Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
After two albums that downplayed their penchant for gothic sounds and mystical lyrics, Uriah Heep brought these elements back to the fore on 1975's Return to Fantasy. The resulting album retains the musical experimentation that marked Sweet Freedom and Wonderworld, but has an overall harder-rocking feel that makes it more consistent than either one of those albums. Return to Fantasy throws down the gauntlet with the title track, which builds from a tapestry of spooky synthesizer and organ riffs to a thunderous rock tune where the guitar and organ duel over a galloping backbeat laid down by Lee Kerslake. It's bracing stuff and one of the finest rockers in the Uriah Heep canon. The rest of the first side continues in a similarly strong hard rock vein and its other key highlight is "Beautiful Dream," a song that marries stomping hard rock verses to a spooky, ethereal chorus that sounds like it could have been plucked from a mid-'70s Pink Floyd album. On the second side, Heep give themselves over to experiments that, while listenable, cause the album to lose focus. For instance, "Prima Donna" is a sardonic commentary on the rock & roll world that features a prominent brass section and prominently overdubbed Beach Boys-style harmonies, while "Your Turn to Remember" is the kind of bluesy AOR ballad that groups like Journey would later specialize in. Both songs are fun listening but stray too far from the group's traditional sound and are too dissimilar to make Return to Fantasy a cohesive experience. Despite these problems, the group never turns in a less-than-engaging instrumental performance and the consistent quality of their work keeps the album from getting carried away by all the genre-hopping. In the end, Return to Fantasy lacks the coherence of a top-shelf Uriah Heep classic like Demons and Wizards but remains a strong and likable album that is guaranteed to please the group's fans.
© Donald A. Guarisco /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From kr133,33/month
Lee Kerslake, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Hensley, Composer - Byron, Composer - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, Composer, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, Composer, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Guitar - David Byron, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Guitar - David Byron, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Guitar - David Byron, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Guitar - David Byron, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1975 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1996 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1996 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 1996 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Composer, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Composer, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2005 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Lee Kerslake, Drums, Percussion, Vocals - Ken Hensley, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Synthesizer - Dave Burns, Assistant Recording Engineer - John Wetton, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Mellotron - Hensley, Composer - Byron, Composer - Gerry Bron, Producer - Harry Moss, MasteringEngineer - Mick Box, Guitar - David Byron, Composer, Lead Vocals - Uriah Heep, Composer, MainArtist - Dave Harris, Assistant Recording Engineer - Peter Gallen, RecordingEngineer
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Album review
After two albums that downplayed their penchant for gothic sounds and mystical lyrics, Uriah Heep brought these elements back to the fore on 1975's Return to Fantasy. The resulting album retains the musical experimentation that marked Sweet Freedom and Wonderworld, but has an overall harder-rocking feel that makes it more consistent than either one of those albums. Return to Fantasy throws down the gauntlet with the title track, which builds from a tapestry of spooky synthesizer and organ riffs to a thunderous rock tune where the guitar and organ duel over a galloping backbeat laid down by Lee Kerslake. It's bracing stuff and one of the finest rockers in the Uriah Heep canon. The rest of the first side continues in a similarly strong hard rock vein and its other key highlight is "Beautiful Dream," a song that marries stomping hard rock verses to a spooky, ethereal chorus that sounds like it could have been plucked from a mid-'70s Pink Floyd album. On the second side, Heep give themselves over to experiments that, while listenable, cause the album to lose focus. For instance, "Prima Donna" is a sardonic commentary on the rock & roll world that features a prominent brass section and prominently overdubbed Beach Boys-style harmonies, while "Your Turn to Remember" is the kind of bluesy AOR ballad that groups like Journey would later specialize in. Both songs are fun listening but stray too far from the group's traditional sound and are too dissimilar to make Return to Fantasy a cohesive experience. Despite these problems, the group never turns in a less-than-engaging instrumental performance and the consistent quality of their work keeps the album from getting carried away by all the genre-hopping. In the end, Return to Fantasy lacks the coherence of a top-shelf Uriah Heep classic like Demons and Wizards but remains a strong and likable album that is guaranteed to please the group's fans.
© Donald A. Guarisco /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 16 track(s)
- Total length: 01:14:45
- Main artists: Uriah Heep
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Castle Communications
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock
© 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company ℗ 2004 Sanctuary Records Group Ltd., a BMG Company
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.