I'm a huge A & A fan.
Song for song, "Demons and Wizards" is one of the best albums of all time, IMO. Reminds me so much of my late teens, and playing guitar along with this (and others). There's a cool "live" video of "The Wizard" that's pretty cool.
A lovely track from their classic 'Demons & Wizards' album, a great live British band with a large following in Europe too, beautiful acoustic intro and stiring vocals while 'Traveller in Time' is a firm favourite with fans with great Mick Box guitar licks.
Great! One of my favorite bands, especially in their early years. On a later album, Sweet Freedom, they taught me to say the alphabet backwards, because I like to sing along. :)
Loudest band ever saw. Not complaining. Head rang fer days. Great band.
This is music you can sink your ears into.
Memories , memories..........great band!
This album was so important to me as a teenager and young musician.
Ken Hensley the keyboard player also wrote, sang, and played guitar. He went solo and had a lot of good albums.
JP I really enjoy how you break down the composition of the songs and go through the lyrics. Most reactors don't.
I wish you would react to a very proggy Argent song called- Music of the Spheres. The lyrics are profound and the arrangement, transitions, time signatures, composition are a real fusion of influences. The writer of the song, has a really long interesting career back story of his own as well .
The very underrated Lee Kerslake on drums! He right up there with Ian Paice and John Bonham.
Man! I bought this album when it first came out and apparently, I listened to it so much, that as I hear this, I can sing along word for word! Goes to show how well they annunciated! And my memory is still intact! lol
Can't wait till you get to " Circle of Hand's"
🤠👍 Also should check out "Look at Yourself" from their second album.
Great reaction. This whole album is one of their greatest and merits a complete listen/reaction.
I just got home from a month-long intensive inpatient rehab for alcohol addiction, during which I had no access to my phone or the Internet. I'm feeling the best I've felt for many years. Looks like I have some catching up to do here, and this here is a marvelous start. This album is a perennial favorite in our home, my personal best being Poet's Justice and Rainbow Demon. It's good to be back!
We’re pulling for you! I’ve a friend in your shoes, he got out a couple months ago. Take care friend.
My favorite LP in HS in the early 70's, I wore out my first copy.
If you haven't already, be sure to give Uriah Heep's song "Rainbow Demon" a listen. It's my favorite by them. I read somewhere it was based on a Roger Dean painting. Or maybe Roger Dean made the painting based on the song.
Gonna wear my demons and wizards t-shirt this weekend
The shadows and the wind is a must hear!
I was a kid when this album came out and I didn't pay attention to it as it was more of a groove for the "stoner kids" and I wasn't in that crowd. When I got older and explored more variety in my musical tastes I really grew to appreciate Uriah Heep and especially this album...much more sophisticated than I expected.
If you carry on with this album youll come to one of the best Uriah Heep songs and heaviest and most underrated Rainbow Demon which is awesome sounding. Youd enjoy this album. Also i recommend Other Uriah Heep SONGS Like: Bird of Prey, Lady In Black, Gypsy, Stealin, High Priestless, Return to Fantasy, Easy Livin. This band has so many classics
Rain and Sunrise are 2 of their ballads I adore.
Glad you're liking the Heep JP. Check out the 1973 live version of this LP's Circle Of Hands, where Heep run the whole gamut from quiet to gargantuan!
I haven't heard this for decades but it was surprising how fast it came back to me. Another album I bought for the cover. I really liked it for awhile. For some reason I mentally associate it with Humble Pie's "Performance Rocking the Fillmore". I have no idea what happened to either album.
Whether you review it or not, their live album from 73 is a blast. Of course, you'll want to check out Magician's Birthday, too, if you haven't.
Love me some Uriah Heep. Been a while, but it certainly brings back memories. David Byron, one of the greatest lead vocalists in the early 70's. They had a few great ones after he passed in '76, w/ Wetton taking over lead vocals in '76 and playing bass on a couple of albums. They always had Hensley too, of whom is a great vocalist in his own right.
Um... Gary Thain the bass player died in '75 and was replaced with Wetton who played bass and sang back-up vocals with the group for just 2 years. He was then replaced by bassist Trevor Bolder. Byron was fired in '76 for his alcoholism (and eventually died in 1985). He was replaced by singer John Lawton (from Lucifer's Friend).
