Uriah Heep - Wonderworld (1974) plus Bonus Tracks

(U.K 1969 - Present)

Since the June 1970 release of their debut album Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble, Uriah Heep had been on a treadmill. Less than half a decade later, the UK-based hard rock band already had no less than six studio albums and a million-selling double concert set to their name. ln January 1974, just four months after the release of previous offering Sweet Freedom, they were about to commence their seventh full-length album.

The collection of songs that became Wonderworld was once again recorded by the same grouping of vocalist David Byron, guitarist Mick Box, keyboard player/guitarist Ken Hensley, bassist Gary Thain and drummer Lee Kerslake that had worked upon their last three studio records. Little did anybody know at the time but it would be the last album to feature Thain, who would tragically die of a heroin overdose.

From the most modest of beginnings, Uriah Heep had worked hard to build up a considerable empire. To outside observers their organisation looked distinctly palatial, but beneath the surface its foundations were becoming increasingly rotten. The performers were remaining consistent, and producer/manager/Bronze Records boss Gerry Bron was once again manning the production helm.

L - R: Thain, Hensley, Bryon, Kerslake, Box

This time, however, there were more arguments than ever before. Byron and Hensley were locked in a feud, each seemingly jealous of the attention that the other was receiving. Exasperated at the amount of time spent waiting around, David was drinking more and more Chivas Regal whiskey, while Ken's cocaine addiction had begun to spiral out of control.

"David was difficult at the best of times. He was always creating these impossible situations, but Ken was no angel either," revealed Bron. "Those facts were more apparent than ever on the Wonderworld album."

For tax purposes, the band had begun recording outside of the UK. The Sweet Freedom album had been cut at the Chateau d'Herouville near Paris. While they had come away with more than satisfactory results, the studio's facilities had not exactly been all that the band had hoped for. This time they went to Musicland in Munich, a famed facility owned by disco legend Giorgio Moroder that had previously been used by Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, the Rolling stones and the Electric Light orchestra among many others. This time the studio, in which Led Zeppelin would record their Presence album the following year, wasn't the problem; instead it was the group's personal demons that intervened.

"The whole thing was a bloody nightmare, Mick Box recalled years later. "Ken spent most of the time in his room crying and David was just on this unbelievable bender. one of my most vivid memories was tryin' to get him across a dual carriageway that separated the studio from the hotel. Cars were just whizzing by, but all David could think about was not spilling the champagne cocktails he was carrying in each hand. When we got there, Ken was nowhere to be found and I spent most days like that.

Trying to hold it all together was almost impossible. Hensley had a role in all but one of the original album's nine tracks, composing three of them on his own. The keyboard player's dominance continued to ruffle feathers in the group, some of their personnel feeling that Gerry Bron was guilty of favouritism. Yet although he was increasingly drug-impeded, Ken could still write quality material. Years later, however, Mick Box still feels strongly that he and the other members of Heep were not afforded the respect that their own contributions were due.

"Our strength at the time was that we could make anything sound great," the guitarist told me in late 2000. "Ken could bring in a bare-boned idea on acoustic guitar, we'd give it the Heep treatment and it'd take on a life of its own. We felt indestructible. It's something that we still say today; give us a stage to perform on and nobody can beat us.

Due to their manifold problems, Wonderworld wasn't one of Uriah Heep's all-time greatest albums. Which isn't to say that it didn't boast moments of out standing quality such as "Wonderworld", "So Tired", "The Easy Road" and "Something Or Nothing".

"We were still capable of producing great music, but the great songs were becoming fewer and farther between," acknowledged Ken, adding: " I don't know if Wonderworld was ahead of its time, but it had some very interesting possibilities and proved that we could still experiment. I like parts of that record.

Circumstances were certainly difficult and there were a whole range of demons that we were wrestling with. We suffered from burnout, perhaps without realizing it.

Certainly, it was hard to keep the creative flow going when the demand was so intense."

"We should have taken some time off," agrees Box.

"We were pushed to the hilt and when things are moving at breakneck speed you start looking for other areas of recreation. We were experiencing more in just one month than some find in a lifetime. I honestly believe that's why some of the band are no longer here."

The Wonderworld album was released in June 1974.

