Innocent Victim

Untitled

Released in 1977, Innocent Victim is the eleventh album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.

Although it did not chart in the US or UK, Innocent Victim was highly successful in Germany and New Zealand.

The single Free Me was a #1 hit in NZ. "Innocent victim" went on to sell well over 1 million copies in Germany alone. It reached #19 and #44 in NZ and Australia respectively.

The artwork is generally regarded by fans as the worst in the band's career, just pipping High and Mighty. The snake uses the eyes of drummer Lee Kerslake. In the US the sleeve was a live photo-montage.

Track listing

1. "Keep on Ridin'" (Hensley, Williams) – 3:40
2. "Flyin' High" (Hensley) – 3:19
3. "Roller" (Bolder, Ian McDonald) – 4:41
4. "Free 'n' Easy" (Box, Lawton) – 3:05
5. "Illusion" (Hensley) – 5:05
6. "Free Me" (Hensley) – 3:34
7. "Cheat 'n' Lie" (Hensley) – 4:54
8. "The Dance" (Jack Williams) – 4:49
9. "Choices" (Williams) – 5:49

Innocent Victim was remastered and reissued in 1997 with several bonus tracks:

10. "Illusion/Masquerade (Full unedited version)" (Hensley) – 8:18
    • Originally recorded as one track, but released as separate tracks – "Illusion" as album track and "Masquerade" as B-side on single "Free Me".
11. "The River (Outtake)" (Bolder, Box, Hensley, Kerslake, Lawton) – 3:10
12. "Put Your Music (Where Your Mouth Is) (Outtake)" (Bolder, Box, Hensley, Kerslake, Lawton) – 2:57
    • Outtake from Firefly sessions.
13. "Cheat 'n' Lie (Live)" (Hensley) – 5:58
14. "Free Me (Live)" (Hensley) – 5:46
15. "Free 'n' Easy (Live)" (Box, Lawton) – 3:15

Tracks 13–15 recorded live during European Tour 1979. These are alternate versions to the ones released on Live in Europe 1979 album.

Personnel

• John Lawton – vocals
• Ken Hensley – keyboards, guitars, vocals
• Mick Box – guitars
• Trevor Bolder – bass guitar
• Lee Kerslake – drums, vocals

Reference

• The Official Uriah Heep Discography