Wonderworld
Uriah Heep
℗ 1974 Bronze Records 9280
Wonderworld continues in the vein of Sweet Freedom, trying to bring Uriah Heep's appeal to a wider level while still retaining the grandiose trademark elements (the organ-guitar attack, David Byron's operatic shriek) that got them noticed. The result is an album that is solid but not as inspired as Look at Yourself or Demons and Wizards. The hard rock quotient is a little stronger on this album than it was on Sweet Freedom: "Something or Nothing" is a galloping stomp-rocker in the vein of past classics like "Love Machine" and "Suicidal Man" is an organ-fortified speed-rocker that is one of the band's finest hard rock tunes. On other tracks, the group continues in the experimental vein of Sweet Freedom: "The Shadows and the Wind" tacks a Queen-style round of a cappella harmonies onto its tag and "We Got We" marries one of the band's gothic melodies to a funky rhythm track that features some tasty clavinet jamming from Ken Hensley. However, the most successful experiment is "The Easy Road," an orchestrated romantic ballad that features a lovely, understated vocal performance from David Byron. Despite these highlights, the remainder of Wonderworld has trouble sustaining a similar level of inspiration: The title track is powerfully performed but feels like the band is going through the motions and "Dreams" lacks the strong melody necessary to prop up the song's interesting riffs. Ultimately, Wonderworld lacks the consistency and the high number of standout tunes that would help it win over new listeners but contains enough highlights to please the Uriah Heep fan base. — Donald A. Guarisco. |
- 1. Wonderworld [04:29]
- 2. Suicidal Man [03:37]
- 3. The Shadows and the Wind [04:29]
- 4. So Tired [03:38]
- 5. The Easy Road [02:41]
- 6. Something or Nothing [02:55]
- 7. I Won't Mind [06:00]
- 8. We Got We [03:37]
- 9. Dreams [06:09]
- 10. What Can I Do [b-side single] [03:10]
- 11. Love, Hate and Fear [previously unreleased demo version] [04:30]
- 12. Stones Throw [previously unreleased demo version] [05:38]
- 13. Dreams [previously unreleased extended version] [07:16]
- 14. I Won't Mind [alternate live version] [05:36]
- 15. So Tired [alternate live version] [03:29]
Тексты:
Wonderworld
We freely speak of dreams We marvel at what they conceal But in my wonderworld Each sleeping vision is so real So I believe and hope That all the things I see May one day bring Such truth and peace As we can feel Free from this waking world Deep in sleep's mystery My will is free to wander Free to wander carelessly At times it's not so far From what we call reality And at times I know I wonder If it all could come true Oh, Mr. Wonderworld Don't be afraid 'Cause dreams were made Were made to dim the light The torment day can bring And leave you free To laugh aloud and hear Your heart bells ring Oh, oh, Mr. Wonderworld Wonderworld Oh, Mr. Wonderworld Don't be afraid 'Cause your dreams were made They were made to dim the light The torment day can bring And leave you free To laugh aloud and hear Your heart bells ring Oh, oh, Mr. Wonderworld Mr. Wonderworld Mr. Wonderworld
Suicidal Man
Waiting by the window Staring at my shadow Not believing what I'd seen Touching but not feeling And wondering what I was dealing And not knowing where I'd been So I began walking To myself I was talking But didn't know which way to go Then I found a direction And now I needed some action But I should have just said no Should have said no Why won't you help me Or give me hand 'Cause I'm close to becoming A suicidal man What I need is someone With a definite plan For I've waited for just about As long as I can Suicidal man, suicidal... So on my travels Still with all my troubles I found someone who cared The answer was so easy That all she did to please me Was to say a problems smaller When it's shared He was a suicidal man...
The Shadows and the Wind
Oh, they're moving in again Hidden by the shadows And the wind But we'll just wait awhile and then We'll show 'em all that This time we ain't giving in Without a care they Sweep aside our dreams To try and make way for their own No more should we surrender To their schemes It's time to stand and Show 'em we are not alone Time has changed us all We have our minds Life has taught us We all have our love And it's time to use it, use it Nature gave us colour Day and night So if you really got a reason Then you better be right The seasons of the year Still are spring and fall But there's nothing in the world That's says it's right to fight Time has changed us all We have our minds Life has taught us We all have our love Why don't we use it Come on and use it Why don't we use it Come on and use it La la la la la ...
