How Much Blood Have You Spilled?
Written: Sep 21 '08 (Updated Sep 21 '08)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: An amazing work by one of the true rock icons.
Cons: I doubt if we get to see it performed live here in the states
The Bottom Line: A gripping story of Hensley's life put to music that is so good!
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| wolfman309's Full Review: Blood On The Highway * by Ken Hensley |
He was one of the founding members of the very underrated band Uriah Heep. He is also known as the architect of heavy metal keyboards. Maybe not the household name he should be, except maybe in my house, Ken Hensley has brought the world a great wealth of very fine music. Either in the context of Uriah Heep or one of his many terrific solo albums. There is not too many days that go by without some of his music being played in our home.
In 2007, Hensley released and did something that was unheard of. Along with his autobiography, he released a CD that was a companion piece to it. (No Nikki Sixx was not the first to do it!) The CD called Blood on the Highway is the story of the rise and fall of a rock star. Being a very big Hensley fan, this was a very compelling tale for me. My first concert ever was to see Uriah Heep at Cobo Hall in Detroit. I guess you can say that we grew up together and now I get a chance to see his side of life during that time.
The asperations of a young musician are fully brought to life with the opening song "(This Is)Just The Beginning". Hensley enlist singer Jorn Lande to tell the story of how young Ken started the climb to stardom. As you can imagine this song is very upbeat and has the classic Heep feel with the choir behind Jorn as he relates the rise of our rock and roll star. This sets the tone for the tale to follow. Jorn, who's voice is so very similar to David Coverdale, is magnificent with Hensley sitting behind the Hammond B3 just where he should be! It is a classic piece of rock and roll that is so full of hope it is a great song to play whenever the need to have your spirits lifted a bit hits you.
Ken then relates the story of how Uriah Heep started out in Benny's Pub in London with the marvelous "We're On Our Way". Ken and Jorn trade vocals as you get a chance to feel what it is like to be in a band on the climb. This feel good rocker, with a terrific little guitar solo by Hensley, should or could have been a hit song. But in today's market there doesn't seem to be a place for such upbeat rock and roll tunes.
The album takes a little bit of a darker turn as the trappings of the rock star life start to take their toll in the title track "Blood on the Highway". Lande delivers a magnificent brooding vocal style this time as the torment of being on top really starts to hit home. This song shows something to me. It is Hensley at the top of his game lyrically. He graphically details a life that is one he knows better than most.
"You've Got It(The American Dream)" tells how sometimes what you get is not what you expected. Reaching the pinnacle, there is only one way to go and this chugging rocker defines how the top can be such a very lonely place.
"Doom(Scene 1)" is 18 seconds that define the beginning of the end. When a female voice says the words "Honey, you ARE the band". It doesn't take much to figure out where this is leading.
Hensley enlist singer John Lawton to help recount the time that he had decided to leave Uriah Heep in the reflective rock and roller "It Won't Last". Lawton is an ironic choice as he was the lead singer of Heep at the time Hensley decided to leave. This song has such a great feel to it. It reminds me of Heep at that time. Terrific organ work by Hensley behind a chugging guitar rhythm, while Lawton gives one of his best vocal performances ever. This is some great music no matter what context it is in.
At a kind of turning point in the album, Hensley uses singer Eve Gallagher to vocalize his discontent with the band in the very creative "Think Twice". Eve sings about our rock star hero in the third person as if we are looking upon him instead of the way that it has been the hero himself telling the tale up to this point. This is almost like the cinematic scene where we follow the main character as he reflects back. Only this time it is done musically. It is a great way to keep the continuity of the story with a little different feel, but a nice one.
"Doom(Scene 2)" "Honey, I really think it's time you go solo".
"There Comes A Time" was originally on his album From Time To Time. It is a song about how he finally left the band. It also is about how he really was looking to get away not from the band as much as the lifestyle. This is a great piano ballad about making choices. It is a deeply moving piece especially when you know what he is actually singing about. Hensley puts so much emotion into his vocals that it is hard not to reflect on ones own life when you hear this piece.
When it comes time to tell the fans that he is leaving the band, Hensley does it in great fashion with the hard rocking "OKAY(This House Is Down)". Set at the final concert he is onstage and this song is his goodbye. Not a sad goodbye, but one that is in the true rock and roll spirit.
Glenn Hughes is the voice of our hero as he tries to figure out what comes next in the dynamic piece "What You Gonna Do". With a bluesy feel you are taken inside the thoughts of Hensley as he looks at a new beginning after the band. The questioning attitude of this piece is really brought to focus by the vocals of Hughes. He is a great talent and a wise choice for this song.
The one song that might say more about this album than any other is the deeply moving and emotional "I Did It All". Hensley himself takes the vocals as he reflects on the whole story up to this point. When he sings "From the honky tonks to Carnegie Hall" you can tell that this is coming from the heart. This is just a magical moment in music. For a singer to wear his heart on his sleeve and lay it all out there like this is a tribute to the man himself.
The album ends with Glenn Hughes singing one of Hensley's best songs ever. It was originally on the album of the same name, "The Last Dance". This song that is about faith, life and the choices that we make along the way, is such a heart felt piece that you will be left drained by the time it ends. We all are gonna face the last dance sooner or later and Hensley is telling you to be prepared. This is one of the best album closers I have ever heard. The moody guitar solo that he adds says as much as the lyrics do. Then the orchestrated swelling to the finale is just breathtaking. Hughes is a great singer and his wailing scream at the end is a defining dramatic end to the tale.
I really didn't mean to get this wordy about this album but it is one that demands attention. You will not find many works that is this coherent and as complete of a tale. Hensley has brought you a masterpiece and to think, that masterpiece is his life story!
Recommended:
Yes
Great Music to Play While: Listening
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Epinions.com ID:
wolfman309
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Member: Scott Ward
Location: Mt Pleasant, MI
Reviews written: 255
Trusted by: 134 members
About Me:
Let the music do the talking!!!
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