Side I: Look At Yourself, I Wanna Be Free, July Morning.
Side II: Tears In My Eyes, Shadows Of Grief, What Should Be Done, Love Machine.
Uriah Heep: Mick Box – Guitar, David Byron – Vocals, Ken Hensley – Piano/ Guitar, Paul Newton – Bass, Ian Clark – Drums.
Produced by Gerry Bron
I was wondering about which Uriah Heep record to write about, came I think that their five first ones are classics and need no talk. But I had to choose one, and after many thoughts I picked “Look At You Self” (before my choice, I listened to all five records all over again).
Uriah Heep started in the late 60’s from ex- Spice members, David Byron and Mick Box. Soon Ken Hensley and Paul Newman joined. Its name is taken from a character of Charles Dickens’s classic “David Copperfield”.
Uriah Heep was one of the most important bands of the 70’s, and along with Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, KISS, Alice Cooper and Aerosmith, created our favorite music called HARD ROCK – HEAVY METAL. Maybe Uriah Heep was not equal with the aforementioned bands, but they followed them successfully. The amazing combination of David Byron’s high note vocals with Ken Hensley melodic keyboards parts makes the sound copyright of Uriah Heep. Mick Box’s guitar and compose skills are much inspirited.
The band has presented unique, classic tracks as “Easy Living”, “Gypsy”, “Sweet Loraine”, “The Wizard”, “Return To Fantasy”, “Stealing” and more. Today, maybe they follow the same fate as the most bands of their generation (KISS, UFO, Deep Purple), who go on in spite of the hard times, but they carry on a great legacy.
This record is unique and hides many things within’, that the listener is going to discover. It’s an influential record to many bands, for the time of its release. Bands from the Pomp, Progressive/ Power and Classic Metal genre have Uriah Heep as a pattern (bands as Styx, Angel and Rush). “Look At Your Self” is a must-have album that every serious Hard – Rock/ Metal fan must own.
It’s a very Heavy record even for the modern standards, while tracks like “Look At Your Self”, “I Wanna Be Free”, “July Morning” and “Shadows Of Grief” make their fans to get chills. Protagonists here, according to the composer’s and player’s parts, are Ken Hensley (who colors the record with his keyboards) and Mick Box who makes wonders with his guitar, while David Byron is amazing, singing heavenly. He has influenced many Heavy Metal high note vocalists with his unique style.
This record is a creative jewel by Hensley, Byron and Box remembering us a romantic era where artists were more human in their expressions.
The original vinyl record release has a reflexing surface on the front cover artwork, looking like a mirror where you could see your face when looking from a small distance.
After its release the first lp of Uriah Heep, Rolling Stone magazine (3 September 1970), music writer Melissa Mills wrote that “if this group (Uriah Heep) makes it I’ll have to commit suicide” no comments. This phrase was included in 1973’s live album “Uriah Heep Live” insert.
Today, they continue playing live and recording, but the plethora of archive live cd and dvd releases in the recent years catches the fan base by surprise.
P.S. David Byron (29/1/1947-28/2/1985) died, after his health got worst because of drugs and alcohol addiction, so Hard Rock music lost one high pitch, unique voice forever.
Discography Uriah Heep (studio albums)
Very ‘Eavy… Very ‘Umble [1970]... Salisbury [1970]… Look At Your Self [1971]…
Demons And Wizards [1972]… The Magician’s Birthday [1972]…
Sweet Freedom [1973]… Wonderworld [1974]… Return To Fantasy [1975]…
High And Mighty [1976]… Firefly [1977]… Innocent Victim [1977]…
Fallen Angel [1978]… Conquest [1980]… Abominong [1982]… Head First [1983]…
Equator [1985]… Raging Silence [1989]… Different World [1991]…
Sea Of Light [1995]… Sonic Origami [1998]
Louis Kostopoulos