LOOK AT YOURSELF

For those of you who were there during the glory days of rock music in the 70s, you must have known this album or at least one song called "July Morning" which was the radio hit at the time altogether with Deep Purple "Child In Time" and Grand Funk Railroad's "Someone". I only knew this album after I listened to Uriah Heep Live 73 where some songs of this album were featured beautifully. I fell in love with "Love Machine" and the title track performed live by the band. So I searched this album and found out the cassette version of this album from Monalisa, Bandung. By the time I got the cassette, "July Morning" was the norm already. Whenever we talk about Uriah Heep, people would directly associate with this song. It's exactly like "Child In Time" with Deep Purple.

In 2000 I purchased the CD remastered version of the album. As Ken Hensley put it in the liner note of this CD version, this album was the one that made the band recognized in the American market. So I could only imagine how "important" this album to the band because it remarked the band's entrance into American market. Some people said that the band was the second division bands and the others like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin were at the first division. Well, whatever people said I totally disagree and I don't care what people really said!. For me personally, Uriah Heep is the band with its unique characteristic and they play really original music unlike Led Zeppelin who mostly played other people's songs or Deep Purple's "Child In Time" which was adopted from other song. So be it. I LOVE URIAH HEEP man! No matter what other people say about the band! The uniqueness of Heep lies on unique sounds produced from Mick Box' guitars and Ken Hensley's strange organ sounds. That's good enough to justify how the band is unique by its own. The combined sounds between the two are also excellent.

"Look At Yourself" (5:07) is a great track opener with a dynamic drum work combined with soaring organ and stunning guitar work. The music flows dynamicallywith organ as main rhythm section and backing vocal sound "aaaaaa." characterizes the music uniquely. In between segments, organ provides its punch wonderfully followed with vocal choirs like "chuw chuw chuw ." augmented with guitar solo and soaring organ sounds. The composition lets drum solo followed with organ produces great musical flow. It ends up the song beautifully.

The opening track is followed almost seamlessly with "I Wanna Be Free" (3:59) which is actually a ballad song with an excellent melody and vocal choirs. This is the kind of song the people want to emulate especially the opening choirs line. It's really a good song. Well, I don't need to explore further with "July Morning" (10:36) which has become the icon of the band. This song is even becoming a regular setlist in any Heep's live concert even until now. But my favorite version was the one featured at "Live 73" album where the combination of soaring organ and bass guitar playing of Gary Thain (RIP) is truly wonderful! I even like the live version than the original studio version.

No one would argue that "Tears In My Eyes" (5:02) is an excellent rocking track. Performed in relatively fast tempo this track combines stunning guitar solo by Mick Box and powerful Byron's voice and excellent keyboard sounds. Everyone knows that the main characteristic of this song lies on minute 1:45 where the voice line sings "chuw chuw chuw .." accompanied with acoustic guitar fills. It's really great!

"Shadows Of Grief" (8:40) is not the band's hit but it has a powerful musical quality in terms of composition and textures and, again, it demonstrates great vocal choirs combined with stunning organ sounds. It's one of my favorite as well. The drum is also very dynamic. Byron sings in relatively fast tempo and high register notes. "What Should Be Done" (4:13) is a mellow track with excellent electric piano work by Hensley. It provides a musical break because it's relatively slow. The concluding track is a rocker "Love Machine" (3:37). This track has become a legend and one of my favorites.

It's hard for me to identify any lacking this album has as a phenomenal rock music that shaped the foundation of classic rock sounds. Altogether with "Demons and Wizards" I would give this album as a masterpiece rock album which any rocker on planet earth should own a copy of this album. It's a mandatory album of the 70s! My CD has two bonus tracks: "Look At Yourself" (single version) and "What's Within My Heart". Keep on proggin' ..!

To Uriah Heep: Welcome to Indonesia!! We will rock the stadium with a flock of Indonesian rockers ..

Peace on earth and mercy mild - GW