Disco de Uriah Heep: “Conquest [UK Expanded Deluxe Edition]”

This record is called as one of the worst records from Heep...

I do not agree with that, there's a lot of beautiful and powerfull sounds here: Bass lines over the average, strange and nice voices coming around, keyboard songs, Box guitar...

As a lot of Heep material, you have to listen several times, closing your yes and then, the magic happens...

It was about 15 years since the last time that I could listen this (listen isn't the correct word, FEEL is more apropriated) and I have to say: Thank You guys from Amazon to make this possible, since I'm here in Brazil and this record is not available at my garden window.

From Curitiba - Brasil

My heep regards

Gianfranco

Soon after the album was released in February 1980, Uriah Heep was in such a funk that songwriter and keyboardist Ken Hensley left and the band broke up (only to reform two years later).

With John Sloman on lead vocals and Chris Slade on drums, the eight original tracks (five bonus tracks are included) again found the group trying to carve a niche in the AOR playlist that dominated FM radio. No Return, Carry On and Imagination are the better attempts at a "new" sound, while bassist Trevor Bolder emerges as a songwriter; co-writing two songs and also writing a pair, the strongest being It Ain't Easy.

Though it received mostly negative reviews and was later panned by guitarist Mick Box and Hensley, this is a shining example of a band trying to find traction on a slippery slope of reinventing itself while maintaining an ambitious schedule of releasing new material and touring. It works in parts, but Uriah Heep was against the ropes and ultimately had to take time off to fully regroup.

"Conquest" was my first Uriah Heep album and it remains my personal favorite, although I realize fans who share my opinion could all fit in a phone booth and still have room for some friends. This review is about this particular reissue. The sound is improved from the 1997 remaster, and there's a previously unreleased live track at the end. That is nice in and of itself, but it comes at the expense of a great single ('My Joanna Needs Tuning') that was on the previous issue. Also, 'Lying' is completely remixed on this one. It's a good enough remix, but it's a remix nonetheless so be forewarned.

A couple of very strange decisions with this version of "Conquest", but it's still great that the album is available.

This album is not bad actually.

I had to buy the import origonally as there was no US release at all.

True, no Demon and Wizard here - but was a very Bluesy album that had an honest sound to it that was not commercial sounding in any way.

Some of the songs are as strong as anything they've written: "Imagination," "Fools," "Won't Have To Wait Too Long and It ain't Easy."

Trevor Bolder was the star of this album - his song "It ain't Easy" was a masterpeice and the one I played constantly off of this album.

"Fools" by him was also fantastic and a classic song worth listening to a thousand times.

I didn't know Trevor Bolder could write or sing before - on this album he really suprized me.

This album is a must for all Heep fans - Trevor Bolder's finest moments are recorded on this album.

This album was the black sheep of the Heep family. This album is pretty much ignored by fans and the band alike. None of the songs on this album has been performed live in concert for years. Mick Box even mentioned that the album would make a good frisbee to play with your dog if you didn't like it.

In 1980 Heep was in turmoil. Previous singer John Lawton and long time drummer Lee Kerslake (who would return 2 years later) were ousted. New singer John Sloman was a choice that even the band couldn't agree on. Long time keyboardist/guitarist/chief songwriter would leave the band in the middle of the tour. After the tour the whole band was put on the back burner for a couple of years before remerging as a heavy metal band.

Sloman was not the right singer for the band. He had a voice suited more for the boy bands of the day like the Bay City Rollers. In other words, he's not the most macho singer around. There are songs here done by previous lead singer Lawton (Feelings, Been Hurt) and future lead singer Pete Goalby (Think It Over). All of which are vastly superior to this album.

This album also features the one of the worst songs Heep ever did with "My JoAnna needs tunning (inside out)"

The muscial compositions on the album are not bad, though lightweight. But a bad voice can rescue the album. Cheesy 80 style synthisers also began to mar this album.