I"Blood on the Highway" is a CD
"Blood on the Highway" is a concept.
But "Blood on the Highway" is so
much more than that.
Indeed - it is the best to come out
of the Uriah Heep camp since "Demons
and Wizards"
This is Ken Hensley's autobiography
and is absolutely brilliant. The
first time since he left the band in
the eighties we can see what we have
missed. With the help of his friends
Jorn, Glenn Hughes, John Lawton and
Eve Gallagher, he has created a
masterpiece. No other classic rock
band has in many years created
something that nearly compares to
this album. By using modern sounds -
and still incorporating the classic
Heep sound, Ken has surprised me
with this mini masterpiece. The
title "Blood on the Highway" might
refer to "Blood on the tracks" by
Bob Dylan who was also the latter's
autobiographical comeback album, as
well as to the story in the Bible
about Paul's Damascus experience.
But let us review the album track by
track.
This is just the beginning: The
album start with a typical Heep
upbeat song. He does not know where
to begin but this is a very good
beginning. It is immediately clear
that the choice of Jorn as lead
singer is paying off. With a mix of
nostalgia and upbeat tempos, the
listener immediately knows what to
expect. With words like dream, pain,
Rock and Roll history you can feel
his pain, anticipation and regrets.
The background vocals are typical
early Heep. With Kerslake as part of
the choir it would have been perfect
(8.5)
We're on our way : This song start
the beginnings of Heep at Benny's
pub. I love the dobro ( or is it
steel guitar?). A small beginning
that went on to limos and groupies.
The music is brilliant. In another
world it definitely would have been
a hit. Is such brilliance still
possible. I was a sceptic, but Ken
shows me wrong. It is still
possible. The mix of rhythm, melody
and the old sound is so good. So
effortlessly. Even the short guitar
solo is so in place. Ken and Jorn
sing together as if they have done
it a lifetime. (10)
Blood on the Highway : Jorn's vocals
in the beginning already pronounce
something dark. The darker side of a
star is brilliantly portrayed by the
bass line, low voice and simple
melody. The two voices mixed as if 2
personalities are appearing. Again
the instruments are brilliant - the
switch between the piano and guitar
solo in the middle says it all. He
is doing both and then the words :
"There's blood on the highway, so
many lies between the lines ,
There's blood on the highway, And a
lot of it is mine". The words are a
confession, the vocals are low and
lonely, and the instruments are that
of a one man show. Wow! (10)
You've go it : It is very
interesting that Hensley goes back
to the late seventies early eighties
sound to portray the success of Heep
in the early seventies. But it is
possible that the subtitle - The
American Dream - determined this
American AOR sound of this song.
Very catchy tune. The choir that
repeats the choir before Jorn shout
it out, gives a sort of a universal
approval to his dream that came
true. How brilliant? (10)
Doom scene 1 : Just the words :
"Honey, you know ... you really are
the band!" Just these words. Is it a
reflection to John and Yoko. Was it
a reflection to the record companies
view at that stage? Or was it his
alter ego speaking. Don't know. But
that was the beginning of the end.
Therefore the very fitting title
"Doom scene 1"
It won't last : Very fitting he is
using John Lawton as vocalist for
the period that Lawton was the
singer of Heep. This again is a very
catchy tune. Possibly Lawton's best
vocals for years. The keyboard's
behind the catchy riff is so good -
it is scary. This song is definitely
up there with Free me and some of
Heep's best singles. The vocals and
words still reflect that doubt if
leaving Heep was the best idea. But
he is convinced it was : " "It
wasn't your mistake, you were
trapped and you had to escape " Do
we sense a bit of self-righteousness
here - definitely. But it is not
convincing - listen to the vocals in
the last 20 seconds. (10)
Think twice : Is this a reflection
to Dylan's "Don't think twice it is
all right" It is interesting that
for the second time on the album,
Hensley uses the voice of a woman to
justify him leaving Heep. Is it some
kind of Freudian plot? Whichever way
- the choice of using Eve Galagher
pays off. Interesting that there is
no confirmation from the choir on
this song. More a solo thing. Still
good. (8.5)
Doom scene 2 : Again the woman. He
has to go solo. But what about his
own mind. This follows in the next
song. And very fitting it is sung by
none other than the main character -
Ken Hensley.
