Beautiful Dream 1975-1977

Description

Four albums from the mid-70s by pioneering rock band Uriah Heep.Including a multitude of rarities and previously unreleased versions, including demos and live tracks.Alongside Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, British legends Uriah Heep were at the forefront of rock and metal in the 70s, releasing their debut album in June 1970. With David Byron on vocals, Mick Box on guitar and Ken Hensley on keyboards, "Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble" is rightly considered a major influence on the development of hard rock and heavy metal. 1970 marked the centenary of Charles Dickens' death, and after initially calling themselves Spice, the band adopted the more Dickensian name Uriah Heep when Hensley joined their ranks, following his stints in The Gods and Toe Fat.The 1970s were a particularly prolific period for Uriah Heep, sometimes releasing two albums in the same year. This compilation immortalizes a transitional period for the band, in the middle of that decade, marked by significant lineup changes. In 1975, the band released their eighth album, "Return To Fantasy" (CD1), with what many still consider the core of the classic Uriah Heep lineup: singer David Byron, guitarist Mick Box, multi-instrumentalist Ken Hensley, drummer Lee Kerslake, this time joined by John Wetton on bass. As its title suggests, this new work returns to the fantasy themes that earned Uriah Heep a legion of fans worldwide. The album includes the singles "Return To Fantasy" and "Prima Donna", a more pop and rock 'n' roll track. Uriah Heep's ninth album, "High and Mighty" (CD2), was released in 1976. Produced by the band themselves and including the single "One Way or Another", "High and Mighty" marks a turning point for Uriah Heep, moving away from progressive hard rock towards a more commercial sound. With the same lineup as "Return to Fantasy", it is the last album with singer David Byron. Released in 1977, "Firefly" (CD3) is the first album with John Lawton, former singer of Lucifer's Friend. Trevor Bolder, former bassist of Spider From Mars, also makes his debut on it. "Innocent Victim" (CD4), with the single "Free Me" and produced by Gerry Bron and Ken Hensley, was also released in 1977. With the same lineup as "Firefly", it is the second album with John Lawton on vocals.Uriah Heep continues to tour and release new albums to this day. In 2025, the band began their farewell tour, celebrating 55 years of musical career.