This was the last of three albums to feature vocalist John Lawton (Lucifer’s Friend). Proceedings take a further smooth turn with 'Fallen Angel', the title track from the ‘Fallen Angel’ (1979) album. The atmospheric 'The Park' from the second album ‘Salisbury’ (1971) tantalises the senses before the dramatic 'Echoes in the Dark' from the ‘The Magician's Birthday’ (1972) startles with its majestic grandeur! On a lighter note, 'Misty Eyes' is another bright ballad from the ‘High and Mighty’ (1976) album. The sensational 'July Morning' from the third album ‘Look At Yourself’ (1971) is one of Heep’s best-loved songs, with some exquisite vocals from Byron and dexterous Hammond from Hensley. The powerful Hammond heavy 'Circle of Hands' is another great track from the classic ‘Demons and Wizards’ (1972) album. ![]() 'Rain' is a beautiful piano ballad from the classic ‘The Magician's Birthday’ (1972) album. Byron was sacked soon after for his excessive drug and alcohol usage which was affecting his performance on stage and unreliability in the studio. This is a more commercial sounding album, but with less great songs, probably due to the strained atmosphere within the band at the time, not one of their best. The sweet ballad 'Weep In Silence' is from original vocalist David Byron’s last album with Heep, ‘High and Mighty’ (1976). Kicking off with the slow burn of 'Paradise' before segueing into the monumental bombast of ‘The Spell', both from one of Heep's best loved albums ‘Demons and Wizards’ (1972). His fourteen selections are all from the albums he features on from 1971 - 1979. Hensley was with Uriah Heep from 1969 - 1980 and appears on thirteen studio albums, sadly he passed away in November 2020. The first CD was compiled by original member Ken Hensley. This collection of seventy seven tracks is completed with six art cards which carry personal notations from each band member and their reproduced signature. Created with the full collaboration of Uriah Heep themselves and curated by guitarist and founder member Mick Box, the six discs include personal selections from original keyboards/guitar/songwriter Ken Hensley and classic era drummer Lee Kerslake, who both sadly passed away in 2020, original bass player Paul Newton, current keyboard player Phil Lanzon and current lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, who have both been with the band for thirty five years. This compilation features a personal selection of Uriah Heep hits and deep cuts from across the band’s fifty two year and twenty four album career. It was high time for Lawton to let his operatic pipes shine, and he did over the course of 3 phenomenal albums.British Hard Rock stalwarts Uriah Heep are set to release a 6 CD 'Choices' box set this Friday 24th September through BMG. Meanwhile, Lucifer’s Friend had reached a creative stalemate, abandoning their early metal sound for a more AM friendly approach. ![]() Ian Gillan was too busy with his namesake jazz rock band, Ronnie James Dio was butting heads with Ritchie Blackmore in Rainbow, and while I’m sure Rob Halford would’ve jumped at the opportunity, Judas Priest was just getting off the ground. If anyone was going to fill the massive shoes of David Byron, it was Lawton. As the years went on, he’d also lend his talents to classic albums from Zar, Rebel, and the legendary Uriah Heep. For most headbangers, Lawton is best known for his work with early German metal pioneers, Lucifer’s Friend. A year ago today, the world lost one of the finest voices in hard and heavy music, John Lawton.
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