Uriah Heep : Return to Fantasy

Great music from the perennial kings of symphonic rock. Crafty musicianship and very melodic songs from Ken Hensley and the crew. Besides the title song, this album contains such masterpieces as Year or a Day and Your Turn to Remember. Excellent album from a very good and harmonic rock band. Great pressing as well.

This 1975 album was a partial return to form for Uriah Heep. The band was in some turmoil at the time, due to the pressures of constant touring and the debilitating effects of drugs and alcohol. John Wetton (King Crimson, Asia) plays bass, although the songs were written primarily by the other members. By this time, the band's style was well-established. The songs were a blend of hard rock and progressive elements, the instrumental arrangements favored organ backgrounds, and the vocals were mellifluous. Despite the title, the lyrics were more grounded in reality, in contrast to the swords-and-sorcery themes of some of their earlier albums. The title track is outstanding. Most of the rest of the CD is listenable, with the exception of Prima Donna, which sounds completely out of place. Surprisingly, the band had stronger material available, which was not on the original album, but is included in the bonus tracks on the remastered CD. Two of these bonus tracks, Shout it Out and The Time Will Come, showcase the band's more metallic side.

Well, I was not fortunate enough as to have been born in the early 60's, therefore, my comments on this album are based on the sole experience of playing it now, totally foreign to its impact or the expectations that preceded it on its original release. In my particular opinion, this is an awesome Heep record. It does not sound quite like their older works, true; yet, still retains the fine style which makes the band so special (and definitely more accomplished than that before, Wonderworld). Return to Fantasy has it all: ballads, epics, rockers and jumpy tunes. No need to expatiate on each track - anybody can enjoy this one, both fans or casual listeners, I am certain.

I've never listened to this album before. And having been a Uriah Heep fan from the beginning, by the time this album came out I had moved on to other bands of the period and never listened to "Return". It is definitely not the strongest musically from the original line up (minus Gary Thain)... but it still has a good overall sound!! It's nice to have this one to fill out my collection!!

Great band, great melodies.

Uriah Heep is probably the most underrated band of the 70's. All of their albums from Look at Yourself to Wonderworld are classics and sold well. Unfortunately after Return to Fantasy things started to go downhill for the band. Best tracks on this album are Prima Donna and the title track.

Great album, classic Heep

Solid Uriah Heep album. Maybe not their best but if you like 70s Heep you'll probably like this album.

Nearly didn’t buy this as mixed reviews and general consensus that it was not their best but I took a chance and glad I did. Started listening to the early Heep and collecting them all on vinyl and ok this is not the best but give it a couple of listens and it’s actually a good album, great vocals backed up by great musicians.Haven’t got past Byron era yet but that’s only because of the quality of these early albums.

This is the band's eighth studio album. It was released in 1975. In the David Byron era on vocals is probably the band's worst album. Is bad? No, but it does not have the same impetus of the first six albums and it is not more interesting than the one before and after this one. The track "A Year Or A Day" is the best, also featuring "Beautiful Dream" and "Why Did You Go". There are some interesting bonuses like "The Time Will Come". It's an album more for fans than for anyone who wants to meet the band in this line-up. Reasonable. Note 6.0.

Nice to hear how good is the Bass line was remastered. A lot of interesting information in booklet

This is an CD I've wanted to get to replace my album for year but never got around to it. Great music. Delivered on time, plus I now have it on Amazon Music and can play it anywhere I like.

It isn't a masterpiece, is a good album, in that moment they are less creativness, then before .