Easy Livin' (song)
| "Easy Livin'" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Uriah Heep | ||||
| from the album Demons and Wizards | ||||
| B-side | "Gypsy" (U.S. B-side: "All My Life") | |||
| Released | 1972 | |||
| Format | 7" | |||
| Length | 2:37 | |||
| Label |
Bronze Mercury | |||
| Writer(s) | Ken Hensley | |||
| Producer(s) | Gerry Bron | |||
| Uriah Heep singles chronology | ||||
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"Easy Livin'" is a song by the British rock band Uriah Heep, released as the second single from their 1972 album Demons and Wizards.The band has also shot a basic music video for the song in 1972. It was the band's only hit in the United States, peaking at #39 on the Billboard Hot 100 in September 1972.[1][2] The song's greatest success came in the Netherlands, where it reached #5 on the singles chart.[3] The single also peaked at No. 25 in Canada.[4] In 1988 the band released a live version of the song, with new vocalist Bernie Shaw, as a UK single from the album Live in Moscow.[5]
The song was released in 1989, single live version.[6] In 2006,Uriah Heep released "Easy Livin': Singles A's & B's" called a collection, which also included the name of the song. In 2009, the band released "Easy Livin'" "Celebration" album alternative studio version.[7]
About
"Easy Livin'" did not reach their home country singles charts but was a big success in Germany it took place at #15, Netherlands it has its biggest success and charted at #5,in Scandinavia it took place at #17, in France at #35, and #75 in Australia. It reached the top 40 in the US. And along with "The Wizard" helped the band to break to fame and gave them high popularity in many countries.
- In 1995 Radiomafia added "Easy Livin'" in their list of "Top 500 Songs".[8][9]
- The song is Uriah Heep's second "listened" song on Last.fm with over 14,000 and more hits behind only "Lady in Black".[10]
The song is very dynamic and fast but in fact Mick Box uses only five chords to play it and that chords are Dm,F,G,Am and Bm.The chords Dm,F and G are always being played in the first parts and as an intro too.The song has three verses and also three choruses in the beginning there is an intro and in the finishing there is an outro.[11] The song has been included in many of live concerts of Uriah Heep as it has been released it has been first played live in 1973. It also has been included to many of Uriah Heep live albums. The song is Uriah Heep's second most covered song behind "Lady in Black".
Track listing
- 7" single
- "Easy Livin'" – 2:37
- "Gypsy" – 6:37
Cover versions
- The song was covered by W.A.S.P. on their 1986 album Inside the Electric Circus and on the b-side of their 1986 95-Nasty single.
- Angel Dust has covered the song for their album "Border of Reality" in 1998.
- Blackfoot has covered the songs for their live albums "Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour" in 1998 and "On the Run-Live" in 2004.
- D.C. Cooper covered the song on his 1999 solo album "D.C. Cooper."
- Dreamer band has covered the song on the albums "Heepsteria Extra-A tribute to Uriah Heep" in 1999 and "Tribute to Uriah Heep-Heepsteria" in 2000.
- James Last also made the cover of the song but only instrumental.
- Leningrad Cowboys also has covered the song.[12]
- Finnish artist Vilperin Perikunta made a cover of the song, but the lyrics were translated in Finnish, and song was named "Joulupukki".[13]
- Artons also covered the song during their concert[14]
- Punk band The Dickies covered the song on their album "Dogs From The Hare That Bit Us".
In pop culture
- Three years after the song was released, "Easy Livin'" was one of the only two songs that were featured in the critically acclaimed 1975 film Dog Day Afternoon.
Chart performance
| Country (1972) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Norway | 9 |
| Denmark | 9[15] |
| France | 35 |
| Australia | 75 |
| The Netherlands | 5 |
| Finland | 17 |
| United States(Billboard Hot 100) | 39 |
| Canada | 25 |
| Germany | 15 |
Uses in other Uriah Heep albums
- 1972 Demons and Wizards - 2:37 Bronze Records
- 1973 Uriah Heep Live - Mercury Records
- 1976 The Best of Uriah Heep - 2:36 Mercury
- 1985 The Best of Uriah Heep - 2:37 Ariola
- 1987 Live in Europe 1979 - [Japan] BMG
- 1987 Live in Europe 1979 - 3:32 Sanctuary
- 1988 Lady in Black [France] - 2:36 Castle Music Ltd.
- 1988 Live in Moscow - 3:25 Castle
- 1989 The Collection - 2:39 Castle Music Ltd.
- 1994 Still 'eavy Still Proud - 3:10 Castle Music Ltd.
