Uriah Heep - Totally Driven

Uriah Heep Totally Driven cover
Uriah Heep
Totally Driven
Uriah Heep Records
2015
“Totally Driven” may have been released in November 2015 but it ain’t a “new release”. It’s a re-release of “Remasters: The Official Anthology”, which was released in 2001 and went out of print in a short time. The album was reissued in 2004 under the title “Gold: Looking Back 1970-2001” but without the band’s knowledge & permission. Now it is properly being re-released under the band’s own label, Uriah Heep Records, which also marks the very first release of their label.
 
“Totally Driven” is a 2-CD compilation, which contains different takes of the original tracks. They were recorded by the longest running Uriah Heep line-up which consists of: Bernie Shaw on lead vocals, Mick Box on guitar, the late Trevor Bolder on bass, Lee Kerslake on drums and Phil Lanzon on keyboards. According to Mick, the songs were recorded in preparation for the “Acoustically Driven” and “Electrically Driven” concerts.
 
It would be unfair to compare the original tracks with these recordings that are slightly different than the first ones. The original ones were recorded in a time & era when the ideas, the lyrics, the music themes & the executions were true & innovative in every way. Even the production, which is not as good as today, is the apt one for those tracks. If you are new to Uriah Heep, better grab their first 10 or so albums immediately and then turn to this one. If you’re a long-time fan of the band and you do not own this album, do check it out, even though it won’t offer you anything new but you will just listen to some classic UH tracks under a different perspective.
 
Mick Box commented on the release: “The "Totally Driven" recordings were made while we were in preparation for the "Acoustically Driven" and "Electrically Driven" concerts. Previously these 2001 recordings were released under the confusing name "Remasters", but that title went out of print very quickly. This re-release has had the band’s full input, including in its re-branding as "Totally Driven" and will be the very first release on our own Uriah Heep Records. ‘Appy Days!”…