Prog-Watch 516
Ken Hensley is a self-proclaimed survivor…a veteran of the mega rock star days of the 1970s, and a music business machine that would just as soon grind up, spit out, and replace band members, rather than stop the money stream long enough for them to get help for addictions or other problems. In a career going back more than 50 years, his compositions and versatile musicianship put Uriah Heep on the map and then sustained a solo career and various bands, collaborations, and projects up through today. I was lucky enough to catch up with Ken a few weeks ago and chat at length with him about his illustrious career and his most recent project, a solo anthology called Rare And Timeless, driven and curated by Ken himself, and done in conjunction with BMG and PledgeMusic. This week I am proud to present some of that interview and a “Heeping” helping of great Ken Hensley music! (Part Two will follow in a few weeks.)
Kenneth William David Hensley (born 24 August 1945) is an English singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer, best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s. He wrote or co-wrote the majority of Uriah Heep’s songs during this period, including the hit singles “Lady in Black”, “Easy Livin’,” and “Stealin'”, as well as “Look at Yourself”. While still with the Heep he began a solo career, and post-Heep he continued that career and worked with a number of bands including Blackfoot and Ken Hensley and Live Fire. He also did several collaboration albums with fellow Heep alumni John Lawton and John Wetton. He remains active to this day, with his most recent project being a new solo anthology called “Rare And Timeless” which Ken curated himself. (See separate tab for more information.)
| Ken Hensley at wikipedia.com |
‘Rare & Timeless’ is a new anthology, curated and driven by Ken Hensley himself. Not only has he compiled the anthology with the Heep and Hensley fan in mind, he has also recorded 2 new compositions for the anthology along with an exclusive re-record. Backed with a raft of rare/unreleased tracks and his take on the classic Uriah Heep hit, ‘Lady In Black’.
For ‘Rare & Timeless’ Ken has hand written the tracklist, lyrics and liner notes to make this release a true fan base/collector’s item. Also featured in the package are rare and unseen photos from Ken’s personal archive.
‘Rare & Timeless’ is available through BMG on Digipak CD and is released on the 30th of March 2018.
Tracklist:
Free Me (rare Russian release)
Send Me An Angel (previously unreleased)
If I Had The Time
Guilty
The Last Dance (previously unreleased)
Mine (newly recorded for this anthology)
I Did It All
I Close My Eyes (rare release)
Take & Take
The Return
Beyond The Starz
Fortune
Lady In Black
The Longest Night (newly recorded for this anthology)
Epilogue (newly recorded for this anthology)
Music with some meat to it!
Prog-Watch is a weekly podcast and internet radio program dedicated to bringing the listener contemporary Progressive Rock music from around the world. Your big, hairy host, the “Prog-Squatch” wanders the woods of the world, beats the bushes, and digs in the dirt to bring the best Prog back for YOU! Sometimes solo and sometimes with a guest host, the Prog-Squatch will bring you new and interesting artists in each episode, and give you some background info and a taste of their music.