Look At Yourself

Description
The band’s third album ‘Look At Yourself’ was originally released in October of 1971 and represented the first for manager Gerry Bron’s new label ‘Bronze Records’. The title track is a charging statement of intent as the band don’t let up, with no time to reflect on their success. Such was their hectic schedule at this time they managed to cram touring, session time and 3 albums in the space of 12 months. These re-packaged and re-mastered albums have been endorsed by the band all with a bonus disc of un-released material. ‘Look At Yourself’ was released with a unique foil front cover and this has been faithfully re-created in a lavish digipack format using foil board material which presents the entire package in a new and shimmering light.

Tracklist
[CD1]
1. Look At Yourself (2016 Remaster)
2. I Wanna Be Free (2016 Remaster)
3. July Morning (2016 Remaster)
4. Tears In My Eyes (2016 Remaster)
5. Shadows Of Grief (2016 Remaster)
6. What Should Be Done (2016 Remaster)
7. Love Machine (2016 Remaster)

[CD2]
1. I Wanna Be Free (Alternative Mix)
2. Tears In My Eyes (Alternative Mix)
3. What Should Be Done (Alternative Mix)
4. Shadows Of Grief (Alternative Mix)
5. Look At Yourself (Alternative Mix)
6. July Morning (Alternative Mix)
7. Why Fourteen Minutes (Alternative Mix)
8. Love Machine (Alternative Mix)
9. What's Within My Heart (Alternative Mix)
10. July Morning (Alternative Mix; Live)
11. Look At Yourself (Alternative Single Version)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MYGVW0Z/?tag=imwan-20

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Demons And Wizards

Description
Initially released in 1972 ‘Demons And Wizards’ is the fourth album by British rock band Uriah Heep. Fast forward 45 years it still remains a timeless classic. Painstakingly remastered by Andy Pearce this 2CD set also includes alternative mixes that excite, reignite and rejuvenate. Extensive liner notes penned by best-selling author Joel McIver tell the story of the band’s ascent to the very top and are accompanied by new and revealing accounts of the time from Mick Box and Ken Hensley. ‘Demons And Wizards’ catapulted the band into the stratosphere with over 3 million copies sold worldwide. The newfound chemistry with Gary Thain joining Heep midway through their American tour immediately paid dividends, the classic line-up of Uriah Heep was born. Tracks such as ‘The Wizard’ & ‘Easy Livin’’ became synonymous with the band's success, with biographer K.Blows later going on to say “Everything clicked into place” and it did. ‘Demons And Wizards’ reached No.20 in the UK, No.23 in the US and for 14 weeks it topped the charts in Finland.

Tracklist
[CD1]
1. The Wizard (2017 Remaster)
2. Traveller In Time (2017 Remaster)
3. Easy Livin' (2017 Remaster)
4. Poet's Justice (2017 Remaster)
5. Circle Of Hands (2017 Remaster)
6. Rainbow Demon (2017 Remaster)
7. All My Life (2017 Remaster)
8. Paradise (2017 Remaster)
9. The Spell (2017 Remaster)

[CD2]
1. Easy Livin' (Alternative Version)
2. Rainbow Demon (Alternative Version)
3. Traveller In Time (Alternative Version)
4. Paradise (Alternative Version)
5. The Spell (Alternative Version)
6. All My Life (Alternative Version)
7. Home Again To You (Alternative Version)
8. Why (Alternative Version)
9. The Wizard (Alternative Version)
10. Poet's Justice (Alternative Version)
11. Circle Of Hands (Alternative Version)
12. Proud Words (Alternative Version)
13. Green Eye (Alternative Version)
14. Why (Alternative Single Edit)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N80VYP2/?tag=imwan-20

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The Magician's Birthday

Description
Initially released in 1972 ‘The Magician's Birthday’ is the fifth album by British rock band Uriah Heep. Fast forward 46 years it still remains a timeless classic. Painstakingly remastered by Andy Pearce this 2CD set also includes alternative mixes that excite, reignite and rejuvenate. Extensive liner notes penned by best-selling author Joel McIver tell the story of the band’s ascent to the very top and are accompanied by new and revealing accounts of the time from Mick Box and Ken Hensley. Following the meteoric success of their previous release ‘Demons And Wizards’ that firmly cemented Heep’s legendary status ‘The Magician’s Birthday’ did not disappoint. In fact, it carried on from where the previous album left off, selling 2.5 million copies worldwide.

Tracklist
[CD1]
1. Sunrise (2017 Remaster)
2. Spider Woman (2017 Remaster)
3. Blind Eye (2017 Remaster)
4. Echoes In The Dark (2017 Remaster)
5. Rain (2017 Remaster)
6. Sweet Lorraine (2017 Remaster)
7. Tales (2017 Remaster)
8. The Magician's Birthday (2017 Remaster)

[CD2]
1. Echoes In The Dark (Alternative Version)
2. Sweet Lorraine (Alternative Version)
3. Blind Eye (Alternative Version)
4. Tales (Alternative Version)
5. Silver White Man (Alternative Version)
6. Sunrise (Alternative Version)
7. Crystal Ball (Alternative Version)
8. Spider Woman (Alternative Version)
9. The Magician's Birthday (Alternative Version)
10. Rain (Alternative Version)
11. Silver White Man (No Vox; Alternative Version)
12. Happy Birthday (Alternative Version)
13. Sunrise (Alternative Single Version)
14. Sweet Lorraine (Alternative Single Version)
15. Gary's Song (Alternative Version)

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NA0EDBD/?tag=imwan-20

The cream of the crop and Andy Pearce will have these sounding better than ever, no doubt!

