Rock Atlas
Uriah Heep band photograph

Photo by Mercury Records , licensed under Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Rank #236

Uriah Heep

London hard-rock veterans of fantasy lyrics and classical-inflected riffs.

From Wikipedia

Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969. Their current lineup consists of guitarist Mick Box, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, drummer Russell Gilbrook, and bassist Dave Rimmer. They have experienced numerous lineup changes throughout their 57-year career, leaving Box as the only remaining original member. Former members of the band are vocalists David Byron, John Lawton, John Sloman and Peter Goalby; bassists Paul Newton, Mark Clarke, Gary Thain, John Wetton, Trevor Bolder and Bob Daisley; drummers Alex Napier, Nigel Olsson, Keith Baker, Iain Clark, Lee Kerslake and Chris Slade; and keyboardists Ken Hensley, Gregg Dechert and John Sinclair.

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Members

  • Mick Box (1969–present)
  • Bernie Shaw (1986–present)
  • Davey Rimmer (2013–present)
  • David Byron (?–1976)
  • Lee Kerslake (?–2007)

Discography & Previews

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…Very ’eavy …Very ’umble

1970 · 27 tracks

  1. 1 Gypsy (2016 - Remaster) ↗ 6:39
  2. 2 Walking in Your Shadow (2016 - Remaster) ↗ 4:33
  3. 3 Come Away Melinda (2016 - Remaster) ↗ 3:48
  4. 4 Lucy Blues (2016 - Remaster) ↗ 5:11
  5. 5 Dreammare (2016 - Remaster) ↗ 4:41
  6. 6 Real Turned On (2016 - Remaster) ↗ 3:39
  7. 7 I'll Keep On Trying (2016 - Remaster) ↗ 5:27
  8. 8 Wake Up (Set Your Sights) [2016 - Remaster] ↗ 6:23
  9. 9 Gypsy (Alternative Version) ↗ 6:57
  10. 10 Real Turned On (Alternative Version) ↗ 3:47
  11. 11 Dreammare (Alternative Version) ↗ 5:11
  12. 12 Come Away Melinda (Alternative Version) ↗ 4:02
  13. 13 Born in a Trunk (Alternative Version) ↗ 4:54
  14. 14 Wake Up (Set Your Sights) [Alternative Version] ↗ 6:57
  15. 15 I'll Keep On Trying (Alternative Version) ↗ 5:33
  16. 16 Walking in Your Shadow (Alternative Version) ↗ 5:11
  17. 17 Lucy Blues (Alternative Version) ↗ 5:21
  18. 18 Born in a Trunk (Instrumental Alternative Version) ↗ 4:47
  19. 19 Magic Lantern (Alternative Version) ↗ 7:57
  20. 20 Bird of Prey (US Alternative Version) ↗ 4:06
  21. 21 Born In a Trunk (Vocal Version) ↗ 4:29
  22. 22 Come Away Melinda (Extended Version) ↗ 4:14
  23. 23 Gypsy (Extended Version) ↗ 7:07
  24. 24 Wake Up (Set Your Sights) [Extended Version] ↗ 6:32
  25. 25 Born In a Trunk (Instrumental) ↗ 4:35
  26. 26 Dreammare (Live BBC Session) ↗ 3:08
  27. 27 Gypsy (Live BBC Session) ↗ 5:14

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Salisbury

1971 · 6 tracks

  1. 1 High Priestess ↗ 3:44
  2. 2 The Park ↗ 5:46
  3. 3 Time to Live ↗ 4:05
  4. 4 Lady In Black ↗ 4:47
  5. 5 Simon the Bullet Freak ↗ 3:28
  6. 6 Salisbury ↗ 16:20

