Uriah Heep Album: “Wonderworld [Japan]”

To say that Uriah Heep are very uneven can hardly come as a surprise. This band have written and recorded some excellent as well as awful stuff throughout the years. "WONDERWORLD" from 1974 is actually one of the band's better. The best tune is the melodic "Something for nothing" with great vocals from David Byron (R.I.P.), but there is more good stuff here. The slow "The easy road" is a tune far from heavy metal but it's a beautiful song. "So tired" sounds like a mix of light Led Zeppelin and traditional rock `n' roll, while "We got we" has a psychedelic touch that actually works very well. "Dreams" is a bit strange and there's almost a cabaret feel to this one. "Suicidal man" is the album's heaviest song and although there's a frantic or panic feel to it, it's quite alright. "I won't mind" is slow and heavy, while "The shadow and the wind" goes in a more easy listening way. The title track is an organ and piano driven song with a rather melodic touch. If you're unfamiliar with Uriah Heep, you might start with the album "FIREFLY" (1977) but this one might also be a nice starting point to explore this uneven but at times great band that critics never took a liking to. One critic is claimed to have written (in the band's early career) that he would commit suicide if Heep ever made it big.

I would say that "WONDERWORLD" falls somewhere between strong 3 stars or 4 weaker stars.

Apparently many people have a problem with this album. That is, the few people who've heard it. The title song sounds a lot like the chorus in Elton John's "don't let the sun go down on me". Don't you think so? Yes? No? Come on, it does! I don't know which song came out first.

I really think this is one of Uriah Heep's most melodic albums. I find myself humming songs from this album ALL the time, especially "something for nothing" (which, for some reason reminds me of the video game Mega Man series) and "dreams" (which sounds like it came from Walt Disney World or something). The other songs are short, heavy rockers.

I love the whole album. "we got we" reminds me of the Flintstones. It seems like EVERY song on the album reminds me of something, and in the end, that's part of the thing that makes music so great. Yup. Pick up Wonderworld.

Simply trhe best album of the Heep.......a true collector piece for the real Rock fan.

One thing is for sure, this album isn't as good as its predecessors, but it contains some good songs from the band. The best is by far, the title track, in the pure tradition of the band. I also like a lot the ballad "The easy road" and the bluesy "I won't mind". This is the not the place to begin with the band if you don't know them, go with "The Magician's Birthday" or "Demons and Wizards" instead.

Although Uriah Heep continues to perform. Mostly in Europe, from what I've read. They seem to have a constant stream of fans that are endless and loyal.

This album was one after I started to lose some interest in the band. I loved the music of every album up till Sweet Freedom. Which I really enjoyed. At this time in my life there was high school (graduated 1976) sports, girls and concerts I went to almost every week. So this album is getting a review from a very seasoned Uriah Heep fan. But more then that. I true lover, to rock and roll.

Wonderworld is by far the worst album the band put out up until that time. I can't help listening and thinking how hard Hensley was reaching for lyrics. His incredible gift which is on every album before Wonderworld could leave you so inspired. But Wonderworld is just David Byron trying to make bad lyrics sound like they actually meant something. When all these lyrics are is Hensley reaching into a bad 3rd grade dictionary for a rhyme! The music is a steady stream of one or two Uriah Heep tunes from the past. The keyboards sound worn out. I used to enjoy the Mick Box guitar in older albums. This is 5 very tired rock and roll stars who needed about a year off and away from each other. Gerry Bron should have seen this instead of the dollar signs.

Ken Hensley was always the one who stirred the drink that was Uriah Heep. With David Byron's ego getting bruised so often because of the obvious Hensley stamp on everything. It all would have been time for a break. Had they split up at that time and never looked back would have been the best thing for Uriah Heep. Then I wouldn't have to Wonder, why in the World they put out such a terrible album!