I hope they break the pattern of the 1st 2 if CD #1 sounding great & cd #2 sounding awful.

Though I'll be happy just to have decent sounding hi res editions of the main cd for Magician's & Demons.

I am sooooo in for these. I followed Pete's advice and bought the first two releases. They do sound damn good. My only gripe on those is the music itself. Their first two albums weren't the cream of the crop. They were the stepping stones of what was to come. Good songs, but hit and miss at the same time. Of course, this is my personal opinion. For example, Genesis is my fave band of all time and their first 3 (that means Revelations included) aren't as strong as the last 3 with Gabriel.

I look forward to hearing what Demons sounds like compared to the Japan release/remaster I've spoken about. I find it hard to believe that could be improved upon. Either way, I'll get it, if nothing for the extra tracks.

And yes..... the Live 1972 will be glorious. The remasters of the first two will prove that. Rick will love it. That remaster I bought a few years ago was damn good to the ears.

You were right the "Live 1972" was even better than I remembered. Finding the Deluxe used I pounced on that.

As for the next three as Pete states and we all agree this where they are entering their sweet spot. Man, I hope Andy Pearce continues his great work. I will be getting all 3 for sure.

Rick A.

Not to nitpick...but it's live 1973 lol.

And yes, Andy Pearce did a wonderful job.

I thought the 2004 remasters were very good, but these are so much better and cleaner sounding with more definition.

Also, I do not have to lower the volume.

Honestly, I'm not sure about Geff's comments on the 2nd discs being "awful", but the sources for those tracks is not the same as the albums themselves, and these are alternates takes and mixes never intended for release.

These were thought to have been discarded in the early 70s. As far back as the late 80s they were discovered in the vaults, many on reel to reel.

I do agree with Geff that they don't sound as good as the album, but why would they and how could they.

I also agree with Mark that the first two albums were just a stepping stone.

My fave eras of Heep are of course the big years from 1971-75, as well as the revivals of 1982-85 and 1995 to the present. I also love Firefly, but that's the only goo Lawton-era album IMO and the one Sloman-era album Conquest sucks out loud, but of course I will buy every remaster they do!

Details, details.

My complaint about the 2 bonus discs so far is the excessive compression. Odd that the main albums are really pretty well done & they felt the need to brickwall the bonus discs.

I guess since the bonus trax on Magicians & Demons are just remixes, I probably don't care all that much about disc 2. I already have the very good Japan SACD of Look At Yourself.

I do agree with someone who wrote earlier that these & Live 1973 are the cream of the crop.

Demons and Wizards is a fun album well recommend

It was such haze, '72 '73.

Rick A.

These are remixes of songs that didn't make the album and alternate takes, so they aren't just remixes of existing material.

Foe example, the famous outtake "Why" is as good as anything Heep ever recorded and most versions are in the 8-12 minute range.

They will also detail which number takes these are and from when.

I'm not hearing what you are on these second discs, but maybe others are?

My main concern is always the original album with any reissue/remaster/remix with the additional material secondary, and here the original albums have really been given an excellent run-through by Andy Pearce.

I don't hear any compression. That's not to say it isn't there, but the demos/alternate takes sound fine to me. They're a little rough around the edges, but that's due to those takes not being properly mastered/mixed back in the day.... probably because they weren't obviously intended on being used. Pearce did what he could with what he had to work with. The guy that did the last round of Rush remasters said the same exact thing about All The World's A Stage. There were a few spots in that recording that he couldn't fix. Source tapes have limitations. That's what it all comes down to. That's why Sabbath's Born Again sounds abysmal after 2 or 3 remasters. You can't fix a bad tape when you don't have the original masters.

Exactly what I was saying.

Glad we agree-two geniuses! Ha Ha

Bump: These are now going to be released domestically. See the first post for updated details.

I'm gonna try Demons And Wizards!

Inexplicably, these follow the pattern of the first 2 re: compression:

The main cd's are an almost acceptable Dr10 (your 2003 DE's will sound better), & the bonus discs are an AWFUL DR4-DR5 which is 3 steps away from Pink Noise.

I have these on tap for tonight. I was happy with the previous efforts and with Andy Pearce at the board I have high expectation due to his previous work.

Rick A.

I don't know what you're listening to, Geff. These sound fine to me. I'm actually listening to Disc 2 of Look At Yourself as I type. Sounds fine to me. But then again, I didn't yank out my Foobar app to check the DR levels.

Got my Demons And Wizards yesterday.

I bought all three. So far, only listened to Look At Yourself. I also got the new Fleetwood remaster. That sounded great after all these years.

I preordered all 3 from Amazon about a month ago and they have not shipped yet. Usually when I've preordered CDs I would get them they day they came out.

Something definitely not right about this Don. Mark and I have received ours. What does your the Amazon order page say? Did you order from U.S or UK?

Rick A.