British rockers Uriah Heep will compile a new box set to mark their five decades together.
50 Years In Rock celebrates the proto-metal group's extensive career with 23 CDs and one LP featuring the group's studio albums of original material plus their 1973 Live album. A handful of albums - none of which feature bonus tracks from various reissues over the years - will be combined onto one CD, with their individual artwork "intertwined" on the CD mini jackets. (Artist Roger Dean has also reimagined his artwork for 1972's Demons and Wizards and The Magician's Birthday; both original and new versions appear on two double-sided prints, while the newer version appears on an accompanying LP pressing of the album also included in the box.)
While the group has seen considerable line-up changes over the years, the founding members are heavily involved with the set. Guitarist Mick Box (still with the band after all these years), keyboardist Ken Hensley, drummer Lee Kerslake (the group's first longtime percussionist after a series of drummers including Nigel Olsson, who subsequently joined Elton John's band) and bassist Paul Newton have not only contributed to the liner notes included in an accompanying 64-page softcover book (featuring tour program replicas, memorabilia and a complete band member timeline), but have each curated a disc in the set of their favorite tracks by the group.
Known for a heavy, keyboard and organ-driven sound and the powerful vocals of singers like the late David Byron, Uriah Heep have maintained a consistent fan base across Europe and Asia. Demons and Wizards, The Magician's Birthday, Live and Sweet Freedom (1973) all earned gold records from the Recording Industry Association of America, while Live, Sweet Freedom, Wonderworld (1974) and Return To Fantasy (1975) were certified silver by the British Phonograph Industry. A number of notable British musicians have found their way into the group's line-up and are featured on 50 Years In Rock, including bassists John Wetton (Asia), Trevor Bolder (David Bowie) and Bob Daisley (rejoining Kerslake after he departed Ozzy Osbourne's original solo band, which Daisley continued to contribute to for the rest of the decade) and future (and current) AC/DC drummer Chris Slade.
50 Years In Rock is available at the link below, and Uriah Heep's official web store is also offering bundles with T-shirts and signed art prints. Check out the full track list below.
50 Years In Rock (Sanctuary/BMG, 2020)
Disc 1: ...Very 'Eavy...Very 'Umble (1-8, released as Vertigo 6360 006, 1970) and Salisbury (9-14, released as Vertigo 6360 028, 1971)
- Gypsy
- Walking In Your Shadow
- Come Away Melinda
- Lucy Blues
- Dreammare
- Real Turned On
- I'll Keep On Trying
- Wake Up (Set Your Sights)
- Bird Of Prey
- The Park
- Time To Live
- Lady In Black
- High Priestess
- Salisbury
Disc 2: Look At Yourself (released as Bronze ILPS-9169, 1971)
- Look At Yourself
- I Wanna Be Free
- July Morning
- Tears In My Eyes
- Shadows Of Grief
- What Should Be Done
- Love Machine
Disc 3: Demons and Wizards (1-9, released as Bronze ILPS-9193, 1972) and The Magician's Birthday (10-17, released as Bronze ILPS-9213, 1972)
- The Wizard
- Traveller In Time
- Easy Livin'
- Poet's Justice
- Circle Of Hands
- Rainbow Demon
- All My Life
- Paradise
- The Spell
- Sunrise
- Spider Woman
- Blind Eye
- Echoes In The Dark
- Rain
- Sweet Lorraine
- Tales
- The Magician's Birthday
Disc 4: Sweet Freedom (1-8, released as Bronze ILPS-9245, 1973) and Wonderworld (9-17, released as Bronze ILPS-9280, 1974)
- Dreamer
- Stealin'
- One Day
- Sweet Freedom
- If I Had The Time
- Seven Stars
- Circus
- Pilgrim
- Wonderworld
- Suicidal Man
- The Shadows and The Wind
- So Tired
- The Easy Road
- Something Or Nothing
- I Won't Mind
- We Got We
- Dreams
Disc 5: Return To Fantasy (released as Bronze ILPS-9335, 1975)
