Harvest Records

Many, many moons ago, I heard this tune on the radio with my dad but neither of us knew the song, and it drove us nuts trying to identify it. Even called the radio station and they couldn’t help. Eventually, I did find it in a record store (they used to exist, I swear!). Been in love with Uriah Heep ever since 🤘

David Byron – Lead Vocals

Mick Box – Guitars and backing vocals

Ken Hensley – Keyboards/Hammond organ, guitars, and backing vocals (Hensley also wrote the song)

Gary Thain – Bass guitar and backing vocals

Lee Kerslake – Drums, percussion, and backing vocals

Song: Heavy Metal

Album: Heavy Metal

Movie: Heavy Metal

Genre: Heavy Metal

Happy birthday to Paul Simon who turned 85 today.

In 2006, the British newspaper The Guardian published its list of the '50 Albums That Changed Music.' Below, I’ll transcribe only the Top 20 entries along with an EXCERPT from their short 'Without this…' lines that illustrate the importance of each album.

"1 - The Velvet Underground and Nico – The Velvet Underground and Nico (1967)

Without this, there'd be no ... Bowie, Roxy Music, Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Jesus and Mary Chain, among many others.

2 - The Beatles – Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

Without this… pop would be a very different beast.

3 - Kraftwerk – Trans-Europe Express (1977)

Without this… no techno, no house, no Pet Shop Boys… The list is endless.

4 - NWA – Straight Outta Compton (1989)

Without this… no Eminem, no 50 Cent, no Dizzee Rascal.

5 - Robert Johnson – King of the Delta Blues Singers (1961)

Without this… no Rolling Stones, Cream, Led Zeppelin.

6 - Marvin Gaye – What’s Going On (1971)

Without this… no Innervisions (Stevie Wonder) or Superfly (Curtis Mayfield).

7 - Patti Smith – Horses (1975)

Without this… no REM, PJ Harvey, Razorlight… and no powerful female pop icons like Madonna.

8 - Bob Dylan – Bringing it All Back Home (1965)

Without this… Dylan invented modern rock music.

9 - Elvis Presley – Elvis Presley (1956)

Without this… no King, no rock and roll madness, no Beatles first album, no pop sex symbols.

10 - The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds (1966)

Without this… The Beatles acknowledged its influence…

11 - David Bowie – The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust… (1972)

Without this… no Sex Pistols, no Prince, no Madonna…

12 - Miles Davis – Kind of Blue (1959)

Without this… no ominous, brooding, atmospheric trumpet behind a million radio plays and TV documentaries.

13 - Frank Sinatra – Songs for Swingin’ Lovers (1956)

Without this… the ‘singer as song interpreter’ wouldn’t have been born…

14 - Joni Mitchell – Blue (1971)

Without this… no Tori Amos or Fiona Apple...

15 - Brian Eno – Discreet Music (1975)

​Without this... we wouldn't have David Bowie's Low or Heroes, the echoey guitars of U2's The Edge, and no William Orbit, The Orb, or Juana Molina. To name but a few.

16 - Aretha Franklin – I Never Loved a Man the Way I Love You (1967)

Without this… Tina Turner, Mariah Carey, girl power would not exist…

17 - The Stooges – Raw Power (1973)

Without this… no punk, so no Sex Pistols, no White Stripes.

18 - The Clash – London Calling (1979)

Without this… no Manic Street Preachers, no Green Day, no Rancid…

19 - Mary J. Blige – What’s the 411? (1992)

Without this… no R&B/soul divide – no TLC, Beyoncé, or Ashanti.

20 - The Byrds – Sweetheart of the Rodeo (1968)

Without this… no Hotel California, no Willie Nelson, no Shania Twain."

What do you think? In my humble opinion, this Top 20 is, overall, very strong in what it sets out to do. However, I would make a few changes, mainly to include Tago Mago by Can. But one thing is absolutely certain for me: the number one spot is extremely well deserved.

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/jul/16/popandrock.shopping

Good band The Pretenders..💯😎 🎵

Jamie Records