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Look at Yourself

1971 · 24 tracks

  1. 1 Look At Yourself (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 5:10
  2. 2 I Wanna Be Free (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 4:02
  3. 3 July Morning (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 10:35
  4. 4 Tears in My Eyes (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 5:01
  5. 5 Shadows of Grief (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 8:41
  6. 6 What Should Be Done (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 4:14
  7. 7 Love Machine (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 3:38
  8. 8 I Wanna Be Free (Alternative Mix) ↗ 4:20
  9. 9 Tears in My Eyes (Alternative Mix) ↗ 5:55
  10. 10 What Should Be Done (Alternative Mix) ↗ 4:35
  11. 11 Shadows of Grief (Alternative Mix) ↗ 9:34
  12. 12 Look At Yourself (Alternative Mix) ↗ 5:15
  13. 13 July Morning (Alternative Mix) ↗ 11:19
  14. 14 Why Fourteen Minutes (Alternative Mix) ↗ 14:17
  15. 15 Love Machine (Alternative Mix) ↗ 3:55
  16. 16 What's Within My Heart (Alternative Mix) ↗ 5:34
  17. 17 July Morning (Alternative Mix) [Live] ↗ 11:28
  18. 18 Look At Yourself (Alternative Single Version) ↗ 3:19
  19. 19 What's Within My Heart (Outtake) ↗ 5:23
  20. 20 Why (Early Version) ↗ 11:16
  21. 21 Tears in My Eyes (Extended Mix) ↗ 5:36
  22. 22 What Should Be Done (Alternate Version) ↗ 4:24
  23. 23 Look At Yourself (Live at the BBC) ↗ 4:30
  24. 24 What Should Be Done (Live at the BBC) ↗ 3:27

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Demons and Wizards

1972 · 14 tracks

  1. 1 The Wizard ↗ 2:59
  2. 2 Traveller in Time ↗ 3:24
  3. 3 Easy Livin' ↗ 2:35
  4. 4 Poet's Justice ↗ 4:14
  5. 5 Circle of Hands ↗ 6:23
  6. 6 Rainbow Demon ↗ 4:24
  7. 7 All My Life ↗ 2:42
  8. 8 Paradise ↗ 5:11
  9. 9 The Spell ↗ 7:29
  10. 10 Why (Extended) ↗ 10:30
  11. 11 Rainbow Demon (Single Edit) ↗ 3:34
  12. 12 Proud Words On a Dusty Shelf (Outtake) ↗ 2:49
  13. 13 Home Again to You (Demo) ↗ 5:35
  14. 14 Green Eye (Demo) ↗ 3:47

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The Magician’s Birthday

1972 · 28 tracks

  1. 1 Sunrise (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 4:05
  2. 2 Spider Woman (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 2:27
  3. 3 Blind Eye (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 3:34
  4. 4 Echoes in the Dark (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 4:50
  5. 5 Rain (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 4:00
  6. 6 Sweet Lorraine (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 4:16
  7. 7 Tales (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 4:10
  8. 8 The Magician's Birthday (2017 - Remaster) ↗ 10:20
  9. 9 Crystal Ball (Outtake) ↗ 4:08
  10. 10 Silver White Man (Outtake Vocal Version) ↗ 3:37
  11. 11 Proud Words (Alternate Version) ↗ 3:22
  12. 12 Echoes in the Dark (Edit) ↗ 4:20
  13. 13 Rain (Edit) ↗ 3:14
  14. 14 Happy Birthday ↗ 4:42
  15. 15 Sunrise (Single Edit) ↗ 2:46
  16. 16 Gary's Song ↗ 4:22
  17. 17 Silver White Man (Outtake Instrumental Version) ↗ 3:43
  18. 18 Echoes in the Dark (Alternate Version) ↗ 3:13
  19. 19 Sweet Lorraine (Alternate Version) ↗ 4:57
  20. 20 Blind Eye (Alternate Version) ↗ 5:08
  21. 21 Tales (Alternate Version) ↗ 4:02
  22. 22 Silver White Man (Alternate Version) ↗ 4:08
  23. 23 Sunrise (Alternate Version) ↗ 4:25
  24. 24 Spider Woman (Alternate Version) ↗ 2:38
  25. 25 The Magician's Birthday (Alternate Version) ↗ 10:51
  26. 26 Rain (Alternate Version) ↗ 4:40
  27. 27 Sunrise (Alternate Single Version) ↗ 3:37
  28. 28 Sweet Lorraine (Alternate Single Version) ↗ 3:38

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Sweet Freedom

1973 · 14 tracks

  1. 1 Dreamer ↗ 3:42
  2. 2 Stealin' ↗ 4:49
  3. 3 One Day ↗ 2:45
  4. 4 Sweet Freedom ↗ 6:28
  5. 5 If I Had the Time ↗ 5:37
  6. 6 Seven Stars ↗ 3:48
  7. 7 Circus ↗ 2:43
  8. 8 Pilgrim ↗ 7:06
  9. 9 Sunshine ↗ 4:46
  10. 10 Seven Stars (Extended Version) ↗ 7:01
  11. 11 Pilgrim (Extended Version) ↗ 8:26
  12. 12 If I Had the Time (Ken Hensley Demo Version) ↗ 6:00
  13. 13 Sweet Freedom (Alternate Live Version) ↗ 6:47
  14. 14 Stealin' (Alternate Live Version) ↗ 5:41

