Uriah Heep- The Magician's Birthday (First Listen)
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
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Song Link: • The Magician's Birthday
Uriah Heep deserves to be in the same conversation as Black Sabbath and Deep Purple. And they deserve just as many reactions from all the reaction channels that like hard rock and metal. Yes, I like UH a little more than the other two.
BTW, the band considered doing a whole concept album based on this song. But due to a busy touring schedule, there was no time to create it. So they condensed everything into this one song and completed the album with other unrelated songs.
Their manager worked them to the bone didn't really appreciated them
Uriah Heep is a fictional character in Dickens novel David Copperfield. The band Uriah Heep is really underrated! Put out some great albums. Give the song ‘The Wizard’ a shot, I know you’ll like it. The whole album ‘Demons and Wizards’ is worth a listen.
Absolutely! When I was stationed at Ramey AFB Puerto Rico in 1972/1973 there were 4 albums that I remember listening to more than all the others.
Deep Purple-Machine Head
Pink Floyd- Obscured By Clouds
Uriah Heep-Demons and Wizards
Yes-Close To The Edge
@@shyshift, excellent.
About Uriah Heep, I just have one word to say (and copy-paste a few times): Salisbury.
Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury. Salisbury.
I hear Salisbury
@@ecce_neru What a coincidence!
I really like how they used the orchestra on the title track, a lot of bands try working with one but Uriah Heep succeeded.
@@1nelsondj I have to say I was talking about the title track specifically, though I enjoy the album. That track is glo-rious.
Saul's bh-rry
Great Band
The drummer Lee Kerslake just passed away (RIP Lee) this is the first band I really got into I was 12 it was 1970
For me it '71 Look At Yourself. I was 14 and an instant fan. Still love them.
Three Uriah Heep suggestions:
- "Paradise/The Spell" (from "Demons and Wizards")
- "July Morning" ( from "Look at Yourself")
- "Circle of Hands" (from "Demons and Wizards")
Top Uriah Heep songs from a HUGE fan: "The Wizard", "Dreammare", "Gypsy", "Bird of Prey", "Lady in Black", "Salisbury", "Look at Yourself", "Traveller in Time", "Rainbow Demon", "Sweet Lorraine".
Stealing when I should been buying
And 'Circle Of Hands' Live (Jan 73) great tune. My favorite Bass Player (I have been a Bassist since 77) This one has so much melodicism. Love it.
David Byron passed away several years ago. His is the excellent higher voice. The "lower" voice is Ken Hensley - keyboardist and guitarist and "brainchild" of Uriah Heep. The bassist is Gary Thain - who passed away when he overdosed. Uriah Heep is such a groundbreaking band in their genre. Lee Kerslake also passed away recently.
This has always been my favorite Uriah Heep song. The drumming and guitar solo are their best.
One of my favorite bands of all-time their 70s albums are hidden treasures in hard rock history. David Byron had such a amazing voice and presence as a lead singer. The whole band was so good Ken Hensley the visionary he wrote a good chunk of the tunes played organ and slide guitar. Mick Box has a unmistakable dark and heavy guitar tone. And then Lee Kerslake on Drums and Gary Thain on Bass. Really an amazing power house super group.
Never heard this before. I think I've heard Uriah Heep like once or twice in my life. I loved the entire middle section. Loved the chaotic nature of it all. At one point it sounded like the drums and the guitar were playing 2 different pieces, and I thought that was great, and those dark dissonant piano chords that just pounded in the background I thought was brilliant.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Paradise/The Spell, Sunrise, Pilgrim, July Morning, any of those would be my next pick. :)
You missed their best stuff. The very best, in my opinion, is "Look at Yourself". Their third album. Do something off of there and you will hear a difference. Much heavier and serious.
Two of their best songs are "Tears In My Eyes" and "Shadows Of Grief."
You probably realized the Yes connection here...Roger Dean's artwork!
I LOVE RD's work
Second Favorite Uriah Heep song, (after "Salisbury"), is "July Morning" - I could never get tired of it!
