URIAH HEEP – Living The Dream [Japanese Edition +2] *HQ*

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

British rock institution URIAH HEEP have always been prolific. Over the course of their whole career, they have released an average of one album every two years. ”Living The Dream” is their 25th studio album, released in their 49th year as a band. What makes this anniversary extra special for fans of the band is that they have just delivered one of their best latter-half-of-their-career albums. ”Living The Dream” finds them in excellent form.
As requested, here’s “Living The Dream [Japanese Edition +2]“, the Japan CD pressing including two bonus tracks, presented in a mini LP replica / papers sleeve, now out of print.
URIAH HEEP were all really gung-ho about making sure ”Living The Dream” would be a Heep classic. That passion and drive clearly found its way into the music as well.
I also think that the last time around the band were still feeling down about the death of bass player Trevor Bolder. So were the fans – I totally get it. It may be only natural that the music on the album Outsider is more sombre than usual. The band continued, which was a victory at the time. The band showed determination. This time feels right to show enthusiasm and joy again as well.
The music on ”Living The Dream” is clearly much more upbeat, more celebratory, and the band have written some phenomenal material that suits that mood. Add a magnificent production from Jay Ruston, and the bands this Canadian has worked with to get a perfect picture of “Living The Dream” sound; The Winery Dogs and Black Star Riders.

Uriah Heep has played many kind of Rock flavors during their existence, from prog to metal, to pop/rock and AOR. On this album, and according to times, the band and “Living The Dream” sounds punchy classic rock, with melody as main focus.
Opener “Grazed By Heaven” sets the mood for the album; busy rhythm section, straight guitar riffs, swirling keyboards / Hammond B3, and Bernie Shaw’s vocals in great form – it’s a killer classic rocker. Lyrics were written by Jeff Scott Soto, and the music was written by bassist Dave Rimmer.
Musically, think Deep Purple meets Winery Dogs.

There are rocking songs, ballads, and a couple with little prog arrangements, encompassing everything Heep.
More Deep Purple circa 1985 comes with the title track ‘Living The Dream’, another favorite from the record, a midtempo with great atmospheres. ‘Take Away My Soul’ is classic rock, but with a bright melodic hard rock ‘feel’, thanks to Ruston’s clever production which has updated Uriah Heep sound.

More quality continues – I mean, very strong songwriting – with ‘Knocking At My Door’, the groovy ‘Rocks In The Road’, elegant ballad ‘Waters Flowin’ (great harmony vocals), the racing hard rocker ‘Goodbye To Innocence’ and the dynamic ‘Falling Under Your Spell’.
This Japanese edition includes two different mixes from some of the best songs on the album, ‘Grazed By Heaven (Alternate Version)’ and ‘Take Away My Soul (Alternate Version)’.

“Living The Dream” is full blown ‘rockin’ Uriah Heep record. All the traits that made Heep famous in the past are here on this new album; passion, power, harmony and substance. But all updated and vital 2018.
In fact, in my humble opinion, this is one of Uriah Heep’s best albums. I know Seventies purists will spit on me, sorry, but we love this timeless sound from these talented, veteran mucicians: classic rock with a melodic-hard drive.
This is in part thanks to Ruston’s clever production – Uriah really sounds here like a mix of The Winery Dogs, Black Star Riders and ’80s Deep Purple. But also the excellent songwriting; varied, elaborated and always entertaining.
HIGHLY Recommended

Ｍａｒｑｕｅｅ ／ Ａｖａｌｏｎ
【ＭＩＣＰ～11423】

01 – Grazed By Heaven
02 – Living The Dream
03 – Take Away My Soul
04 – Knocking At My Door
05 – Rocks In The Road
06 – Waters Flowin’
07 – It’s All Been Said
08 – Goodbye To Innocence
09 – Falling Under Your Spell
10 – Dreams Of Yesteryear
Bonus Tracks for Japan:
11 – Grazed By Heaven (Alternate Version)
12 – Take Away My Soul (Alternate Version)

Bernie Shaw – lead vocals
Mick Box – guitars, vocals
Phil Lanzon – keyboards, vocals
Dave Rimmer – bass guitar, vocals
Russel Gilbrook – drums, percussion

OUT OF PRINT
www.cdjapan.co.jp/product/MICP-11423