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Wonderworld

1974 · 15 tracks

  1. 1 Wonderworld ↗ 4:30
  2. 2 Suicidal Man ↗ 3:37
  3. 3 The Shadows and the Wind ↗ 4:28
  4. 4 So Tired ↗ 3:38
  5. 5 The Easy Road ↗ 2:42
  6. 6 Something or Nothing ↗ 2:54
  7. 7 I Won't Mind ↗ 5:59
  8. 8 We Got We ↗ 3:35
  9. 9 Dreams ↗ 6:10
  10. 10 What Can I Do ↗ 3:09
  11. 11 Love, Hate and Fear (Demo Version) ↗ 4:29
  12. 12 Stone's Throw (Demo Version) ↗ 5:36
  13. 13 Dreams (Extended Version) ↗ 7:13
  14. 14 I Won't Mind (Alternate Live Version) ↗ 5:35
  15. 15 So Tired (Alternate Live Version) ↗ 3:29

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Return to Fantasy

1975 · 16 tracks

  1. 1 Return to Fantasy ↗ 5:51
  2. 2 Shady Lady ↗ 4:47
  3. 3 Devil's Daughter ↗ 4:48
  4. 4 Beautiful Dream ↗ 4:52
  5. 5 Prima Donna ↗ 3:08
  6. 6 Your Turn to Remember ↗ 4:21
  7. 7 Showdown ↗ 4:17
  8. 8 Why Did You Go ↗ 3:52
  9. 9 A Year or a Day ↗ 4:25
  10. 10 Shout It Out ↗ 3:32
  11. 11 The Time Will Come ↗ 4:07
  12. 12 Prima Donna (Alternate Demo Version) ↗ 4:04
  13. 13 Why Did You Go (Demo Version) ↗ 5:17
  14. 14 Showdown (Alternate Demo Version) ↗ 4:18
  15. 15 Beautiful Dream (Alternative Demo Version) ↗ 5:47
  16. 16 Return to Fantasy (Extended Version) ↗ 7:19

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High and Mighty

1976 · 18 tracks

  1. 1 One Way or Another ↗ 4:42
  2. 2 Weep in Silence ↗ 5:07
  3. 3 Misty Eyes ↗ 4:15
  4. 4 Midnight ↗ 5:39
  5. 5 Can't Keep a Good Band Down ↗ 3:37
  6. 6 Woman of the World ↗ 3:07
  7. 7 Footprints in the Snow ↗ 3:54
  8. 8 Can't Stop Singing ↗ 3:19
  9. 9 Make a Little Love ↗ 3:25
  10. 10 Confession ↗ 2:08
  11. 11 Name of the Game (Alternate Version) ↗ 5:11
  12. 12 Sundown (Alternate Version) ↗ 3:18
  13. 13 Weep in Silence (Extended Version) ↗ 7:45
  14. 14 Name of the Game (Demo Version) ↗ 3:20
  15. 15 Does Anything Matter (Demo Version) ↗ 3:18
  16. 16 I Close My Eyes (Demo Version) ↗ 4:16
  17. 17 Take Care (Demo Version) ↗ 2:54
  18. 18 Can't Keep a Good Band Down (Edited Version) ↗ 3:09

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Firefly

1977 · 16 tracks

  1. 1 The Hanging Tree ↗ 3:41
  2. 2 Been Away Too Long ↗ 5:03
  3. 3 Who Needs Me ↗ 3:38
  4. 4 Wise Man ↗ 4:40
  5. 5 Do You Know ↗ 3:12
  6. 6 Rollin' On ↗ 6:21
  7. 7 Sympathy ↗ 4:43
  8. 8 Firefly ↗ 6:16
  9. 9 Crime of Passion ↗ 3:36
  10. 10 A Far Better Way (Outtake) ↗ 5:56
  11. 11 I Always Knew ↗ 4:02
  12. 12 Dance Dance Dance (Outtake) ↗ 3:44
  13. 13 Been Away Too Long (Alternative Version) ↗ 5:00
  14. 14 Do You Know (Demo Version) ↗ 3:13
  15. 15 Who Needs Me (Live) ↗ 9:48
  16. 16 Wise Man (TV Backing Track) ↗ 4:51

