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Rob The Good 
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 17 2004
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 476
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 Posted: January 03 2005 at 20:21 |
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Oooh I agree. Gary Thain was rock's greatest forgotten bassist. From New Zealand actually (where I'm from)!
Oh and yes I did include the Five Miles sessions. They're actually quite lightweight, but one can still find songs from these sessions in places. I don't know if the Lansdowne Tapes compilation has any, but I certainly know the recent remaster of Fallen Angel has a couple as bonus tracks. These remasters are amazing!
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And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..."
Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster.
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Ivan_Melgar_M
Special Collaborator
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Joined: April 27 2004
Location: Peru
Status: Offline
Points: 19557
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 20:11 |
I can't understand why nobody mentions the best bass player in rock history Gary Thain, the guy was a wizard, not only limited to be part of the rhythm section (Which is enough for a bassist) but he also played an important role in the melodic section of the band, simply outstanding.
He did in 4 years what other bassists don't do in a whole life, sadly his addiction to heroin took him too early to the grave, what a waste of talent!!!!!
Uriah Heep not Prog???
If you listen Look at Yourself you'll find why I believe they were a progressive band, July Morning is an epic that goes in crescendo in intensity to the end, with incredible changes and massive keyboard, the structure of the track is totally symphonic.
The title track is a masterpiece of abrupt changes in tempo, also with a massive dose of mellotron and Hammond (I believe so) but Tears in my Eyes is a totally progressive song, the changes in the track happen 5 or 6 times, plus a killer keyboard and an ultra complex vocal and choirs work.
If all this is not progressive, I don't know what you may consider progressive, because it has all the characteristics of good prog'.
Iván
Edited by ivan_2068
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Rob The Good
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 17 2004
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 476
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 19:53 |
Oh, and I stand by my claim that if anyone still believes that they aren't Prog (which I can understand), then they should check out Salisbury - Heep at their Proggiest! 
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And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..."
Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster.
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Rob The Good
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 17 2004
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 476
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 19:51 |
Well Uriah Heep are certainly not Prog in the same way Yes are, but I think they bear quite a good comparison with Dream Theater. Magician's Birthday is a concept album (apparently...to do with Magic and things), with a title track which is 10 mins long. The song starts off with a rock bit, followed by the Happy Birthday segment, followed by a continuation of the rock bit, followed by a bit of an ominous organ part, and then an amazing guitar/drums duel, and then the finale! (Sorry for the very basic way I put it, but I'm no music guru  )
This I believe characterises them as Prog-metal. I think their BIO on the archives said that they always focused on melody and vocal harmonies (I think there's a bit of a Vanilla Fudge influence here). Certainly there are some albums of theirs which aren't really Prog at all, but Salisbury (with its title track), Look at Yourself (with July Morning & Shadow of Grief), Demons & Wizards (with the Paradise/The Spell medley) and Magician's Birthday all contain Prog-metal elements. Albums such as Return to Fantasy and High & Mighty have lost such elements, but still remain fantastic albums in their own right, as they concentrate on the vocal harmonies, melody and strong rock that were Heep's hallmarks! 
And yes, David Byron was one of the world's greatest rock frontmen! There is actually a DVD of the Byron-era out, but I have yet to get it.
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And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..."
Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster.
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Prog_Bassist
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 29 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 830
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 18:08 |
 ShrinkingViolet wrote:
mick box sucks.........er dumb ass comment...
I find it hard to choose between the first five albums...Eek i love them all..hmm i'll have to sit thru and listen to my collection and choose....hmm and get coffee...oh and no ones voted for the first one yet  |
when i say he sucks, i mean that I don't like his playing, but it doesnt mean that he sucks to everyone else, im just saying that he sucks to me, it's my opinion.
On another note, David Byron is a godly vocalist.
It's not a dumb ass comment at all, I'm simply stating my opinion on the boxman.
Edited by Prog_Bassist
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Fragile
Forum Senior Member
Joined: June 27 2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 1125
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 18:01 |
I loved this band from 1970 until around 1975.From Very 'Eavy to Sweet Freedom they were at their peak and I agree it is very difficult choosing between them.Their music changed with each album and my own opinion is that Demons and Wizards just edges out Look at Yourself.In David Byron they had Rock's best vocalist/frontman.Certified says they weren't prog and I would have to agree in the strictly true sense of the word Prog,but,with some of the other names being put forward as prog here on this site tracks like The Spell,The wizard,July Morning,Rainbow Demon and a few others could certainly be thought of as almost prog.I saw them with Byron at least 8 times and live they were just fantastic.This band brought me such joy for years and for that I will never forget them.For those who haven't heard them Look at Yourself and Demons are a very good place to start.
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Certif1ed
Special Collaborator
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Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 13:56 |
I concur with what you're saying there, Peter - I guess I don't do sincerity very well;
I really would like to know why anyone might think that UH are a prog band and, for example, Queen are not. The only answers that people give are they are or they are not, which are unsatisfactory to say the least!
Simple as that really - not confrontationalist 
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gdub411
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 24 2004
Location: United States
Status: Offline
Points: 3484
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 13:39 |
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I never likedededededed Pariah Sheeple
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Peter
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: January 31 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 9669
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 13:31 |
Certif1ed wrote:
I sincerely do not understand why anyone thinks that Uriah Heep are prog - but I'm open to enlightenment.
