URIAH HEEP

The Magician's Birthday

(1972)

1. Sunrise 4'05
(Ken Hensley)
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING Lid.
©1972 BRONZE RECORDS Ltd.
2. Spider Woman 2'28
(Mick Box / David Byron / Lee Kerslake / Gary Thain)
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING Lid.
©1972 BRONZE RECORDS Ltd.
3. Blind Eye 3'33
(Ken Hensley)
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING Lid.
©1972 BRONZE RECORDS Ltd.
4. Echoes In Dark 4'52
(Ken Hensley)
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING Lid.
©1972 BRONZE RECORDS Ltd.
5. Rain 4'01
(Ken Hensley)
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING Lid.
©1972 BRONZE RECORDS Ltd.
6. Sweet Lorrain 4'15
(Mick Box / David Byron / Gary Thain)
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING Lid.
©1972 BRONZE RECORDS Ltd.
7. Tales 4'09
(Ken Hensley)
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING Lid.
©1972 BRONZE RECORDS Ltd.
8. The Magician's Birthday 10'24
(Ken Hensley / Mick Box / Lee Kerslake)
EMI MUSIC PUBLISHING Lid.
©1972 BRONZE RECORDS Ltd.

Bonus Tracks

9. Silver White Man 3'44

(David Byron)
Previously Unreleased Version
©1995 CASTLE COPYRIGHTS Ltd.
10. Crystal Ball 4'08
(Gary Thain)
Previously Unreleased
©1995 CASTLE COPYRIGHTS Ltd.

Total Time: 45:39

  • Mick Box - Guitars
  • Ken Hensley - Keyboards, Guitars, Moog Syntht«
  • Gary Thain - Bass Guitar
  • Lee Kerslake - Drums and Percussion
  • David Byron - Vocals

    Produced by Gerry Bron
    Engineer Peter Gallen
    "Silver White Man" (Track 9) and 'Crystal Ball" (Track 10) Mixed by Robert M. Corich and Ian Herron, June 1995
    Assistant Engineer - Ashley Howe
    Original Cover Artwork Designed and Drawn by Roger Dean © 1972
    Photographs by Fin Costello
    CD Artwork by     CREATION GRAPHICS, London, England
    Revised Sleeve and Notes Prepared by     RED STEEL PRODUCTIONS for the ESSENTIAL LABEL
    Extra Photos and Clippings Courtesy of Mick Box, Ken Hensley and the     UHAS archives.

    All Songs except where indicated originally Published by Sydney BRON MUSIC Co. Ltd.
    ©1972 BRONZE RECORDS Ltd.

    Recorded at LANSDOWNE STUIOS, London, September 1972

    Thanks To Alan Hartley and Trevor Hensley
    Research and Co-ordination Robert M. Corich

    All Tracks Remastered August 1995 by Mike Brown and Robert M. Corich

    The Bonus Tracks:
    9. "Silver White Man" - two versions were left on mulii-track from The Magician's Birthday recording sessions. One was far from complete, the other clearly not complete with regards to the vocal tracks. The second version was originally mixed as a reference track with vocals (or what there was of them!) in 1993. However, after I played this to Mick he decided it could be used if we re-mixed it as an instrumental. Here it is in all its glory.

    10. "Crystal Ball (Gary's Song)" - originally only identifiable as Gary's Song on the multi-track box. Crystal Ball was also mixed for ihe first time in 1993 for possible use on URIAH HEEP's forthcoming 25th Anniversary Box Set. With The Magician's Birthday being remastered and repackaged, it was thought more appropriate to include it here as it was recorded during The Magician's Birthday sessions.

