- Demons and Wizards (album)
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For the Demons and Wizards album, see Demons and Wizards (Demons and Wizards album).
Demons and Wizards 
Studio album by Uriah Heep Released May 19, 1972 Recorded March–April 1972 at Lansdowne Studios, London Genre Hard rock, psychedelic rock, heavy metal, progressive rock Length 39:40 Label 
Bronze
MercuryProducer Gerry Bron Uriah Heep chronology Look at Yourself
(1971)Demons and Wizards
(1972)The Magician's Birthday
(1972)Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic 
[1]Demons and Wizards is the fourth album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.
The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, the front of which was designed by Roger Dean and contains a hidden erotic image of male and female genitalia. The inner of the gatefold had pictures of the band and notes by Ken Hensley, whilst the LP itself was housed in a liner on which were printed the lyrics.
The songs "The Wizard" and "Easy Livin'" were released as singles in the United Kingdom and North America, as well as many other markets. "Easy Livin'" entered the US Top 40 at #39, making it Heep's first and only American hit. "Easy Livin'" was also a mega hit in New Zealand and Germany, countries which were becoming a strong market for the band. It reached a disappointing #75 in Australia. The album itself was certified Gold in the US on 27 October 1972.[2]
The album is today regarded by many fans and critics alike as Uriah Heep's best album, often ranked against the preceding Look at Yourself. Even Rolling Stone, which printed an infamously negative review of the band's debut album, ran a positive assessment of Demons and Wizards. "These guys are good. The first side of Demons and Wizards is simply odds-on the finest high energy workout of the year, tying nose and nose with the Blue Oyster Cult," wrote Mike Saunders, who stated in conclusion, "they may have started out as a thoroughly dispensable neo-Cream & Blooze outfit, but at this point Uriah Heep are shaping up into one hell of a first-rate modern rock band."[3]
The album also served as partial inspiration for Hansi Kürsch and Jon Schaffer's side-project Demons and Wizards.
Contents
Track listing
All songs written by Ken Hensley except where noted.
- "The Wizard" (Mark Clarke, Ken Hensley) – 2:59
- "Traveller in Time" (Mick Box, David Byron, Lee Kerslake) – 3:25
- "Easy Livin'" – 2:37
- "Poet's Justice" (Box, Hensley, Kerslake) – 4:15
- "Circle of Hands" – 6:25
- "Rainbow Demon" – 4:25
- "All My Life" (Box, Byron, Kerslake) – 2:44
- "Paradise" – 5:10
- "The Spell" - 7:32
Demons and Wizards was remastered and reissued in 1995 with four bonus tracks:
- "Why (Single Edit)" (Box, Byron) – 4:53 – Original B-side single version.
- "Why (Extended Version)" (Box, Byron) – 7:39 – Long version recorded during the Demons and Wizards sessions early 1972.
- "Home Again to You (Demo)" – 5:28 – A demo recorded during the Demons and Wizards sessions.
- "Green Eye (Demo)" - 3:46 – A demo recorded during the Demons and Wizards sessions.
Reissued again in 2003 with the following bonus tracks:
- "Why (Extended Version)" - 10:34
- "Rainbow Demon (Single Edit)" - 3:36
- "Proud Words On a Dusty Shelf" - 2:52
- "Home Again to You (Demo)" - 5:36
- "Green Eye (Demo)" - 3:46
Personnel
- David Byron – vocals
- Ken Hensley – acoustic, electric and slide guitar, vocals, keyboards, percussion
- Mick Box – lead guitar, backing vocals
- Gary Thain – bass guitar (except for track one)
- Lee Kerslake – drums, percussion, vocals
- Mark Clarke – bass guitar, vocals on "The Wizard" (middle section)
Charts
- Norway #5
- Aus #14
- Italy #12
- UK #20
- US #23
- Finland #1 (14 weeks)
- Netherlands #5
References
- ^ "Allmusic review". http://www.allmusic.com/album/r20889.
- ^ "RIAA Gold & Platinum database". http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=uriah%20heep&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25. Retrieved 9 April 2009.
- ^ Saunders, Mike (November 23, 1972). "Demons and Wizards". Rolling Stone (Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.) (122): 66.
Uriah Heep Bernie Shaw · Mick Box · Trevor Bolder · Phil Lanzon · Russell Gilbrook
Ken Hensley · David Byron · Gary Thain · Lee Kerslake · John Lawton · John Wetton · Paul Newton · Ian Clarke · Keith Baker · Peter Goalby · John Sloman
Bob Daisley · John Sinclair · Gregg Dechert · Chris Slade · Mark Clarke · Nigel Olsson · Alex Napier · Steff FontaineStudio albums Very 'eavy... Very 'umble • Salisbury • Look at Yourself • Demons and Wizards • The Magician's Birthday • Sweet Freedom • Wonderworld • Return to Fantasy • High and Mighty • Firefly • Innocent Victim • Fallen Angel • Conquest • Abominog • Head First • Equator • Raging Silence • Different World • Sea of Light • Sonic Origami • Wake the Sleeper • Celebration • Into the WildLive albums Compilations The Lansdowne Tapes • Easy Livin': Singles A's & B's • Loud, Proud & Heavy: The Best of Uriah Heep • The Ultimate CollectionSongs Related articles Categories:- Uriah Heep albums
- Albums with cover art by Roger Dean
- 1972 albums
- Bronze Records albums
- Mercury Records albums
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