Review Uriah Heep - Sweet Freedom (1973)

[Nololob]

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Here it is, ladies and gents - 6th studio album titled "Sweet Freedom"
Basic info:
Date of release - September 1973
Line up - David Byron – vocals; Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitars, Vocals; Mick Box – Guitar; Gary Thain – bass guitar; Lee Kerslake – drums, percussion, vocals
Track listing A side: 1. Dreamer 2. Stealin' 3. One Day 4. Sweet Freedom
Track listing B side: 1. If I Had The Time 2. Seven Stars 3. Circus 4. Pilgrim

Dreamer
Drum intro by Mr. Kerslake and Box joining after 4 bars with a guitar solo gives an idea of what album might sounds like. High pitch vocals by David at the very last seconds of the song. Opener of A side, which is guitar driven Heep (mostly).

Stealin'
Horse riding/boogie rock 'n' roller, starts with one note bass. Another fantastic guitar solo by Mick.

One Day
Not so heavy and not so soft. Probably one of those simple rock songs without guitar solo.

Sweet Freedom
Very soft vocals making you singing gently "sweet freedom" with the band.

If I Had The Time
Opener of B side, which is keyboard fronted Heep. Split into 3 vocal section, each one is stronger.

Seven Stars
Acoustically 3 chord driven song, rather happy song. David and (probably) Ken are singing an alphabet at the end.

Circus
Soft song, kind of "Come Away Melinda" feel from Veary 'Eavy Very 'Umble

Pilgrim
Heavy song with funky guitar on the first part of the song and doomy 'n' gloomy tempo on the second part. Another high pitch vocals from Mr. Byron. This song is credited as one of the main influences by Fenriz from Darkthrone. Ken Hensley used a bridge sample on his "Running Blind" album.


In my opinion this album is another Heep masterpiece, in fact the last best album with David Byron. Not as good as Magician's Birthday and Demons And Wizard as it has no fantasy feel and concept of the album. It does keep the heaviness of the previous albums though. I wouldn't recommend it as a first must have listen, but surely I would recommend it to you, if you dig some very important must-listen-to albums. My favourite song? It is hard to pick one, so I'm gonna go with "Seven Stars" and "Pilgim". Pilgrim is the heaviest track off this album.

 

[DaKillerWolf]

Nice review and great album Nolob

 

[Nololob]

Nice review and great album Nolob

Thanks. It is another great album I can fully listen to, including bonus tracks.

 

[METALPRIEST]

Yes great album!!! Brought it out tonight and Seven Stars is still my favorite from this. The ending is freaky! Even in standard stereo sitting between the speakers!!

 

[Nololob]

Yes great album!!! Brought it out tonight and Seven Stars is still my favorite from this. The ending is freaky! Even in standard stereo sitting between the speakers!!

ABCDEFGHIJKLM
ZYXWVUTSRQPON
NOPQRSTUVWXYZ
MLKJIHGFEDCBA

 

[METALPRIEST]

ABCDEFGHIJKLM
ZYXWVUTSRQPON
NOPQRSTUVWXYZ
MLKJIHGFEDCBA

Yup....freaky as hell...I always took it as a Ouiji Board gone haywire

 

[scarabus]

For me this is the best album by Uriah Heep.
My sister already had Demons and Wizards and when she got this one for X-mas from my parents I played it over and over again.
For me Pilgrim is the best song. Especially the drums during the break when Byron sings 'When leaders come, and leaders go ...."
"Love or War I could not choose..." (from the top of my head)

I got Deep Purple from Deep Purple from my parents....

 

[Sox]

Tidy review Nolo, a cracker of an album IMO full of great tunes.

 

[recgord27]

All the David Byron era albums were great. My favourite band so it has to a great album for me