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.
Other great Heep songs: Easy Livin', Circle of Hands, Why, Gypsy, Firefly, Salisbury, July Morning, Bird of Prey, Look at Yourself, Sunrise, High Priestess.
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.
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.
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 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.
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! ❤️
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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!
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.
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!
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"
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!!!!
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.
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 UA-cam 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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* ua-cam.com/video/8Y-qShh6p_I/v-deo.html
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!"
Hi JP! Great to see Uriah Heep on your channel. IMHO this is their best album. It is essentially a concept album with a story running through the album. If I can offer a suggestion, when you get to "Paradise" and "the Spell" can you play them on the same session? As they pretty much fit together.
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.
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.
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.
I was really into this album back in high school. It's like a slightly heavier Moody Blues album, and I love the Moody Blues. This group never had a strong identity I think. They remind me of Spinal Tap. Hell, they could BE Spinal Tap. I don't like their other albums as much as this one. "Easy Livin' was the only hit they ever had in the US and it's worth a listen. Thanks for the memories.
For long song Saturday, you should listen to the 18-min title track from "Salisbury", a prog rock masterpiece and the prog-iest Uriah Heep ever got (like Todd's "Ikon").
i was a teenager, on a long trip to the colorado mountains for a month long camping trip.. tired of listening to my tapes, i stopped at a gastation.. whats this next to the counter? a bargain cassette tape rack.. a uriah heap album with a wizard in a cave cover... 2 bucks??.............pops it in.... are you kidding me.... travels thru the universe
Try the last song on album two in one Paradise/Spell like the song Magicians Birthday same line story evil winning then on two next album all a short story Witten by Hensley
Jeje you need to heard the complete LP Demons and Wizards ...it's a madter piece..Nothing from westerns in The wizard are ... jajaja need to known more.
I always thought that Uriah Heep were somewhat held back in a way because although Mick Box was a capable guitarist he was never that great a solo guitarist, they made some great albums and I saw them live many times back then but it always felt like the solo guitarist was missing.
It's not bad but it leaves me cold and I've never been fond of these so-called classic Demons and Wizards and its successor The Magician's Birthday. I prefer their debut album ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble, Salisbury, Sweet Freedom, Return to Fantasy or even the underrated Firefly. Anyway, I always found Uriah Heep's music torn in several directions at the same time which made it somewhat uneven and unstable whereas musical diversity was no problem for Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple who were more comfortable on this ground.
@@pentagrammaton6793 I totally agree on that ! I find Innocent Victim very disappointing and Fallen Angel is uneven overall (although I do enjoy a few bits of it). There is obviously a huge casting mistake about the singer on Conquest with a John Sloman totally off topic and the three albums with Pete Goalby are completely steeped in generic 80s hard rock. I vaguely listened to a few things with Bernie Shaw but that doesn't interest me anymore. You're right, Firefly is their last perfect album for me too and although vocally the opposite of David Byron, John Lawton is excellent ! (I already liked him in Lucifer's Friend).
@@pentagrammaton6793 Early 80s New Wave was so strong it caused a lot of extra synth to be added into many great 70s bands such as Jethro Tull and King Crimson. IMO, the synths contaminated the sound and flow of their songs. Classic rock came back into its own in the latter half of the 80s with ZZ Top, Gary Moore and SRV, in particular.
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.
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! :)
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.
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
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.
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.
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 a fantastic Classic Hard Rock song, of the mello kind !!!!
Always Loved the vocals !! : D
Ken Hensley, keyboards, guitars and vocals, and principal songwriter left us without warning last year. RIP Ken. ✌️
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.
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! ❤️
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! 😉
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.
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.
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
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!
“July Morning” is my favourite. The Wacken 2019 video is exceptional.
Great reaction. This whole album is one of their greatest and merits a complete listen/reaction.
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.
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.
Memories , memories..........great band!
My favorite LP in HS in the early 70's, I wore out my first copy.
This is music you can sink your ears into.
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.
Loudest band ever saw. Not complaining. Head rang fer days. Great band.
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 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).
❤ A fantastic songs and Album
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!
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!
The shadows and the wind is a must hear!
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.
Sometimes I feel like you're going through my album collection.
The very underrated Lee Kerslake on drums! He right up there with Ian Paice and John Bonham.
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
OMG Heep first band I ever saw live, 76 Wembley Arena. Amazing. LOVE LOVE them.
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.
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.
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.
"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"
Cool choices. Very representative of an outstanding band.
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!😎
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? ;-)
So glad you finally got back into Uriah Heep. I have always loved the band.
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!!!!
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.
Pilgrim & Sunrise are another couple of UH tracks you might like.
They produced so many great tracks
I used to love Uriah Heep
I still do, but I used to too.
I never listened to much of their music. Pretty good stuff!
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 UA-cam 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 ;)
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.
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.
When you said "I expected heavier..."
My 1st thought: Gypsy LIVE 1973! Listen :)
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.
