There’s no better way to celebrate your birthday than releasing an album, which is actually a hit-reminder. Especially if, in Uriah Heep’s case, your greatest songs, are some of the most classic tunes in rock.
And, since the great British band needs no introduction to Rockpages.gr readers, let’s just note that this is not a greatest hit compilation, but new versions of the band’s classic songs, featuring the current lineup, which at the same time is the most stable ever…well, almost! Mick Box, Bernie Shaw, Trevor Bolder, and Phil Lanzon shared Chares Dickens’ character for the last 23 years, while after Lee Kerslake had to quit, due to health reasons, Russel Gilbrook replaced him bringing a excitement, and energy to the band, obvious both on stage, as well as in the studio.
As it usually happens on Greatest Hits albums, there are two new songs, “Only Human”, which sounds like it was taken from either “Sonic Origami” (1998), or “Wake The Sleeper” (2008), and “Corridors Of Madness”, which sounds more like classic Heep, with Bolder’s bass prevailing. The new versions have some differences with the originals, with a more “live” feeling, almost like if you were attending a Uriah Heep gig, and that’s what they are trying to do here. Some of the highlights are the frenzy solos from Mick Box on “Stealin”, the intro before “Gypsy”, and the Lawton-era songs, with a guitar-keyboard duel on “Free And Easy”.
Bernie Shaw is really great. He manages to put his mark to the band’s legendary back catalogue standards, not just on “Celebration”, but every night on stage too.
On the other hand, I don’t think “Between Two Worlds” had to be in this compilation, although I love the song, but I guess that the band wanted to include an original song of this lineup. Still, I believe that they could have played another classic, like “Sympathy”, “Magician’d Birthday”, or “Wise Man”, but then again having released twenty (!) albums, there’s always going to be some weirdo, who wants to listen to a different song…
In a nutshell, the album is a top notch begginer’s guide for new fans of Uriah Heep, who discover the band during live performances, as well as definitive souvenir for the older ones, who enjoy their favorite band fresher, and stronger than ever.
Yiannis Dolas