Its artwork was certainly unique, though neither Hensley nor Box can recall whose brainwave it was to cake the band in cement and stand them as statues on plinths. Mick is also the only one posing shirtless, having supplied just a pair of jeans to be concreted up. "The idea was a pretty good one", Mick told me late last year. " But they could have chosen a better shot of Lee, who looks so gnome-like you'd expect to find him at the end of my garden."

Hensley disagreed, stating: "I thought it was weird then, and I hate it now. The absolute end for me was arriving in Los Angeles and on the way to the Riot House, the infamous Hyatt Hotel on Sunset Boulevard, we passed a giant billboard of that cover - uggghhhh!"

It was at a concert in Dallas on the same 1974 tour of America - during which they were being supported by Aerosmith - that Heep experienced a nastier surprise altogether. Thain received a nasty electric shock that left him unconscious. Gary later recalled: "David rushed over and pulled the bass from my hands. At first he thought I was dead because I wasn't breathing and I was lying there stiff as a board."

Thain's body was already ravaged by heroin usage, and he was becoming troublesome, sometimes refusing to attend photo-sessions or soundchecks. To allow Heep to continue touring, he was removed from the line-up and replaced with former Family/King Crimson/Roxy Music (and future Asia) bassist John Wetton. On 8th December 1975, Gary was found dead in his south London home.

"We were pushed back out there for the almighty dollar," reflected Mick Box many years afterwards. Even after Thain's passing, the penny still didn't drop with Ken Hensley. " On the day I found out about him I went out and did cocaine," he later admitted. " I thank God for destroying that addiction."

[Interview with Uriah Heep by Dave Ling: writer for Classic Rock magazine and the author of the Uriah Heep book 'Wizards And Demons']

Bonus Tracks

Today, both Mick Box and Ken Hensley feel that recording away from their home turf of England was contrary to the well being of the band. The album was released originally containing nine tracks (out of twelve tracks actually committed to tape while recording at Musicland). One of the extra tracks, "What Can I Do?" was set aside as the B-Side for the "Something or Nothing" single which was released just prior to the album release.

Two other studio tracks, "Love, Hate And Fear" and "Stone's Throw" were to rest in the vaults untouched and unmixed for inclusion on the bands penultimate box set 'Time Revelation'.

This post is the full 'Wonderworld album' in its original running order. Extra tracks included are "What Can I Do" (B-Side), a previously unreleased version of "Dreams" from the 'Wonderworld' sessions and two previously unreleased live versions of "The Easy Road" and "Something or Nothing" (both recorded live at Shepperton Film Studios in 1974). Both of these live versions were mixed for the first time in 1995. These live recordings were the last known live recordings that exist with Gary Thain playing bass. He later died of a drug overdose in December, 1974 - he was only 27 years old.

Although Wonderworld may not have been the best album Uriah Heep recorded it does contain some truly excellent moments. My personal favourites are the LP's title track, "Suicidal Man" and "Dreams". It was a shame that this classic line-up didn't last. But fame and fortune were beginning to take its' toll.

With John Wetton now in place, Uriah Heep rapidly commenced work on their next album entitled 'Return To Fantasy' which was released in November 1975 and went on to become their biggest selling album to date, reaching number seven in the charts. If I get time, I will try to post this album as well but not before I post their classic 'Demons And Wizards', so stay tuned folks.

This post consists of FLACs ripped from CD and includes full album artwork for both vinyl and CD. Label scans and all featured photos are included.

Tracklist:

 01 - Wonderworld

 02 - Suicidal Man

 03 - The Shadows And The wind

 04 - So Tired

 05 - The Easy Road

 06 - Something Or Nothing

 07 - I Won't Mind

 08 - We Got We

 09 - Dreams

10 - What Can I Do (B-Side To Single) [Bonus]

11 - Dreams (Previously Unreleased version) [Bonus]

12 - Something Or Nothing (Live/Previously Unreleased version) [Bonus]

13 - The Easy Road (Live/Previously Unreleased version) [Bonus]

Uriah Heep is:

David Byron ................... Vocals

Mick Box ........................Guitars

Lee Kerslake ....................Drums

Ken Hensley .....................Keyboards

Gary Thain ................................. Bass

Wonderworld Link (365Mb)