Easy Livin' (song)

"Easy Livin' is a song by the British rock band Uriah Heep, released as the second single from their 1972 album '' Demons and Wizards''. The band also shot a basic music video for the song in 1972. It was the band's first hit in the United States and the only top 40 hit there, peaking at No. 39 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in September 1972. The song's greatest success came in the Netherlands, where it reached No. 5, as well as reaching the Top 20 charts in Norway, Denmark, Finland and Germany. The song also peaked at No. 25 in Canada.
In 1988, the band released a live version of the song, with new vocalist Bernie Shaw, as a UK single from the album ''Live in Moscow''.

The song appeared on the 2006 compilation '' Easy Livin': Singles A's & B's'' and as a re-recorded version on the 2009 album ''Celebration – Forty Years of Rock''.

Success

"Easy Livin did not reach the UK Singles Chart but was a big success in Germany, reaching #15. It had its biggest success in the Netherlands, where it charted at #5, while in Finland it reached #17, in France #35 and in Australia #75. It reached the top 40 in the US.
Along with "The Wizard", "Easy Livin'" helped the band achieve stardom in many countries.

*In 1995, Radiomafia added "Easy Livin to their list of "Top 500 Songs".

The song has been included in most of their live sets since its introduction in 1973. It is Uriah Heep's second most covered song behind " Lady in Black".

Track listing

;7" single
# "Easy Livin – 2:37
# "Gypsy" – 6:37

Cover versions

*James Last made an instrumental cover of the song in 1972.
*Czechoslovakian band Synkopy 61 covered the song with changed lyrics in Czech as "Bílý vrány" (english: "White Crow") for their album ''Xantipa'' in 1973.
*Soviet band Aquareli covered the song with English lyrics as "Takova zhyzn'" for their album ''Solnechnyi luch v moem serdtce'' ("''You Are the Sunshine of My Life''") in 1979.
*The song was covered by W.A.S.P. on their 1986 album ''Inside the Electric Circus'' and on the B-side of their 1986 single "95-Nasty".
*Finnish artist Vilperin Perikunta made a cover of the song with its lyrics translated in Finnish, titled "Piirimyyjä" in 1992. Also, a Christmas single, "Joulupukki" with alternative lyrics was released in 1992.
* Angel Dust covered the song for their album '' Border of Reality'' in 1998.
*Blackfoot covered the song for their live albums ''Live on the King Biscuit Flower Hour'' in 1998 and ''On the Run–Live'' in 2004.
* Punk band The Dickies covered the song on their 1998 album ''Dogs from the Hare That Bit Us''.
* D.C. Cooper covered the song on his 1999 solo album '' D.C. Cooper''.
*Dreamer band has covered the song on the albums ''Heepsteria Extra – A Tribute to Uriah Heep'' in 1999 and ''Tribute to Uriah Heep – Heepsteria'' in 2000.
*Ruby the Hatchet released a version of the song in 2019 as a single, and it's become a regular part of their live set.

In pop culture

Three years after the song was released, "Easy Livin was one of the only two songs that were featured in the 1975 film ''Dog Day Afternoon''.

Uses in other Uriah Heep albums

* 1972 ''Demons and Wizards'' - 2:37 Bronze Records
* 1973 ''Uriah Heep Live'' - Mercury Records
* 1976 ''The Best of Uriah Heep'' - 2:36 Mercury
* 1985 ''The Best of Uriah Heep'' - 2:37 Ariola
* 1987 ''Live in Europe 1979'' - apanBMG
* 1987 ''Live in Europe 1979'' - 3:32 Sanctuary
* 1988 ''Lady in Black'' rance- 2:36 Castle Music Ltd.
* 1988 ''Live in Moscow'' - 3:25 Castle
* 1989 ''The Collection'' - 2:39 Castle Music Ltd.
* 1994 ''Still 'eavy Still Proud'' - 3:10 Castle Music Ltd.
* 1995 ''Lady in Black'' - Pinnacle
* 1995 ''Platinum: The Ultimate Collection'' - 2:37 EMI Music Distribution
* 1996 ''Greatest Hits'' - 2:37 Castle Music Ltd
* 1996 ''Live January 1973'' - 3:24 Castle Music Ltd.
* 1996 ''The Best of...Pt. 1'' - 2:37 Castle Music Ltd.
* 1996 ''The Very Best of Uriah Heep'' - 3:30 Sanctuary
* 1996 ''Uriah Heep Live'' - 2:49 Castle Music Ltd.
* 1996 ''Uriah Heep Live'' - 3:00 Mercury
* 1998 ''Classic Heep: An Anthology'' - 2:35 Mercury
* 1998 ''The Best of...Pt. 2'' - 3:25 Sanctuary
* 1999 ''Class Reunion: The Greatest Hits of 1972'' - 2:37 Polymedia
* 1999 ''The Best of...Pts. 1-2'' - 2:37 BMG
* 1999 ''Spellbinder'' 3:03 Steamhammer Records
* 1999 ''Travellers in Time: Anthology, Vol. 1'' - 2:39 Castle Music Ltd.

Various artists

* 1992 ''Sounds of the Seventies: Seventies Generation'' 2:37 Time/Life Music
* 1994 ''Hard Rock Essentials: 1970's'' Rebound Records
* 1994 ''Impossible Concert'' 2:43 Alex
* 1994 ''Rocktastic'' 2:34 Castle Music Ltd.
* 1994 ''The Finest of Hard-Rock, Vol. 1'' 2:33 K-Tel
* 1994 ''The Metal Box Set'' 2:37 Castle Music Ltd.
* 1995 ''Baby Boomer Classics: Electric Seventies'' 2:35 JCI
* 1995 ''Great Britons, Vol. 2'' Special Music
* 1995 ''Highway Rockin': 70's Roc'' 4:17 Arsenal Records
* 1995 ''Live: The 70s'' 2:44 JCI Associated Labels
* 1995 ''Metal Mania'' 3:06 Griffin
* 1996 ''A Time of Revelation'' 2:36 Essential Records
* 1997 ''Best of Disco Rock'' Classics ZYX Music
* 1997 ''Easyriders, Vol. 2'' 2:35 Thump Records
* 1997 ''King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents In Concert'' 4:41 King Biscuit Entertainment
* 1998 ''100% Rock'' Target Records
* 1998 ''70s Heavy Hitters: Arena Rockers 1970-1974'' 2:38 K-Tel Distribution
* 1998 ''Guitar Rock: Guitar Thunder'' 2:39 Time/Life Music
* 1998 ''Hard Rock'' 2:39 Delta Distribution
* 1998 ''Harley Davidson Road Songs, Vol. 2'' 2:39 The Right Stuff
* 1998 ''Highway Rockin 2:35 Rebound Records
* 1998 ''Ultimate Driving Collection: Highway Rockin 2:36 Polygram
* 1999 ''40 Hits: 1970-1974'' 2:35 Millennium Hits (Netherlands)
* 1999 ''Classic Rock Traxx'' 2:56 Center Stage Productions
* 1999 ''Live at Shepperton '74'' 4:01 Castle Music Ltd.
* 1999 ''Rock Giants Vol. 1'' 4:46 Riviere International Records
* 1999 ''Rockin' 70's, Vol. 1'' 2:38 Madacy

Personnel

* David Byron – lead vocals
* Mick Box – guitar
* Lee Kerslake – drums, percussion, backing vocals
* Gary Thain – bass guitar
* Ken Hensley – organ, backing vocals

Charts

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Easy Livin
1972 singles
Uriah Heep (band) songs
Songs written by Ken Hensley
1972 songs
Bronze Records singles
Mercury Records singles