The Magician's Birthday
by Uriah Heep
Artist:
Uriah Heep
Label:
Mercury, Bronze Records (2)
Catalog#:
SRM-1-652, SRM-1-652
Format:
Vinyl
Country:
United States
Released:
1972-11
| Tracklist | |||
| A1 | Sunrise | 4:04 | |
| A2 | Spider Woman | 2:25 | |
| A3 | Blind Eye | 3:33 | |
| A4 | Echoes In The Dark | 4:48 | |
| A5 | Rain | 3:59 | |
| B1 | Sweet Lorraine | 4:13 | |
| B2 | Tales | 4:09 | |
| B3 | The Magician's Birthday | 10:23 | |
Credits
Bass - Gary Thain
Design [Cover] - Roger Dean
Drums, Percussion - Lee Kerslake
Engineer - Peter Gallen
Engineer [Assistant] - Ashley Howe
Guitar - Mick Box
Keyboards, Guitar, Synthesizer [Moog], Other, Liner Notes - Ken Hensley
Mastered By - Gilbert Kong
Photography - Fin Costello
Producer - Gerry Bron
Steel Guitar [Pedal] - BJ Cole
Vocals - David Byron
Written-By - David Byron
Written-By - Gary Thain
Written-By - Ken Hensley
Written-By - Lee Kerslake
Written-By - Mick Box
Notes
Recorded at Lansdowne Studios, London, September/October 1972.
Reference to "Happy Birthday To You" is by kind permission of K.P.M. Group, London.
All Songs published by WB Music, Inc. (ASCAP)
Mercury Record Productions, Inc. 35 E. Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601
Strawberry Bricks Entry:
On The Magician's Birthday, Uriah Heep quickly tried to replicate the success of their previous album, including another fantasy title and Roger Dean cover. "Sunrise" and "Sweet Lorraine" kick off the A and B sides, respectively, with confidence; but "Spider Woman" concedes to average rock ‘n' roll. The ballads generally work best; "Blind Eye" and the vastly underrated "Tales" rank among the album's finest songs. However, the more (according to the band) "experimental" tracks aren't fully realized, as the sprawling title track and "Echoes in the Dark" attest. Without a viable single, the album faltered slightly on the charts, reaching No. 23 in the UK but stalling out at No. 31 in the US. The following year saw a successful live album in May and another studio album in September. Recorded in France, Sweet Freedom contained a classic track in "Stealin'," and again hoisted Uriah Heep onto the charts. However, the pace of cranking out two albums a year with a full load of international touring started to take its toll. Recorded in Munich, 1974's Wonderland wasn't (wonderful), and bassist Gary Thain was subsequently ousted from the band. Bringing a recently ex-King Crimson John Wetton on board, Uriah Heep's next effort, Return To Fantasy, saw a return to chart success, reaching No. 7 in the UK. David Byron and Wetton, however, wouldn't last, and were replaced in 1976 by Lucifer's Friend vocalist John Lawton and Spiders from Mars bassist Trevor Bolder. Later records strayed further from their early progressive sound, but continued well into the 80s. In spite of prevailing trend and fashion, Uriah Heep continues to this day.
