Return to Fantasy is the eighth studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released on 13 June 1975 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US. It was the first of the two albums to feature John Wetton, known for his previous work with King Crimson, Roxy Music and later Wishbone Ash, as the new bass player, who replaced Gary Thain in early 1975.
The sleeve-art is by British artist Dave Field.
Reception
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 criticised 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". 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 David Byron's "distant and unsure" performance, judging the album "completely adrift without a trace of spark".
Track listing All tracks are written by David Byron, Mick Box, Ken Hensley and Lee Kerslake except where noted
Personnel Uriah Heep David Byron – lead vocals Mick Box – guitars Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitars, synthesizer, backing vocals Lee Kerslake – drums, percussion, backing vocals John Wetton – bass guitar, Mellotron, backing vocals
Additional musicians B. J. Cole – pedal steel on "Why Did You Go" Mel Collins – saxophone on "Prima Donna"
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
Weekly charts Chart (1975) Peakposition Australian Albums (Kent Music Report) 19Danish Albums (Hitlisten)12 Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts) 8Japanese Albums (Oricon) 74
Year-end charts Chart (1975) Position German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) 49
Certifications
References