Wake the Sleeper
Encyclopedia
Wake the Sleeper is the 21st studio album by the progressive rock
band Uriah Heep
. It is their first studio album since 1998's Sonic Origami
. It is also their first album since 1980's Conquest without long-time drummer Lee Kerslake
, who had to withdraw from the band due to ill health.
The album was released on June 2, 2008 in Europe, after having the September 2007 release rescheduled (initially to March 2008) as a result of the purchase of Sanctuary Records
by Universal Music. This was to allow proper promotion of the album, rather than it be 'lost' during the changeover and, although frustrating for them, was something the band members supported.
Wake the Sleeper was released in the U.S.A. on August 26, 2008.
This album will also be released as a 12" vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve.
The song "What Kind of God" was inspired by the book "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
" by Dee Brown
(1970), which refers to the Wounded Knee Massacre
.
Wake the Sleeper was nominated by Classic Rock Magazine as the Album of the Year.
On the supporting tour the band would generally play all songs from the album, interspersed with songs from their past releases.
and Phil Lanzon
, except where noted.
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
. It is their first studio album since 1998's Sonic Origami
Sonic Origami
Sonic Origami is the 20th studio album by Uriah Heep and was released in September 1998.The limited edition version of the CD contains one additional track....
. It is also their first album since 1980's Conquest without long-time drummer Lee Kerslake
Lee Kerslake
Lee Kerslake is an English musician, best known as the longtime drummer and backing vocalist for the rock band Uriah Heep, in addition to his work in the Ozzy Osbourne band...
, who had to withdraw from the band due to ill health.
The album was released on June 2, 2008 in Europe, after having the September 2007 release rescheduled (initially to March 2008) as a result of the purchase of Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records
Sanctuary Records Group Limited was a record label based in the United Kingdom and a subsidiary of Universal Music Group. Until June 2007, it was the largest independent record label in the UK and the largest independent music management company in the world...
by Universal Music. This was to allow proper promotion of the album, rather than it be 'lost' during the changeover and, although frustrating for them, was something the band members supported.
Wake the Sleeper was released in the U.S.A. on August 26, 2008.
This album will also be released as a 12" vinyl album in a gatefold sleeve.
The song "What Kind of God" was inspired by the book "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee
Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by American writer Dee Brown is a history of Native Americans in the American West in the late nineteenth century. He describes the people's displacement through forced relocations and years of warfare waged by the United States federal government...
" by Dee Brown
Dee Brown (novelist)
Dorris Alexander "Dee" Brown was an American novelist and historian.His most famous work, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee details some of the violence and oppression suffered by Native Americans at the hands of American expansionism.-Life:Born in Alberta, Louisiana, a sawmill town, Brown grew up in...
(1970), which refers to the Wounded Knee Massacre
Wounded Knee Massacre
The Wounded Knee Massacre happened on December 29, 1890, near Wounded Knee Creek on the Lakota Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, USA. On the day before, a detachment of the U.S. 7th Cavalry Regiment commanded by Major Samuel M...
.
Wake the Sleeper was nominated by Classic Rock Magazine as the Album of the Year.
On the supporting tour the band would generally play all songs from the album, interspersed with songs from their past releases.
Track listing
All songs written by Mick BoxMick Box
Michael Frederick Box , better known by his stage name Mick Box, is the lead guitarist of British rock group Uriah Heep, having previously been a member of The Stalkers and Spice, both with original Uriah Heep vocalist David Byron. He is the only member from the band's founding in 1969 who is...
and Phil Lanzon
Phil Lanzon
Phil Lanzon is the keyboardist for British progressive rock group Uriah Heep since 1986.Lanzon has worked with diverse performers of distinction in the rock and roll community...
, except where noted.
- "Wake the Sleeper" - 3:33
- "Overload" - 5:58
- "Tears of the World" - 4:45
- "Light of a Thousand Stars" - 3:57
- "Heaven's Rain" - 4:16
- "Book of Lies" - 4:05
- "What Kind of God" - 6:37
- "Ghost of the Ocean" - 3:22
- "Angels Walk With You" (Trevor Bolder) - 5:24
- "Shadow" (Lanzon) - 3:35
- "War Child" (Bolder, Gallagher) - 5:07
Chart performance
| Chart | Position |
|---|---|
| Swiss Albums Top 100 | 55 |
| Sweden Albums Top 60 | 55 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
172 |
Line-up
- Mick BoxMick BoxMichael Frederick Box , better known by his stage name Mick Box, is the lead guitarist of British rock group Uriah Heep, having previously been a member of The Stalkers and Spice, both with original Uriah Heep vocalist David Byron. He is the only member from the band's founding in 1969 who is...
- guitar, vocals - Trevor BolderTrevor BolderTrevor Bolder is an English rock bassist, musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known for his long association with Uriah Heep and his tenure with The Spiders From Mars, the one-time backing band for David Bowie, although he has played alongside a variety of musicians since the...
- bass, vocals - Phil LanzonPhil LanzonPhil Lanzon is the keyboardist for British progressive rock group Uriah Heep since 1986.Lanzon has worked with diverse performers of distinction in the rock and roll community...
- keyboards, vocals - Bernie Shaw - lead vocals
- Russell GilbrookRussell GilbrookRussell Gilbrook is the latest drummer for the British progressive rock band, Uriah Heep.Over the last few years Gilbrook has been establishing himself on the UK clinic tour scene. He has supported artists such as Greg Bissonette and completed a tour with Liberty DeVitto...
- drums, vocals
Credits
- Chris West - recording assistant
- Mark "Tufty" Evans - mixing at Wispington Studios in BerkshireBerkshireBerkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, UK - Denis Blackham - mastering
- Skye Mastering - masterer
- Ioannis - art direction, design, cover artwork, and digital art
- CCPHOTOARTCCPHOTOARTChristie Goodwin is an art photographer who specializes in music photography.-Biography:Christie Goodwin received her BA in Art Photography from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp in 1986 and worked freelance as a photojournalist for press agencies. In 2005 she moved from Belgium to London...
- photography