Uriah Heep – The Magician's Birthday

Happy to report the sound quality on this reissue, 9 years after the original, is excellent. Big dynamic range and punch, with minor surface noise, thanks to the expert cut by Kong and the efficient pressing at Terre.

Decent early 70's melodious semi-prog hard rock('n'roll) w/ elements of early metal, superb vibrato theatrical vocals (if perhaps a little overly dramatic), searing guitar, distinctive arrangements & instrumentation & mystical lyrics embracing the familiar UH sword & sorcery theme wrapped in an iconic Roger Dean cover all in the same vein as previous effort Demons and Wizards.
Heavy Heap.

While they still had arguably their greatest lineup of their early ‘70s heyday, Uriah Heep continued to pump out new music at a ridiculous pace. ‘The Magician’s Birthday’ was their fifth album in a little more than two years and this pace would soon take a toll on both the quality of their LPs but also on the health of the respective band members. Ken Hensley has said that due to the record company and management demands (one and the same unfortunately), ‘Magician’s Birthday’ was rushed out and was not completed to his particular vision (as he was the main songwriter), which was supposed to be a concept album. I think it’s a very good (if not great) LP but maybe not up to the level of the previous two. ‘Sunrise’ is an awesome opener and would also open the subsequent live album as well. Such an archetypical Uriah Heep song with all of the dynamics and a brilliant performance from David Byron. The next few songs on the original Side One of the album are very good, such as “Echoes in the Dark” and “Rain” which is a beautiful ballad, but nothing to the level of ‘Sunrise’. Side Two begins with ‘Sweet Lorraine’ which is a better song than maybe the band themselves or the critics thought - often looked at as a pedestrian ‘rock ‘n roller’ and then the title track, which closes the album, is a serious progressive track, much like in the tradition of ‘July Morning’ and the ‘Paradise/The Spell’ suite. The multiple parts seem to hang together pretty well and they all stick in your head as hummable. ‘The Magician’s Birthday’ may not be the classic its predecessors are but it does have some all-time great Uriah Heep songs and it features a tired band still firing on all cylinders. Happy Birthday to you….

Correct sleeve and country, but no "Bronze" logo on the Cassette label. (Under Island Tapes Logo) Just
(copyright) 1972

Landed a very clean copy at a yard sale for $5 and I have to say it was money well spent. Sound is excellent and quiet. Some great songs on this album and this pressing sounds solid. Don't have anything else to compare it to but overall happy with the find. Sweet Lorraine and the birthday songs sound epic on this.

how you follow three killer full lengths and one okay one with this schlock is unfathomable

Have no complaints about the sound, but I got angry when realized that there's no lyrics sheet. It's a shame!

Tracks on Side A scratchy and unlistenable. Signs of vinyl rot caused by the PVC sleeve evident. Terrible pressing.

Excellent sound quality sound. Well defined LOs and very well balanced HIs!! This is a definitive version.

Really good sounding album. I love this band. I wish they got more recognition for their contribution to metal and prog rock.