- 1995 Lady in Black - Pinnacle
- 1995 Platinum: The Ultimate Collection - 2:37 EMI Music Distribution
- 1996 Greatest Hits - 2:37 Castle Music Ltd
- 1996 Live January 1973 - 3:24 Castle Music Ltd.
- 1996 The Best of...Pt. 1 - 2:37 Castle Music Ltd.
- 1996 The Very Best of Uriah Heep - 3:30 Sanctuary
- 1996 Uriah Heep Live - 2:49 Castle Music Ltd.
- 1996 Uriah Heep Live - 3:00 Mercury
- 1998 Classic Heep: An Anthology - 2:35 Mercury
- 1998 The Best of...Pt. 2 - 3:25 Sanctuary
- 1999 Class Reunion: The Greatest Hits of 1972 - 2:37 Polymedia
- 1999 The Best of...Pts. 1-2 - 2:37 BMG
- 1999 Spellbinder 3:03 Steamhammer Records
- 1999 Travellers in Time: Anthology, Vol. 1 - 2:39 Castle Music Ltd.[16]
Various Artists
- 1992 Sounds of the Seventies: Seventies Generation 2:37 Time/Life Music
- 1994 Hard Rock Essentials: 1970's Rebound Records
- 1994 Impossible Concert 2:43 Alex
- 1994 Rocktastic 2:34 Castle Music Ltd.
- 1994 The Finest of Hard-Rock, Vol. 1 2:33 K-Tel
- 1994 The Metal Box Set 2:37 Castle Music Ltd.
- 1995 Baby Boomer Classics: Electric Seventies 2:35 JCI
- 1995 Great Britons, Vol. 2 Special Music
- 1995 Highway Rockin': 70's Roc 4:17 Arsenal Records
- 1995 Live: The 70s 2:44 JCI Associated Labels
- 1995 Metal Mania 3:06 Griffin
- 1996 A Time of Revelation 2:36 Essential Records
- 1997 Best of Disco Rock Classics ZYX Music
- 1997 Easyriders, Vol. 2 2:35 Thump Records
- 1997 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents In Concert 4:41 King Biscuit Entertainment
- 1998 100% Rock Target Records
- 1998 70s Heavy Hitters: Arena Rockers 1970-1974 2:38 K-Tel Distribution
- 1998 Guitar Rock: Guitar Thunder 2:39 Time/Life Music
- 1998 Hard Rock 2:39 Delta Distribution
- 1998 Harley Davidson Road Songs, Vol. 2 2:39 The Right Stuff
- 1998 Highway Rockin' 2:35 Rebound Records
- 1998 Ultimate Driving Collection: Highway Rockin' 2:36 Polygram
- 1999 40 Hits: 1970-1974 2:35 Millennium Hits (Netherlands)
- 1999 Classic Rock Traxx 2:56 Center Stage Productions
- 1999 Live at Shepperton '74 4:01 Castle Music Ltd.
- 1999 Rock Giants Vol. 1 4:46 Riviere International Records
- 1999 Rockin' 70's, Vol. 1 2:38 Madacy[16]
Personnel
- David Byron — lead vocals
- Mick Box — guitar
- Lee Kerslake — drums, percussion, backing vocals
- Gary Thain — bass guitar
- Ken Hensley — organ, backing vocals
References
- ↑ "Easy Livin' - Uriah Heep". Billboard.com. Billboard. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ↑ "Easy Livin – Uriah Heep". Top One-Hit Wonders. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ↑ "Uriah Heep - Easy Livin'". GfK Dutch Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
- ↑ "RPM Top Singles - Volume 18, No. 8, October 07 1972". Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 28 July 2012.
- ↑ Minkkinen, Tapio (c. 2010). "Uriah Heep 1970-2010" (PDF). Tapio Minkkinen. Retrieved 19 June 2012.
- ↑ LIVE IN MOSCOW Singles releases
- ↑ Celebration - Forty Years Of Rock
- ↑ Radiomafia - Radiomafian Top 500 (v. 1995)
- ↑ http://www.radio2.nl/song/id-6493/Uriah-Heep-Easy-Livin'.html
- ↑ http://www.last.fm/music/Uriah+Heep/+charts
- ↑ http://www.911tabs.com/link/?319659Minkkinen|accessdate=19 June 2012
- ↑ http://www.echoes.dk/25covers.htm
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=61k7ku8_YsQ
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqiAukHKNRU
- ↑ http://danskehitlister.dk/?song_id=2615
- 1 2 Stephen Thoms Erlewine. "Uriah Heep biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-01-01.
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