DICKEN'S VILLAIN

Uriah Heep is one of Charles Dickens’ ultimate villains, appearing in the book David Copperfield where he acts as antagonist, and suitable obstacle to most of David’s plans. He’s memorable for Dickens’ keen descriptions of him: tall and lanky, pale white with pale red hair, and a propensity to constant movement or wiggling. In fact, in modern times, this last feature has suggested to physicians and literary critics alike that Dickens was describing Heep as having a physical disorder, which some suggest was dystonia, a neurological disorder that causes repetitive motion, odd postures and twisting uncontrolled motions.

It should not be assumed that Dickens was attempting to defame people with illnesses by giving Uriah Heep a medical disorder. People should recall the book also contains the admirable Miss Mowcher, who has dwarfism and ultimately displays a true heart and good purpose. Other characters in Dickens’ novels with physical disorders are excellent folk rather than being as villainous as Uriah Heep.

Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London, England in 1969 and regarded (along with Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin) as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and (in the early years) David Byron's operatic vocals.
Taking their name from the aforementioned Dicken's writing it is a fitting name for their musical excursions.

1970-12-29
Berlin, West Germany

Setlist

1. BIRD OF PREY
2. TIME TO LIVE
3. SEE YOU IN MY DREAMS TONIGHT aka So Nice
4. DREAMMARE incl. Guitar Solo
5. SIMON THE BULLET FREAK
6. SALISBURY
7. GYPSY


URIAH HEEP

DAVID BYRON- Vocals
MICK BOX- Guitar
KEN HENSLEY- Keyboards
PAUL NEWTON- Bass
IAIN CLARK- Drums

This is a very good sounding audience recording of Uriah Heep's performance in Berlin, Germany during the "Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble" tour on December 29th, 1970. It is the earliest known Heep concert to have been captured on tape so far (about 2 months before the second LP "Salisbury" was released) and thus features the earliest known live versions of the songs performed. Moreover, it contains the only known recording of 'Simon The Bullet Freak' (B-side single & opener of the US version of the "Salisbury" LP) to have surfaced so far, but sadly misses the last few seconds of the song. Otherwise, it features the complete 1-hour performance.

The show also includes 3 tracks from "Salisbury" ('Bird Of Prey', 'Time To Live' and the entire version (without the orchestra) of the title track 'Salisbury'), 2 tracks from "Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble" ('Dreammare' and 'Gypsy') plus an unreleased (and probably unrecorded) song that essentially has no title. It is usually found in the trading circles as 'So Nice' or 'See You In My Dreams Tonight' and it was mainly a chance for Ken Hensley to show his skills on guitar (followed by 'Dreammare' in the live sets of the era which featured both Mick Box and Ken Hensley on guitar).

Amazing live versions of all tracks with David Byron’s performance beyond and out of any criticism. He is totally out of this world: going from high to low notes so easily and fast and singing so effortlessly, yet so passionately. There is not even a mediocre second throughout his entire performance, but only unique, extraordinary moments that prove what an amazing vocalist and talent he was. Too bad a soundboard recording from this era doesn’t exist, thus "preventing" the fans from realizing just how great he was on stage back in 1970. His performance during the last minute of 'Time To Live' is simply amazing, let alone his "weirdly inspired" and somewhat loose/aggressive singing on 'Simon The Bullet Freak'.

The performance of the rest of the band is also great and tight as they were still trying to establish themselves which is partially proven by the extremely heavy touring schedule that followed the next year