Well well now. Here I am again, ready to make that bold statement once again. "This essential and classic live album just got better, thanks to the remastering and reissuing process." Well folks, damn it if it isn't true! I know Heep aren't for everyone, but shit, Live '73 is, in my opinion, and I'm sure thousands of other lovers of hard rock and prog , one of the better live albums from the 1970's. The band were at their creative peak back in that year, and this particular live album represented their onstage personas in truly furious fashion. The entire original LP is represented on Disc 1 of this set, including the complete "Rock 'n' Roll Medley", and Disc 2 contains 4 tunes from US Radio Show edit's from 1973 & 1974, plus Film Mixes used for Radio from the same time period. All the selections are powerful heavy rock, filled with raging Hammond organ from Ken Hensley, Dave Byron's histrionic vocals, Mix Box's beefy guitar work, and the intricate rhythm team of bassist Gary Thain and drummer Lee Kerslake. The sound quality is immaculate throughout, and Sanctuary Records has recreated the original booklet/program that came with the original LP, so you get all the groovy live autographed photographs, extensive essays, clips of magazine articles, and other assorted archival material. Just a treasure chest of essential Heep!
Disc 1 is of course the original LP as I mentioned above, and it is vintage, ass-kickin' Uriah Heep with all cylinders firing. Opening up with the churning' "Sunrise" and mowing down the audience with pleasers like the upbeat "Sweet Lorraine", the raging "Easy Livin'", the progressive "July Morning", the bludgeoning "Gypsy", or the rampaging "Look at Yourself". It's just one relentless rocker after another. Ken Hensley is in fine form throughout this affair, whether it be adding his trademark Hammond to "Gypsy" (or his neat Moog solo on that one as well) and "July Morning", or some sweaty slide licks on "Tears in My Eyes". You can say what you want about Mick Box's somewhat simplistic playing back in those days, but the guy was effective with his boatload of heavy riffs and speedy wah-wah solos. Even Byron seemed to come into his own around this time period and developed into quite a frontman with his strong vocals and showmanship.
Now, you know that Disc 1 is a classic, but the real reason to purchase yet again another remastered version of this album is Disc 2, which contains rare live versions of songs from the Wonderworld album like "Something or Nothing" , the bluesy "I Won't Mind", "So Tired", and "The Easy Road", plus alternative live versions of "Stealin' ", "Look at Yourself", "Gypsy", and many others. These are just as powerful as the versions from the '73 show, and prove just what a intense live act Heep was back in those days.
So, what are you waiting for Heep fans? Get out and pick this up as quickly as you can and enjoy Live '73 all over again. If you are new to the band, this is as good a place to start as any. Highly recommended!
Track Listing
Disc 1
1. Sunrise
2. Sweet Lorraine
3. Traveller in Time
4. Easy Livin' [
5. July Morning
6. Tears in My Eyes
7. Gypsy
8. Circle of Hands
9. Look at Yourself
10. Magician's Birthday
11. Love Machine
12. Rock 'n' Roll Medley
Disc 2
1. Something or Nothing [US Radio Show]
2. I Won't Mind [Us Radio Show]
3. Look at Yourself [Us Radio Show]
4. Gypsy [US Radio Show]
5. Easy Livin' [Film Mix Version]
6. So Tired [Film Mix Version]
7. I Won't Mind [Film Mix Version]
8. Something or Nothing [Film Mix Version]
9. Easy Road [Film Mix Version]
10. Stealin' [Film Mix Version]
11. Love Machine [Film Mix Version]
12. Rock 'n' Roll Medley [Film Mix Version]
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