URIAH HEEP – FIREFLY LP – Nr MINT US 1977  PROG ROCK

Uriah Heep – Firefly
(Warner Bros/Bronze Records  1977  BS3013  US Press)

Sleeve in Nr MINT/Excellent+ condition
– some wear to edges, a little rubbing near the top and import cut bottom left corner
Original Warners Inner Sleeve in Nr MINT condition

Vinyl in Nr MINT condition

Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969. Their current lineup consists of guitarist Mick Box, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, drummer Russell Gilbrook, and bassist Dave Rimmer. They have experienced numerous lineup changes throughout their 53-year career, leaving Box as the only remaining original member. Notable former members of the band are vocalists David Byron, John Lawton, John Sloman, Peter Goalby, and Steff Fontaine, bassists Gary Thain, Trevor Bolder, John Wetton, Bob Daisley, Paul Newton, and John Jowitt, drummers Nigel Olsson, Iain Clark, Lee Kerslake and Chris Slade, and keyboardists Ken Hensley and John Sinclair.

Uriah Heep were part of the early 1970s rock scene, and have been referred to as pioneers of the hard rock, heavy metal and progressive rock genres.^[1][2] The band has sold over 40 million albums worldwide with over four million sales in the U.S, where its best-known songs include “Gypsy”, “Easy Livin'”, “The Wizard”, “Sweet Lorraine”, and “Stealin'”. They also maintain a significant following and perform at arena-sized venues in the Balkans, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Finland and Scandinavia.

Uriah Heep have released twenty-four studio albums of original material, twenty live albums and forty-one compilation albums (including two greatest hits albums). Twelve of the band’s studio albums have made it to the UK Albums Chart(Return to Fantasy reached No. 7 in 1975), while of the fifteen Billboard 200 Uriah Heep albums, Demons and Wizards was the most successful (No. 23, 1972). In the late 1970s the band had massive success in Germany, where the “Lady in Black” single was a big hit.

Firefly is the tenth album released by British rock band Uriah Heep. It was first album without David Byron, lead vocalist and a founder-member of the band, and the first of three albums with John Lawton.

Bassist Trevor Bolder made his Uriah Heep debut on this album and has been (almost) ever-present since, bar a break of about 18 months in 1981-82.

The single from the album was “Wise Man”. “Sympathy” also became a hit, which was crucial for fans to accept the new lineup.

“Who Needs Me” was written by drummer Lee Kerslake and is about his unhappiness of manager and label boss Gerry Bron’s rejection of most material not written by Ken Hensley. This is ultimately somewhat ironic, given the song’s acceptance for recording.

Kerslake was credited as Lee “The Bear” Kerslake on this album only, due to his strong physical build and then newly-acquired beard growth.

The original vinyl album was a gatefold sleeve, with a cardboard lyric-liner.

Track listing

All songs written by Ken Hensley, except where noted

1. “The Hanging Tree” (Hensley, Jack Williams) – 3:40
2. “Been Away Too Long” – 5:03
3. “Who Needs Me” (Kerslake) – 3:39
4. “Wise Man” – 4:40
5. “Do You Know” – 3:12
6. “Rollin’ On” – 6:21
7. “Sympathy” – 4:44
8. “Firefly” – 6:21

Personnel

• Mick Box – guitars
• Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitars, vocals
• Lee Kerslake – drums, vocals
• Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
• John Lawton – lead vocals

Additional personnel

• Engineer – Peter Gallen
• Assisted by John Gallen
• Cover concept and co-ordination – Gail Clarke
• Cover painting – Martin White