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Innocent Victim

1977 · 15 tracks

  1. 1 Keep On Ridin' ↗ 3:42
  2. 2 Flyin' High ↗ 3:19
  3. 3 Roller ↗ 4:40
  4. 4 Free 'n' Easy ↗ 3:04
  5. 5 Illusion ↗ 5:02
  6. 6 Free Me ↗ 3:33
  7. 7 Cheat 'n' Lie ↗ 4:53
  8. 8 The Dance ↗ 4:49
  9. 9 Choices ↗ 5:44
  10. 10 Illusion/Masquerade ↗ 8:16
  11. 11 The River ↗ 3:07
  12. 12 Put Your Music Where Your Mouth Is ↗ 2:54
  13. 13 Cheat 'n' Lie (Alternative Live Version) ↗ 5:58
  14. 14 Free Me (Alternative Live Version) ↗ 5:47
  15. 15 Free 'n' Easy (Alternative Live Version) ↗ 3:15

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Fallen Angel

1978 · 18 tracks

  1. 1 Woman of the Night ↗ 4:04
  2. 2 Falling In Love ↗ 2:52
  3. 3 One More Night (Last Farewell) ↗ 3:29
  4. 4 Put Your Lovin' On Me ↗ 4:07
  5. 5 Come Back to Me ↗ 4:19
  6. 6 Whad'ya Say ↗ 3:39
  7. 7 Save It ↗ 3:32
  8. 8 Love or Nothing ↗ 2:59
  9. 9 I'm Alive ↗ 4:16
  10. 10 Fallen Angel ↗ 4:58
  11. 11 A Right to Live ↗ 3:36
  12. 12 Cheater ↗ 4:03
  13. 13 Gimme Love ↗ 3:16
  14. 14 Last Farewell (Alternate Version of 'One More Night') ↗ 3:19
  15. 15 Street Lady (Alternate Version of 'Woman of the Night') ↗ 3:40
  16. 16 Struttin' (Alternate Version of 'Gimme Love') ↗ 3:14
  17. 17 Falling In Love (Live) ↗ 3:08
  18. 18 Woman of the Night (Live) ↗ 3:19

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Conquest

1980 · 13 tracks

  1. 1 No Return ↗ 6:00
  2. 2 Imagination ↗ 5:46
  3. 3 Feelings ↗ 5:21
  4. 4 Fools ↗ 5:00
  5. 5 Carry On ↗ 3:55
  6. 6 Won't Have to Wait Too Long ↗ 4:50
  7. 7 Out on the Street ↗ 5:50
  8. 8 It Ain't Easy ↗ 5:43
  9. 9 Love Stealer ↗ 3:25
  10. 10 Been Hurt ↗ 3:54
  11. 11 Think It Over ↗ 3:31
  12. 12 Lying ↗ 4:37
  13. 13 Feelings (Live) ↗ 2:44

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Abominog

1982 · 16 tracks

  1. 1 Too Scared to Run ↗ 3:49
  2. 2 Chasing Shadows ↗ 4:40
  3. 3 On the Rebound ↗ 3:15
  4. 4 Hot Night in a Cold Town ↗ 4:03
  5. 5 Running All Night (With the Lion) ↗ 4:29
  6. 6 That's the Way That It Is ↗ 4:07
  7. 7 Prisoner ↗ 4:33
  8. 8 Hot Persuasion ↗ 3:48
  9. 9 Sell Your Soul ↗ 5:25
  10. 10 Think It Over ↗ 3:35
  11. 11 Son of a Bitch ↗ 4:07
  12. 12 Tin Soldier (Stereo) ↗ 3:51
  13. 13 Think It Over (Video Soundtrack) ↗ 3:16
  14. 14 Too Scared to Run (Live) ↗ 4:19
  15. 15 Sell Your Soul (Live) ↗ 5:43
  16. 16 That's the Way That It Is (Live) ↗ 3:59

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Head First

1983 · 15 tracks

  1. 1 The Other Side of Midnight ↗ 3:57
  2. 2 Stay on Top ↗ 3:36
  3. 3 Lonely Nights ↗ 4:08
  4. 4 Sweet Talk ↗ 3:52
  5. 5 Love Is Blind ↗ 3:38
  6. 6 Roll-Overture ↗ 2:20
  7. 7 Red Lights ↗ 2:59
  8. 8 Rollin' the Rock ↗ 5:23
  9. 9 Straight Through the Heart ↗ 3:50
  10. 10 Weekend Warriors ↗ 3:50
  11. 11 Playing for Time (EP Track) ↗ 4:27
  12. 12 Searching (Extended Demo) ↗ 4:51
  13. 13 The Other Side of Midnight (Live) ↗ 4:34
  14. 14 Lonely Nights (Live) ↗ 6:44
  15. 15 Angel (Live) ↗ 5:22