If you want more bass, try Rainbow Demon from Demons and Wizards or Pilgrim from Sweet Freedom. Gary Thain is probably the best melodic bass player that ever performed. He had an instinctive or innate ability to 'feel' his way deep into any song. In an interview, once, he said "They just let me play what I think fits". He was a master; the guys that followed, John Wetton, Bob Daisley, Trevor Bolder and now Dave Rimmer filled Gary's shoes equally well. Other songs to check out are: Time to Live, High Priestess, Shadows of Grief, Sunrise, July Morning, Circle of Hands, Look at Yourself, there are many more, but these are from the early days. Over fifty years, they have been carrying forward and the newer stuff is very good too. Way ahead of their time, but influenced Queen, Rush, UFO, Scorpions, Iron Maiden, WASP, Winger, even King Diamond and Randy Rhodes state Heep as big influences.
Amazing how Kerslake is prominent in the Heep. He was a drummer's drummer. Ken Hensley is a monster of a Organ Player.
And RIP to both of them. Mick box remains sole survivor of the original lineup.
next song is Paradise/the spell from them
Yes, my favorite too
Great band. They're usually not this chaotic sounding. I personally recommend Paradise and the Spell. One segues into the next beautifully. They belong together. For a kickass up-tempo rocker, I recommend Look at Yourself.
I love this song. Thanks for the great reaction to The Magicians Birthday. You might want to check out The Wizard, Return To Fantasy and A Year Or A Day plus some of the others mentioned in the comments. Peace and love from Toronto!
Ty JV!
I never get tired of this album.really takes me back to my youth🎶🎶😉🎸🎂👍
I love this band, got into them after buying their 1976 "Best of" album on cassette, all good songs. They have harmony vocals which a lot of rock bands don't have. I also like the use of mellotron in their early days. John Wetton joined the band (after King Crimson folded) for 2 albums in 1975 and 1976. He was replaced by Trevor Bolder who was in Bowie's Spiders from Mars band. A LOT of musicians have passed through this band.
Oh goodie Uriah Heep, one of my favourite bands. This would not be my choice for a first listen. I'd suggest July Morning, Gypsy or Easy Livin' from the '73 live album. Sadly David, Gary and more recently Lee are no longer with us but Mick Box is still going strong and l keeping the name alive. Thanks for this JP I enjoyed it.
For a band with tenth of good songs, is it enough ?
Sorry, this is a reply for Minor Cirrus ("Salisbury ...)
Agreed - Live 73 is one of my favourite live albums - raw and energetic.
His falsetto is so good. My favorite singer, by far. I believe King Diamond named his son Byron in honor of him. Heep has many great hard prog songs. Pilgrim is my favorite. Thain is also one of the most underrated bassists ever.
Thank you LOVE. URIAH. good pick. Play more.😃
Forgot ..ALBUM .LOOK AT YOURSELF . one of their best
Thank you! Will do!
One of the best guitar solos ever here by Mick Box!!!!!!!!!!!!
URIAH HEEP, "MAGICIAN'S BIRTHDAY".... FAVORITE OF MINE.... UNDERATED, NEVER OVER PLAYED... SUNRISE, SWEET LORAINE MORE WONDERFUL TUNES... JUSTIN....🎃
I like their tune "Easy Livin'". It's a short, radio friendly song.
Wow, you picked THIS as your first Uriah Heep song. They are such an outrageously talented band. Enjoy diving into the Heep! You broke it down really well.
HaHa ty Steve!
By the way, I believe it's Ken Hensley, the keyboardist doing the "good guy" vocals i=on the back and forth.
Ah gotcha, ty!
Yes, interesting switch from "The Spell", where, toward the end David is "good" and Ken is "evil".
Man you can listen to those early Uriah heep records and they are fantastic easy living forever my friends have them all on vinyl I will be 60 next month and I know what song I'm gonna listen to
Great analysis, Justin. Heep were my 2nd favorite band in my teen years (I still love them) and I never explored the lyrics as you have here. I agree that that guitar solo was a bit long. Agree with your observations. Glad you enjoyed.
Thanks Michael!
Remember 8-track tapes? I had the best of Uriah Heep on 8-track, and mid way
into Magician’s Birthday the track quickly faded, then clicked onto the next track, where it faded back in 😐. Good times lol! Great set list on it!
Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath the" Holy Trinity" But there's Uriah Heep, they are the balance, they are like those 3 bands in one. Very Heavy, Hard, magnificient vocals, guitars, bass and drums!
"You cannot fight me for I have the Sword of Hate.." Hah! I love them and cannot stand the snobbyness attached to prog. Prog does not begin and end with Yes and DP. The Heep are in top 3 of prog bands IMHO. This line up was the best and are the first band I ever saw live in 76, aged 15. Mum and dad (cool parents) took me and my brother, Wembley Arena 76. AWESOME. They totally brought it live.
