Uriah Heep, with the classic lineup, gave many great reasons for attaching to their style of music. They steadily climbed charts as they began with their debut set in 1970. Each successive album through 1976 heralded more great music from the highly creative line-up, varied by the ’70s somewhat. Most of their classic era sets have been revisited in collections and box sets.
On April 24, HNE Records (Cherry Red UK) will release a new 4CD boxed set to be titled Beautiful Dream 1975-1977. Within, the label will champion the four albums that were issued between 1975 and 1977, which includes Return To Fantasy (1975), High & Mighty (1976), Firefly (1977), and Innocent Victim (1977). Each CD in this box will include not only the original albums but also a collection of demos, live performance tracks, extended versions, alternates, and and non-album tracks.
Return To Fantasy features the arrival of John Wetton, who had replaced a fired Gary Thain due to his drug addiction (and who died later in 1975). Firefly features the newly installed Trevor Bolder replacing John Wetton, who had vacated his role within the band, and John Lawton, replacing a fired David Byron due to his increasing use of alcohol. The last album in this box retains the lineup of Bolder and Lawton.
Beautiful Dream 1975-1977 – Uriah Heep
CD1 (Return To Fantasy)
01 Return To Fantasy
02 Shady Lady
03 Devil’s Daughter
04 Beautiful Dream
05 Prima Donna
06 Your Turn To Remember
07 Showdown
08 Why Did You Go
09 A Year Or A Day
Bonus Tracks
10 Shout It Out (B-side)
11 The Time Will Come (B-side)
12 Prima Donna (Alternate Demo Version)
13 Why Did You Go (Alternate Demo Version)
14 Showdown (Alternate Demo Version)
15 Beautiful Dream (Alternate Demo Version)
16 Return To Fantasy (Extended Version)
CD2 (High & Mighty)
01 One Way Or Another
02 Weep In Silence
03 Misty Eyes
04 Midnight
05 Can’t Keep A Good Band Down
06 Woman Of The World
07 Footprints In The Snow
08 Can’t Stop Singing
09 Make A Little Love
10 Confession
Bonus Tracks
11 Name Of The Game (Previously Unreleased Version)
12 Sundown (Alternate Version)
13 Weep In Silence (Previously Unreleased Extended Version)
14 Name Of The Game (Demo Version)
15 Does Anything Matter (Demo Version)
16 I Close My Eyes (Demo Version)
17 Take Care (Demo Version)
18 Can’t Keep A Good Band Down (Edited Version)
CD3 (Firefly)
01 The Hanging Tree
02 Been Away Too Long
03 Who Needs Me
04 Wise Man
05 Do You Know
06 Rollin’ On
07 Sympathy
08 Firefly
Bonus Tracks
09 Crime Of Passion (B-Side)
10 A Far Better Way (Demo Mix)
11 I Always Knew (Previously Unreleased)
12 Dance Dance Dance (Previously Unreleased)
13 Been Away Too Long (Alternative Version)
14 Do You Know (Demo Mix)
15 Who Needs Me (Alternative Live Version)
16 Wise Man (T.V. Backing Track)
CD4 (Innocent Victim)
01 Keep On Ridin’
02 Flyin’ High
03 Roller
04 Free ‘N’ Easy
05 Illusion
06 Free Me
07 Cheat ‘N’ Lie
08 The Dance
09 Choices
Bonus Tracks
10 Illusion / Masquerade (Full Unedited Version)
11 The River (Out-Take)
12 Put Your Music Where Your Mouth Is (Previously Unreleased)
13 Cheat ‘N’ Lie (Alternative Live Version)
14 Free Me (Alternative Live Version)
15 Free ‘N’ Easy (Alternative Live Version)