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Here are descrip­tions and track list­ings for forth­com­ing reis­sues of two vin­tage solo albums (1973 and 1975, respec­tively) by Ken Hensley, who was key­boardist, sec­ond vocal­ist and main song­writer for Uriah Heep dur­ing their golden 1970’s era.  Your Humble Reviewer has been a fan of these albums for years because they are like singer-songwriter albums for peo­ple accus­tomed the height­ened dynam­ics and emo­tional inten­sity of vin­tage hard rock.  The Eager To Please reis­sue is par­tic­u­larly excit­ing because it adds a long-lost b-side to its track list.

PROUD WORDS ON A DUSTY SHELF
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Released on 22/02/10. Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a newly remas­tered edi­tion of Ken Hensley’s first solo album.

Recorded in 1973 and orig­i­nally released on the Bronze label, Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf fea­tured Uriah Heep bassist Gary Thain and drum­mer Lee Kerslake. The result­ing album was equal to any­thing recorded by Uriah Heep at their peak and fea­tures won­der­ful mate­r­ial such as Cold Autumn Sunday, Black Hearted Lady and Go Down, along with a ver­sion of Rain (also recorded by Uriah Heep).

When Evening Comes / From Time To Time / King Without A Throne / Rain / Around Words / Fortune / Black Hearted Lady / Go Down / Cold Autumn Sunday / The Last Time

EAGER TO PLEASE
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Released on 22/02/10. A release of a newly re-mastered edi­tion of KEN HENSLEY’s sec­ond solo album. Recorded in 1975 and orig­i­nally released on the Bronze label, Eager to Please was Hensley’s solo fol­low up to Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf. The result­ing album was equal to any­thing recorded by URIAH HEEP at their peak and fea­tures won­der­ful mate­r­ial such as Through the Eyes of a Child, Secret , The House on the Hill and Winter or Summer.

This reis­sue adds the sin­gle track Who Will Sing for You as a bonus track and joins Hensley’s 1973 solo offer­ing Proud Words on a Dusty Shelf , also released this month, as Esoteric’s overview of Hensley’s Bronze solo albums.

Eager To Please / Stargazer / Secret / Through The Eyes Of A Child / Part Three / The House On The Hill / Winter Or Summer / Take And Take / Longer Shadows / In The Morning / How Shall I Know / Bonus Track — Who Will Sing For You

You can find more infor­ma­tion at the Esoteric Recordings web­site: http://www.cherryred.co.uk/esoteric/index.php