Firefly (Uriah Heep album)
| Firefly | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Uriah Heep | ||||
| Released | December 1976 (USA), February 1977 (UK) | |||
| Recorded | October–November 1976 | |||
| Studio | Roundhouse recording studios, London, England | |||
| Genre | Progressive rock, hard rock, heavy metal | |||
| Length |
35:20 (Original Release) 52:11 (CD Reissue w/Bonus Tracks) | |||
| Label |
Bronze (UK) Warner Bros. (USA) | |||
| Producer | Gerry Bron | |||
| Uriah Heep chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   [1] |
Firefly is the 10th album released by British rock band Uriah Heep. It was first album without David Byron, lead vocalist and a founding member of the band, and the first of three albums with John Lawton.
Bassist Trevor Bolder made his Uriah Heep debut on this album. Barring a break of about 18 months in the early 1980s, he remained with the group until his death in 2013.
The first single from the album was "Wise Man". "Sympathy" also became a hit.
"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 and composed by Ken Hensley, except where noted.
| No. | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Hanging Tree" (Hensley, Jack Williams) | 3:40 | |
| 2. | "Been Away Too Long" | 5:03 | |
| 3. | "Who Needs Me" (Lee 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 |
1997 Bonus Tracks
| No. | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | "Crime of Passion" (B-side to single "Wise Man") | 3:37 | |
| 10. | "Do You Know" (Previously unreleased demo version recorded in 1976) | 3:16 | |
| 11. | "A Far Better Way" (Previously unreleased version different from the rough mix released on the Time of Revelation box set in 1996 (Hensley, Box, Kerslake, Bolder, Lawton)) | 5:50 | |
| 12. | "Wise Man (TV Backing Track)" (Previously unreleased mix originally used during an advertising campaign) | 4:48 |
2004 Bonus Tracks
| No. | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9. | "Crime of Passion" (B-side (Hensley, Box, Kerslake)) | ||
| 10. | "A Far Better Way" (out-take (Hensley, Box, Kerslake, Bolder, Lawton)) | ||
| 11. | "I Always Knew" (out-take (Hensley, Box, Kerslake, Bolder, Lawton)) | ||
| 12. | "Dance Dance Dance" (out-take (Hensley, Box, Kerslake, Bolder, Lawton)) | ||
| 13. | "Been Away Too Long" (demo) | ||
| 14. | "Do You Know" (demo) | ||
| 15. | "Who Needs Me" (live version (Kerslake)) | ||
| 16. | "Wise Man" (TV Backing Track) |
Personnel
- John Lawton – Lead vocals (except "Firefly": Ken Hensley and John Lawton – vocals)
- Mick Box – Guitars
- Trevor Bolder – Bass guitar
- Lee Kerslake – Drums, vocals
- Ken Hensley – Keyboards, guitars, vocals
Additional personnel
- Engineer – Peter Gallen
- Assisted by John Gallen
- Cover concept and co-ordination – Gail Clarke
- Cover painting – Martin White
References
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