The Magician's Birthday
The Magician's Birthday | ||||
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File:TheMagiciansBirthday.jpg | ||||
Studio album by Uriah Heep | ||||
Released | November, 1972 | |||
Recorded | September–October 1972 at Lansdowne Studios, London | |||
Genre | Heavy metal, progressive metal | |||
Length | 37:10 | |||
Label | Bronze (UK) Mercury (USA) |
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Producer | Gerry Bron | |||
Uriah Heep chronology | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Robert Christgau | B−[2] |
The Magician's Birthday is the fifth album released by British rock band Uriah Heep. The concept was "based loosely on a short story" written by Ken Hensley in June and July 1972.[3]
The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, the front designed by Roger Dean. The inner fold had pictures of the band, with the album itself housed in a liner on which were printed the lyrics.
Two songs charted in the United States, "Blind Eye" (No. 97) and "Sweet Lorraine" (No. 91). "Spider Woman" reached No. 13 in Germany.
The Magician's Birthday was certified Gold by the RIAA on 22 January 1973.[citation needed]
Track listing
All songs written and composed by Ken Hensley except where noted.
Side 1 | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
1. | "Sunrise" | 4:04 | |
2. | "Spider Woman" | Mick Box, David Byron, Lee Kerslake, Gary Thain | 2:25 |
3. | "Blind Eye" | 3:33 | |
4. | "Echoes in the Dark" | 4:48 | |
5. | "Rain" | 4:00 |
Side 2 | |||
---|---|---|---|
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
6. | "Sweet Lorraine" | Box, Byron, Thain | 4:13 |
7. | "Tales" | 4:09 | |
8. | "The Magician's Birthday" | Box, Hensley, Kerslake | 10:21 |
The 2004 remastered version by Castle (UK) added nine previously unreleased bonus tracks:
2004 Bonus Tracks | ||
---|---|---|
No. | Title | Length |
9. | "Crystal Ball" (Out-take) | 4:08 |
10. | "Silver White Man" (Vocal Out-take Version) | 3:40 |
11. | "Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf" (Alternate Version) | 3:24 |
12. | "Echoes in the Dark" (Single Edit) | 4:23 |
13. | "Rain" (Single Edit) | 3:16 |
14. | "Happy Birthday" (The Magician's Birthday Single Edit) | 4:44 |
15. | "Sunrise" (Single Edit) | 2:49 |
16. | "Gary's Song" (Crystal Ball Alternate Version) | 4:25 |
17. | "Silver White Man" (Instrumental Out-take) | 3:43 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Sales/shipments |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[4] | Gold | 500,000 |
Worldwide sales: | 2,500,000 | |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
Chart performance
Country (1972) | Peak position |
---|---|
Norway | 5 |
Australia | 10 |
Finland | 1 |
United States | 31 |
United Kingdom | 28 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from album liner notes[3]
- Band
- David Byron – Lead vocals
- Mick Box – Guitars
- Ken Hensley – Keyboards, guitars, moog synthesizer
- Gary Thain – Bass guitar
- Lee Kerslake – Drums, percussion
- Additional personnel
- Brian Cole – Pedal steel guitar on "Tales"
Production
- Produced by Gerry Bron
- Engineered by Peter Gallen
- Assistant engineer – Ashley Howe
The 2004 remastered version by Castle (UK) as CMRCD771, team:
- Remastering by Robert Corich
- Remastering by Mike Brown
- Assistant remastering – Pavel Salgado
References
- ↑ Allmusic review
- ↑ Robert Christgau review
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- Use dmy dates from September 2012
- Use British English from September 2012
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- Articles with unsourced statements from November 2012
- Certification Table Entry usages for United States
- Uriah Heep (band) albums
- Albums with cover art by Roger Dean (artist)
- 1972 albums
- Bronze Records albums
- Mercury Records albums
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