Great to see someone giving a little attention to Traveller in Time - Uriah Heep is the Band I´ve seen live the most in my life, the first time when a was 9 - Demons & Wizards is an classic, one of the Big Rock Records of the 70s - the first time withe the classic Line up - Think my favorit track on this one will always be Circle of Hands, but there is no weak spot on this record.
This album was one of my favourites in my early teens. A nice mixture of heavy rock and pop, not as good as Deep Purple but better than Slade or Sweet. Their earlier albums were more proggish but this one has still a special place in my heart. And the art work of Roger Dean is also very cool. Talking about the musicians. Gary Thain was highly underrated bassist. His playing reminds me of the great Jack Bruce but Thain never got the same amount of recognition as Mick Box and Ken Hensley.
"Circle of Hands" the best song on the album and is so fitting for the times we live in. The invasion of England by the Vikings !! Listen to "Stealing" and "Easy Living"
This....
This right here....
This is why I love your channel, JP.
Concise breakdowns and the way you really listen to, and analyze the lyrics, is why I keep coming back.
Magician's Birthday is my favorite album of theirs, but this is a super close second place. ... Like, quantum measurement kind of close.
Thank you for another great reaction.
Cheers!
Thats incredibly kind of you Jerry, thank you
Most everyone in this line up has passed away, Byron and Thain of booze and drugs at an early age. Box is the survivor and still keeps this band touring!
❤ A fantastic songs and Album
I love Uriah Heep. This was one of my favorite albums of theirs, but they have a lot of good ones that need to be discovered? ;-)
Cool choices. Very representative of an outstanding band.
Pilgrim & Sunrise are another couple of UH tracks you might like.
They produced so many great tracks
Love this album, next up the short but great anthem that is Easy Livin'.
You been forgiven.
@@maruad7577 I saw you on the same page.
I never listened to much of their music. Pretty good stuff!
Hey glad that you're finally checking out more from my favorite band! Check out Shadows of Grief or Pilgrim if you want, both awesome songs, but really you can't go too wrong with 70s Heep (except for a couple tracks here and there from the end of the Byron days).
Maybe check out some modern Heep aswell, anything from the last couple albums is a fantastic choice too.
I absolutely do enjoy listening to music with you. Your intelligent reviews are enlightening and amusing. I loved this album through and through. The band never got the recognition they deserved.
Thank you so much John
@@JustJP Of all the request I've seen on your channel I'm surprised there is no mentioning of Golden Earring. I got something for you, their album "Moontan" that came out in 1973. It's mostly heard of from the song "Radar Love". When this album came out Golden Earring was just emerging from Europeion underground status to gaining popularity making it onto the radio with Radar Love. In 1973 they were way ahead of there time, something like pre-punk, as The Who were (god fathers of punk, some would say) in there early days. I'd like to suggest 2 songs from this album. First one is "Big Tree, Blue Sea". When I was in the military I'd listen to this one on my way to work to get jazzed up for my day. Second suggestion is "Are You Receiving Me". I promise you, you've never nothing hardly like it and you've a critical ear and very orally talented, I'd love to hear what you got to say about these songs. If your like'n my choices I can send you more.
I used to love Uriah Heep
I still do, but I used to too.
Good morning Justin! Hope you are well? Been listening to UH for years. Awesome band, great album covers done by Roger Dean. Another album to check out would be Magician's Birthday. Recently got a DVD. These guys still kick major butt!😎
Sometimes I feel like you're going through my album collection.
Acoustic guitar on the Wizard is a 12 string with the low E tuned to a D
When you said "I expected heavier..."
My 1st thought: Gypsy LIVE 1973! Listen :)
WAIT! Gotta get headphones on.......ok, go.
Commenting late after work. Justin it's a great album. Hope you do a full album listen. Bought this back then. My first album by them. The next album "The Magicians Birthday" is just as great, maybe even better. Their 70's albums are fabulous!!!!
OMG Heep first band I ever saw live, 76 Wembley Arena. Amazing. LOVE LOVE them.
Thank you Justin. Traveller in Time is one of my favorites. The Wizard is great too of course and there's a lot more greatness on the album.
