I had not planned to do another Classic feature during the week. But during the playback of this album I just had to change my mind. Everybody following this blog will surely know by now that despite being a guitar player myself I absolutely love the sound of a Hammond in overdrive and yes sir, Uriah Heep provide that in abundance. Hey, and Mick Box knows his way around a guitar as well!
This album features some of Heep´s best knows tracks. I had the pleasure of playing the hard hittin’ global hit Easy Livin´ myself for a couple of years, but also included are the instant opener The Wizard and that beautiful track Circle Of Hands. Anyone who is not impressed by the introducing vocals over that organ is lost for this kind of music forever… Incredible how powerful this all sounds, even after all those years.
Other tracks are Traveller In Time (also the title for a Best Of a lot of years later), Rainbow Demon with that slow pounding beat and Hammond riff and extended guitar solo, and Paradise/ The Spell who have been in the live set for many many tours.
As with all remasters, the booklet not only carries the original artwork, but also includes extensive liner notes. And this CD also holds 5 bonus tracks. Most of which you have never heard before! Proud Words On a Dusty Shelf was rerecorded later by Ken Hensley. The bass line under Why is stunning and the track itself is a nifty workout of over 10 minutes. All adds to the monument this record is. No home should be without it.
