Innocent Victim | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | November 1977 | |||
Recorded | July–September 1977 | |||
Studio | Roundhouse, London | |||
Genre | Hard rock, arena rock | |||
Length | 38:48 | |||
Label | Bronze Warner Bros. (North America) | |||
Producer | Gerry Bron, Ken Hensley | |||
Uriah Heep chronology | ||||
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Singles from Innocent Victim | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 3/10 [3] |
Innocent Victim is the 11th studio album by British hard rock band Uriah Heep, released in November 1977 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US.
Although it did not chart in the US or UK, Innocent Victim went on to sell more than 100,000 copies in Germany alone,[ citation needed ] and reached No. 19 and No. 44 in New Zealand and Australia, respectively. [4] [5] The single "Free Me" was a #3 hit in New Zealand and also peaked at #3 in South Africa. "Free Me" was also Uriah Heep's only hit in Australia, reaching #9. [6] [7]
The eyes of drummer Lee Kerslake were used for the snake on the cover artwork. In the US, the sleeve was a live photomontage instead.
The album was remastered and reissued by Castle Communications in 1997 with two bonus tracks, and again in 2004 in an expanded deluxe edition including three live tracks recorded during the band's 1979 European tour (these are alternate versions to the ones released on the Live in Europe 1979 album).
All tracks are written by Ken Hensley, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Keep on Ridin'" | Hensley, Jack Williams | 3:40 |
2. | "Flyin' High" | 3:19 | |
3. | "Roller" | Trevor Bolder, Pete McDonald | 4:41 |
4. | "Free 'n' Easy" | Mick Box, John Lawton | 3:05 |
5. | "Illusion" | 5:05 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
6. | "Free Me" | 3:34 | |
7. | "Cheat 'n' Lie" | 4:54 | |
8. | "The Dance" | Williams | 4:49 |
9. | "Choices" | Williams | 5:49 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
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10. | "Illusion / Masquerade (Full Unedited Version)" (Originally recorded as one track, but released as separate tracks – "Illusion" as album track and "Masquerade" as B-side on single "Free Me") | 8:18 | |
11. | "The River" (outtake) | Bolder, Box, Hensley, Kerslake, Lawton | 3:10 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
12. | "Put Your Music (Where Your Mouth Is)" (outtake) | Bolder, Box, Hensley, Kerslake, Lawton | 2:57 |
13. | "Cheat 'n' Lie" (alternative live version) | 5:58 | |
14. | "Free Me" (alternative live version) | 5:46 | |
15. | "Free 'n' Easy" (alternative live version) | Box, Lawton | 3:15 |
AlbumWeekly charts
Year-end charts
| Singles
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Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [16] | Gold | 20,000^ |
Germany (BVMI) [17] | Gold | 250,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. |
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969. Their current lineup consists of guitarist Mick Box, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, drummer Russell Gilbrook, and bassist Dave Rimmer. They have experienced numerous lineup changes throughout their 54-year career, leaving Box as the only remaining original member. Notable former members of the band are vocalists David Byron, John Lawton, John Sloman and Peter Goalby, bassists Gary Thain, Trevor Bolder, John Wetton, Bob Daisley, Paul Newton, and John Jowitt, drummers Nigel Olsson, Iain Clark, Lee Kerslake and Chris Slade, and keyboardists Ken Hensley, Gregg Dechert and John Sinclair.
Kenneth William David Hensley was an English musician, singer, songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s.
Salisbury is the second studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in January 1971 by Vertigo Records. It was produced by Gerry Bron.
Lee Gary Kerslake was an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Uriah Heep and for his work with Ozzy Osbourne in the early 1980s.
Demons and Wizards is the fourth studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released 19 May 1972 by Bronze Records in the UK and Mercury Records in the US.
The Magician's Birthday is the fifth album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in November 1972 by Bronze Records in the UK and Mercury Records in the US. The concept was "based loosely on a short story" written by keyboardist Ken Hensley in June and July 1972.
Sweet Freedom is the sixth studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released on 3 September 1973 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US.
Wonderworld is the seventh studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in June 1974 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US. Wonderworld was the last Uriah Heep album to feature bass player Gary Thain.
Return to Fantasy is the eighth studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released on 13 June 1975 in the United Kingdom by Bronze Records. It was the first of the two albums to feature John Wetton as the new bass player, who replaced Gary Thain in early 1975.
Uriah Heep Live is a double live album by British rock group Uriah Heep, released in April 1973 in the US by Mercury Records, and in May 1973 in the UK by Bronze Records. It was the band's first live album. The album was recorded by the Pye Mobile Unit, with Alan Perkins as engineer.
Firefly is the tenth studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in February 1977 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US. It was their first album without lead vocalist and founding member David Byron, and the first of three albums with new singer John Lawton, formerly of Lucifer's Friend. Bassist Trevor Bolder made his Uriah Heep debut on this album. Barring a break of about 18 months in the early 1980s, he remained with the group until his death in 2013.
High and Mighty is the ninth studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in May 1976 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US. High and Mighty was the last Uriah Heep album to feature bassist John Wetton, and vocalist and founding member David Byron who was fired later that year due to his troubles with alcohol and differences with band priorities.
Fallen Angel is the 12th studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in September 1978 by Bronze Records in the UK and Chrysalis Records in USA. It is the last album to feature John Lawton on vocals, before his firing in 1979. Fallen Angel only reached No. 186 in the US Billboard 200, but in Germany, the band were at the height of their popularity. On this album, the band moved toward an AOR sound, as opposed to the progressive rock of previous albums.
Conquest is the thirteenth studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in 1980. It was released worldwide by Bronze Records; however, the album was never released in North America, where it was difficult to find even as an import.
Abominog is the fourteenth studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in March 1982 by Bronze Records in the United Kingdom, and on July 12, 1982 by Mercury Records in the United States. It was their first album without keyboardist Ken Hensley. The album was critically acclaimed and fairly commercially successful, due in part to the band retooling and updating their sound to a contemporary style and delivering a "punchier, more pop metal era-appropriate effort.
"The Wizard" is a song by British rock band Uriah Heep, from their 1972 album Demons and Wizards. It was the first single to be lifted from the album. It was composed by Mark Clarke and Ken Hensley. It is a gentle, semi-acoustic ballad whose lyrics deal with a wanderer meeting "the Wizard of a thousand kings". This song is the first Uriah Heep single which had a music video.
Take No Prisoners is the debut solo album of British rock singer David Byron. It was released while he was still vocalist for Uriah Heep, and features Heep bandmates Mick Box and Lee Kerslake, as well as Ken Hensley and John Wetton on select tracks.
"Stealin'" is a song by British hard rock band Uriah Heep, from the concept album Sweet Freedom. The song was written by Ken Hensley, and it reached gold status in New Zealand. The B-side of the song is "Sunshine".
...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble is the debut studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep.
The Ultimate Collection is a compilation album released by the British rock group Uriah Heep. It features songs from their debut album ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble through their 1991 album Different World.