LADY IN BLACK

Iguess in my generation, ie. men now in their fourties/fifties, it was very typical in teenage years to listen to a lot of heavy rock and later find other genres such as prog. Well, I never was the heavy digger. I had already dived deep into the world of prog when I found some interest in URIAH HEEP's music. It contained enough prog elements and wasn't too heavy for me to enjoy it. It was especially the album Demons and Wizards that formed my relationship with the band.

I'm not sure if I ever actually listened to Salisbury, from which 'Lady in Black' is taken. It's the most played Heep song with 'Easy Livin'' and hardly any rock listener has managed NOT to hear it several times. Obviously it's been brutally overplayed in radio and suffered inflation. Such is the fate of accessible, campfire song -type Classic Rock hit. But it IS a fine song in its simplicity. Vocal harmonies are almost like late sixties' Moody Blues, and the melancholic melodies together with the strong beat steal the listener's attention for sure. I also like the Medieval atmosphere.

'Simon the Bullet Freak' is a non-album track, in a similar way with the main song not heavy or ballsy but instantly recognizable as Classic Rock for the sound. The steady-going minor song is OK but quite forgettable, and it sort of ends before ever reaching any climax.

Nice cover design + immortal Classic Rock ballad + decent non-album track = three stars in my equation.