Return to Fantasy

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.

Return to Fantasy
Studio album by
Uriah Heep
Released13 June 1975 (UK)
RecordedSpring 1975
StudioLansdowne Studios and Morgan Studios, London
Genre
Length40:35
Label
ProducerGerry Bron
Uriah Heep chronology
Wonderworld
(1974)		 Return to Fantasy
(1975)		 High and Mighty
(1976)
Singles from Return to Fantasy
  1. "Prima Donna"
    Released: 13 June 1975
  2. "Return to Fantasy"
    Released: December 1975 (Europe and Japan)

The sleeve-art is by British artist Dave Field.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal5/10[2]

Return to Fantasy "retains the musical experimentation that marked Sweet Freedom and Wonderworld, but has an overall harder-rocking feel that makes it more consistent than either one of those albums", said Donald A. Guarisco in his retrospective AllMusic review. He criticized some of the album's "genre-hopping", and concluded, "In the end, Return to Fantasy lacks the coherence of a top-shelf Uriah Heep classic like Demons and Wizards but remains a strong and likable album that is guaranteed to please the group's fans".[1] The review by Canadian journalist Martin Popoff was very critical of the album's recording "dominated by blaring but thin organ and sloppy drumming" and of Byron's "distant and unsure" performance, judging the album "completely adrift without a trace of spark".[2]

Track listing
Side one
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Return to Fantasy"Ken Hensley, David Byron5:52
2."Shady Lady"Hensley, Mick Box, Byron, Lee Kerslake4:46
3."Devil's Daughter"Byron, Box, Hensley, Kerslake4:48
4."Beautiful Dream"Hensley, Byron, Box, Kerslake4:52
Side two
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
5."Prima Donna"Byron, Box, Kerslake, Hensley3:11
6."Your Turn to Remember"Hensley4:22
7."Showdown"Hensley, Byron, Box, Kerslake4:17
8."Why Did You Go"Byron, Box, Hensley, Kerslake3:53
9."A Year or a Day"Hensley4:22
Total length:40:35
1996 Essential remastered and expanded edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
10."Shout It Out" (B-side to single "Prima Donna")Hensley3:34
11."The Time Will Come" (B-side to single "Return to Fantasy")Byron, Box, Hensley, Kerslake4:10
12."Beautiful Dream" (previously unreleased version) 5:49
13."Return to Fantasy" (edited version) 3:39
Total length:57:49
2004 Sanctuary Midline remastered and expanded edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
10."Shout It Out" (B-side)3:34
11."The Time Will Come" (B-side)4:08
12."Prima Donna" (alternate demo version)4:05
13."Why Did You Go" (alternate demo version)5:18
14."Showdown" (alternate demo version)4:18
15."Beautiful Dream" (alternate demo version)5:48
16."Return to Fantasy" (extended version)7:18
Total length:75:08

Personnel
Uriah Heep
Production
  • Gerry Bron – producer
  • Peter Gallen – engineer
  • Dave Burns, Dave Harris – assistant engineers
  • Harry Moss – mastering engineer at EMI Abbey Road Studios, London
  • Dave Field – illustration
  • Joe Gaffney – photography

Charts

Album

Certifications
Country Organization Year Sales
UK BPI 1976 Silver (+ 60,000)[17]

References
  1. Guarisco, Donald A. Uriah Heep - Return to Fantasy review at AllMusic. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  2. Popoff, Martin (October 2003). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 303. ISBN 978-1894959025.
  3. "Uriah Heep – Return to Fantasy (Album)". Norwegiancharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  4. "Uriah Heep – Return to Fantasy". Austriancharts.at (in German). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  5. "Uriah Heep Official Charts". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 13 November 2018.
  6. "Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1961: U > Uriah Heep". Sisältää hitin / Timo Pennanen. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  7. "Uriah Heep – Return to Fantasy". Dutch Charts.nl (in Dutch). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  8. "Return to Fantasy - Uriah Heep". Danske Hitlister.dk. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  9. "Album – Uriah Heep, Return to Fantasy". Charts.de (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  10. "Uriah Heep – Return to Fantasy (Album)". Charts.org.nz. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  11. AA.VV. (25 April 2006). Album Chart-Book Complete Edition 1970~2005. Tokyo, Japan: Oricon. ISBN 978-487-1-31077-2.
  12. "Top Albums/CDs - Volume 24, No. 3, September 13 1975". Library and Archives Canada. 13 September 1975. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  13. "Uriah Heep Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  14. "Uriah Heep – Prima Donna (Song)". Norwegiancharts.com. Media Control Charts. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  15. "Prima Donna - Uriah Heep". Danske Hitlister.dk. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  16. "Uriah Heep – Return to Fantasy". Ultratop.be (in Dutch). Media Control Charts. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  17. "BPI Awards Database: Search for Uriah Heep". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
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