Abominog

Abominog
Studio album by Uriah Heep
Released	March 1982
Recorded	October/December 1981, The Roundhouse Recording Studios, Chalk Farm, London
Genre	Hard rock, heavy metal
Length	41:48
Label	Bronze (UK) Mercury (USA)
Producer	Ashley Howe
Uriah Heep chronology
Conquest (1980) Abominog (1982) Head First (1983)

Professional ratings
Review scores
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Allmusic

Abominog was the 14th album for British rock group Uriah Heep. It was the first album without keyboardist Ken Hensley. The album was critically acclaimed and fairly commercially successful album due, in part, to the band retooling and updating their sound to a contemporary heavy metal style. It featured their last U.S. hits, "On the Rebound" and "That's the Way That It Is". The latter is their highest-charting single, reaching #25 on the rock charts.

Line up

When the previous line-up disintegrated Mick Box briefly considered forming a new group entirely, but ultimately decided to continue with the Heep name.

With the ever-present Box on guitars, it was the first of three albums to feature both vocalist Peter Goalby and keyboard player John Sinclair.

It also marked the return of drummer Lee Kerslake to the band. His previous departure had been due to his unhappiness with the management, rather than the personnel of the band.

Coming along with Kerslake was bassist Bob Daisley, the two of whom had been founding members of Blizzard of Ozz before being fired by band vocalist Ozzy Osbourne.

Cover versions

One of the most noticeable things about "Abominog" is that 5 of the 10 tracks are cover versions of recordings by other artists. Additionally, there is a re-recording of a song recorded by the most recent (but largely different) line up of Uriah Heep:

• "On the Rebound" originally recorded by Russ Ballard, from his "Russ Ballard & the Barnet Dogs" album (1980).
• "Hot Night in a Cold Town" originally recorded by John Cougar, from his "Nothing Matters And What If It Did" album (1979), and John Kay & Steppenwolf from their "Wolftracks" album (1982). The song was written by songwriters Geoffrey Cushing-Murray/Richard Littlefield.
• "Running All Night (with the Lion)" was originally recorded by Lion, from their "Running All Night" album (1980). Lion keyboard player John Sinclair brought this song with him when he joined Uriah Heep.
• "That's the Way That It Is" originally recorded by Paul Bliss and The Bliss Band, from the "Neon Smiles" album (1979).
• "Prisoner" originally recorded by Sue Saad and the Next, from their self titled album (1980). Lyrics by D.B. (Dirty Boy) Cooper.
• "Think It Over" originally recorded by the previous lineup of Uriah Heep featuring John Sloman on lead vocal, the a-side from their single "Think It Over/My Joanna Needs Tuning (Inside Out)" (1980).

Track listing

UK/European version

1. "Too Scared to Run" (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 3:49
2. "Chasing Shadows" (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 4:39
3. "On the Rebound" (Ballard) – 3:14
4. "Hot Night in a Cold Town" (Cushing-Murray, Littlefield) – 4:03
5. "Running All Night" (with the Lion)" (Farr, Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 4:28
6. "That's the Way That It Is" (Bliss) – 4:06
7. "Prisoner" (Lance, Cooper, Riparetti) – 4:33
8. "Hot Persuasion" (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 3:48
9. "Sell Your Soul" (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 5:25
10. "Think It Over" (Sloman, Bolder) – 3:42

North American version

1. "Too Scared to Run" (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 3:49
2. "Chasing Shadows" (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 4:39
3. "On the Rebound" (Ballard) – 3:14
4. "Prisoner" (Lance, Cooper, Riparetti) – 4:33
5. "Sell Your Soul" (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 5:25
6. "That's the Way That It Is" (Bliss) – 4:06
7. "Think It Over" (Sloman, Bolder) – 3:42
8. "Hot Night in a Cold Town" (Cushing-Murray, Littlefield) – 4:03
9. "Hot Persuasion" (Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 3:48
10. "Running All Night" (with the Lion)" (Farr, Box, Daisley, Goalby, Kerslake, Sinclair) – 4:28

Abominog was remastered and reissued in 1997 with four bonus tracks:

10. "Tin Soldier" (from Abominog Junior)
11. "Son Of A Bitch" (from Abominog Junior)
12. "That's The Way That It Is" (Demo)
13. "Hot Persuasion" (Demo)

Reissued again in 2004 with the following bonus tracks:

10. "Tin Soldier" (from Abominog Junior)
11. "Son Of A Bitch" (from Abominog Junior)
12. "Think It Over" (Alternate Version)
13. "Too Scared To Run" (Live)
14. "Sell Your Soul" (Live)
15. "That's The Way That It Is" (Live)

Abominog Junior EP

1. On The Rebound  – A-side
2. Tin Soldier – non LP B-side (Small Faces cover)
3. Son Of A Bitch – non LP B-side

Personnel

• Peter Goalby – lead vocals
• Mick Box – guitars
• John Sinclair – keyboards, synthesizer, guitars, back-up vocals
• Bob Daisley- bass guitar
• Lee Kerslake – drums

Charts

• Norway #30
• UK #34
• US #56