SALISBURY

While Ken Hensley played on Uriah Heep's debut album, he didn't write any of the material for that album. On this one, on the other hand, Hensley wrote, or co-wrote, all songs but one. Maybe this is part of the reason for the band making a gigantic leap forward with this, their second album; Salisbury. However, it cannot be the whole explanation, since the opening number Bird of Pray was written by Box and Byron and it is one of the best songs here, miles ahead of Gypsy from the previous album.

If you thought that Rob Halford of Judas Priest was the originator of a certain style of singing, then listen to Bird Of Pray and you will be amazed, bearing in mind that this was done in 1971, several years before Halford ever put his voice to any album. The harmony vocals on this track are also a precursor to what Queen would do a couple of years later. Great stuff and quite groundbreaking at the time.

The Park is a jazzy piece, quite similar to some songs on Yes first two albums. Lady In Black is a classic, a folky sing-a-long song.

The title track, incorporating full orchestra, is clearly inspired by Deep Purple's Concerto for Group and Orchestra, but this is much better! Still, it is the least good song on this album, and it lacks a really memorable melody. It also feels a bit out of place among the other songs and it tends to become a bit tedious towards the end.

Even if Salisbury is very much better than the debut, it is still a little bit shaky. The vocals are not always on track and the sound quality isn't perfect. Still, Salisbury is one Uriah Heep's very best albums and an excellent addition to your prog collection.