    Released in UK November 1972 BRONZE
    Released USA - November 1972 MERCURY

    1972 was a landmark year for URIAH HEEP. Not only had they achieved a stability in musical personnel but they had also gained international status with the best selling album Demons And Wizards. The band was also touring the world extensively. Wasting no time, and to capitalise on their new found success, Gerry Bron had the band promptly back at LANSDOWNE STUDIOS in London's Holland Park in late 1972. Working flat out between the many tour commitments, the band started recording what was to become The Magician's Birthday. About an hours worth of material was recorded but due to the limitations of vinyl releases only 40 minutes' worth was used. This 40 minutes' worth of music was made up of 8 songs, including the title track, an epic battle between good and evil. As with Demons And Wizards, The Magician's Birthday was also recorded on 16 track using some innovative if not unusual recording methods (including matchsticks attached to tape rollers!) the album was completed in October 1972.
    Released in November 1972 The Magician's Birthday appeared to create a link between the fantasy world and music as had Demons And Wizards. Demons And Wizards was a hard act to follow, but nonetheless The Magician's Birthday more than achieved the task, reaching the top of the charts in both the UK and US. Again the cover was designed by Roger Dean, the second of three covers he has designed throughout the band's career (the third one being completed for URIAH HEEP's latest album Sea Of Light - 1995).
    Much of the material from The Magician's Birthday and from the previous album. Demons And Wizards was to grace the band's next release, the million seller (of the day) Uriah Heep Live 1973, giving testimony that this band could play live very well indeed. With two high flying albums charting in many countries around the world, the band were surely destined for heights they could only have dreamed of a few years earlier.
    The Magician's Birthday went on to become one of the best selling albums for 1973, often accompanied in the charts by several other URIAH HEEP albums. In Australia and New Zealand the charts of 1973 were for a while inundated with Demons And Wizards, The Magician's Birthday, Uriah Heep Live and several singles - all at the same time !
    For aficionados of rock and by many musicians famous still today The Magician's Birthday is still touted as one of the best albums of the period. The package you are holding contains the newly remastered album accompanied by two tracks left over from two tracks left over from The Magicians Birthday sessions. The first of these, "Silver White Man', was later released as a re-recorded version on David Byron's first solo LP Take No Prisoners. This version was recorded entirely by URIAH HEEP, however the vocal track was incomplete and only the backing track could be used when the track was mixed down.
    The second bonus track, "Crystal Ball" was originally only rndentifiable on the original 16-track tape box as "Gary's Song". Named "Crystal Ball", after it was first mixed in 1995, it is one of the few remaining examples of Gary Thain's song, writing legacy.

    ©1995 Robert M. Corich

    'The Magician's Birthday was a natural follow-up to Demons And Wizards, but I do remember being a bit disappointed, because it was quite a rushed project. I had originally planned for this record to be a complete 'concept' album. The best illustration of the original concept is the title track, which encapsulates the story into one song and is full of variety in music, instrumentation and production. There is humour in this record too, whereas later in our carreer that was clearly missing (I wonder if Lee would enjoy his kazoo part as much today !). Anyway, the original story may yet be finished, but the album is history and I do stilf find it enjoyable in places.'

    Best regards David Byron

    Based loosley on a short story which I wrote during june / july this year The Magician's Birthday brings us to our fifth album. Again we find ourselves saying this is our most important album, but they have all been the most important and we will probably say that about the next one and so on ...

    Since Demons And Wizards we have been touring really hard, and recording this new album has helped us to see how the hand has progressed, this being reflected by the new songs and the lightness, togethemess if you like, of the finished product.

    The URIAH HEEP whith appeared first on our last album is we feel now in full flight and we are looking forward to the many new adventures that are planned for us. With everyone in the band writing, we have been able to spread out so much more, and if you and 1973 are even halt as good to us as you were in l972, it looks like it could be a very good year.

    Ken Hensley
    September 1972

    This album was the follow up to Demons And Wizards and a continuation of the mystical lyric writing, once again featuring a very strong cover by Roger Dean. I remember the guitar and drum fight sequence on the title track was done in one take by Lee and myself after a quick visit to the pub down the road from LANSDOWNEe STUDIOS in London, where we recorded the album. I think it shows the development of Lee and myselfs understanding and working together as musicians and friends. We had some good experimental fun on this album with Lee playing the hilariou kazoo solo on Magician's Birthday (we should have recordei his first take, which was a masterpiece) and recording the Happy Birthday vocals, miking the upright piano strings and singing into them to capture the resonating sound. Gary continued with his great melodic bass lines and became an inspiration for a million other bass players together with Lee's powerful drumming and vocal contribution. David's voice did it once again to me on Rain and made the hairs on my arms stand up. Ken, as ever, with his all round musical, writing and lyrical contribution showed that this really was a band with great chemistry in full flight. Now it has been remastered it can be re-lived, and I hope you enjoy the bonus tracks too.