The Wizard is also interesting because Mark Clarke co-wrote that song. He was in Uriah Heep for a very short while and this might be the only song that features him as a member of the band. I didn't actually know that and had to check it out when you mentioned his name. I've sometimes been wondering about those different sounding vocals in the middle of the song. You can listen to some albums for decades and still don't know so much about them. :-)
I also found out that in Finland, the album hit No. 1 in May 1972 and remained on top of the charts for 14 weeks. I knew it was a successful album but I didn't know that. I think they were more popular here in Finland than anywhere else.
I really enjoyed watching one of your videos again. I try and catch more of them when I can. Take care and I hope that the springtime will bring you a lot of joy.
not quite the only song, one of the recorded versions of Why has Clarke on bass.
@@xomthood Thanks for the info. I changed my text to "might be the only song". Now my original post will still have the same context. Your reply still works as well. :-)
That might even be the version of "Why" on the b-side of "The Wizard" single.
Another pair of my favourite songs from the 70s. This is a truly great album. One of their 70s peaks. 'The Wizard' was a hit single here in the UK.
Yes. The Major scale has an optimistic sound, the Minor scale has a mournful sound. Another interpretation is that the Major scale as an Oxford sound while the Minor scale has an Oriental sound.
Always dug that album. An early purchase. Great to hear it again. As a budding, so to speak, wizard, so to speak, it found me at the correct node of my journey.
Now here's your challenge. Go listen to another song which came out the same year, then ask: Who is copying whom?
Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" or Uriah Heep's "Traveller in Time"? Both came out in '72 so maybe they are both aping someone else?
Some of the groove and changes are remarkably similar. Both great songs.
Came across your channel because I was interested in hearing some people breaking down Uriah Heep. How these guys are so overlooked now I don’t know: certainly not many in the RUclips reaction circle are doing them. Gary Thain should be in every bassist’s top 10 list as well, he’s criminally under appreciated. (Or is that just because he’s a fellow NZer?) Anyway really enjoyed this, and the Magician’s Birthday one too. Seem like you have good musical knowledge and the focus on the lyrics is a great touch too. Earnt a sub from me.
Appreciate that Reuben! I have more Uriah coming shortly ;)
this album and Magicians Birthday are great, Sweet Loraine is my favorite from Magicians Birthday
"...let the party carry on"
Started today to listen your channel. Thank you. I really enjoy listening tracks with you ! Uriah heep I like and noticed that you have done some Alice Cooper. This Demons and Wizards was the 1st album I bought myself when I was 14. Alice Cooper Killer album I bought like 3rd. Will meet you again. BTW have you done Uriah Heep Look at yourself ? That is a treat.
Hi Justin ; good to hear this ;
my prefered U H albums are : Look At Yourself and Salisbury
I heard this when Easy Living was on the radio. Friends had this but I never really connected with band, in fact, I had a ugly view of them for some reason. Surprise, I liked these two songs… now, fingers crossed, maybe I can enjoy them like I should have.
Peace and ugly Music
Some of their album cover art might be the reason for the ugly view?
@@tullfan2560
It happens… but, Magician’s Birthday has a beautiful cover…
Well I have all the albums and i like them all and i would not know, which song i should recommend.
Maybe two complete different ones like the strong „Been Away too long“ and „Out on the street“, a most underrated song from an underrated album. Anyway „Circus“ will always be my fav. song from that lovely band.
Circus is fantastic, very jazzy.
So glad you finally got back into Uriah Heep. I have always loved the band.
Them: “Why are you so into ‘70s Prog Rock? What’s that all about?”
Me: “Wizards and shit 🤷♂️”
Liking Traveller in Time means you'll love *Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble* when you get to it one day. (Certainly some of songs, anyway). When they go a bit wild there, they're going back to their "classic Heep" sound, with all the vocalizations the Wizard of Wah can extract from a guitah. (And they've kept something of that sound through all the years. They might still be going. Were in action not very long ago. Weren't selling so many albums, so they went touring, touring, touring. Must have covered more miles over this Earth than most bands have. When they fell in popularity, they started to work harder.)