I met Lee Kerslake in a club 3 years later and recognised him immediately, much to his surprise. I told him what huge fans my family were and the gig we went to. He agreed that it was a great one. Cool dude.
GREAT SONG ON A GREAT ALBUM JUSTIN, MAYBE THEIR BEST, DEMONS AND WIZARDS WAS CERTAINLY GOOD TOO! :) GREAT WORK AS USUAL, STAY WELL AND HEALTHY MY FRIEND! :)
Love the Heep... lots of great player passed by the Heep.. including John Wetton.
Earlier Heep- "Look For Yourself", "July Morning"
It's, "Look at Yourself"
I saw Uriah Heep live with a high school friend - David Byron did a magic act, raising the microphone stand from laying on the stage floor, by pushing down the base with his foot.
Salisbury is fantastic, also the rest of the songs from this album are fantastic.
Seen this band a half dozen times, they rock ur socks off! Nice pic Justin.
AWESOME! Thanks Justin!
Great review man 👍🏻👍🏻
Ty Cedric😄
Six hours and 90 comments? Yeah, JP!!! You go, boy. (Love Uriah Heep and David Byron - RIP.)
Had friends who liked Uriah Heep in the seventies but I didn't get into them. Maybe the cover from Roger Dean made me expect something different. But this great ! I liked that. Thanks to allow us to get into that music again…
"Music, when combined with a pleasurable idea, is poetry. Music, without the idea, is simply music. Without music, or an intriguing idea, color, becomes pallor; man, becomes carcass; home, becomes a catacomb……..think about that……..!
Hey JP love your reactions!! Excellent choice! Please react to Pilgrim by Uriah Heep.
Probably my favorite Heep song
Thanks!
Justin, Easy Livin' and Stealin' were their two hits that received considerable airplay on the radio in the '70s and are much more commercial sounding. Sweet Lorraine from this album would be a good song to check out sometime.
Another one of my favourite bands! You are replaying my childhood.
Excelent, very, very, vey good, Justin.
Excellent, Justin! This is one of the bands that I was into in the early 70s as an "alternate Deep Purple" if you will. No comparison, really but there it is. Saw them several times in their heyday and they really did put on a great show. You've gotten some great suggestions as to where to go next with them and if I can add my personal favorite...Tears In My Eyes off of Look At Yourself. Ken Hensley, the keyboardist, takes a turn on some blazing slide guitar that's a bit unexpected in the context of the song. With that, enjoy this journey!
A group that I overlooked back in the day , for reasons I really don’t know
Best I can come up with is my friends who were heavily into music were a couple years older than me and Uriah Heep wasn’t a band they followed much
Aside from prog we did listen to Zeppelin , Deep Purple and Black Sabbath quite a bit so surprised that Heep didn’t get more attention from us
So with limited knowledge of their catalog , the Heep I’ve heard reminds me the most of Deep Purple and there’s nothing wrong with that especially since I can back and explore their catalog , same as you are beginning to do JP
What this song made so special is the great Wah Wah Guitar Solo by Mick Box. I love it, but it's probably not everyone's "Cup of Coffee". My favourite Songs are July Morning, Circle of Hands and Rocks in the Road (from Living the Dream).
It was back in 1975 i first heard if I had the time from the album sweet freedom and have followed uriah heep and the mangicans birthday is one of my favourite tracks
JP love that you love UH so many great tracks on of my favourites is RAIN Beautifully written by KH and the Voice of Mr Bryon what can I say 🎹🎼🎸🎤
I first heard of Uriah Heep Last summer as I was browsing through my grandmas old cassette and she came to me and picked out the uriah heep cassette "look at yourself" and I listened to it and I was hooked I listened to it the whole summer especially shadow of grief and I am so thankful that she showed me the band, I also find demons and wizards and return to fantasy from the cassette 'stash'
Best song they play.. amazing solo (Mick Box).. Sweet Lorraine also great
I forgot how good that was.
LOOK AT YOURSELF ..top album do yourself a favour.. FULL ALBUM.. URIAH HEEP
I've heard various songs by Uriah Heep over the years and some of them really stand out. One of my favorites is "Easy Livin'". It's not 10 minute epic, but a nice short radio friendly rocker. :-) I really like David Byron's voice, very solid and operatic, really works well in a hard rock band. I actually saw Uriah Heep many (many) years ago when they were the headliner in a concert that also featured Blue Öyster Cult. My ears were certainly ringing after that one. :-)
"Easy Livin" and "Sweet Lorraine" both got tons of top forty airplay. Unfortunately, songs like these get overplayed and lose their luster somewhat. Heep's early stuff is their best, their first four albums are stellar.
