Uriah Heep-Underrated?...Of Course.

Such a great Prog rock band...They should be praised like Pink Floyd or Rush...God, they're music is good and it can capture anyones ear...they diserve so much...Please tell me what do you think about this wonderfull band.

Pinkk wrote: Lately I've been listening to Demons And Wizards and Very 'eavy...Very 'umble alot. Both top notch albums.

Kotro wrote:

What do you mean by that hey?...

I got Very 'Eavy Very 'Umble and Look At Yourself recently.

I think the first of those is basically saved by the three versions of Gypsy (*especially the BBC session version), as well as Byron's enchanting vocals on Come Away Melinda. Otherwise, I can't say there's much compelling on it, some of it sounds pretty generic.

Look At Yourself, however, is amazing. The hard rock opener is superb, July Morning is beautiful, and Shadows of Grief and Love Machine are also pretty stunning. What Should Be Done is a nice contrast; I'm not massively fond of Tears in My Eyes (although it's OK) and I Wanna Be Free starts off a little weakly, but develops into a good tune.

I can't say I've found any of the later samples on PA particularly gripping (probably due to my computer's speakers, which are really not great), but if those two albums are anything to go by, I'm definitely heading for more.


Edited by TGM: Orb - January 21 2008 at 17:49

Kotro wrote:

that is a 4 clappie post  there...'an Excellent example of ProgArchives posting'

I like me some Heep.  They are criminally ignored.  "Stealin'" was a big hit on Cleveland radio, and to this day it's the only song of theirs that you're likely to hear.

NotAProghead wrote: I think the roots are somewhere else. Both Jon Lord and Mick Box, in diffferent time, recalled that VANILLA FUDGE (organ and guitar, sounding in unison and, in case of Heep vocal harmonies also) were big influence for DP and UH respectively.

good point....  would be interesting to see a 'family tree' out of Vanilla Fudge... I mean you might be able to argue that the more influential rocks groups of alltime than VF... can be counted on one hand....  no more than two certainly.

That said... let's stick to the OP's point...  whether the the two bands are or are not similar... regardless of differences in sound.. they were alike in style... both with forever be considered proto-metal by many.  Time..history and most importantly ... public perception has tied DP and UR together.  For that reason UR will always be underrated.. and underappreciated.  The differences between them are not so much that UR is seen to have be an offshoot stylistically from DP.. and thus... preference aside... a lesser quantity in terms of regard perhaps.

something like this typifies the thought around these groups...

'I came to be a fan of Heavy Metal because of the song, "Smoke on the Water" from Deep Purple back in 1972. I suppose that sort of dates me, doesn't it? I bought a number of Deep Purple LPs and was enthralled by the used of the Hammond Organ in their music. To this date, I still can't safely drive a car if "Burn" or "Child In Time" are playing on the radio. "Smoke on the Water" made me want to find other bands in the same vein. I "discovered" Uriah Heep in the late 70's and early 80's. I've been a Heepster ever since, owning almost every one of the twenty or so albums they released.'

Another heep lover here. even though their music is all over the board, the guitar/organ/vocal melodies and emphasis has been a great part of their music. Something about them just makes the music have that feel to it, like its not being forced. I really cant describe it, other than I just really enjoy listening to UH, in all its incarnations.

Tarkus31 wrote:   Ok, this is WAY OT, but it also bugs me how Gary Moore (an AMAZING guitarist) has such a following in Europe, but is almost completely unheard of in the US.

NO