There comes a time : Ken Hensley's
Damascus Road experience - referring
to the point where he had to make a
u-turn. It is not accidental that he
uses a metaphor from the Book of
Proverbs ( just think about the song
from the Byrds - Turn, turn, turn ).
It is also not accidental that the
song sounds very similar to " Our
Father who art in heaven " and that
the melody is very similar to that
one and the songs that the church
uses when you confess your sins.
That explains everything - this
point was not so much a point where
he had enough of Heep and the
members, than he had enough of a
certain lifestyle. He did not turn
his back on Uriah Heep as much as he
turned his back on that lifestyle.
And the whole melody and song -
without any aggression or any blames
- brings some perspective on that
split. This is one of those rare
songs where everything - from the
instruments to the words, to the
chords - paints a perfect picture.
Another perfect song. Sung by the
sinner and confessor himself. (10)
Okay this house is down : Now was
the moment. The decision was made.
Now he had to go through with it.
And the ones that had to be told,
were the fans. Were they the harlot,
or just innocent people. Don't know,
but he had to cut him loose from
them as well. This is a very
up-tempo song for such a sad
occasion, but Jorn's vocals
perfectly convey the message. Words
like remember emphasize his sadness
- even though he wants to deny it by
the word Okay. He even spells it in
capital letters. Still he is not
convinced, but it had te be done.
The echoes shouting OKAY, confirm
his decision. Very nice song. (9)
What you gonna do : Who better to
sing this song that Mr Rock himself,
Glenn Hughes. Nobody - and I mean
nobody - can convey feelings better
than Glenn Hughes in a song. A much
more soul funk song than the
previous rock songs. This song
emphasizes the consequences of the
decision. Everything from the dobro
to the vocals emphasize the
uncertainty. Very interesting is the
gospel undertones in the Hammond and
tune. (10)
Were on our way : One of the most
beautiful shortest songs I have ever
heard. There is a typical Bruce
Springsteen tone in here. Something
that belongs on an album like
Nebraska or The Rising. Just Ken and
his dobro - with just one verse. The
distance. In one verse he summarizes
everything - from the beginning
(London ) to the end ( Where they
are now, I don't know ). Ken Hensley
has been known to produce very
superficial lyrics (especially in
the eighties ), but this are is best
lyrics ever. (10)
I did it all : Do we sense regrets.
Definitely. Again it is the theme of
them and I. Somebody new in the
band. And he ........ But there is a
new acceptance : "No matter what the
new star sings, I never will forget
I did it all ". But still there is
the emptiness. This is a very toned
down song, with strings, that brings
the scene to mind where somebody
walks away from something good. Very
sad song. (9.5)
The last dance : This is without a
doubt the best song Ken Hensley has
ever written. It is so filled with
emotion that he had to use the
message of a gipsy ( a metaphor or
figure of speech ) and Glenn Hughes
to convey this message. And the
message is : it is not about us. It
is about the music. Isn't it
brilliant. And the guitar, strings
and piano ( very similar to a
Beethoven's tune) and vocals from
Hughes convey this perfect message.
I hope the rest of the uriah Heep
clan gets it - everything was not
about Ken Hensley, Mick Box, Lee
Kerslake or anybody else. It was
about the music. "Music was my first
love, music was my last, music is
the future and music is the past -
John Miles" Absolutely perfect end
to a perfect album. If you only need
one album, it is this one. if you
need only one song, it is this one.
(10)
Release date: 2007
Line-Up
on the CD:
Vocals: Jorn Lande
Vocals: Glenn Hugues
Vocals: Eve Gallagher
Vocals: John Lawton
Vocals, Guitars, keyboards: Ken
Hensley
Guitars: Dani Saiz
Guitars: Ovidio Lopez
Guitars: Rafa Rapos
Bass: John Smithson
Bass: Antonio Fidel
Drums: Juan Carlos Garcia
Drums: Tommy Lopez
Keyboards: Vicente Ruiz
Alto Sax: Antonio Molto
01. (This
Is) Just The Beginning 02. We're
On Our Way 03. Blood
On The Highway 04. You've
Got It (the American Dream) 05. Doom
(Scene 1) 06. It
Won't Last 07. Think
Twice 08. Doom
(Scene 2) 09. There
Comes A Time 10. Okay
(This House Is Down) 11. What
You Gonna Do 12.
Postscript 13. I Did
It All 14. The
Last Dance