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{{Unreferenced|date=August 2010}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox song <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
{{Infobox song
| Name = Bird of Prey
| Cover =
| name = Bird of Prey
| Artist = [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]]
| cover =
| alt =
| artist = [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]]
| from Album = [[...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble]]
| album = ''[[Salisbury (album)|Salisbury]]'' and ''[[...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble|Uriah Heep]]'' (US version)
| A-side = [[Gypsy (Uriah Heep's song)|Gypsy]]
| A-side = [[Gypsy (Uriah Heep's song)|Gypsy]]
| released = {{Start date|1970}}
| B-side =
| recorded = October–November 1970
| Released = 1969-1970
| studio = Lansdowne, London
| Format = [[7"]]
| genre = [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://loudwire.com/1970s-best-heavy-metal-songs-you-didnt-know-about/|title=1970s Best Heavy Metal Songs You Didn't Know About|last=Rivadavia|first=Eduardo|date=26 July 2018|website=[[Loudwire]]|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
| Recorded =
⚫
| length = 4:05
| Genre = [[Progressive rock]], [[hard rock]], [[Heavy metal music|Heavy metal]]|
| label = *[[Bronze Records|Bronze]]
⚫
| Length = 4:05
| Label = [[Bronze Records|Bronze]]<br>[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
*[[Mercury Records|Mercury]]
| Writer = [[Ken Hensley]],[[David Byron]],[[Mick Box]],[[Paul Newton (musician)|Paul Newton]]
| writer = *[[Ken Hensley]]
*[[David Byron]]
*[[Mick Box]]
*[[Paul Newton (musician)|Paul Newton]]
| Producer = [[Gerry Bron]]
| producer = [[Gerry Bron]]
}}
| Tracks = }}
'''"Bird of Prey"''' is a song by [[British rock]] band [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]], from the group's US version of their 1970 debut album ''[[Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble]]'' (released as ''Uriah Heep'' in the United States).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=5919|title=Uriah Heep (1970)|website=Prog Archives|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>


==History==
'''"Bird of Prey"''' is a song by [[United Kingdom|British]] [[progressive rock]]/[[hard rock]] band [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]], from the group's [[1971 in music|1971]] album ''[[Salisbury (album)|Salisbury]]'', a different version of the song would also appear on the 2003 remastering of ''[[Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble]]''. Although not released as a [[single (music)|single]], the song is regarded by many fans as one of the band's most popular songs.The song is the B-side of the band's fist ever worldwide single "[[Gypsy (Uriah Heep's song)|Gypsy]]".
The song was written in [[Richmond, London]] during the summer of 1969.<ref name="allmusic"/> It was originally released on ''Uriah Heep'', the US version of ''Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble''. The song was included as a [[B-side]] to the band's first ever worldwide single "[[Gypsy (Uriah Heep's song)|Gypsy]]". A re-recorded version of the song would appear on the European version of 1971's album ''[[Salisbury (album)|Salisbury]]''. The original 1970 version of the song would later appear on the European 2003 remaster of ''Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble''. The song is included on most of the band's compilation albums including the first one, 1974's ''[[The Best of Uriah Heep]]''.


"Bird of Prey" was used as a concert opener during the band's early years.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/song/bird-of-prey-mt0011997121|title=Bird of Prey – Uriah Heep {{!}} Song Info|last=Thompson|first=Dave|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|access-date=23 April 2019}}</ref>
==About==
The opening track from Uriah Heep's sophomore album, 1970's Salisbury, was a full band composition penned at the group's Richmond, London, base during summer 1969. As such, it is clearly cut in the spirit of the band's debut LP, rattling along on a similar riff to that which powered "Gypsy", and building a mood that both Deep Purple and Queen would later take for their own. Indeed, David Byron unleashes an operatic vocal chorus that says more for the listening habits of the early Queen than any number of that band's own early archive recordings can, while the multi-layered "oohs" and "aahs" that punctuate the verses illustrate a sense of Heep humor that the group's modern reputation rarely takes into account. A popular concert opener during the 1969-70 period, Bird Of Prey" was the ideal introduction to Salisbury, at least in as much as it suggested that the album was Heep business as usual. Listen on, however, and you quickly discover just what a misleading offering it was.<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/song/bird-of-prey-mt0028581376|accessdate=19 June 2012</ref><ref>http://www.allmusic.com/album/salisbury-mw0000200645|accessdate=19 June 2012</ref>