Guitarist and the vocalist Ken Hensley on the Uriah Heep has just passed away R.I.P
Yes sir, THE WIZARD, EASY LIVIN and STEALIN !!!
Hey Justin My Man! Wow Uriah Heep! Haven't heard them in years!! SPOT ON AGAIN!! I agree too long on the solo! They were okay back in the day! Came out right when Deep Purple did and Alice Cooper!! You should definitely get into my man ALICE COOPER!! #1 ROCKER FROM ARIZONA!! GET INTO HIS ALBUM- BILLION DOLLAR BABIES PLEASE!!! NOT A BAD SONG ON IT IMO!!! Went to the comments here and also agree their best and most popular song is- EASY LIVIN! Brings back great high school memories!!! Thx for the song reaction!! Your #1Az FAN MICHAEL😽😽😉😊
Ty Michael 😁
Had the radioman aboard ship play this whole album over the intercom while we were in dry dock being refitted and rebuilt
Uriah Heep was the first band I ever saw because they were opening for Jethro. 1976 or 77.
Sweet insomnia... glad I am not afflicted. Early reaction by Uriah Heep Huzzzzzah!!!!
Edit after listening.... My parents had this album and my childhood involved discovering music thusly. Definite Rush influencing.... love some more Heep! Again Thank You JP
Anytime! Ty Leon
My ALL TIME favorite Birthday song.
Feel the heep! Masterpiece
Always liked stealin as well!
Agree about Gary Thain. Often overlooked.
Check out Salisbury. Very successful incorporation of rock band and orchestra. At one point Mick Box steps on his way wah pedal. Click! And an orchestra member threw down his headphones from fright. Haha
Alot of Rush's first tours were opening for Uriah Heap.
Really? Thats pretty cool
@@JustJP Also KISS. There are three RUSH books coming out. Two are already available. Anthem: RUSH in the 70s and Limelight: Rush in the 80s. Still to come is Driven: RUSH in the 90s and on.
Congrats on 10k subscribers. And what a great song and band to react to. Looking forward to "Thick As A Brick" album reaction.
Lets hear it for Gary Thain on bass......he kills on this song.
Great band, one more vote for "Salisbury", as well the song as the whole album. "July Morning" and "Easy Livin" great ones also.
"Gypsy" from the album Very Umble Very Heavy has always been my fave. I was lucky enough to see them when they toured Australia in, I think, 75. A much underrated and overlooked band imo. Everybody turns to Sabbath, Deep Purple or Zepplin; and as far as many are concerned that's the end of it. They sadly miss out on some excellent tunes from this time.
Two other bands who suffered the same neglect from this time are Nektar (who I know you have listened to and reacted to. Kudos) and Budgie, whose album "In For The Kill" is a rocker...again, imo.
Keep doing what you are doing friend; exposing a couple of new generations to great music from the dim, dark past!
peace from Australia.
A great great band!!!!!
This is a short story of taken Hensley organ player the album before was the begining Demon & Wizards album both put together. But Salisbury is the song with a Orchestra off there second album
July Morning.
You started at the top of Uriah Heep's music. Probably the longest most progressive of their songs. I wish they'd had carried on and done more longer progressive pieces. They put out a few great songs. Try......Easy Livin'........The Wizard.......Gypsy.....
Pure rock!
Finally Uriah Heep
Good choice, Justin, and again a great analysis.
UH with David Byron was an impressive creative band. Check out the album "very ´eavy, ´very umble" or
the songs "Look at yourself", "Salisbury" or "Easy living" which reminds me to Highway Star of Deep Purple.
This is real handmade music.
Legendary band!
Ok, I see where you started now. I'm just catching up . I'm just glad that there's a channel like this and I believe I'm not mistaken but I think you have a love of Uriah Heep. My brother introduced me to this band when I was 13 and I'm 55 now so I've been a fan for a bit. I suggest just doing a dog on RUclips and you'll find their music runs the gambit of rock genre
Can't say this is my favourite track by them. If I remember correctly I did the lighting for them at least once at our local theatre .... saw them a few times .. they were always really tight live !!
