THE MAGICIAN'S BIRTHDAY

Without doubt, Uriah Heep´s finest hour in the studio. Together with Demons and Wizzards, it represents the peak of the band, both in terms of songwriting and perfomance. It is only ironic that such masterpiece came from an aborted project. It seems that Ken Hensley wanted to do a conceptual album about a magician completing his 500th anniversary. The rest of the band was against it, claiming they should also include some other, radio friendly, stuff. Still, it seems that most of the tracks here were intended for the original concept.

The result might not be what Hensley had in mind, but it was a classic, one fo rock´s most powerful and creative works to this day. The title track is surely the best piece of the album, a 10 minute epic with a fantastic, haunting lyric and a stunning performance by all band members. David Byron´s vocals on this track proves he was one of rock´s best vocalists of all time. Other highlights are Sunrise (a classic), Tales, Blind Eye and Sweet Lorraine. In fact, the whole album works very well and the only song that seems out fo place here is Spider Woman. And even this one is not bad.

My sister was a Heep fanatic during the seventies and I understand why. After all this years, The Magicians Birthday did not aged a bit. It is still my Uriah Heep´s fave album and the most pleasant to hear nowadyas (even if Demons And Wizzards is a close match). Definitly a 5 star album with all its glory.