Ken Hensley — Proud Words On A Dusty Shelf (1973)
The first solo album, «Proud Words On A Dusty Shelf», was recorded by Ken Hensley at Lansdowne Studios, London, between November 1971 and November 1972. The album was released in 1973 by Bronze Records (UK) and Mercury (USA). Two Ken’s bandmates from Uriah Heep, bassist Gary Thain and drummer Lee Kerslake, played on the album.
Musically it is a lyrical and highly personal album, which has some beautiful ballads, including «Rain» sang by Ken (the year before the song was performed by David Byron and released on Uriah Heep’s «The Magician’s Birthday»).
Music critics considered «Proud Words On A Dusty Shelf» as a sign that the rift began in Uriah Heep, and assumed that Ken Hensley was thinking about leaving the band and choosing a solo career. In an interview at the time, Ken explained that there was nothing of the kind, but he wrote many songs, and some of them were of the kind which he did not consider to use in Uriah Heep. However, he said, it would be wrong as well to “put that stuff on the shelf, because they would become dusted there” (hence the album title). // exact English citation pending //
Track list:
- When Evening Comes (Hensley) 4.35
- From Time To Time (Hensley) 3.35
- King Without A Throne (Hensley) 3.51
- Rain (Hensley) 3.14
- Proud Words (Hensley) 3.10
- Fortune (Hensley) 5.22
- Black-hearted Lady (Hensley) 3.36
- Go Down (Hensley) 3.10
- Cold Autumn Sunday (Hensley) 5.27
- The Last Time (Hensley) 2.48
Musicians:
- Dave Paul and Gary Thain — bass guitar
- Lee Kerslake — drums
- Ken Hensley — all other instruments and vocals
Producer — Gerry Bron
Engineer — Peter Gallen
Photography — Fin Costello
Artwork — Fabio Nicoli & Associates.
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