The Shadow And The Wind: 1973-1974 5CD Boxset

The classic Live 1973 album expanded, plus a live set from 1974 along with two studio albums from the early 70s. Following hot on the heels of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath, British hard rock legends Uriah Heep released their debut album in June 1970. Featuring David Byron on lead vocals, Mick Box on lead guitar and Ken Hensley on keyboards, Very Eavy Very Umble is quite rightly regarded as a major influence on the development of hard rock and heavy metal. 1970 was the centenary of Charles Dickens death, and having originally been called Spice, they switched to the more Dickensian Uriah Heep when Hensley joined their ranks after spells in The Gods and Toe Fat before recording their debut. Like their hard rocking contemporaries of the 1970s, it was live on stage where Uriah Heep truly shone, and no selfrespecting rock or metal band of the era could be without a classic double live album, and Uriah Heep Live CD1 is no exception. Recorded at Birmingham Town Hall in January 1973, and released three months later, it delivered their third gold record in a row in the States, it remains a testament to the classic lineup of BoxHensleyByronKerslakeThain. Back in the days when bands were expected to be prolific enough to release two new albums a year, Uriah Heep released their sixth studio album Sweet Freedom CD3 in 1973, by which time they had been joined by drummer Lee Kerslake Ozzy Osbourne and bassist Gary Thain, which many see as the most enduring lineup of the band. The album saw Ken Hensley develop as a songwriter, with the music a blend of proto heavy metal and progressive rock, consolidating their growing popularity at home as well as the all important US market. Sweet Freedom was followed by Wonderworld039 CD4 in June 1974, with the hard rock attack of Mick Boxs guitar, alloyed to Ken Hensleys keyboards and David Byrons operatic vocal approach making the band a formative influence on bands such as Queen. With a significant dent in the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, Wonderworld featured the single Something Or Nothing, but was the last studio album to feature bass guitarist Gary Thain. It was the classic BoxHensleyByronKerslakeThain lineup that would record Live at Shepperton 74039 CD5 the same year. Issued in bootleg style artwork, the album wasnt given an official release until 1986, and captures the band in a more intimate setting in front of a much smaller, invited audience. CD2 was originally released as part of a deluxe version of Live 1973 and features the band in 1974 with a US Radio show session, and with film mixes from the Shepperton show and on an extended Rock n Roll Medley. Uriah Heep continued to tour and release new albums until the present day. In 2025 they launched their farewell tour, celebrating 55 years of music. The package includes liner notes based on new interviews with founder member, Mick Box.