Uriah Heep — The Shadow And The Wind: 1973- 1974( Boxset)

The Shadow And The Wind: 1973- 1974 is a five-CD set looking at both the live and studio output of British rockers/ proto heavy metal merchants/approachable prog dealers, Uriah Heep in the early/ mid 70’s. The primary focus here is live material, with three of the five discs taken up by live albums, showing the five pieces as confident and versatile performers.

The discs, each in its own card slip sleeves, come presented in a black, white, and colour flip-side hard box. It features on its front cover the five members, each standing on stone plinths. On the back, we find mini reproductions of the original album art and full track listings. The set comes with a twenty-eight-page glossy inlay booklet- it takes in a new sixteen-page write-up about the time/ band, as well as live photos, single artwork, etc.

First up, we have Uriah Heep Live- this was originally released as a double vinyl album in 1973 on Bronze in the UK and Mercury in the States. It takes in a very crisp and clean recording of the band's set from 26 January 1973 at Town Hall, Birmingham, England. It takes in a total of twelve tracks that really cover most sides of the band's sound. The set is well laid out/varied. We move from the guitar-bounding, organ-simmering, theremin-hovering, and wow-wow-edged rock of “Sweet Lorriane”. Onto slide guitar-infected and urgent blue rock swarm of “Tears In My Eyes” which has a nice soulful vocal warbling/ mellow guitar/ tight percussion breakdown. Though to simmering organ, hovering wordless harmonies, and building prog rock moodiness of “Circle Of Hands”. Through to “Rock ‘n’ Roll Medley” which sees the band bring together eight takes of classic rock & roll songs. Looking on Discogs, you’ll see the album has had a whopping one hundred and seventy-six different releases- and it's easy to see why, as it’s a great/ classic 70’s live album.

Disc two is entitled Uriah Heep Live 1974. It brings together four tracks from a US radio show recording- these move from the bounding/ slowly thudding bass and smoking slide guitar tones of “I Won’t Mind”, through the galloping guitars/ organ hover/ bounding drum work of the proto-metallic “Gypsy”. Seven tracks under the banner of Film Mixers For Radio, and another Rock ‘n’ Roll medley- taking in eight tracks. This disc is somewhat piecemeal affair, though there are some great versions of classic tracks on offer here.

Disc number three takes in the 1973 studio album Sweet Freedom- this was an original eight-track affair, which saw the band polishing and perfecting their blend of hard rock, metal and prog rock. We move from “Stealin'” with its building organ simmer, rising male vocals, bounding rock guitar, and soulful/ wordless back vocals. Onto the epic synth sweeps, steadily bound bass line, and soulful vocals of “If I Had Time”. Though to the just over seven-minute exit track “Pilgrim” which shifts from a blending of wavering wordless back vocals, dramatic piano key climbs, and bounding rock beat. To wow-wow chugging riff craft, organ simmer, and soaring lead vocals. The CD is finished off with five bonus tracks, taking in alternative & live versions of album tracks.

Disc four features 1974’s Wonderworld- this studio album took in nine tracks. It saw the band continuing with their previous genre-blurring sensibilities, though with maybe more of an eye on the more commercial/ mainstream audience. It moves from the gunning/ urgent rock strut/ metal gallop of “Suicidal Man”. Onto steady tolling piano keys, soulfully soaring vocals, and gentle string swooning of “The Easy Road”. Though to the steadily prancing beat, organ plod ‘n’ rise, building guitar lines of "Dreams”. All in all, Wonderworld is another consistent Uriah Heep album. With this edition taking five bonus tracks, it takes in alternative versions/ etc of the album.

Finally, we have Live at Shepperton ''74- this was, as its title suggests is an album recorded in Shepperton for an initial radio recording. It didn’t get a release until 1986. The original album took thirty minutes of music, and eight tracks, with this version taking in five bonus tracks. The quality of this recording is as good as the Uriah Heep Live album- but it's not dreadful, with a decent mix/ balance of the instruments & vocals. After playing through the rest of the Boxset, this disc is just fine- though we get versions of tracks we’ve already heard. Yes, some of the song versions are better, but I think I need to come back to it when I have a bit of distance from hearing the rest of the set. This CD features four bonus tracks.

The Shadow And The Wind: 1973- 1974 looks at the band largely flying high in the early to mid-70s. If you dig where rock, metal, and prog meet in a largely approaching/ grooving manner, then this will be of interest.