Uriah Heep Songs Ranked
Uriah Heep is an English rock band formed in London in 1969. Their current lineup includes lead and rhythm guitarist Mick Box, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, drummer Russell Gilbrook, and bassist Davey Rimmer. They have experienced numerous lineup changes throughout its 51-year career, leaving Box as the only remaining original member left in Uriah Heep. Notable former members of the band include vocalists David Byron, John Lawton, John Sloman, Peter Goalby and Steff Fontaine, bassists Gary Thain, Trevor Bolder, John Wetton, Bob Daisley, and John Jowitt, drummers Nigel Olsson, Lee Kerslake and Chris Slade, and keyboardists Ken Hensley and John Sinclair. Uriah Heep has released twenty-four studio albums (of original material), twenty-live albums, and forty-one compilation albums (including two greatest hits albums composed of re-recorded material: Celebration – Forty Years of Rock and Totally Driven). Twelve of the band’s studio albums have made it to the UK Albums Chart (Return to Fantasy reached No. 7 in 1975) while of the fifteen Billboard 200 Uriah Heep albums Demons and Wizards was the most successful (#23, 1972). In the late 1970s, the band had massive success in Germany, where the “Lady in Black” single was a big hit. The band maintains a significant following and performs at arena-sized venues in the Balkans, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, and Scandinavia. They have sold over 45 million albums worldwide with over 4 million sales in the U.S, where its best-known songs include “Easy Livin’”, “The Wizard”, “Sweet Lorraine”, and “Stealin’”. Here are all of Uriah Heap’s songs ranked.
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20. Paradise / The Spell (Demons and Wizards, 1972)
“Great song! I love the lyrics, the keyboards and especially the guitar solo which is in my top ten guitar solos.Simply alluring and spellbinding..”
19. Hot Night in a Cold Town (Abominog, 1982)
“So proggy love the mellotron and organ. His voice almost sounds like Bowie damn is this song great “Hot Night in a Cold Town” (a sketch about the life of a Mexican town) from the repertoire of John Mellencamp with a wonderful piano, guitar solo and drums and howling wind;”
18. Dreammare (…Very ‘Eavy …Very ‘Umble, 1970)
“Dreammare” is somewhat psychedelic and is one of the strongest tracks on the album. “Dreammare” also sounds like a demo, but instead of trying to imitate Cream, it’s closer to a hybridization of both bands and seems to serve as a kind of a prototype for some of their later songs;”
17. Rainbow Demon (Demons and Wizards, 1972)
“The Rainbow Demon could be our desires and obsessions. If we don’t keep them in check, they can take over us. Being on drugs would be a good example. Being in the rock and roll world, the band would know exactly what it is like. The managers and producers (the “black shadows are following closely”) would be the people who profit off the band by getting them hooked on drugs and then living off their fame. But people who live off rock stars like that have no heart (“pick up your heart and run”).”
See more: Uriah Heap Albums Ranked
16. The Wizard (Demons and Wizards, 1972)
“This list is of their older stuff which I grew up on. This group is underrated and their lyrics are equal to any out there. This song in it’s entirety is indicative of what they do.”
15. I’ll Keep On Trying (…Very ‘Eavy …Very ‘Umble, 1970)
“I’ll Keep on Trying” starts out with more atmosphere than “Real Turned On”, but gets kind of soupy in the middle, almost sounding like the group Bad Finger, before going heavy again with the album’s best guitar solo from Mick Box.”
14. Rollin’ the Rock (Head First, 1983)
“Simply put, good 80’s Hard Rock! If you liked “Abominog”, then you’ll love this one too. In my opinion, they go together. Both have some killer tracks. For fans of the older stuff, this might be too different for you. “
13. Rockarama (Equator, 1985)
“Rockarama”, which actually kinda works with Trevor Bolder’s thudding bass moving it along nicely. But then Pete Goalby sings, “Hey leave that on, I’m on MTV, or am I seeing things?” Well short answer, yes you are seeing things. Of course, after hearing this line, any old skool (oops I mean school) Heep fan will blush with that recurring embarrassment at this kiss ass, brown nosing, sell out attempt at finding favor with one of the single most imagination dulling, corporate hype machines ever to numb and mentally castrate a generation!”
