Album review: URIAH HEEP – Sweet Freedom, Return To Fantasy (vinyl reissues)

BMG [Release date 20.01.23]

BMG continue their marvellous reissue campaign, and these heavyweight discs not only feel and look as good as they sound, but fit in perfectly with the current trend for some quality vinyl.

Prog legends Uriah Heep formed in the late 60s and their keyboard heavy (organ grinding) sound laid a foundation that influenced many. And with the ever grinning guitarist Mick Box still leading the band, they’re still going very very strong.

Their first five albums, recorded over a three year period, always seem to get the spotlight. Strong though they are, later albums are perhaps unfairly overlooked by comparison.

And that starts with the first disc here, 1973’s Sweet Freedom. The line-up is pretty classic, as alongside Box you have the operatic vocals of David Byron, keyboardist/guitarist/songwriter Ken Hensley, bassist Gary Thain and drummer Lee Kerslake.

The sound of the album is more experimental, nodding away from the classic prog and exploring whimsical hard rock to heavy metal. Opener ‘Dreamer’ has some solid guitar work and is quite heavy, while the lighter ‘Stealin’’ has a catchy vibe, a track that has remained a favourite (and live too) for many years. The glorious title track nods back to earlier works. ‘If I Had Time’ is another wonderful and complex track.

Overall this is a lovely album that should be given the same praise and attention as earlier albums.

Skipping 1974’s Wonderworld (a shame, I would love to see that given this treatment), and we get 1975’s Return To Fantasy. And first off is the striking artwork that suits the picture disc format perfectly.

Gary Thain had been fired post Wonderworld, and later died of drug related issues later in 1975. Here, his replacement was former King Crimson bassist John Wetton who fitted in perfectly.

Continuing the hard rock relocation and some exploration, this is a more consistent album than the previous two, and while Byron’s vocals are a little less operatic, there’s some finely layered backing vocals (especially on the glorious opening title track). That track the band opened some shows with in 2000 at my suggestion, after a meeting with Box and current singer Bernie Shaw at a promo event earlier that year.

This was the band’s first top 10 album and, with some lovely extra touches like the slide guitar on ‘Shady Lady’, it’s a criminally overlooked album. The backing vocals and horns on ‘Prima Donna’ give a power-soul rock feel, but it still knocks your rocks off.

A long time Uriah Heep fan, I love both albums, Return To Fantasy more so, and both take pride of place in my collection.

Review by Joe Geesin

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions, streamed via Facebook.

Next session: Sunday 19 January

Check out videos here: https://www.facebook.com/getreadytorockradio

David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast on 1 December 2024.

UK Blues Broadcaster of the Year (2020 and 2021 Finalist) Pete Feenstra presents his weekly Rock & Blues Show on Tuesday at 19:00 GMT as part of a five hour blues rock marathon “Tuesday is Bluesday at GRTR!”. The show is repeated on Wednesdays at 22:00, Fridays at 20:00). This show was first broadcast 3 December 2024.

How to Listen Live?

Click the programming image at the top of the page (top right of page if using desktop)

Listen via Windows Media Player. Click or tap here and “open file”
Listen via other media player (eg. VLC) Click or tap here and “open file”

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio is also in iTunes under Internet Radio/Classic Rock
Listen in via the Tunein app and search for “Get Ready to ROCK!” and save as favourite.

More information and links at our radio website where you can listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)