Continuing the 50th anniversary celebrations of the much-vaunted Uriah Heep, we have numbers #6 and #8 respectively in this series of special picture discs from BMG. Happily, given that both are decent albums, Sweet Freedom and Return to Fantasy are treated with the same respect and care as previous entries in the series, meaning that collectors will once again be scrambling over themselves to secure a copy.
Received wisdom has it that picture discs rarely offer the same sound quality as plain vinyl, and this is true. That said, there has been a consistent quality to these Uriah Heep pressings that has done much to defy expectations, and both albums sound decent, although Return To Fantasy has the edge, production wise. While minor crackles may be detected during the quietest passages on offer, for the most part, these are rock-solid pressings that are as much a delight for the listener as they are for the collector.
As with previous entries in the Uriah Heep collection (see here and here for reviews), the discs are presented in clear plastic sleeves, with just a black sticker strip to the right-hand side providing the most basic information. It’s a bare-bones approach that works well in the context, as it much more effectively shows off the vinyl than the die-cut card sleeves used by some labels, although it does mean that liner-note seekers will have to look online for additional detail.
Side A
Kicking off with Lee Kerslake’s proggy percussion, Dreamer makes for a decent opening statement, although the mix is let down slightly by over-loud lead guitars that threaten to overwhelm even the frenetic activity of the rest of the band. A small amount of surface noise is audible as we slip into the slow burning Stealin’, a subtle favourite of Lee’s that builds quite a head of steam. The heavier One Day is an ambitious piece with layered vocals and hulking great riffs reminiscent of the band’s earlier material, although it’s the lengthy Sweet Freedom that stands out on the first side, the extended run time (clocking in at just shy of seven minutes) allowing the various elements of the band, from the slow swell of Ken Hensley’s keys to the massed vocals of David, Ken and Lee, to shine.
Side B
Opening with another proggy number, Uriah Heep head deep into mystic territory with the heavily keyboard-focused If I had The Time. Hampered by a slightly tinny sound and the occasional crackle, the track gains warmth when the vocals emerge, but loses focus when the keys race to the fore. Wisely choosing to shake things up a bit, the band hit the listener squarely between the eyes with Seven Stars, a hard rocker in the vein of Easy Livin’, although the drum sound feels strangely washed out here. Fortunately, the production better suits the mellow, acoustic Circus – a strong song with a Led Zeppelin vibe. It’s skilfully played and paves the way for another album highlight in the form of closing number Pilgrim. An epic that follows in the footsteps of the title track and damn near eclipses it in the progress, Pilgrim throws everything but the kitchen sink into the equation and the band go out on a high, waving a middle finger in the general direction of the critics and ensuring the album is a worthy addition to their catalogue.
Conclusion
Not the best Heep album, Sweet Freedom makes up for its relatively weak first side with two genuine classics (the title track and Pilgrim), both of which are essential works in the Heep canon. Of the remaining tracks, Circus and One Day fare the best, while other tracks are let down by a treble-heavy production that favours the synths a little too heavily in the mix. Lacking the consistency of the preceding five albums, this attractive reissue of Sweet Freedom is definitely for collectors rather than casual listeners, but it sure looks pretty. 7/10
With new boy John Whetton on board and following on from the slightly underwhelming Wonderworld, Return To Fantasy is a harder-rocking album than either of its two predecessors, but suffers from a similar inconsistency. Bolstered by Dave Field’s stunning artwork, it certainly looks the part and, the sparkling title track further suggests a return to past glories. While this proves not entirely accurate, with the second side falling short of the band’s earlier work, it nevertheless boasts several great tracks and will be a must for those collecting these gorgeous picture disc reissues.
Side A
Opening with the title track, an airy, prog-infused number, heavy on the synth and ethereal atmosphere, Return To Fantasy makes good on its titular promise and the album gets off to a flying start. It’s followed by the hard rocking Shady Lady, which slips comfortably between prog grandeur and the bluesy hard rock of Deep Purple, although it runs a touch long. Better is Devil’s Daughter, a brilliantly realised rocker that elevates the first side and does much to predict the earthier elements of Iron Maiden’s career. The first side concludes with another proggy effort entitled Beautiful Dream. With synths whizzing through the mix and a strong sense of dynamic, it’s an excellent track and it brings the strong first side to a suitably heady close.
Side B
Opening side two, the horn-soaked country blues of Prima Donna is a surprising tune, but it has a certain vitality to it that is irresistible, and it gets the side off to an energetic start. In contrast, the bluesy plod of Your Turn To Remember proves to be a weak track that lacks the panache Uriah Heep so frequently exhibit. Better is the hard rock of Showdown, with the massed vocals and slide guitar work reminiscent of Queen going head-to-head with Deep Purple.Another slow number is up next in the form of Why Did You Go, a forgettable piece with some lovely country guitar, but not much else to recommend it. Fortunately, the heavy prog of A Year Or A Day ends an otherwise rather frustrating second side on a positive note, thanks to a solid performance and a memorable chorus.
Conclusion
A better album than either Sweet Freedom or Wonderworld, Return To Fantasy has some stunning tracks. While it suffers from a few too many moments which can be fairly described as filler, especially on the second side, the highs are worth the price of admission, while the gorgeous cover art looks stunning on picture disc. 8/10
Final Thought
Let’s face it, these picture discs are for the Uriah Heep fan and they both look and sound as good as you could possibly hope for the format. While the casual collector may draw a line following The Musician’s Birthday, the true fan will recall that there are a number of excellent songs squirreled away on these releases, with the artwork and delivery of Return To Fantasy just tipping the balance in its favour. Well worth hunting down, these collectible reissues are a worthy celebration of a band whose catalogue more than deserves celebration.
Links
To pre order Sweet Freedom: https://uriahheep.lnk.to/sweetfreedomPR
To pre order Return To Fantasy: https://uriahheep.lnk.to/returntofantasyPR
Also, Uriah Heep’s Every Day Rocks box set is exclusively available via the Official Artist Store: https://uriahheep.lnk.to/EveryDayRocksPR
And Choices (which SonicAbuse reviewed here), a personal selection of Uriah Heep hits and deep cuts from across the band’s exceptional career on 6 CDs, is available at: https://uriahheep.lnk.to/ChoicesPR
