URIAH HEEP – The Magician’s Birthday ’72 [2-CD remastered edition +15] *HQ*

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

We have been featuring the recent Japanese CD remasters of URIAH HEEP early albums. But the series does not include one of their best albums; ‘The Magician’s Birthday‘. As requested, here’s the excellent European 2-CD release with the same team involved: remastered by reputed Andy Pearce, and including no less than 15 bonus tracks into an extra disc. Sound quality is top notch.
While they still had arguably their greatest lineup of their early ‘70s heyday, Uriah Heep continued to pump out new music at a ridiculous pace. ‘The Magician’s Birthday’ was their fifth album in a little more than two years and this pace would soon take a toll on the health of the respective band members.
‘Sunrise’ is an awesome opener and would also open the subsequent live album as well. Such an archetypical Uriah Heep song with all of the dynamics and a brilliant performance from David Byron. Next up is the uptempo rocker ”Spider Woman”, then we get to the intense acoustical ”Blind Eye”, followed by the odd but fascinating ”Echoes in the Dark”, featuring the moog synthesizer and quiet verses, a thing you will hear in different places on this dynamic album.

‘Side Two’ on the LP begins with ‘Sweet Lorraine’, Heep favorite. This is a better song than maybe the band themselves or the critics thought – often looked at as a pedestrian ‘rock ‘n roller’ but it’s busy and interesting. The band ends the album with the epic title track “The Magician’s Birthday”, a superb progressive song that you have to hear to believe. (Trust us on that one). The multiple parts seem to hang together pretty well and they all stick in your head as hummable.

The bonus disc “The Alternative The Magician’s Birthday” contains fifteen indeed “alternative” versions. The original album is represented completely by eight alternate mixes, along with outtakes that include “Crystal Ball” (two versions, one titled as “Gary’s Song”), ”Silver White Man” (two editions, one instrumental), “Happy Birthday”, a single edit of “Sunrise”, a single edit of “Sweet Lorraine”.

The release is a tri-fold housing for the two CDs and wallet housed 20-page booklets. Each booklet are richly designed with informative essays, interviews with original members, Ken Hensley and Mick Box. The booklets contain photos, memorabilia (with singles covers), lyrics, and full credits!

On ‘The Magician’s Birthday’ Uriah Heep pulled away a bit from the muscular bluesy hard rock of “Demons & Wizards” and earlier albums, and dived into more melodic territory, it does have some all-time great Uriah Heep songs, and features a band still firing on all cylinders.
Highly Recommended

Disc 1 – The Magician’s Birthday remastered
01 – Sunrise
02 – Spider Woman
03 – Blind Eye
04 – Echoes in the Dark
05 – Rain
06 – Sweet Lorraine
07 – Tales
08 – The Magician’s Birthday

Disc 2 – The Alternative The Magician’s Birthday
01 – Echoes in the Dark (Alternate Version)
02 – Sweet Lorraine (Alternate Version)
03 – Blind Eye (Alternate Version)
04 – Tales (Alternate Version)
05 – Silver White Man (Alternate Version)
06 – Sunrise (Alternate Version)
07 – Crystal Ball (Outtake)
08 – Spider Woman (Alternate Version)
09 – The Magician’s Birthday (Alternate Version)
10 – Rain (Alternate Version)
11 – Silver White Man (No Vox – Alternate Version)
12 – Happy Birthday (Alternate Version)
13 – Sunrise (Alternate Single Version)
14 – Sweet Lorraine (Alternate Single Version)
15 – Gary’s Song – Crystal Ball (Alternate Version)

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

BUY
www.amazon.co.uk/Magicians-Birthday-2-CD-Set/dp/B01MV3HBFJ