URIAH HEEP – Sweet Freedom ’73 [Japan SHM-CD mini LP remastered] (2026) HQ *0dayrox Exclusive*

320_1 /// 320_2 /// HQ 1 /// HQ 2

Japanese label BELLE ANTIQUE / Ｍａｒｑｕｅｅ has started a beautiful reissue campaign of early URIAH HEEP albums pressed on SHM-CD, fully remastered, and adding rarities / previously unreleased material, all presented in a mini-LP format replica.
By 1973, Uriah Heep had progressed from an English heavy metal / hard rock band to a worldwide success. For they album “Sweet Freedom” they moved on to a new label (Warner Bros.) and began to explore new styles to flesh out their combination of prog complexity and metallic muscle.
The band’s desire to break new ground is established with the lead-off track, “Dreamer”: while it riffs as hard as the band’s past rockers, it adds a surprising element of funkiness into the band’s sound. The gentle, acoustic guitar-dominated “Circus” is another change of pace that pushes the group’s sound in a meditative, folky direction.

The group also explores new avenues in the lyrical arena. Instead of the mystical tales that dominated albums like Demons and Wizards, ”Sweet Freedom” offers lyrics designed to appeal to the listener on a personal level: the most stirring example is “Stealin’,” a song about the regrets that come with living a self-obsessed life. These sentiments were combined with a stirring, soulful melody that helped make the song a radio favorite.

Another highlight in this vein is the title track, a song that combines lyrics about the price of being free with an organ-fuelled, hymn-like melody. “Seven Stars” takes an exciting riff and rocks all overs with it, and “Pilgrim” is an adventure tale that pushes the group’s excesses to the limit.
While “Sweet Freedom” isn’t the group’s finest record, it remains a solid listen for Heepsters and classic rock fans. It’s the classic line up, and it’s all good.
Highly Recommended

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BELLE ANTIQUE / Ｍａｒｑｕｅｅ
B·E·L·L·E ～ 264333/34
【ＳＨＭ－ＣＤ】

01 – Dreamer
02 – Stealin’
03 – One Day
04 – Sweet Freedom
05 – If I Had the Time
06 – Seven Stars
07 – Circus
08 – Pilgrim
BONUS TRACKS:
09 – Sunshine [B-side]
10 – Seven Stars (Extended Version)
11 – Pilgrim (Extended Version)
12 – If I Had The Time (Demo Version)
13 – Sweet Freedom (Live Version)
14 – Stealin’ (Live Version)

David Byron – lead vocals
Mick Box – guitars
Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitars, backing vocals
Lee Kerslake – drums, percussion, backing vocals
Gary Thain – bass guitar

Out of Print:
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/BELLE-264333