They had terrible luck with some of their band members. You might have heard that David Byron's problems with alcoholism eventually killed him, after first forcing them to fire him for being too unreliable. And then Gary Thain was accidentally electrocuted on stage (I think at a show in Texas), and was killed by this. One disaster and tragedy after another. All the friends lost along the way.
They're not everyone's favourite. Some people have them down as "Deep Purple's second team", and others have them down as, "prog wannabes that never were", but they're none of that; they're their own thing, have a "voice" (if you hear a song by them you know it's them without having to be told), and if they actually were in those music competitions, I doubt if they knew it; they were just making music. In a way the mix of songs you get from them is an indication of musical sincerity, even. (They don't hold to some formula; that's not what the "Heep sound" is).
Anyway, glad to see you're enjoying their music. If find there's something to like in even their less popular albums. To this very day (or till quite recently) they keep coming up with great songs. (Not just good. More than that.)
(Which is sort of like saying they "won the music contest" this week, so I suppose I shouldn't say it.)
I can remember buying Very Heavy, Very Humble around 1977 from Virgin Records. This was before Virgin became a more polished megastore and the assistants considered themselves to be hip. When I put the sleeve on the counter an assistant nudged his colleague and nodded at my choice. They gave each other an imperious sneer and served me without speaking!!
Talking of singers who just keep going (and going strong, too), there's a new *Robert Pollard* song out. *Feeling Not Crushed* ruclips.net/video/8Y-qShh6p_I/видео.html
@@Katehowe3010 it's not that bad...not that good either, mind.
@@Katehowe3010 Why?
@@Katehowe3010 I wasn't too thrilled with it, but didn't exactly hate it!
Total concept. Please do the rest of the album? xxx
Yes! Seconded.♥
@@pentagrammaton6793 Thank you Alan.
Starting to hear good here✌️🇦🇺
And if you like a lot of change ups and David Byron's versatile vocals, listen to PILGRIM and also BEAUTIFUL DREAM.
I love Heep and Traveller in Time is one of my favourite songs. Bravo JP 😊👍🥰
JP, great choices, would love to see you get into their Sweet Freedom and Return to Fantasy albums. Both of which I think are their 2 best albums. Thanks brother.
Ah, "The Wizard"--nice analysis! Heep has some great songs....
JP the vocalist is the magnificent David Byron with Ken Hensley also on backing vocals. Byron was for me along with Ian Gillan rock's greatest voice. Demons is my fave Heep album. Seen them many times in the 70's.
Дружище, тебе нужно было прослушать весь этот альбом целиком... с первой и до последней песни, и уж потом делать оценку (всему) только что тобой услышанному!! Этот альбом из разряда тех, что "...нужно обязательно услышать прежде, чем умереть!" / Buddy, you should have listened to this album entirely... from the first to the last song, and only then evaluate (everything) you just heard!! This album is one of those that "...must hear before you die!"
"Paradise/The Spell" on side B of the LP is still one of my top 10 jams of all time. Please try to react to it...please, please, please...
Talking about Wizards, this song makes me think about Home, and their third album: The Alchemist. Now talk about a forgotten prog gem. This album is magnificent. A good long song saturday. 2 epic sides. Laurie Wisefield (guitar and vocals) joined Wishbone Ash after this last album, and Cliff Williams (bass) joined AC/DC. Give this album a chance, you won't regret it.
Go on and do the rest of the album, it's perfect. 😄
Love the Heep, lost their fans after Byron. But I'm back since 2020. Lots of great music out there.
Mark Clarke wrote the mid (heavier section) of "The Wizard" & sings it too - supposedly because David Byron could not get the power in his voice at that high range.
I saw UH (first band I ever saw live, aged 15) and I must disagree. 1976, Wembley Arena; David sounded pretty high to me!
Of course, no autotune.
@@DawnSuttonfabfour This was just what i read in a magazine years ago - possibly no truth to it. But having said that, Mark's voice has a lot of power & grit in that section.
Ever analysed any Midnight Oil? They were a great band - just retired - who always had interesting music as well as something to say.
Random Manicdote Alert: I saw Uriah Heep play once. It was the final ever rock gig at the Apollo, Glasgow. Support band was the lesser known prog rock band Pallas. It was very enjoyable, although Heep are not high up on my list.
Love the t shirt