Recorded October–November, 1970 | Length 38:19 Release date December 1970 | |
Released February 1971 (1971-02) Studio Lansdowne Studios, London Similar Uriah Heep albums, Heavy metal albums | ||
Salisbury is the second album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in February 1971. It was produced by Gerry Bron.
Contents
- About
- Track listing
- UK Release
- US Release
- 1996 Remastered CD
- 2003 Expanded Deluxe CD
- Personnel
- Production
- Songs
- References
Unlike their first album, songwriting credits for fully half of the record were attributed to Ken Hensley alone, as opposed to the collaborative partnership credits of Box/Byron on the debut.
The album was originally released on the Vertigo label, as was the band's debut ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble, but both were soon re-released when the band signed to the new Bronze Records for their third LP.
The front cover of the album depicted a British Chieftain tank, which connects to the title, as Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, is a military training area. The original LP release was a gatefold sleeve, with a black-and-white image of a World War I British tank on the inside, over which were printed Hensley's comments on each track. Later reissues would be in a single sleeve. The American release on Mercury Records featured a different cover image, as did the original Canadian pressings. Subsequent Canadian pressings used the UK artwork.
About
Salisbury is skewed toward the progressive rock genre, with its 16-minute title track featuring a 24-piece orchestra. One of the album's tracks, "Lady in Black", described as "a stylishly arranged tune that builds from a folk-styled acoustic tune into a throbbing rocker full of ghostly harmonies and crunching guitar riffs", became a hit in Germany upon its re-release in 1977 (earning the band the Radio Luxemburg Lion award). According to Allmusic, the album perfected Uriah Heep's "blend of heavy metal power and prog rock complexity" and was also significant for Hensley's instant rise to a position as main composer of the group's music. Soon after the release, drummer Keith Baker left the band, to be replaced by Ian Clarke (from another Vertigo band, Cressida). With Clarke, the band embarked on their first US tour, supporting Three Dog Night and Steppenwolf.
Track listing
UK Release
US Release
1996 Remastered CD
This remastered CD added two bonus tracks and extensive liner notes:
2003 Expanded Deluxe CD
Expanded Deluxe Edition bonus tracks:
Personnel
Production
Songs
1High Priestess3:41
2The Park5:47
3Time to Live4:02