Cherry Red [Release date 28.11.25]

CD1: Live 1973

CD2: US Radio Show plus Radio shows, Mixes for radio, Love Machine Rock’n’Roll Medley

CD3 : Sweet Freedom +5 bonus (1973)

CD4: Wonderworld +6 bonus (1974)

CD5 : Live At Shepperton

Another well structured boxset from Cherry. Where some labels just throw a mix into the pot, stir it up and hope for the best, this specialist label put thought and logic into the process.

And so we get 2 solid Uriah Heep albums from the seventies, Sweet Freedom (1972) and Wonderworld (1973). Plus an extended live edit of the band’s 1973 gig at Birmingham Town Hall – a de rigueur double album – and, on disc 3, a remarkable collection of rarities and esoteric from the early seventies.

Spanning the years 1970 to 1973, the band had 5 studio albums worth of material to choose from. (Labels expected two albums a year. Hard to believe now.)

The Live Albums

Which meant that when they took to the Town Hall or the Shepperton stage, a glittering array of gold standard songs were already in their repertoire. The gig impressed many industry veterans, who thought they’d seen and heard it all.

Malcolm Dome : “Everything here is beautifully represented, from the choice of tracks to the packaging. Musically, it is breathtaking, with the likes of ‘Sweet Lorraine’, ‘Easy Livin’, ‘Gypsy’ and ‘Magicians Birthday’ utterly compelling.”

Allmusic Donald Guarisco : “everything is delivered with maximum energy before an enthusiastic Birmingham, England, crowd … a surprisingly sturdy set of tunes and a totally committed performance throughout”.

It’s interesting to note that most of these songs remain in the band’s live set today, witness their sold out gig at the London Palladium earlier this year.

The Two Studio Albums

Sweet Freedom and Wonderworld albums have inspired many of today’s rock bands. Even considering these were their fifth and sixth albums in 5 years, the UH’s song writing chops and individual talents still grab your attention and hold it.

Like beautifully choreographed theatre, David Byron’s operatic vocal style elevated Sweet Freedom’s ‘Pilgrim’ and ‘Stealin’ to classic status. Still in the band’s set.
‘Something For Nothing’ and ‘Suicidal Man’ on the Wonderworld album required big, bold action music, and got it. Not far behind in the chart of classic Heep creations.

Rarities and Esoteric

CD2 was originally released as part of a deluxe version of ‘Live 1973’ and features the band’s 1974 US Radio show session, plus film mixes from the Live At Shepperton gig in the same year (but not released until 1986).

The extended ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley’ (Presley/ Perkins/ Berry/ Lewis) has met with mixed reviews, but as an indicator of the band’s roots and influences, you’ll not get much better.

In fact, as a record of the band’s fully formed beginnings and rapid rise up the hard rock ladder, this boxset is indispensible. *****

Review by Brian McGowan

Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

Since early 2020 Josh has been entertaining us with exclusive monthly live sessions,

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 7 December 2025.

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). First broadcast on 25 November 2025

How to Listen Live?

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

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 live or listen again to shows via the presenter pages: getreadytorockradio.com

Power Plays w/c 1 December 2025

We feature all the artists selected in this sequence in 2025.

Featured Albums w/c 1 December 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

Our occasional Newsletter signposts latest additions to the website(s). We also include a selection of recent top albums, based on GRTR! reviewer ratings. The newsletter is sent out a few times a year.

If you’d like to register to receive this occasional mailing please complete the form:

If using a smartphone/tablet please tap here or re-orientate your device

(Note that this registration is separate from site registration which allows you to leave comments and receive daily emails about new content. If you wish to register for this – in addition or separately – please click or tap here – for more information – the form is at the foot of each page. Please read our privacy policy when opting-in to receive emails.