==Reception==
⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bird Of Prey (Uriah Heep Song)}}
[[Martin Popoff]] called it "the band's most raging work of genius, a searing blend of glowing Byron operatics and sinister metal craftsmanship which previewed Heep's [[progressive metal]] side splendidly."<ref name="martin" >{{cite book |last1 = Popoff |first1 = Martin |authorlink1 = Martin Popoff |title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies |publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] |date = October 2003 |location = [[Burlington, Ontario]], Canada |isbn = 978-1894959025 |pages=300–301}}</ref> ''[[AllMusic]]'' noted that the song features a riff reminiscent of "Gypsy" and a comparable mood with the works of both [[Deep Purple]] and [[David Bowie]].<ref name="allmusic"/> ''[[Ultimate Classic Rock]]'' said the song is "widely recognized today as one of heavy metal’s most spectacular 1970 cornerstones."<ref name="UltimateClassicRock">{{cite web |last1=Rivadavia |first1=Eduardo |title=45 Years Ago: Uriah Heep Unveil Their Debut Album |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/uriah-heep-debut-album/ |website=[[Ultimate Classic Rock]] |publisher=[[Townsquare Media]] |access-date=November 21, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615003235/https://ultimateclassicrock.com/uriah-heep-debut-album/ |archive-date=June 15, 2015 |date=June 13, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
⚫
[[Category:1971 songs]]

⚫
[[Category:Uriah Heep songs]]
==In popular culture==
[[Category:Hard rock songs]]
In 2009 the intro to the song (approximately from 8–14 seconds) was [[Sampling_(music) | sampled]] by the American Rapper [[Xzibit]] in his single "[[Hurt Locker (song)|Hurt Locker]]".
[[Category:Psychedelic songs]]

[[Category:Heavy metal songs]]
==Personnel==
* [[Mick Box]] – lead guitar
* [[David Byron]] – lead vocals
* [[Ken Hensley]] – organ, mellotron
* [[Paul Newton (musician)|Paul Newton]] – bass guitar, vocals
* [[Keith Baker (musician)|Keith Baker]] – drums


==References==
==References==
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{{Uriah Heep}}
{{Uriah Heep}}
{{authority control}}


⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bird Of Prey (Uriah Heep Song)}}
{{1970s-song-stub}}
⚫
[[Category:1970 songs]]
⚫
[[Category:Uriah Heep (band) songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Ken Hensley]]
[[Category:Songs written by David Byron]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mick Box]]

Latest revision as of 13:06, 21 November 2024

"Bird of Prey"
Song by Uriah Heep
from the album Salisbury and Uriah Heep (US version)
A-side"Gypsy"
Released1970 (1970)
RecordedOctober–November 1970
StudioLansdowne, London
GenreHeavy metal[1]
Length4:05
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Gerry Bron

"Bird of Prey" is a song by British rock band Uriah Heep, from the group's US version of their 1970 debut album Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble (released as Uriah Heep in the United States).[2]

History

[edit]

The song was written in Richmond, London during the summer of 1969.[3] It was originally released on Uriah Heep, the US version of Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble. The song was included as a B-side to the band's first ever worldwide single "Gypsy". A re-recorded version of the song would appear on the European version of 1971's album Salisbury. The original 1970 version of the song would later appear on the European 2003 remaster of Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble. The song is included on most of the band's compilation albums including the first one, 1974's The Best of Uriah Heep.

"Bird of Prey" was used as a concert opener during the band's early years.[3]

Reception

[edit]

Martin Popoff called it "the band's most raging work of genius, a searing blend of glowing Byron operatics and sinister metal craftsmanship which previewed Heep's progressive metal side splendidly."[4] AllMusic noted that the song features a riff reminiscent of "Gypsy" and a comparable mood with the works of both Deep Purple and David Bowie.[3] Ultimate Classic Rock said the song is "widely recognized today as one of heavy metal’s most spectacular 1970 cornerstones."[5]

[edit]

In 2009 the intro to the song (approximately from 8–14 seconds) was sampled by the American Rapper Xzibit in his single "Hurt Locker".

Personnel

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (26 July 2018). "1970s Best Heavy Metal Songs You Didn't Know About". Loudwire. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  2. ^ "Uriah Heep (1970)". Prog Archives. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Thompson, Dave. "Bird of Prey – Uriah Heep | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  4. ^ Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. pp. 300–301. ISBN 978-1894959025.
  5. ^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (13 June 2015). "45 Years Ago: Uriah Heep Unveil Their Debut Album". Ultimate Classic Rock. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
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