Ken Hensley - The Best Of Ken Hensley (1990)

Kenneth William David Hensley - Born 1945-08-24
Doubtless one of the most favored musicians, Ken Hensley have the ability to play keyboards (especially Hammond B3 an expensive model by the way), guitar, singing with an excellent tone and in addition an excellent composer, that he has influenced to generations of musicians and fans to the progressive rock. Ken Hensley was born 24 from August of 1945 Hertforshire, England. Showing from his childhood an extraordinary gift musician. In the mid 60's he would form a called group "THE GODS", which also included stars of the caliber of Mick Taylor and Greg Lake, recording two albums, which now are very looked by the collectors. From ashes of this group another merges with the name of Toe Fat, which in its first album participates Hensley next to a young Lee Kerslake and Cliff Bennett, once outside the group he was invited by Paul Newton to be member of another called group: "Spice" in which also are Mick Box and David Byron, this in 1969; changing the name in 1970 to URIAH HEEP. In Uriah Heep, Hensley it passed ten years playing keyboards and guitar, as well as providing more than 70% of the compositional material that would make famous to this band, the very evocative, nostalgic and sentimental lyrics they were easily identifiable by astute listening, that without a doubt is songs that have supported the test of the time well.

Besides the previous success Ken Hensley have to record several solo albums, which much more reflect the style characteristic of composition and musical quality that Ken Hensley have. In 1973 he recorded its first album as a soloist, call Proud Words are to Dusty Shelf", which was made accompany by the rhythmical base of Uriah Heep, Gary Thain and Lee Kerslake, feature subjects of great musical quality, like the great "Fortune" which is a mini epic of and evocative musical sounds capes, as well as the characteristic "When the Evening Comes", which has an excellent guitar licks, as well as an evocative lyric of past and future moments, love and sadness, "King Without to Throne" with characteristic and powerful bass playing in charge of Thain and an exquisite sticky melody that Hensley delights to us, among others songs of great musical invoice. In 1975 Eager to Please was his sophomore album, which is an album more "rocker" than first, but moving away of the sound that he used in its first effort, being "Eager to Please" and "Stargazer" songs these, with a melodic wealth difficult to find in other artists or groups; besides containing excellent ballad "Through The Eyes of a Child", one of the best compositions of Hensley than is made accompany by cords and that sing of very emotional way.

For 1980 after a tour by Barcelona Ken Hensley he resigns to Uriah Heep and he decides to form a group of short life: "Shotgun", besides the previous thing, records a third titled album: "Free Spirit", which is a strong disc, with a melodic sound and also in the style of those years, songs like "The System", "New York" that emphasize by their power and lyrical musical comedy mix with others like "Inside The Mystery", "When" that shows a Hensley divided between using the characteristic touch that notoriety with Uriah Heep gave him and exploring new sounds. After forming the ill-fated Ken Hensley Group, Hensley went to collaborate with Blackfoot in 1982, a group of hard rock of Florida, with records two albums and after finding out the death of David Byron (ex-vocalist and founding member of Uriah Heep), he decides not to continue collaborating with Blackfoot and enters a stage of semi retirement, collaborating with musicians like Blackie Lawless of WASP and with other groups.

In the middle of 90´s he begins to see resurgence in his musical carrer, in 1994 show to public the album "From Time to Time" in what it contains interesting sessions of 1970 to the date of the disc, the song "From Time to Time" of the first album, curiosity is not including in this compilation.
In 1999 Ken it decides to form a called group Visible Faith, with which it records an excellent album, "Glimpse of Glory" and that supposes its return to public the musical activity, and to his renewed religious faith, which is clear in the entire album. His fans will be thankful for the returned to Hensley to record more "New Songs".
Besides the previous thing, rumors began to scatter on a possible meeting with John Lawton (secondly vocalist of Uriah Heep), who finally would be crystallized in the year 2000 with an recorded concert and a tour, which stood out as much with the repertoire of songs of Uriah Heep, as of some songs of discs soloists of Hensley and an update of the great song: "Salisbury".
Also a one off Concert with Uriah Heep shows in the 2001, playing with old members Mick Box and Lee Kerslake and also with the "new members" Phil Lanzon and Bernie Shaw, as well with John Lawton, who also was a special guest, and playing several Uriah Heep songs with great passion and enjoyment.
Later he record in 2002 its fourth disc denominated soloist "Running Blind", which stands out by its freshness and precise melodies, as they are characterized already by the richness lyrics of Hensley which definitively they reach a zenith rarely reached about a musician of this caliber.
In 2004 a very good disc, very nostalgic and melancholic album "The Last Dance", that would prepare the land for "Blood on the Highway", his most recently effort, in which Hensley narrates the life of a rock musician from the beginnings and that passes through the fame and fortune as well as the decay, surrounded by excellent musicians and who demonstrate that Hensley still must much say.

Lost solitude, nostalgia, loves, ways and sadness among others subjects define the lyrical of Hensley, an excellent musician and who composes with the open soul.