Well, another Heep list… My list of their best album opening cuts, ranked 1-11. These picks aren’t all necessarily from my favorite Heep albums, but those opening songs that are best representative of the album they’re from, and made the most impact to grab your attention. Feel free to disagree and put your own picks in the comments!

1 – Gypsy

The first song on Uriah Heep‘s first album, with that riff and Hammond organ. “Gypsy” is one of Heep’s most memorable tunes and set the tone for some of what was to come in the early days. Still a live favorite. This started it all!

2 – Sunrise

From The Magician’s Birthday. I love the gentle build up before the band and vocals come in, like a huge alarm. Imagine listening to the intro to this for the first time and not knowing what to expect!? It’s a ballad with a heavy dose of Heepy sound making this so intense.

3 – Too Scared To Run

After so many changes the band returned in ’82 with a new line-up, and an album – Abominog. This song kicked off the album and ’80s comeback. Penned by new singer Peter Goalby it’s one of the biggest and most memorable riffs in the Heep catalogue. This song really screams that the band is back. A fan favorite, and one from this era that still gets performed live. Such a ‘metal’ sounding riff, I can’t believe more modern metal bands haven’t covered this one!

4 – One Way Or Another

Opening 1976’s High And Mighty, which would be the last with David Byron, but surprisingly it’s sang by John Wetton (who also left after this album). It’s got a great opening riff and organ, sounding fresh and energetic. Just a great song. A shame it wasn’t given a global single release and promoted.

5 – Against The Odds

After a string of so-so albums and a bit of a break, Heep returned in 1995 with Sea of Light , which is lead by this killer tune. Another huge riff from Mick Box, and dynamite solos… one of the best tracks from the Bernie Shaw era. Fair to say I usually pick the lead-off track as my favorite on a number of Heep albums.

6 – Speed Of Sound

From 2014’s Outsider (hmm, cool name for a website!). Starting with Hammond organ, and as the organ comes up in volume the guitar and drums kick in before Phil Lanzon’s organ riff takes over. An uplifting tune a shame it didn’t get more attention. Followed nicely by the single “One Minute”.

7 – The Wizard

This acoustic based favorite was a very different start to the band’s classic Demons and Wizards album, a unique way to start an album back then (see also Golden Earring’s “Silver Ships”). The song is pure fantasy Heep from the start, and kicks off their biggest period.

8 – No Return

The lone album with John Sloman, and I love the start of this song and album right away. One of 2 songs penned (but not credited to) the new singer. I like the quiet built up intro, and although it’s not crushingly heavy, this is a very good song, my favorite from Conquest. Would have made a better first single as well, IMO.

9 – Bird Of Prey

From Salisbury (everywhere but North America where the album opened with “High Priestess”). Another trademark Heep classic with that powerful opening and high harmonies. This one kept up the weight and energy of “Gyspy”.

10 – Between Two Worlds

And my favorite track from Heep’s post-’90s era. Love the spooky keyboard intro , and the band coming in to a rockin’ and catchy classic Heep tune. Much like “Against The Odds”, it’s heavy on the guitar and hammond organ, with fantastic solos from Mick Box (love the lengthy outro after the last lyrics), and one of Bernie Shaw’s best vocals on a song with some cool story to it. I really liked Sonic Origami, but nothing else on the album comes close to this killer track.

11 – The Hanging Tree

And here I am at #11… A great start to the band’s first of 3 with John Lawton singing. A memorable little keyboard intro before the drums and rest of the band kick in. Not sure how Heep fans heard this at the time, but as a later Heep fan, I think Lawton did an excellent job at selling the new-look Heep right off the bat with his voice on Firefly. Ken Hensley would re-write and re-record this for his last album as “Right Here, Right Now”. It is worth noting that in Canada and the USA this song kicked off side 2, and the album started with “Been Away Too Long”. The Fallen Angel album also featured different opening cuts from various territories.