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Raging Silence

1989 · 17 tracks

  1. 1 Hold Your Head Up ↗ 4:33
  2. 2 Blood Red Roses ↗ 4:09
  3. 3 Voice On My TV ↗ 4:18
  4. 4 Rich Kid ↗ 4:48
  5. 5 Cry Freedom ↗ 4:30
  6. 6 Bad Bad Man ↗ 4:08
  7. 7 More Fool You ↗ 3:33
  8. 8 When the War Is Over ↗ 5:07
  9. 9 Lifeline ↗ 4:51
  10. 10 Rough Justice ↗ 4:19
  11. 11 Miracle Child ↗ 4:09
  12. 12 Corina (Demo) ↗ 3:47
  13. 13 Mr. Majestic (Original Demo Version) ↗ 4:58
  14. 14 Pacific Highway (Demo Version) ↗ 4:47
  15. 15 Blood Red Roses (Extended Version) ↗ 5:49
  16. 16 Hold Your Head Up (Extended Version) ↗ 6:15
  17. 17 Corina (Live) ↗ 4:42

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Different World

1991 · 15 tracks

  1. 1 Blood On Stone ↗ 4:37
  2. 2 Which Way Will the Wind Blow ↗ 4:48
  3. 3 All God's Children ↗ 4:17
  4. 4 All for One ↗ 4:24
  5. 5 Different World ↗ 4:11
  6. 6 Step By Step ↗ 4:06
  7. 7 Seven Days ↗ 3:32
  8. 8 First Touch ↗ 3:51
  9. 9 One On One ↗ 4:01
  10. 10 Cross That Line ↗ 5:30
  11. 11 Stand Back ↗ 3:56
  12. 12 Powers of Addiction (Demo) ↗ 4:11
  13. 13 Holy Roller (Extended Version) ↗ 5:02
  14. 14 Blood On Stone (Extended Version) ↗ 7:02
  15. 15 Cross That Line (Extended Version) ↗ 5:59

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Sonic Origami

1998 · 15 tracks

  1. 1 Between Two Worlds ↗ 6:29
  2. 2 I Hear Voices ↗ 3:56
  3. 3 Perfect Little Heart ↗ 5:18
  4. 4 Heartless Land (Alternative Version) ↗ 4:44
  5. 5 Only the Young ↗ 4:44
  6. 6 In the Moment ↗ 6:24
  7. 7 Question ↗ 5:27
  8. 8 Change ↗ 6:03
  9. 9 Shelter from the Rain ↗ 6:09
  10. 10 Everything in Life ↗ 3:15
  11. 11 Across the Miles ↗ 5:14
  12. 12 Feels Like ↗ 4:38
  13. 13 The Golden Palace ↗ 8:29
  14. 14 Sweet Pretender ↗ 4:47
  15. 15 Heartless Land ↗ 3:59

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Living the Dream

2018 · 10 tracks

  1. 1 Grazed by Heaven ↗ 4:31
  2. 2 Living the Dream ↗ 5:34
  3. 3 Take Away My Soul ↗ 6:13
  4. 4 Knocking at My Door ↗ 4:58
  5. 5 Rocks in the Road ↗ 8:19
  6. 6 Waters Flowin' ↗ 4:27
  7. 7 It's All Been Said ↗ 6:01
  8. 8 Goodbye to Innocence ↗ 3:34
  9. 9 Falling Under Your Spell ↗ 3:25
  10. 10 Dreams of Yesteryear ↗ 5:25

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Chaos & Colour

2023 · 11 tracks

  1. 1 Save Me Tonight ↗ 3:31
  2. 2 Silver Sunlight ↗ 4:31
  3. 3 Hail the Sunrise ↗ 4:24
  4. 4 Age of Changes ↗ 5:50
  5. 5 Hurricane ↗ 4:49
  6. 6 One Nation, One Sun ↗ 7:35
  7. 7 Golden Light ↗ 5:09
  8. 8 You'll Never Be Alone ↗ 7:58
  9. 9 Fly Like an Eagle ↗ 3:48
  10. 10 Freedom to Be Free ↗ 8:12
  11. 11 Closer to Your Dreams ↗ 3:38

