LIVE ON THE KING BISCUIT FLOWER HOUR

Don't get me wrong with my 2-star rating. For me personally, I love this live album for one reason: I love the band since I was a child when "Demons and Wizard" blew me off. So, I collect almost any live version of the band. However, I don't want to give higher rating because if you are not a fan of this band, I would not recommend you to buy this record. I would suggest you to buy URIAH HEEP LIVE January 73 which is much much better than this one.

The interesting part of this album is the sleeve note. It has KEN HENSLEY's comments, King Biscuit write-up and most interestingly .. a write-up of HEEP die-hard fan DALE FREDERICKS. I really love the write-ups of KEN and DALE. For example, I like the "honesty" demonstrated by KEN HENSLEY when he admittedly said that the first two tracks of this album he was missing harmony. Indeed, when I listened to the CD, he was right - the music does not sound nicely especially in his organ / keyboard.

I also like DALE's comment about the show where he was really "entrance" with the occassion. He mentioned that he played multi instruments (one man band) as he imagined himself playing lead "air" guitar, sing, bass playing, keyboard playing and drum. After the show he got blue on his knees for weeks because he moved his body all the time during the show. He even did not let him to go to the toilet for "liquidity break" just to make sure his position at the floor where he stood would not be taken by others. One statement that I like from him is: "I became so emotional at that moment that I believe I started crying from excitement!" Yeah ... it applies to me when I experience terrific composition of rock music.

For me personally, I definitely love this album! Even though the sonic quality is really poor. There are some technical glitches here and there. David's communication with the audience is excellent! UH Live 73 has much better sound quality production than this CD.

So ... it's your call whether or not to buy this CD. Gatot Widayanto, Indonesia.

When someone or something is approaching its end, we used to say that "it has one leg in it's grave". Well, on the start of the 80's it was almost sad true for most of the great 70's dinosaur groups. The bands were splitting up, frequently changing lineups, unsuccessfully trying to make and play their old music on new way, while artists were recording solo albums. And when it looked like that it was over, something happened that change the music industry history and music itself. The CD was invented! The music became digitalized and compact. Legal and illegal ways of distributing and copying music on easier way opened ears of new generations of listeners, and the older ones finally were able to hear their favorite worn out records without cracks and pops. And Jack-in-the-green made everything green and nice again! Old albums were pressed on new medium, remastered, expanded, with new liner notes, many single albums became double, and lot of archive recordings, mostly live, were pulled out from dust to the light of the day, on satisfaction of collectionists, who were unable to found those rare and expensive bootleg live LPs.

This CD from 1997 is absolutely of that dusty kind. Aimed to be consumed by Uriah Heep completionists, it represents 1974 February San Diego concert. Poorly recorded, even for that year, and with some problematic David Byron singing, it is still interesting because of inclusion of songs "Seven Stars" and "Sweet Freedom" from 1973 studio album. In the liner notes from 2003 USA issue, named "Greatest Hits Live", with "two deer" cover artwork, in "total ear" stereo sound, whatever it is, Ken Hensley said that the original 93 minute show was edited because of the 80 minutes CD finish mark, omitted some drum and keyboard solos. Although there is drum solo as a separate track, it's pity that instead of, oh not again, rock'n'roll medley at the end like on 1973 official live record, some keyboard solo or other song was not included. It would be much better. Rock'n'roll medley maybe has it's function on the concert, but on the more than 30 year old recording of that concert has not.

People who like Uriah Heep, especially their legendary lineup, will like this CD, but who don't, this CD will not help them. There are a lot of live CDs issued in last ten years of much better artistic and sonic quality to start with, featuring their longest lasting lineup, either "acoustically" or "electrically" driven. We are still waiting for some great live 70's concert.

Just to mention, there are not many progressive elements on Uriah Heep live recordings, You must search for it on their albums from dinosaur period.

I wish "there I was on some July evening"!

Fan's money is definitely in danger. The Heep released three live albums from their legendary era. Needless to say, you should only bother with "the reference", which is "Uriah Heep Live" (IMO). This one, recorded during a Californian show (San Diego) is pretty weak in terms of sound recording during the first two tracks. The band is not really in top form : Byron sounds a bit weak during "Easy Livin" & "Sweet Lorraine" then, hopefully gets better later on.

Hensley great solos are too scarce except in "July Morning". This live performance is probably even superior to "the reference". Both Byron and Hensley are just superb (as they always ought to be). I should include the whole band actually. Each member contributing to release a fabulous performance of this great hard-rock number.

Track listing is great. Their latest album ("Sweet Fredom") is well represented (three tracks) which is normal for a supporting tour. "Sweet Freedom" and "Stealin" are quite well played and are not far from their classic repertoire. I'm not 100% sure though that the audience part will add great value to "Sweet Freedom". But I usually do not like these "interventions", so I am pretty biased and negative when such moments are involved (even when I am in the audience).

This album is better than "Live at Shepperton" and is definitely complementary with "the reference". The album ends, as usual for their era, with a rock'n'roll medley (Roll Over Beethoven, Blue Suede Shoes, Hound Dog, At The Hop, and a BSS finale). All in all, a very good live album. Four stars.