FIREFLY

Released as the first album after the ousting of their much loved or much hated (depending on who you are) vocalist David Byron, Firefly saw the group replace him with British born John Lawton who had been singing for German hard rockers Lucifier's Friend. Lawton, who was graced with the vocal abilities of a genius, elevated Heep to the best period of their whole career and a new peak after their brilliant early albums with the late great David Byron. John Lawton's strong, belting voice actually had an effect on UH that would not be expected- Uriah Heep mellowed out when he came into the band. Firefly is my favourite Uriah Heep album, as every track is full of all the trademarks of their fantastic sound. Mick Box plays stunning and sensitive guitar lines throughout, Ken Hensley's writing and grinding organ sound have never sounded better, and the rhythm section of Trevor Bolder (Bass) and Lee Kerslake (Drums) are outstanding. Every track here is brilliant, but I would particularly say the two softest songs on the album are two of my most loved tracks by any group from any era. "Wise Man" is a song that I relate to, having met some in my life and wanting to know a lot they couldn't or could tell me. The laidback melodic electric piano and Lawton's graceful voice gradually build up into a truly outstanding chorus and the song is full of peace and beauty. Lawton steals the song at the end, with a wailing Gospel influenced crescendo that leaves me breathless and at the same time feeling very good inside. All the hard rocking tracks on this album are the best Heep ever recorded, sounding full of energy, enthusiasm, and power, but the title track which ends the album to me is along with Salisbury's title track the best thing Heep ever did. Let me warn you, I love rainbows and have a weakness for any beautiful songs that make mention of them, but from the opening line "My love lives at the end of a rainbow/One day I'm gonna fly there on a Firefly/ High above wide and green waters/With a love song in my heart" you know this song is special. While it may not be a 16 minute long blow out like "Salisbury" it's Uriah Heep's greatest achievement. The soft, flowing music and Lawton's peaceful soothing voice build up into a mini epic of majestic, flowing, soundscapes of tranquility and peaceful dream like images of conquering all that is wrong in the world with love. The idea of riding a firefly to the end of a rainbow to find the love of your life I find to be a beautiful image, and the song builds on that beautiful image and turns it into a masterpiece. When the rocking passage comes in and is heralded by another change of mood you know UH have all their confidence back after the serious blow of having to fire Byron for his excessive drug and drink problems that would tragically take his life in the mid 80s. To bring it all back to Firefly, as great a singer as David Byron was Lawton is better, more confident, and more reliable. If you want to hear UH rock with all the power of their classic Byron period and the other big hard rock giants of the early 70s Deep Purple just witness "The Hanging Tree" and "Sympathy" (Not the Rare Bird song). Then listen to the beautiful tracks together with the rocking tracks, this is Heep's best record.