SWEET FREEDOM

This is classic Heep make no mistake. Things went amazingly dodgy after this album , and any comparisons between this and the following 'Wonderworld' should make any sensible music fan laugh (although admittedly 'Wonderworld' does have 2 or 3 good tracks). This is a highly polished, very melodic, and well produced rock/prog.album, every track is excellent bar 'Seven Stars' which is just 'good'. 'Sunshine', the throw away b-side of 'Stealin' ( at a time when NOBODY bought rock singles), should certainly have been on the original album...it just proves what top form they and Gerry Bron were in at this time. I especially love the production which can only be described as meaty and powerful ! Box's guitar leaps out, heavy keyboards, thudding Thain bass, Kerslake pounding and Byron's superb singing/screaming...check out Pilgrim if you doubt me! It also has the obligatory acoustic track: 'Circus', which is a beautiful counter to the general umph of the rest of the stuff. If you have not heard this album then get hold of it NOW. I place this on a par with 'Demons' although they are different kinds of albums.