    Mick Box
    11.09.1995 on tour in San Paulo, Brazil




    1. Sunrise

      Aaah, aaah
      Aaah, aaah oooh

      Sunrise, and the new day's breakin' through
      The morning of another day without you
      And as the hours roll by
      No-one's there to see me cry
      Except the sunrise...
      The sunrise and you.

      Aaah, aaah
      Aaah, aaah oooh

      Tired eyes drift across the shore
      Looking for love and nothing more
      But as the sea rolls by
      No-one's there to see me cry
      Except the sunrise...
      The sunrise and you.

      Sunrise, - bless my eyes,
      Catch my soul - make me whole
      - Again.

      Sunrise, new day, hear my song
      I am tired of fightin' and foolin' around
      But from now till who knows when
      My sword will be my pen
      And I'll love you, love ya
      For all of my time.

      Sunrise, - bless my eyes
      Catch my soul and make me whole
      - Again.

      So sunrise, - bless my eyes
      Catch my soul - make me whole
      - Again.

      Sunrise, - bless my eyes
      Catch my soul - make me whole
      - Again.
      Sunrise.

    2. Spider Woman

      I had a Spider Woman and she was so good
      She chained me in her web so tight
      I lost the freedom of release that night
      So I stayed right by her

      I dreamt I saw a blind man who was singing a song
      About a guy who couldn't take no more
      And the meaning of the words he swore
      Told me go find her yeah

      She was a Spider Woman, but she was good to me
      Spider Woman, but she was good to me
      She went down.

      I told her 'bout my vision
      But she laughed in my face
      So I told her go and walk in the street
      But by the time she got past my feet
      I lost control

      She was a Spider Woman, but she was good to me
      Spider Woman, but she was good to me
      Spider Woman, but she was good to me
      Spider Woman, but she was good to me
      Spider Woman, but she was good to me
      Spider Woman, but she was good to me

    3. Blind Eye

      Stranger than the sunrise
      Darker than the night
      Fiercer than a rainstorm
      This is man's delight
      This is man's delight.

      Weaker than a moment
      And hot as any fire
      Blinder than the blind eye
      This is man's desire
      This is man's desire.

      I ran to a place in the open sea
      Where I pledged my life to the sun
      But when I woke up one day the sun
      Had gone.

      I ran to a place in the open sea
      Where I pledged my whole life to the sun
      It was good for a while, I could laugh, I could smile
      But when I woke up one day the sun
      Had gone.
      Had gone had gone had gone had gone

      So what of my meaning
      What am I trying to say
      What of my caution
      ... I'm a man anyway, I'm a man anyway
      I'm a man anyway, I'm a man anyway
      I'm a man anyway, I'm a man anyway.
    (repeat to fade)

    4. Echoes In The Dark

      I have heard the echoes in the dark
      Dim and distant voices of the past
      And I've seen so far into the night
      And lingered in the land of no light.

      Far beyond the shrouded hours of dawn
      Through the mist of daybreak I was born
      But the day was clouded still by night
      Leaving me in the land of no light.

      Though I'd love to
      Say hello to you
      You might have to wait a while to say
      Goodbye
      For it must end as it began
      And then start again.

      The day of darkness comes to every man
      And lingers while he reaches out his hand
      And he cannot know how it will end
      Till he finds out if he has a friend...
      A friend...
      A friend...
      A friend.

    5. Rain

      It's raining outside but that's not unusual
      But the way that I'm feeling is becoming usual
      I guess you could say
      The clouds are moving away
      Away from your days
      And into mine

      Now it's raining inside and that's kind of a shame
      And it's getting to me, a happy man
      And why should you want to
      Waste all my time
      The world is yours
      But I am mine

      Rain, rain, rain, in my tears
      Measuring carefully my years
      Shame, shame, shame, in my mind
      See what you've done to my life

      Rain, rain, rain, in my tears
      Measuring carefully my years
      Shame, shame, shame, in my mind
      See what you've done to my life
      See what you've done to my life