They're a great rock band though 
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 Well Cert, I never did either, and still don't really (apart from a track or two, eg., I put "The Wizard" on one of my prog compilations) but they are here, so I play the game.
As you know, I have "issues" with the whole notion of "prog metal," and do not consider Talk Talk or Audience to be prog either, but that won't stop me from reviewing their albums as MUSIC, after offering the caveat that "I don't really regard this as Progressive Rock, but...." 
 It's subjective, isn't it? -- and you and I are not the "subjects" who make the executive decisions re a band's status here.
I can live with that -- I WOULD NOT want that contentious responsibility.
Edited by Peter
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"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.
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Certif1ed
Special Collaborator
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Joined: April 08 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 7559
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 09:53 |
Magician's Birthday is not a prog album at all, IMO - I only hear rock music (very good, but rock)
Demons and Wizards likewise contains not one single iota of prog.
I'm going to track down Look At Yourself, but at the moment, I think that Queen have produced far more prog than Uriah Heep - the only thing that is prog about the albums I own is the Roger Dean covers (except on Abominog, which is a 1980s metal album and not prog).
I sincerely do not understand why anyone thinks that Uriah Heep are prog - but I'm open to enlightenment.
They're a great rock band though
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tuxon
Forum Senior Member
Joined: September 21 2004
Location: plugged-in
Status: Offline
Points: 5502
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 07:45 |
Look at yourself.
Their best work up to date (IMO).
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I'm always almost unlucky _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Id5ZcnjXSZaSMFMC Id5LM2q2jfqz3YxT
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Easy Livin
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator / Retired Admin
Joined: February 21 2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 15585
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 06:52 |
Rob,
Good to have another Heep fan around here! As you'll see from my "name", they are my favourite band too.
As member Hibou once said when asked to chose her favourite Genesis album (I think), it's like asking a mother to chose between her children!
Like yourself, my actual favourite varies with the album I'm listening to, but over the years, Demons and Wizards has been the one I always come back to.
I saw the band in Edinburgh a couple of months ago, they were superb.
PS, Interesting to see you included the unfinished "Five miles" sessions in the list!
Edited by Easy Livin
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Rob The Good
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 17 2004
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 476
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 05:53 |
Oooh no one's voted for the first album Or Magician's Birthday! The band's debut is a great hard rock album because it defines who the band was but also gave them room to expand and progress to greater things: SALISBURY!
The band themselves considered Magician's Birthday to be rushed and they would've appreciated more time to expand on it a bit further...personally I think it's fantastic! The title track especially. In fact, I think Magician's Birthday is more prog than Demons & Wizards.
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And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..."
Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster.
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Richardw
Prog Reviewer
Joined: December 10 2004
Location: England
Status: Offline
Points: 762
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 05:42 |
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I voted for 'LOOK AT YOURSELF' too. Some great songs : the title track, July Morning, I Wanna Be Free, Tears In My Eyes and Shadows Of Grief. Good Album.
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Rob The Good
Forum Senior Member
Joined: December 17 2004
Location: New Zealand
Status: Offline
Points: 476
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 05:11 |
David Byron is quite possibly the most overlooked and yet amazingly talented rock vocalist in history! I'm actually quite pleasantly surprised that Look at Yourself is leading. I was listening to it earlier today, and the song Shadow of Grief is wonderful. My favourite as I said before is (at the moment anyway, I have "phases") Salisbury because it has the song Lady in Black on it! But it also has Bird of Prey, High Priestess, Salisbury, The Park...arrgh they're all great.
The best place to start I think, would be Demons & Wizards as it's considered the band's classic, but Salisbury is just as good an intro as any as it gives a good overview of what the band was capable of: there's a couple of ballads, a couple of hard rockers and an extended Prog piece. Brilliant! Buy them all! My introduction was a double cd "best of" compilation called Travellers in Time which I picked up for about $50NZ (that's about $25US).
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And Jesus said unto John, "come forth and receive eternal life..."
Unfortunately, John came fifth and was stuck with a toaster.
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ShrinkingViolet
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 433
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 04:52 |
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uriah Heep are greatly underrated...which is sad. God rest our beloved David Byron
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Dragon Phoenix
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 31 2004
Status: Offline
Points: 1475
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 04:14 |
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Add another one fo Look at yourself. July morning is a relatively unknown masterpiece.
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ShrinkingViolet
Forum Senior Member
Joined: April 11 2004
Location: Scotland
Status: Offline
Points: 433
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 03:56 |
mick box sucks.........er dumb ass comment...
I find it hard to choose between the first five albums...Eek i love them all..hmm i'll have to sit thru and listen to my collection and choose....hmm and get coffee...oh and no ones voted for the first one yet
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Prog_Bassist
Forum Senior Member
Joined: August 29 2004
Location: Canada
Status: Offline
Points: 830
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 02:35 |
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Demons and Wizards, Look at Yourself, and The Magician's Birthday are all excellent albums.
The only thing I dont like about uriah heep is their guitar player mick box, he sucks, and his name makes me mad for some reason.
But they are as a whole excluding the GEAR BOX, they are quite good.
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Ivan_Melgar_M
Special Collaborator
Honorary Collaborator
Joined: April 27 2004
Location: Peru
Status: Offline
Points: 19557
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Posted: January 03 2005 at 00:04 |
Sweetnighter asks:
| hmm.... uriah heep looks really interesting... if i were to get an album to start with what should i get? |
LOOK AT YOURSELF
Iván
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Favourite 1970s Uriah Heep Album!