Have always really liked Uriah Heep right from "Very 'eavy Very 'Umble". Album. Coming from the magic 1968/9 to 1975 period early Prog Rock time period of experiment and something new. Next stage on from groups like Atomic Rooster and see Uriah Heep as one of those groups as a missing link to what was to develop towards the of Prog Rock that steered towards what is to come Heavy Metal. For me personally their massive success was making it big during the Cold War period into the Soviet Union music charts. I believe it was with the track 'July Morning' that ended up in the Soviet top 10. What hooked me onto Uriah Heep instantly was the track from the Album with orange smoke and a Chieftain Tank on the cover of the same name "Salisbury". As I vaguely remember it, I believe along with Yes are the only time on the music TV series 'Tops of the Pops', where one single music track was played from beginning to end and dominated a whole program.
When I was in the US Army and stationed in Berlin (1975-78) I told a fellow GI I was going to the record store. He gave me some money and said , Pick me up "Demons and Wizards" & "Magician's Birthday" by Uriah Heep. I did and when he played them I was an instant fan. It's odd looking back at how viciously brutal the critics were to Uriah Heep. In the 1979 Rolling Stone's Record Guide, a dozen studio releases were graded, nine of the albums got ZERO stars (Magician's Birthday got zero). Only "Demons and Wizards" and "Look at Yourself" edged out a star each. The band review said Byron was one of the most annoying singers in rock history. To me that was really confusing. I do see a good parallel between them and Rush, who also received horrendous reviews (as did Black Sabbath, and Grand Funk) It's nice to see that these bands got the last laugh! I would think most Rush fans would enjoy Uriah Heep. Another enjoyable reaction video. Thanks
Ty Dennis! That was money well spent
they kinda straddle the line between hard rock and prog rock
their big song is "easy livin" also a great song to react to for a first listen
First reaction for me, as well, having only ever heard "Easy Living" by them, before. It's cool. Reminds me of HOME MOVIES on Adult Swim. Probably because it reminds me of "The Wizard's Baker" and that episode's song (it was the wizard's baker's birthday, as well)...that, and the vocal harmonies (and falsetto parts) sound like something Brendon Small would have written. He does a lot of Queen in his music, so not a stretch to guess that this could have been the inspiration for that episode...
You need to hear "Paradise/The Spell" from their Demons and Wizards album.
The storytelling is superb, both vocally and instrumentally. I agree with you about the bridge; the elements within tend to be repeated one or two times too many (I think that heavy metal tends to do that a lot) . The expressions on your face as the music changes throughout were pretty much the same as mine way back when my brother introduced me to this album just after it came out. It throws a lot at you. I've never understood why these guys have fallen through the cracks. In this day when D & D is so popular, you would think this would be more widely known. Try their "Easy Livin' " for something a little different. It always gave me an 'Eagles' vibe for some reason, maybe your analytical skills can tell me why. It was their most successful single. They are still performing although COVID is screwing that up for them...
Rest In Peace Ken Hensley
KAZOO!!!!!!!
Byron had an awesome voice snd hensleys complimented him well
I like this song, because of the last 2 minutes. They are awesome. Not a huge fan of the rest sadly. BUT there are so many other songs by Uriah Heep that I love. Echoes in the Dark, Come Away Melinda, Lady in Black, July Morning etc.
“Easy Living” is there best. Also Demons and Wizards.
Mick Box is THE MAN!!!
The name Uriah Heep was a character in the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield. They were a very good band musically, though their compositions were a bit sophomoric.
I'm going to be honest. As a kid, I ate this up. And Iove the live album "Bronze". But the truth is this didn't age very well. It's kinda silly and meandering. I would never put this on at a party or subject my wife to it. Let's just say I'd only put this on if I was alone and wanted to feel like a 13 year old again.
I also had this album as a teenager. My opinion now is that Spinal Tap did it better.
Lol! Agreed. I can't even say "this is a guilty pleasure" and will listen to it from time to time. With so much good music, old and new, I don't have the time....
This is cool, I used to listen to them as a kid, even went to a concert when I was about 11. But I hadn't listened them for ages and a couple of months ago I decided to check them out again and was pleasantly surprised, they actually remind me a bit of Queen because of they are quite strongly song orientated and a bit heavy. Magician's Birthday is a good album, I think Demons and Wizards is their most consistent album which immediately precedes this.
Never heard this song before , also enjoyed it . That bridge did go on way too long ahha