URIAH HEEP — The Magician's Birthday

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3.88 | 51 ratings | 4 reviews

Album · 1972

Filed under Hard Rock
By URIAH HEEP

Tracklist

1. Sunrise (4:06)
2. Spider Woman (2:29)
3. Blind Eye (3:36)
4. Echoes In The Dark (4:53)
5. Rain (4:02)
6. Sweet Lorraine (4:17)
7. Tales (4:10)
8. The Magician's Birthday (10:21)

Total Time 37:57

Line-up/Musicians

- David Byron / vocals
- Ken Hensley / keyboards, guitars, Moog synthesizer
- Mick Box / guitar
- Gary Thain / bass guitar
- Lee Kerslake / drums, percussion, kazoo

- Brian Cole / pedal steel guitar (track 7)

About this release

10 December 1972
Bronze, Mercury

Reissued by Castle in 1996 with the following bonus tracks:

9. Silver White Man (out-take) (3:43)
10. Crystal Ball (out-take) (4:08)

Reissued by Castle in 2003 with the following bonus tracks:

9. Crystal Ball (out-take) (4:08)
10. Silver White Man (out-take) (3:40)
11. Proud Words On A Dusty Shelf (alternate version) (3:24)
12. Echoes In The Dark (single edit) (4:23)
13. Rain (single edit) (3:16)
14. Happy Birthday (The Magician's Birthday single edit) (4:44)
15. Sunrise (single edit) (2:49)
16. Gary's Song (Crystal Ball alternate version) (4:25)
17. Silver White Man (instrumental version) (3:43)

Thanks to Pekka, cannon, Time Signature, Lynx33 for the updates

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URIAH HEEP THE MAGICIAN'S BIRTHDAY reviews

Specialists/collaborators reviews

Warthur

Though undeniably a pleasant listen, Uriah Heep's The Magician's Birthday doesn't quite measure up to the high standards of the run of albums leading up to it. The soaring, fantastic atmosphere of Demons and Wizards occasionally peeps in here and there, which saves the album from total mediocrity, but the glorious heights reached on that album are nowhere to be seen here. Simply put, doesn't really have any truly memorable standout songs that remain with you after listening - something every Heep album from Salisbury to Demons and Wizards offered in spades. Simply put, I could listen intently to the album and then an hour later I couldn't remember what most of the songs sound like aside from Sweet Lorraine - something which certainly isn't true of Salisbury or Demons and Wizards.

Although the band do seem to be trying to evolve their sound here, as they have for their previous albums, this is the first time that to my ears that evolution results in a dead end rather than a fruitful avenue for further exploration. The attempt to dial back and present a quieter and more sedate Uriah Heep on several of the tracks is particularly bizarre, given how successful the heavier portions of Demons and Wizards were.

Worth it if you were bowled over by Demons and Wizards and don't mind that the artwork manages to be closer to the spirit of that album than the music a lot of the time, but The Magician's Birthday marks the waning of Heep's classic period in my view.

more than 2 years ago
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Report #278131

AtomicCrimsonRush

Perhaps one of the proggiest Uriah Heep releases "The Magicians Birthday" is a fantastic collection of songs that often find their way onto compilations of the group. There are no dull moments and most of these tracks tell a story that is compelling and surreal. 'Sunrise', 'Spider Woman' and 'Blind Eye' start this off with huge blues riffs and heavy distorted hammering riffs. Hensley's Hammond is an impactful force on each track giving a decidedly eerie effect.

'Echoes In The Dark' begins with a downright chilling intro with ethereal organ and dark riffs. It turns into a song full of very powerful riffs and atmospheres.

'Rain' is one of the quieter Heep Songs and it works okay as a break between all the mayhem. It became a popular entry in live performances as did 'Sweet Lorraine'. The album really gets into prog territory with the incredible 'Tales', but the piece de resistence is undoubtedly the 10 minute 'The Magician's Birthday'. This veritable icing on the cake features lengthy solos, tons of Hammond and guitar fills, along with isolated drums and even a kazoo for good measure. The quirky birthday tunes embedded are fun and of course the band were never taking them seriously... that came later.

Overall this album comes recommended for heavy prog fans and it is undoubtedly one of Uriah Heep's finest achievements.

more than 2 years ago
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Report #253668

bonnek

After 4 good to excellent record, Uriah’s heap started becoming something of a mess.

Sunrise is a great track, repeating some of the old tricks but nevertheless inspiring the band to an enthusiast performance. The chorus is a bit cheesy but still ok. Tracks like Spider Woman however give ample proof of the dwindling inspiration of this band. Blind Eye has a few better parts but the chorus indicates the looming stagnation that would demote Uriah Heep to a second rate hard rock band from the second half of the 70’s onwards.

And it keeps raining half ideas and ill-advised songs, Echoes in the Dark could have been a good example of their gothic side but the tack chord change around minute 2.40 can only inspire me to deeply disappointed sighs. Sweet Loraine has a great opening theme but quickly sinks down to insipid and substandard hard rock.

Tales offers another glimpse of what Heep used to be, but unfortunately the album mainly excels in proving their deteriorating talent. Recommended to symphonic fans only.

more than 2 years ago
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Report #234641

poslednijat_colobar

Entering psychedelic domain with unapproachability

It is really hard to be evaluated such a variety and professionalism incorporeted into one band. Such a band is Uriah Heep and they proove it over and over again. This time with their 5th studio album - The Magician's Birthday. This album continues the psychedelic foundations of the previous masterpiece... and contains a candidate of my all time favourite composition - the homonymous The Magician's Birthday.

All the musicians are at the top of their songwriting and musical abilities. And especially the giant voice of David Byron, who shakes and touches everything it reach with its mightiness and gentleness. The solos of Mick Box rock strongly. The rhythm made by Gary Thain and Lee Kerslake is well-arranged. The combination of light and dark tunes by Ken Hensley complete the whole picture of suprimacy.

Remarkable psychedelic album and one of my all time favourite. Probably the best Uriah Heep album. It is so beautiful, full of grief and great arrangements. This is an album full of everything. You can find hit single - Sweet Loraine, you can find slow songs (something like psychedelic ballads) like Blind Eye and Rain, you can find rock & roll - Spider Woman, and finally you can find genius masterpieces - The Magician's Birthday and Tales.

The Magician's Birthday is a fundamental album by and for Uriah Heep! And all around the album you feel the thin psychedelic line, that makes everything so great.The Magician's Birthday is one of the greatest epic songs for me and its title is used for the name of Uriah Heep festival. Divine music by a divine band. 5 stars