Acoustic guitar on the Wizard is a 12 string with the low E tuned to a D
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.
this album and Magicians Birthday are great, Sweet Loraine is my favorite from Magicians Birthday
"...let the party carry on"
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…
Ah, "The Wizard"--nice analysis! Heep has some great songs....
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* ua-cam.com/video/8Y-qShh6p_I/v-deo.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!
Starting to hear good here✌️🇦🇺
Hi Justin ; good to hear this ;
my prefered U H albums are : Look At Yourself and Salisbury
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!"
Hi JP! Great to see Uriah Heep on your channel. IMHO this is their best album. It is essentially a concept album with a story running through the album.
If I can offer a suggestion, when you get to "Paradise" and "the Spell" can you play them on the same session? As they pretty much fit together.
And if you like a lot of change ups and David Byron's versatile vocals, listen to PILGRIM and also BEAUTIFUL DREAM.
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.
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.
Go on and do the rest of the album, it's perfect. 😄
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.
Love the Heep, lost their fans after Byron. But I'm back since 2020. Lots of great music out there.
Love the t shirt
Have a look at The Park and The Hanging Tree for some interesting songs.
I was really into this album back in high school. It's like a slightly heavier Moody Blues album, and I love the Moody Blues. This group never had a strong identity I think. They remind me of Spinal Tap. Hell, they could BE Spinal Tap. I don't like their other albums as much as this one. "Easy Livin' was the only hit they ever had in the US and it's worth a listen. Thanks for the memories.
Later Heep "Weep in Silence"
Demons and Wizards is Very 'eavy (not) Very 'umble, but without Thain, it's all Hogwash! Peace.
JP you should do Gypsy of very eavy very umble its a killer song. This bands not my fav but enjoy a lot of their songs.
For long song Saturday, you should listen to the 18-min title track from "Salisbury", a prog rock masterpiece and the prog-iest Uriah Heep ever got (like Todd's "Ikon").
The second track reminds me a little of Rush. Did Heep influence Rush?
i was a teenager, on a long trip to the colorado mountains for a month long camping trip.. tired of listening to my tapes, i stopped at a gastation.. whats this next to the counter? a bargain cassette tape rack.. a uriah heap album with a wizard in a cave cover... 2 bucks??.............pops it in.... are you kidding me.... travels thru the universe
Thain And Kerslake heaven
Try Easy Livin'
I'm confused why you said Mark Clarke on vocals is not a member of the band and I've never heard of him
Sad how Dave Byron is never mentioned as one of the great singers during this era
do Oblivious by Aztec Camera!
Try the last song on album two in one Paradise/Spell like the song Magicians Birthday same line story evil winning then on two next album all a short story Witten by Hensley
The acoustic is tuned Dropped-D I believe. Low to high: DADGBE.
So it is.
One of the first songs I learned to play.
Jeje you need to heard the complete LP Demons and Wizards ...it's a madter piece..Nothing from westerns in The wizard are ... jajaja need to known more.
I always thought that Uriah Heep were somewhat held back in a way because although Mick Box was a capable guitarist he was never that great a solo guitarist, they made some great albums and I saw them live many times back then but it always felt like the solo guitarist was missing.
bass player Gary Thain from here christchurch newzealand
Very Black Sabbath in a riff or two don't know which came 1st. Yeah I will guess minor chords scales whatever. Cool....
Welcome to being 16 and stoned.
Don’t pass on Easy Livin’ from the same album if you haven’t already reacted to it
It's not bad but it leaves me cold and I've never been fond of these so-called classic Demons and Wizards and its successor The Magician's Birthday. I prefer their debut album ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble, Salisbury, Sweet Freedom, Return to Fantasy or even the underrated Firefly. Anyway, I always found Uriah Heep's music torn in several directions at the same time which made it somewhat uneven and unstable whereas musical diversity was no problem for Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple who were more comfortable on this ground.
Firefly is their last perfect album, for me.
@@pentagrammaton6793 I totally agree on that !
I find Innocent Victim very disappointing and Fallen Angel is uneven overall (although I do enjoy a few bits of it). There is obviously a huge casting mistake about the singer on Conquest with a John Sloman totally off topic and the three albums with Pete Goalby are completely steeped in generic 80s hard rock. I vaguely listened to a few things with Bernie Shaw but that doesn't interest me anymore. You're right, Firefly is their last perfect album for me too and although vocally the opposite of David Byron, John Lawton is excellent ! (I already liked him in Lucifer's Friend).
@@a.k.1740 yeah I tend to ignore 80s Heep, they improved again in the 90s--how often did that happen with classic rock bands?
@@pentagrammaton6793 Early 80s New Wave was so strong it caused a lot of extra synth to be added into many great 70s bands such as Jethro Tull and King Crimson. IMO, the synths contaminated the sound and flow of their songs. Classic rock came back into its own in the latter half of the 80s with ZZ Top, Gary Moore and SRV, in particular.
kind of underwhelmed here.
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.