12. Rich Kid (Raging Silence, 1989)
“An absolutely fantastic album and one of the Heep’s best! This is Heep sounding different because bands age, times change, and groups develop. Heep, like all bands, evolves. However, though Heep’s sound may change their basic remain the same….great lyrics and true musicianship!”
11. Running All Night (With the Lion) (Abominog, 1982)
“I absolutely adore abominog. Amazing comeback after the tragedy that is conquest. This is one the strongest top to bottom heep albums out there.”
10. Blood Red Roses (Raging Silence, 1989)
“But being a band to not stand on ceremony, they still had in the vault a good song from previous vocalist Peter Goalby, so with new vocals and keyboard parts by the new members, the second song up is a hard rockin’ `Blood Red Roses’, which also features a devastating axe solo from Mick Box.”
9. Lady in Black (Salisbury, 1970)
“This is good old classic rock n rolla that keeps on ticking until the end of time. Maybe they will play this upon my early death of gun powder and chaos. Their best song! Beautiful and haunting at the same time.”
8. Salisbury (Salisbury, 1970)
“Salisbury” comes like a natural progression of their first Long player from 1970: hard rock with influence from bands like Deep Purple and Vanilla Fudge, still sounding very 60s and a tad psychedelic.”
7. Free Me (Innocent Victim, 1977)
“I know I’m in the minority but I love all these post 1972 albums. This is just a great album and I don’t care if it’s commercial. It’s almost as good as anything they ever did. It’s also not as soft as the previous reviewer said. It still has lots of rockers. Their next album is probably even better. “Free Me” is a classic by the way.”
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6. Bird of Prey (…Very ‘Eavy …Very ‘Umble, 1970)
“This song is AMAZING – absolutely brilliant vocals I know David Byron came from an operatic background but he had an incredible range of vocals, voice of an Angel, unfortunately now literally. Why do these brilliantly artistic people have such tortured souls?”
5. Sympathy (Firefly, 1976)
“Heep happy again! New lead singer John Lawton, formerly a member of Lucifer’s Friend and Les Humphries Singers, gave it all on his first LP Firefly after the band had sacked David Byron. “Sympathy”, written by keyboard wizard Ken Hensley, was a perfect song, and the melancholy warmth of Mick Box’s guitar playing remains unrivaled.
4. Gypsy (…Very ‘Eavy …Very ‘Umble, 1970)
“One of the most badass songs ever written. Perfectly summarizes what Heep is all about. Heavy, Dramatic, and complex A masterpiece from their first album. #4 is definitely where it belongs. Everyone shows that he is a great musician. Love this song…”
3. Look at Yourself (Look at Yourself 1971)
“Look At Yourself is one of Uriah Heep’s best, heaviest, and most powerful albums. David Byron’s Vocals are as amazing as ever, and are Mick Box’s Guitars. However as usual it’s Ken Hensley’s Organ stealing the show. As with all Uriah Heep’s classic albums Look At Yourself is a mixture of Proto-Metal and Progressive Rock, and as also as usual it works to great effect here.”
2. July Morning (Look At Yourself, 1971)
“One of the best songs ever made. Uriah Heep is a really underrated band. They have so many great songs and July Morning is their best for sure. The live version is fantastic! The lads normally use it has their closing song.Lady in Black is either the closing song,or a concert encore!”
1. Easy Livin’ (Demons and Wizards, 1972)
“The chords of “Easy Livin'” belie the message in the best possible way, as the band tears up night earth like headless horsemen. Another day, another tremendous vocal performance from David Byron. The turnarounds after the chorus ‘n’ verses are sensational, son, you’ve got to set your mug down for a little air action.”