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Albums
20 albums
  1. …Very ’eavy …Very ’umble
    Uriah Heep
    1970
    27 tracks
  2. Salisbury
    Uriah Heep
    1971
    6 tracks
  3. Look at Yourself
    Uriah Heep
    1971
    24 tracks
  4. Demons and Wizards
    Uriah Heep
    1972
    14 tracks
  5. The Magician’s Birthday
    Uriah Heep
    1972
    28 tracks
  6. Sweet Freedom
    Uriah Heep
    1973
    14 tracks
  7. Wonderworld
    Uriah Heep
    1974
    15 tracks
  8. Return to Fantasy
    Uriah Heep
    1975
    16 tracks
  9. High and Mighty
    Uriah Heep
    1976
    18 tracks
  10. Firefly
    Uriah Heep
    1977
    16 tracks
  11. Innocent Victim
    Uriah Heep
    1977
    15 tracks
  12. Fallen Angel
    Uriah Heep
    1978
    18 tracks
  13. Conquest
    Uriah Heep
    1980
    13 tracks
  14. Abominog
    Uriah Heep
    1982
    16 tracks
  15. Head First
    Uriah Heep
    1983
    15 tracks
  16. Raging Silence
    Uriah Heep
    1989
    17 tracks
  17. Different World
    Uriah Heep
    1991
    15 tracks
  18. Sonic Origami
    Uriah Heep
    1998
    15 tracks
  19. Living the Dream
    Uriah Heep
    2018
    10 tracks
  20. Chaos & Colour
    Uriah Heep
    2023
    11 tracks

Deep Dive

Overview

Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969, and they remain active into the present day. Operating at the intersection of hard rock and progressive rock, the band built their reputation on a sound characterized by fantasy-inflected lyrics, classical-tinged keyboard arrangements, and heavy guitar riffs. Over a career spanning more than five decades, Uriah Heep established themselves as steady practitioners of a particular strain of 1970s hard rock—one that embraced orchestral ambition without abandoning the raw power of amplified rock instrumentation.

Formation Story

Uriah Heep coalesced in London in 1969, emerging from the late-1960s British rock ferment. The band was built around guitarist Mick Box, who would remain the sole continuous thread through all of the group’s numerous lineup shifts. The early ensemble drew together musicians from various London scenes, establishing themselves quickly enough to enter the studio and begin recording within a year of their formation. The founding lineup’s chemistry, though it would not prove durable, set the template for the band’s musical direction: a fusion of hard-rock urgency with the kind of keyboard-driven, classically-influenced arrangements that were beginning to define progressive rock in that era.

Breakthrough Moment

Uriah Heep’s debut album, …Very ‘eavy …Very ‘umble, arrived in 1970 and signaled the arrival of a substantial new force in British hard rock. The record established the band’s core sonic identity and generated enough attention to sustain a touring schedule and press coverage throughout Europe and beyond. Over the next three years, the band released a stream of albums—Salisbury and Look at Yourself in 1971, Demons and Wizards and The Magician’s Birthday in 1972, and Sweet Freedom in 1973—that consolidated their reputation and expanded their audience. By the mid-1970s, Uriah Heep had transcended their initial cult following to become a fixture on the international rock circuit, with a dedicated fanbase particularly strong in continental Europe and Japan.

Peak Era

The period from 1972 to 1976 represents Uriah Heep’s most creatively vital and commercially successful window. Albums like Demons and Wizards and The Magician’s Birthday showcased the band at their most ambitious, with David Byron’s soaring, operatic vocals anchoring sprawling arrangements built on Ken Hensley’s keyboards and Mick Box’s heavily distorted guitar work. Return to Fantasy (1975) and High and Mighty (1976) continued in this vein, proving that the formula retained its commercial appeal even as progressive rock began to yield cultural ground to punk and new wave. The band’s touring schedule remained relentless, and their live performances—which emphasized the classical and fantasy elements of their material—drew large crowds in Europe especially, where hard rock remained a dominant force throughout the decade.