    6. Sweet Lorraine

      Would you like to take this magic potion with me
      On a trip to a cosmic playground far beyond
      She understands, she's been before
      It's in her hands to find the door

      Sweet Lorraine let the party carry on
      You and I will swim the sea
      Sweet Lorraine let the party carry on
      You and I can feel the breeze

      There is no time, no wealth only I surround you
      The fortune of this guide is simply sincerity
      She understands 'cause she's been before
      It's in her hands to find the door so

      Sweet Lorraine let the party carry on
      You and I will swim the sea
      Sweet Lorraine let the party carry on
      You and I can feel the breeze

      Sweet Lorraine let the party carry on
      You and I will swim the sea
      Sweet Lorraine let the party carry on
      You and I can feel the breeze

      Sweet Lorraine let the party carry on
      You and I will swim the sea
      Sweet Lorraine let the party carry on
      You and I can feel the breeze

      Sweet Lorraine
      Sweet Lorraine
    (repeat and adlib to fade)

    7. Tales

      We told our tales as we sat under
      Morning's sleepy sky
      With all the colours of the sunrise
      Shining in our eyes.

      One, then another, with a story of yesterday's lives
      Or of a lover who had gone in a
      Moment of strife.

      No thought of sleep ever dwells upon
      The wise man's mind
      Some task or audience stealing every
      Moment of his time.

      Thus we have learned to live
      While mortal men stand waiting to die.
      How can we do what must be done in
      Just one short life.

      And if you ask, then you must know.
      If you still doubt, you should be told.
      It was not we that made it so.
      It was by those who went before.

      And there you sit, tomorrow's child
      So full of love, so full of life
      But you must rise to meet the day
      Lest you become another tale

      And there you sit, tomorrow's child
      So full of love, so full of life
      But you must rise to meet the day
      Lest you become another tale

      Another tale, another tale
      Another tale

    8. The Magician's Birthday

      In the magic garden
      Some were singing, some were dancing
      While the midnight moon shone brightly overhead.

      The stars so gaily glistened
      And the sphinx in silence listened to
      The magician tell of lives that he had led.

      Let the bells of freedom ring
      Songs of love to Friday's king.

      Let's all go to the magician's birthday
      It's in the forest, but not so far away
      Much to do and so much to say
      While we listened to the orchid orchestra play.

      Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you
      Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you
      Happy birthday dear magician, happy birthday to you
      Happy birthday to you (dear magician), happy birthday to you
      Happy birthday to you (dear magician), happy birthday to you
      Happy birthday to you (dear magician), happy birthday to you.

      Then at the dead of midnight
      As we watched the dancing firelight
      The air grew cold and seemed to dull the flame.
      The fire died, the music faded
      Filled with fear of death we waited
      For now we knew some evil was to blame.

      I challenge you, I challenge you all
      For all you own and all you know
      And by all the powers of darkness I will
      Steal what is mine

      Surrender now or face my spite
      I grant you it may be Friday night
      But did you know this day
      Also numbers thirteen.

      First I give you fire
      I turn your fire into a sleepy stream
      Yes but now I give you nightmares
      From your horror I'll create a dream

      You cannot fight me for I have the sword of hate
      But one thing you can't see, my answer is simply
      An impenetrable fortress
      Of love - love - love.....

      FINALE

      The fear went as quickly as it came
      The air was clear, the fire burned again
      The flames leapt, the organ played
      The swans sang to greet the day

      And then we knew that
      Love will find love will find love will find
      Love will find love will find love will find
      Love .....

    9. Silver White Man

      (instrumental)

    10. Crystal Ball

      Do we live our lives in moderation?
      Does this appear when you're around?
      And the deeper in debt
      The harder the bet
      Your thoughts are one of a clown

      Look out before you sign
      Your soul away
      The crystal ball, it seems
      Is not reading to - reading today

      Does the time seem right
      For some rethinking?
      It seems a gift that you have
      Are you living a dream
      Of express progress?
      It’s just a thought that you have

      Oh, you should’ve know better
      When the warning light was lit
      As it did for others
      You preach a sermon
      When you talk of the Messiah
      We are yet to discover

      Thinkin’, lovin’, feelin’
      But disbelievin’ ...