- Return To Fantasy
- Shady Lady
- Devil's Daughter
- Beautiful Dream
- Prima Donna
- Your Turn To Remember
- Showdown
- Why Did You Go
- A Year Or a Day
Disc 6: High and Mighty (1-10, released as Bronze ILPS-9384, 1976) and Firefly (11-18, released as Bronze ILPS-9483, 1977)
- One Way Or Another
- Weep In Silence
- Misty Eyes
- Midnight
- Can't Keep a Good Band Down
- Woman Of The World
- Footprints In The Snow
- Can't Stop Singing
- Make a Little Love
- Confession
- The Hanging Tree
- Been Away Too Long
- Who Needs Me
- Wise Man
- Do You Know
- Rollin' On
- Sympathy
- Firefly
Disc 7: Innocent Victim (1-9, released as Bronze BRON 504, 1977) and Fallen Angel (10-19, released as Bronze BRNA 512, 1978)
- Keep On Ridin'
- Flyin' High
- Roller
- Free 'N' Easy
- Illusion
- Free Me
- Cheat 'N' Lie
- The Dance
- Choices
- Woman Of The Night
- Falling In Love
- One More Night (Last Farewell)
- Put Your Lovin' On Me
- Come Back To Me
- Whad'ya Say
- Save It
- Love Or Nothing
- I'm Alive
- Fallen Angel
Disc 8: Conquest (released as Bronze BRONX 524, 1980)
- No Return
- Imagination
- Feelings
- Fools
- Carry On
- Won't Have To Wait Too Long
- Out On The Street
- It Ain't Easy
Disc 9: Abominog (1-10, released as Bronze BRON 538, 1982) and Head First (11-20, released as Bronze BRON 545, 1983)
- Too Scared To Run
- Chasing Shadows
- On The Rebound
- Hot Night In a Cold Town
- Running All Night (With The Lion)
- That's The Way That It Is
- Prisoner
- Hot Persuasion
- Sell Your Soul
- Think It Over
- The Other Side Of Midnight
- Stay On Top
- Lonely Nights
- Sweet Talk
- Love Is Blind
- Roll-Overture
- Red Lights
- Rollin' The Rock
- Straight Through The Heart
- Weekend Warriors
Disc 10: Equator (released as Portrait 26414, 1985)
- Rockarama
- Bad Blood
- Lost One Love
- Angel
- Holding On
- Party Time
- Poor Little Rich Girl
- Skools Burnin'
- Heartache City
- Night Of The Wolf
Disc 11: Raging Silence (released as Legacy Records LLP 120, 1989)
- Hold Your Head Up
- Blood Red Roses
- Voice On My TV
- Rich Kid
- Cry Freedom
- Bad Bad Man
- More Fool You
- When The War Is Over
- Lifeline
- Rough Justice
Disc 12: Different World (released as Legacy Records LLP 137, 1991)
- Blood On Stone
- Which Way Will The Wind Blow
- All God's Children
- All For One
- Different World
- Step By Step
- Seven Days
- First Touch
- One On One
- Cross That Line
Disc 13: Sea Of Light (released as HTD Records 33, 1995)
- Against The Odds
- Sweet Sugar
- Time Of Revelation
- Mistress Of All Time
- Universal Wheels
- Fear Of Falling
- Spirit Of Freedom
- Logical Progression
- Love In Silence
- Words In The Distance
- Fires Of Hell (Your Only Son)
- Dream On
Disc 14: Sonic Origami (released as Eagle EAGCD043, 1998)
- Between Two Worlds
- I Hear Voices
- Perfect Little Heart
- Heartless Land
- Only The Young
- In The Moment
- Question
- Change
- Shelter From The Rain
- Everything In Life
- Across The Miles
- Feels Like
- The Golden Palace
Disc 15: Wake The Sleeper (released as Sanctuary/Noise Records 1767027, 2008)
- Wake The Sleeper
- Overload
- Tears Of The World
- Light Of a Thousand Stars
- Heaven's Rain
- Book Of Lies
- What Kind Of God
- Ghost Of The Ocean
- Angels Walk With You
- Shadow
- War Child
Disc 16: Live (released as Bronze ISLD 1, 1973)
- Sunrise
- Sweet Lorraine
- Traveller In Time
- Easy Livin'
- July Morning
- Tears In My Eyes
- Gypsy
- Circle Of Hands
- Look At Yourself
- The Magician's Birthday
- Love Machine
- Rock 'N' Roll Medley
Disc 17: Into The Wild (released as Frontiers FR CD 512, 2011)
- Nail On The Head
- I Can See You
- Into The Wild
- Money Talk
- I'm Ready
- Trail Of Diamonds
- Southern Star
- Believe
- Lost
- T-Bird Angel
- Kiss Of Freedom
Disc 18: Outsider (released as Frontiers FR CD 650, 2014)
- Speed Of Sound
- One Minute
- The Law
- The Outsider
- Rock The Foundation
- Is Anybody Gonna Help Me?