Musical Style

Uriah Heep’s signature sound rested on a particular combination of elements. Mick Box’s guitar work, often heavily distorted and powered by a thick rhythm section, provided the hard-rock foundation, but the band’s defining characteristic was the marriage of that heaviness to keyboards (principally handled by Ken Hensley in the classic lineup) that drew on classical music—baroque counterpoint, symphonic sweeps, organ textures that recalled both rock and concert-hall traditions. Over this instrumental scaffolding, lead vocalists—most prominently David Byron through the mid-1970s—delivered lyrics that embraced fantasy, mythology, and mystical imagery with an earnestness that matched the music’s grandeur. The band’s arrangements grew more elaborate as the 1970s progressed, with layered keyboards and additional orchestral instruments expanding the scope of their records. Lyrically, Uriah Heep’s songwriting consistently drew on sources outside the everyday rock-and-roll canon: medieval legend, fantasy literature, and cosmic or spiritual themes.

Major Albums

Demons and Wizards (1972)

A landmark statement that showcased the band’s ability to construct extended, classically-influenced arrangements without sacrificing hard-rock power. The record confirmed Uriah Heep as major players in the progressive hard-rock space and remains one of their most frequently referenced works.

The Magician’s Birthday (1972)

Released the same year as Demons and Wizards, this album extended the band’s exploration of keyboard-driven arrangements and fantasy-themed songwriting, with particularly elaborate production and orchestration that set it apart even within Uriah Heep’s discography.

Return to Fantasy (1975)

Representing the mid-1970s peak of the band’s international success, this album balanced the symphonic and hard-rock elements that defined their sound while maintaining strong commercial hooks and memorable melodies.

High and Mighty (1976)

The final album to feature David Byron, documenting a band still in command of its creative vision and commercial position, even as the broader rock landscape began to shift beneath their feet.

Abominog (1982)

Released after a period of relative quietude, Abominog announced Uriah Heep’s return to recording with a renewed focus on harder rock textures and a revamped lineup, marking a transitional moment in the band’s long career.

Signature Songs

  • “Easy Livin’” — A hard-rock anthem built on a memorable riff and sing-along chorus, crystallizing the band’s ability to pair accessibility with musical ambition.
  • “Sweet Freedom” — Showcasing the band’s knack for weaving classical keyboard passages into a rock song structure.
  • “The Wizard” — A fantasy-themed narrative that exemplified Uriah Heep’s willingness to embrace mythology and imaginative storytelling as lyrical material.
  • “Gypsy” — Demonstrating the band’s skill at constructing extended arrangements with multiple keyboard movements and vocal layers.

Influence on Rock

Uriah Heep’s sustained output over five decades positioned them as influential architects of a particular strain of hard rock that never abandoned the pretensions of progressive music. They helped establish the template for European hard rock in the 1970s, particularly in continental Europe, where the band maintained a stronger commercial foothold than in the United States or United Kingdom. Their willingness to incorporate classical elements, fantasy lyrics, and extended arrangements into a fundamentally hard-rock frame influenced subsequent generations of metal and rock musicians who sought to combine technical ambition with visceral power. The band’s longevity itself became a form of influence: their survival through multiple lineup changes, genre shifts, and commercial fluctuations demonstrated that a band could sustain a career on the strength of a consistent musical identity and devoted international fanbase, even when broader trends moved elsewhere.

Legacy

Uriah Heep remain active, with a touring schedule that continues to draw audiences decades after their commercial peak. The band’s catalog has benefited from the endless archival impulses of streaming platforms and reissue labels, making their 1970s material available to successive generations of rock listeners. Though they never achieved the canonical status in rock historiography accorded to their British hard-rock and progressive-rock peers, Uriah Heep have maintained a place in the broader ecosystem of rock music as reliable custodians of a particular sound—one that balanced hard-rock physicality with classical ambition and fantasy-tinged lyricism. Mick Box’s continued presence as the band’s sole original member and guiding force has allowed Uriah Heep to preserve a connection to their founding vision while remaining responsive to contemporary touring realities and audience expectations. Their persistent touring and recent albums demonstrate that their core audience, particularly in Europe, remains engaged with the band’s work.

Fun Facts

  • Mick Box is the sole remaining member from the band’s 1969 formation, having stewarded the group through dozens of lineup changes across more than 50 years.
  • The band’s name derives from the Charles Dickens character Uriah Heep from David Copperfield, reflecting the literary and fantastical orientations that shaped their aesthetic.
  • Uriah Heep’s European fanbase, particularly in Scandinavia, Germany, and Eastern Europe, has historically been far larger and more devoted than their following in the Anglo-American rock mainstream.