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| Uriah Heep - Firefly Bronze Records, 1977 Recorded at Roundhouse Recording, London, UK Produced by Gerry Bron |
Uriah Heep are one of my all-time favourite groups. I first heard them when I was 14 when I purchased a very suspect looking sanctuary CD called 'The Collection' at The Warehouse. I had heard the name mentioned a few times by a friends dad as we were all getting into groups like Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and Black Sabbath at the time. I took the punt with the CD as it had a pretty cool cover and I loved the name. Little did I know I had just begun a lifelong love affair with one of the more ridiculed bands in rock.
Formed in 1968 in London, the Group released went through a series of lineup changes before settling on the classic; David Byron, Mick Box, Ken Hensley, Gary Thain and Lee Kerslake lineup in 1972. They released a string of successful record between 1972 and 1974 such as Demons and Wizard, The Magicians Birthday, and Uriah Heep Live. However, by 1975, drug problems saw the firing of New Zealand bassist Gary Thain (who sadly passed away of an overdoes in 1976). Following Thain's departure, the band released two patchy records with John Wetton on bass. However, by 1976 relations in the Heep camp deteriorated further and David Byron was fired for his alcohol problems and erratic behavior and Wetton quit soon after. Most people, including the remaining band members, thought this was the end of Uriah Heep.
Thankfully, Heep picked themselves up and decided to carry on against the odd with a new direction and new musicians. The band recruited former Lucifer's Friend vocalist John Lawton and ex Spiders From Mars bassist Trevor Bolder. Lawton was a departure from the flamboyant Byron and had a earthier, more bluesy voice. Lawton was arguably a better singer than Byron, in terms of consistency, but possibly lacked the stage presence and charisma Byron was well-known for. Furthermore, Trevor Bolder was a terrific bass player and had been mostly present in Heep's colored history until his death in 2013.
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| UK 1977 Tour Poster |
The first album, Firefly, with the new lineup is a confident, melodic, and convincing comeback for the band. Released in February of 1977, the height of punk music, Firefly was ignored by most rock fans and critics and the album failed to chart in the UK and reached only #166 in the US. Mostly penned by principle songwriter Ken Hensley, Firefly proved more popular in mainland Europe with its updated AOR/melodic rock sound incorporated with the classic Heap style. It is about time the US and UK music press recognize this album, and indeed all the Lawton-era Heep records, as important and overlooked melodic rock records.
Another great moment on Side A is the terrific wee rocker, 'Who Needs Me' penned by Drummer Lee Kerslake. A terrific drummer and in my opinion a lot groovier than his contemporaries like Ian Paice or Cozy Powell. Kerslake has a Charlie Watts style swing to his playing which is a vital component to the Heep sound. 'Who Needs Me' is a fast rock 'n roll number that contains some terrific background vocals - one of Heep's trademarks! Interestingly, the lyrics are apparently about producer Gerry Bron's preference for Ken Hensley's songs over the other members compositions.
Closing Side A is one of the most soulful songs Hensley has ever written, the beautiful ballad 'Wise Man'. Almost making the UK top 40, the group performed the song in their only ever appearance on Top of the Pops. An organ led song, with terrific vocals from Lawton and great musicianship from the rest of the band. The song is so suited to Lawton's tone and range that I could not see the song working with the Byron-era lineup.
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| 'Wise Man' single cover |
Side B begins with the hard rocking 'Do You Know' and the Bad Company-styled ballad 'Rollin On' which are both competent tunes, if not unspectacular, but nonetheless continue the albums flow. One of the standout tracks on Side B is the twin guitar-led song, 'Sympathy'. A hit in Germany, 'Sympathy' is a mid-tempo rocker with impassioned vocals and soaring guitar work. The song is in the vein of Groups such as Wishbone Ash and Thin Lizzy with twin guitar melodies, a technique that Heep would revisit on the tune 'Flyin' High' follow up record Innocent Victim, released in the latter half of 1977.
My favourite song on the album though is the closing title track. Sung by Ken Hensley, part one opens with a dreamy synthesizer chord progression which slowly evolves into the opening verse. The verse is followed by a chorus containing an epic three-part vocal harmony reminiscent of early seventies soft rock groups. This verse-chorus format repeats before ending part one at the conclusion of the second chorus. Part two begins with a power chord riff and a sustained organ note. The rocky section is topped with some awesome vocals and a tasty guitar solo from the cruelly underrated Mick Box. Part three of 'Firefly' is a lovely acoustic section, with beautiful guitar and electric piano interplay. Again, the vocals are very reminiscent of groups like Crosby Stills and Nash, which highlights the diverse influences on the group as songwriters. The song goes full circle and ends with a brief reprise of the opening chorus which concludes this very beautiful and well-crafted musical suite. 'Firefly' doesn't reach the heights of 'July Morning' or 'Pilgrim' but it is a wonderfully constructed and produced pieces of music and is a sublime ending to this fine record.
Firefly is one of the most overlooked and solid records in their groups lengthy back catologue. There is a cohesion to album, like the brilliant Demons and Wizards or The Magicians Birthday, That band hadn't achieved in a number of years. Of course Heep have better albums with better songs, but Firefly flows so effortless and sounds like a group who have rediscovered the love of playing melodic rock music again. The Lawton years, to me, are very underrated. Yes, the bands sound become a tad more commercial, but the group had always had a melodic touch that contemporaries like Deep Purple lacked. To me their songs have often contained 'pop' elements and fully embraced the lighter side of rock music without ever losing that heavy touch. I have always found it difficult choosing which UH album I like the most, a debate I still have today. Firefly maybe not my favourite (I'm not sure what is!), but it is the LP that I certainly play the most and will always defend defiantly.
Enjoy!
Key tracks:
The Hanging Tree
Wise Man
Firefly
If you liked this album, check out:
Rough Diamond - Rough Diamond 1977
Bad Company - Straight Shooter 1975
Deep Purple - Come Taste the Band 1976