So Tired
SO TIRED Well, I've been on the road For a year or more And I've done a lot of things I never did before Now I want everyone To listen to my song And you can tell me When you've heard it If you think I'm wrong 'Cause I'm so tired Of everybody staring at me Yes, I'm so tired And I'm so uninspired Please help me Well I've seen 'em rise And I've seen 'em fall And I use to think that I was having a ball But I was kiddin' myself For a long long time But now I got myself a spoon And I'm feeling fine But I'm so tired Of everybody staring at me Yes, I'm so tired And I'm so uninspired Won't you please help me Where can you go Where can you go When there is no one To show a guiding light What did you say What did you say Have you been thinking about me Day and night 'Cause I'm so tired Of everybody staring at me And I'm so, so tired I'm so uninspired Please help me Won't you please me ...
The Easy Road
If you're looking for a place You can fly together And you're really afraid of What you're leaving behind Take the easiest road But take care my brother For you'll never find peace With a troubled mind Far better to love each other Than to worry so deeply 'Bout the place you're in And far better to kiss her softly Than lookin' back on a love You'll never have again Time's as fickle as The sky in winter And two hearts always Were better than one Love has the wings Of a tireless angel She'll stay beside you Till the day is done La la la la la ... You'll never have again No no no, never again You'll never have again
Something or Nothing
There's never a day When I've got nothing to do Something to me Might mean nothing to you So don't don't don't don't Look at me strangely now We'll find the line That's in the middle and run Something, something or nothing You say you love to spend days But I will save mine Waiting for the sun in your eyes To turn the river to wine But don't don't don't don't Look at me strangely now We're gonna find the line That's in the middle and run
I Won't Mind
I don't mind If you steal my last dime Just leave me anytime And I'll get, get along fine I don't really know why But I know I'll get by If I don't I'll die tryin' If it rains again I'm gonna fly to the sun 'Cause nothing gets done Just sitting, sitting around Look at the way it's been Just waitin' and wonderin' I've just got to keep trying Looking for gold in the sky Gets kinda rough Maybe I'm to blame 'Cause I didin't look hard enough But I still get the feeling That it shouldn't be so tough So I won't mind, I, I won't mind I won't mind, I, I won't mind So I won't mind I, No, I won't mind I won't mind, I, said I won't mind
We Got We
I got you, you got me We are where we belong Safe places, warm faces All have been gone too long Sky writing, inviting Disappears admist the clouds False promise, the last cold kiss All seem so distant now Just with each other We are all so well armed And with a little care we need Never be harmed We've got we, and there's love Before our eyes We can have it and hold it If we realize Just with each other We are, we are so well armed And with a little care we need Never, no never be harmed La la la...
Dreams
You should have seen Tuesday's dream Dancing in my head For you'd have heard A thousand words That nobody had said And you'd have Watched me try to run Where dreams have Never strayed Heard my cries because I know I really was afraid Dreams, dreams I'll never keep My body rests But my eyes refuse to sleep Sights and sounds My mind created Far beyond the thoughts Of which we speak And then we danced On silver wings Upon a gilded thread I heard the song the angel sings To bless my lowered head And at the door of paradise My best laid plan begun But as I turned to reach for you My coloured night, it was gone
What Can I Do [b-side single]
I wish you'd stop and Give a helping hand For I guess I'm only half a man I feel the only way for me to leave Is just to give you Everything I can give 'Cause without you, without you What can I do I will give you all the love I have Just to know you stop me Being so sad I hope you won't think So badly of me 'Cause I had to tell you This could break myself in Being helpless is a habit of mine No one else can understand You are the one to Help me to survive If you're any friend of mine Yesterday you gave a helping hand To some one you'll Never understand Though I tried to tell you of this way You said I had nothing Constructive to say But without you, without you What can I do...