Uriah Heep - 'The Magician's Birthday' (2017 Remaster)

In the magic garden
Some were singing, some were dancing
While the midnight moon shone brightly overhead.

The stars so gaily glistened
And the sphinx in silence listened to
The magician tell of lives that he had led.

Let the bells of freedom ring
Songs of love to Friday's king.

Let's all go to the magician's birthday
It's in the forest, but not so far away
Much to do and so much to say
While we listened to the orchid orchestra play.

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you
Happy birthday dear magician, happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you (dear magician), happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you (dear magician), happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you (dear magician), happy birthday to you.

Then at the dead of midnight
As we watched the dancing firelight
The air grew cold and seemed to dull the flame.
The fire died, the music faded
Filled with fear of death we waited
For now we knew some evil was to blame.

I challenge you, I challenge you all
For all you own and all you know
And by all the powers of darkness I will
Steal what is mine

Surrender now or face my spite
I grant you it may be Friday night
But did you know this day
Also numbers thirteen.

First I give you fire
I turn your fire into a sleepy stream
Yes but now I give you nightmares
From your horror I'll create a dream

You cannot fight me for I have the sword of hate
But one thing you can't see, my answer is simply
An impenetrable fortress
Of love - love - love...

The fear went as quickly as it came
The air was clear, the fire burned again
The flames leapt, the organ played
The swans sang to greet the day

And then we knew that
Love will find love will find love will find
Love will find love will find love will find
Love...

Ένας από τους "αθάνατους" ύμνους των Uriah Heep και ολάκερης της δεκαετίας του εβδομήντα (κι από τα πλέον αγαπημένα μου τραγούδια). "The Magician's Birthday". Το γνωρίσαμε από τον πέμπτο (και υπέροχο) ομότιτλο δίσκο της Βρετανική μπάντας που κυκλοφόρησε τον Νοέμβριο του 1972. Στα τέλη του περασμένου Σεπτέμβρη κυκλοφόρησε ένα "πακέτο" ("Every Day Rocks"), το οποίο περιλαμβάνει (συν τις άλλοις) σε βινύλιο τους επτά πρώτους δίσκους των Uriah Heep:

➜ ...Very ‘Eavy ...Very Humble
➜ Salisbury
➜ Look At Yourself
➜ Demons And Wizards
➜ The Magicians Birthday
➜ Sweet Freedom
➜ Wonderworld

Ο Mick Box μας λέει για την κυκλοφορία: «Along with BMG we wanted to do something extra special for our fans which will give them a piece of Heep love every single day of the week. Our first 7 albums will be put on to picture disc, and there will be a t-shirt for each album to wear for each day of the week. We have also included a yearly wall planner, so that you can plan your listening or just make some notes on how the albums make you feel. This way you can keep on Heepin’ on! ‘Appy days!»

Δελτίο τύπου: «On 24th September 2021 BMG proudly release Uriah Heep’s Every Day Rocks box set. British hard rock legends Uriah Heep are one of the “big four” rock bands, along with Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple and Black Sabbath and certainly one of the most intriguing bands both musically and lyrically, to emerge from heavy rock.

The ambitious and beautifully presented Every Day Rocks box set includes the first seven albums on picture disc, plus seven accompanying t-shirts (one for every day of the week), corresponding art cards feature motivational lyrics and a calendar wall planner for planning the week’s Uriah Heep listening.

These albums are available officially for the first time as picture discs and the albums; Demons And Wizards and The Magicians Birthday feature both reimagined and original artwork by renowned fantasy artist Roger Dean.»