Head First (Bonus Track Edition) by Uriah Heep - Uhune

ALBUM

After rising from the ashes with 1982's impressive Abominog, Uriah Heep continued to pursue a similar combination of heavy metal firepower and AOR sleekness on Head First. This album lacks the consistently strong tunes and unified feel of its predecessor, but it still offers enough highlights to make it worth a listen. Head First does best when it concentrates on songs that evenly balance power chords and pop hooks: "The Other Side of Midnight" cleverly balances a boisterous pop-tinged melody built on a pulsating bassline with plenty of powerful guitar riffing while "Weekend Warriors" layers its shout-along chorus over a slick rock backing that fuses programmed synthesizer lines with high-flying guitar work and relentless double-time drumming from the ever-reliable Lee Kerslake. However, Head First occasionally loses the plot when it strays from this balancing act: "Love Is Blind" works too hard to ape AOR conventions and comes off sounding faceless as a result, while "Roll-Overture" is an ornate prog instrumental that doesn't really fit in with the rest of the album due to its lack of hooks and guitar riffs. The album also runs into problems in the lyrical department due to its overt AOR-styled reliance on the travails of love as its main subject matter (see "Sweet Talk" and "Love Is Blind"). Despite these occasional shortcomings, Head First manages to work, thanks to its consistent high level of energy. Even at its poppiest, the album throbs with guitar-fuelled energy: for a good example look no further than the band's cover of Bryan Adams' "Lonely Nights," where the poppish quality of the melody is boosted into the hard rock stratosphere by a lengthy succession of guitar riffs and a relentless backbeat. In the end, Head First's adherence to AOR stylings may turn off some hard rock fans but there is enough energetic, well-crafted music here to please anyone who liked Abominog.~ Donald A. Guarisco

1. The Other Side of Midnight

Composer: Uriah Heep
John Sinclair
Mick Box
Bob Daisley
Lee Kerslake
Peter Goalby; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

2. Stay On Top

Composer: Tom Jackson; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

3. Lonely Nights

Composer: Bryan Adams
Jim Vallance; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

4. Sweet Talk

Composer: Bob Daisley
John Sinclair
Lee Kerslake
Mick Box
Peter Goalby; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

5. Love Is Blind

Composer: Joey Carbone; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

6. Roll-Overture

Composer: Bob Daisley
John Sinclair
Mick Box
Peter Goalby; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

7. Red Lights

Composer: Bob Daisley
John Sinclair
Mick Box
Peter Goalby; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

8. Rollin' the Rock

Composer: Bob Daisley
John Sinclair
Mick Box
Peter Goalby; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

9. Straight Through the Heart

Composer: Bob Daisley
John Sinclair
Lee Kerslake
Mick Box
Peter Goalby; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

10. Weekend Warriors

Composer: Bob Daisley
John Sinclair
Lee Kerslake
Mick Box
Peter Goalby; Composer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Producer: Ashley Howe; Production

11. Playing for Time (EP Track)

Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Performer: Uriah Heep; Performer

12. Searching (Extended Demo)

Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Performer: Uriah Heep; Performer

13. The Other Side of Midnight (Live)

Performer: Uriah Heep; Performer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Composer: Bob Daisley
John Sinclair
Lee Kerslake
Mick Box
Uriah Heep
Peter Goalby; Composer

14. Lonely Nights (Live)

Performer: Uriah Heep; Performer
Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Composer: Bryan Adams
Jim Vallance; Composer

15. Angel (Live)

Primary Artist: Uriah Heep; Main Performer
Performer: Uriah Heep; Performer

Technical Specifications

Volume

1 volume only

Tracks

15 tracks available

Type

ALBUM

Format

Digital Media

Duration

1 hour, 3 minutes and 31 seconds

Explicit

None

Coverart

Available and up to 1400x1400 px

Booklet

Not available

Max Quality

CD Quality (Lossless)

16bit / 44.1 kHz

Stereo

Audio Extension

Lossless: FLAC, M4A, WAV, WV, AIFF

Lossy: AAC, MP3, M4A, MP4, OGA, OGG, OPUS, WMA

Archive Format

Available in these formats: ZIP, TAR, RAR

Lyrics

13/15 tracks have lyrics

Synchronized Lyrics

3/15 tracks have synced lyrics

Genres

Pop/Rock, Prog-Rock, Art Rock, Arena Rock, Metal, Hard Rock

Label

Castle Communications

Music Distribution Service

Vital PIAS SPRL

Country

United Kingdom

Language

English (United States)

Popularity

Release Date

Dec 31, 1982

Track Preview

Available

Delivery Charge

Free

Delivery Method

Digital download link via Email or Personal Dashboard on this site

UPC

5414939546976