Bird of Prey (Uriah Heep song): Difference between revisions

"Bird of Prey"
"Bird of Prey"
Song by Uriah Heep
from the album Salisbury and Uriah Heep (US version)
A-side	"Gypsy"
Released	1970
Recorded	October–November 1970
Studio	Lansdowne, London
Genre	Heavy metal
Length	4:05
Label	Bronze; Mercury;
Songwriter(s)	Ken Hensley; David Byron; Mick Box; Paul Newton;
Producer(s)	Gerry Bron

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"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

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

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]

In popular culture

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

Mick Box – lead guitar
David Byron – lead vocals
Ken Hensley – organ, mellotron
Paul Newton – bass guitar, vocals
Keith Baker – drums

References

^ Rivadavia, Eduardo (26 July 2018). "1970s Best Heavy Metal Songs You Didn't Know About". Loudwire. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
^ "Uriah Heep (1970)". Prog Archives. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c Thompson, Dave. "Bird of Prey – Uriah Heep | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
^ 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.
^ 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.

[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.

[allmusic-3] Thompson, Dave. "Bird of Prey – Uriah Heep | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 April 2019.

[martin-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.

[UltimateClassicRock-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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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Refimprove|date=January 2013}}
+{{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       = 1970
+| 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         =  # "[[Gypsy (Uriah Heep's song)|Gypsy]]"
-# "Walking in Your Shadow"
-# "Come Away Melinda"
-# "Lucy Blues"/"'''Bird of Prey'''"
-# "Dreammare"
-# "Real Turned On"
-# "I'll Keep On Trying"
-# "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)"
 }}
+'''"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 US version of their [[1970 in music|1970]] debut album ''[[Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble]]'' (released as ''Uriah Heep'' in the United States)<ref>http://www.progarchives.com/album.asp?id=5919</ref> and [[1971 in music|1971]]'s album ''[[Salisbury (album)|Salisbury]]''. A different version of the song would also appear on the 2003 remaster 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 first ever worldwide single "[[Gypsy (Uriah Heep's song)|Gypsy]]".<ref>http://www.allmusic.com/song/bird-of-prey-mt0014819759</ref>  The song is in the key of [[E Major]].<ref>http://www.azchords.com/u/uriahheep-tabs-4577/birdofprey-tabs-80347.html</ref>
+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>
+==Reception==
+[[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>
+==In popular culture==
+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]]".
 ==Personnel==
-* [[Mick Box]] – lead [[guitar]]
+* [[Mick Box]] – lead guitar
-* [[David Byron]] – [[Singer|lead vocals]]
+* [[David Byron]] – lead vocals
-* [[Ken Hensley]] –  [[Organ (music)|organ]], mellotron
+* [[Ken Hensley]] –  organ, mellotron
-* [[Paul Newton (musician)|Paul Newton]] – [[bass guitar]], vocals
+* [[Paul Newton (musician)|Paul Newton]] – bass guitar, vocals
-* [[Keith Baker (musician)|Keith Baker]] - drums
+* [[Keith Baker (musician)|Keith Baker]] – drums
 ==References==
 {{reflist}}
-==External links==
-* {{MetroLyrics song|uriah-heep|bird-of-prey}}<!-- Licensed lyrics provider -->
 {{Uriah Heep}}
+{{authority control}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Bird Of Prey (Uriah Heep Song)}}
-[[Category:1971 songs]]
+[[Category:1970 songs]]
 [[Category:Uriah Heep (band) songs]]
-[[Category:Hard Rock songs]]
-[[Category:Psychedelic songs]]
-[[Category:Heavy Metal songs]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Ken Hensley]]
 [[Category:Songs written by David Byron]]
 [[Category:Songs written by Mick Box]]
-{{1970s-song-stub}}

v t e Uriah Heep
Mick Box Phil Lanzon Bernie Shaw Russell Gilbrook Dave Rimmer Ken Hensley David Byron Paul Newton Alex Napier Nigel Olsson Keith Baker Ian Clarke Lee Kerslake Mark Clarke Gary Thain John Wetton Trevor Bolder John Lawton Chris Slade John Sloman Gregg Dechert John Sinclair Peter Goalby Bob Daisley Steff Fontaine
Studio albums	...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble Salisbury Look at Yourself Demons and Wizards The Magician's Birthday Sweet Freedom Wonderworld Return to Fantasy High and Mighty Firefly Innocent Victim Fallen Angel Conquest Abominog Head First Equator Raging Silence Different World Sea of Light Sonic Origami Wake the Sleeper Into the Wild Outsider Living the Dream Chaos & Colour
Live albums	Uriah Heep Live Live in Europe 1979 Live at Shepperton '74 Acoustically Driven Live in Armenia
Compilations	The Best of Uriah Heep The Lansdowne Tapes The Ultimate Collection Easy Livin': Singles A's & B's Loud, Proud & Heavy: The Best of Uriah Heep Celebration – Forty Years of Rock Totally Driven
Singles	"Gypsy" "Lady in Black" "Look at Yourself" "The Wizard" "Easy Livin'" "Sweet Lorraine" "Blind Eye" "July Morning" "Stealin'" "Something or Nothing" "Prima Donna" "Return to Fantasy" "One Way or Another" "Wise Man" "Sympathy"
Other songs	"Bird of Prey" "Sunrise"
Related articles	Discography Members The Gods Spice Toe Fat Colin Wood