URIAH HEEP – Return To Fantasy ’75 [Japan SHM-CD mini LP remastered +6] HQ *Exclusive*

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

While URIAH HEEP 1975’s eighth studio album “Return To Fantasy” was not included into the recent Japanese reissue batch, here’s the SHM-CD mini LP replica remastered reissue from years ago, including 6 bonus tracks. This pressing uses the same, latest remastering job also used in the European reissue, however… the bottom end is much better on this SHM.
“Return To Fantasy” is the first of the two albums to feature the incredible John Wetton as the new bass player, who replaced Gary Thain in early 1975.
After two albums that downplayed their penchant for mysterious sounds and mystical lyrics, Uriah Heep brought these elements back to the fore on 1975’s Return to Fantasy. The resulting album retains the musical experimentation that marked ‘Sweet Freedom’ and ‘Wonderworld’, but has an overall harder-rocking feel.
”Return to Fantasy” throws down the gauntlet with the title track, which builds from a tapestry of spooky synthesizer and organ riffs to a thunderous rock tune where the guitar and organ duel over a galloping backbeat laid down by Lee Kerslake. It’s bracing stuff and one of the finest rockers in the Uriah Heep canon.

The rest of the ‘first side’ continues in a similarly strong hard rock vein and its other key highlight is “Beautiful Dream,” a song that marries stomping hard rock verses to a spooky, ethereal chorus that sounds like it could have been plucked from a mid-’70s Pink Floyd album.
On the second side, Heep give themselves over to experiments that, while listenable, cause the album to lose focus. For instance, “Prima Donna” is a sardonic commentary on the rock & roll world that features a prominent brass section and prominently overdubbed Beach Boys-style harmonies, while “Your Turn to Remember” is the kind of bluesy ballad that seems inoffensive for UH standards. Both songs are fun listening but stray too far from the group’s traditional sound and are too dissimilar to make ”Return to Fantasy” a cohesive experience.

Despite that, the group never turns in a less-than-engaging instrumental performance and the consistent quality of their work keeps the album from getting carried away by all the genre-hopping. In the end, ”Return to Fantasy” lacks the coherence of a top-shelf Uriah Heep classic like ‘Demons and Wizards’ but c’mon, this is prime classic rock and remains a strong and likable album that is guaranteed to please the group’s fans.
Highly Recommended

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01 – Return To Fantasy
02 – Shady Lady
03 – Devil’s Daughter
04 – Beautiful Dream
05 – Prima Donna
06 – Your Turn To Remember
07 – Showdown
08 – Why Did You Go
09 – A Year Or A Day
BONUS TRACKS:
10 – Shout It Out (B-Side)
11 – The Time Will Come (B-Side)
12 – Prima Donna (Alternate Demo Version)
13 – Why Did You Go (Alternate Demo Version)
14 – Showdown (Alternate Demo Version)
15 – Beautiful Dream (Alternate Demo Version)
16 – Return To Fantasy (Extended Version)

Lead Vocals – David Byron
Guitar – Mick Box
Guitar, Keyboards, Synthesizer, Vocals – Ken Hensley
Bass, Mellotron, Vocals – John Wetton
Drums, Percussion, Vocals – Lee Kerslake
Bass – Gary Thain (tracks: 12 to 15)

Out of Print
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/UICY-94747