Uriah Heep Album: “Salisbury [2003 Castle Bonus Tracks]”

classic rockers and younger listeners should enjoy this second effort from the under-rated unapprecitaed uriah heep. i actually bought this to replace my vinyl copy and wasn't dissapointed. memorable songs that stand up to time. "high priestess", "lady in black", simon the bullet freak". a very strong recording that utilized early stereo effects and over-dubbing. (remember it was 1971.) over-the-top vocal arrangements makes it work. title track is a simply "brilliant"! totally wicked! ahead of their time. buy the expanded version. queen and the darkeness owe a lot to these guys.

Back in the 70's I went to a high school in La Paz, Bolivia. The life of my mates and me revolved around rock -- and the range of superlative bands to choose from at the time, I realize now, was breathtaking. Uriah Heep were among those. But so was a great fusion Bolivian band called Wara. On their third album, Quimsa, Wara played an epic song called Nacimiento which, according to the album credits, is a traditional Andean song. We flocked to see Wara whenever they put on a rare concert date.

Imagine our surprise, then, when on a given Friday, gathered around my rickety turntable, we throw on Salisbury (my latest acquisition), and after a few minutes...Nacimiento comes on! Or The Park, as the Heep called it. Note for bloody note, too! Needless to say, that's all we could talk about the rest of the evening.

Had Heep plagiarized? We cast our minds back to the hushed up scandal Simon & Garfunkel generated when they credited the song El Condor Pasa to themselves, only to change it a few years later and amend the information to 'traditional Andean song'.

Check out Wara's version by writing 'Nacimiento Wara' on You Tube; it's got a beautiful section not used by Heep.

Sometimes the first is the best. Lady in Black is one of the best rock songs of all times. Uriah Heep has it's own unique slot in rock history. I got the LP shortly after it's release and a copy of it has been a staple in my collection ever since. Buy this CD!!

Rated 5 The remastering of sound is unbelievable lot of bonus material very informative booklet and song Salisbury just overwhelming I ve got a goosebumps

Many bands pour the best they got to make ths first impression good. Uriah Heep did not have to do that. Often called the Beach boys of Rock because of there great vocal harmonies these guys had the special chemistry that just mixed well.Now some 40+ years later all there work stands up to all newcommers.