- Looking At You
- Can't Take That Away
- Jessie
- Kiss The Rainbow
- Say Goodbye
Disc 19: Living The Dream (released as Frontiers FR CD 885, 2018)
- Grazed By Heaven
- Living The Dream
- Take Away My Soul
- Knocking At My Door
- Rocks In The Road
- Waters Flowin'
- It's All Been Said
- Goodbye To Inncence
- Falling Under Your Spell
- Dreams Of Yesteryear
Disc 20: Ken Hensley's Choices
- Paradise
- The Spell
- Weep In Silence
- Rain
- Circle Of Hands
- July Morning
- The Park
- Echoes In The Dark
- Misty Eyes
- Fallen Angel
- The Easy Road
- Falling In Love
- Sunrise
- Sweet Freedom
Disc 21: Lee Kerslake's Choices
- July Morning
- The Magician's Birthday
- Traveller In Time
- Sweet Lorraine
- Circus
- Rainbow Demon
- Come Back To Me
- Shady Lady
- All My Life
- The Other Side Of Midnight
- Who Needs Me
- That's The Way That It Is
- Free Me
- Stealin'
Disc 22: Mick Box's Choices
- The Park
- Tears In My Eyes
- Sweet Lorraine
- Circus
- Free 'N' Easy
- Woman Of The Night
- Hot Persuasion
- The Other Side Of Midnight
- Straight Through The Heart
- Cross That Line
- Love In Silence
- What Kind Of God
- Trail Of Diamonds
- The Outsider
- Falling Under Your Spell
Disc 23: Paul Newton's Choices
- Lady In Black
- Tales
- Easy Livin'
- Tears In My Eyes
- If I Had The Time
- Real Turned On
- Come Away Melinda
- What Should Be Done
- Why
- Sympathy
- Free 'N' Easy
- I'm Alive
- One Minute
- Grazed By Heaven
LP: The Magician's Birthday
Philip John Birtwistle says
A lot of duplication and the LIve album in the wrong place on the "running order" makes this a strange one to me. Wish they'd continued the reissue series.....
Dirceu Guerra Martins says
Some of these titles were remastered and expanded some years ago. A very good remaster indeed, made by Andy Pearce. Are the other titles in the box remastered as well or use Sanctuary’s previous remaster?
Jarmo Keranen says
To me best the years of Uriah Heep were 1970-74 and albums of those years. I don't need more!
Mr Brian Stanbrook says
I only like the first seven albums. And the "Choices" discs are a waste of space.
Jim Arnspiger says
I GUESS I Found An Item For MY Christmas List.!!!!!
Gonçalo says
A banda que me fez amar o Rock, muitas fases aconteceram na trajetória desses dinossauro, mudanças de menbros, falecimentos. O que fez a banda experimentar variações de musicalidade. Tenho minhas preferências, mais no todo cada fase tem seu valor e importância.
Também gostaria de me presentear no Natal com esse belo pacote.
Arjan Hut says
Very interesting to see the Choices discs! So sad that, just a little while later, both Lee and Ken have passed away. So, they did this just in time. Falling under your spell, hardly ever mentioned by critics, is such a great song, and I´m glad to see Mick Box has chosen it for his disc. I have every album already, I guess many fans have. I may still get this one, while waiting for the new album!
Chris Marik says
I just love Heep's musical template and style. I don't care which line up it is or which album. They are all brilliant to me. Nobody else even comes close.