Uriah Heep-Underrated?...Of Course.
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Category: Progressive Music Lounges
Forum Name: Prog Bands, Artists and Genres Appreciation
Forum Description: Discuss specific prog bands and their members or a specific sub-genre
URL: http://www.progarchives.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=45538
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Topic: Uriah Heep-Underrated?...Of Course.
Posted By: Real Paradox
Subject: Uriah Heep-Underrated?...Of Course.
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 16:38
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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. P.S. Be realistic and share you're opinion with a good free-minded atitude  ------------- What is This? It is what keeps us going... |
Replies:
Posted By: Pinkk
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 16:53
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Lately I've been listening to Demons And Wizards and Very 'eavy...Very 'umble alot. Both top notch albums.
------------- 
http://last.fm/user/pinkkfloydd - My Last.fm |
Posted By: Real Paradox
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 17:09
Nice...you should try "Magicians Birthday" its my fav!; ------------- What is This? It is what keeps us going... |
Pinkk wrote:Posted By: Kotro
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 17:13
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------------- Bigger on the inside. |
Posted By: Real Paradox
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 17:30
  ------------- What is This? It is what keeps us going... |
Posted By: EnglishAssassin
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 17:47
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I've no idea who Bob is either, but I do like the Lego Tarkus. I don't know Heep that well, beyond the fact that they were critically derided back in the seventies (not that that's any reason not to like them). Weirdly one of my ex-girlfriends was quite a big fan. Maybe David Byron's frilly shirts did something for her. |
Posted By: TGM: Orb
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 17:47
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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. |
Posted By: ProgBagel
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 19:04
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Under appreciated maybe. But underrated?
They don't recieve much hate where I look on the boards. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 19:54
 that is a 4 clappie post there...'an Excellent example of ProgArchives posting'  ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 20:13
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really like Uriah Heep... Salisbury was one of the albums that early on really grabbed me as a kid. Love the album... the rest.. not bad. Can't really praise them too much because I do think the similarities with DP are quite stark since DP sounds to be their main influence... and probably acclaim or praise that might have gone to them.. went to the more original.. and overall influential of the two.. probably the arch-type Hard or Heavy prog band. Deep Purple.
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: zappaholic
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 20:45
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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.
------------- "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard." -- H.L. Mencken |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 21:40
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.
It became a common place to consider Heep DP followers. Yes, both bands are heavy and use organ extensively, but they sound completely different, especially in vocal parts. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 22:32
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.' ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Thandrus
Date Posted: January 21 2008 at 23:46
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Uriah Heep is quite easily the fave Hard Rock (or in our language Heavy Prog) band for me... None of the bands stilistically close to UH had such a focus on melody... (if someone does know any such band please name me one) Closest really would come Deep Purple (which I like a lot), but hey aren't really half as melodic. Of course maybe there were some DP influenses in Heep's music but what then? Ken Hensley had once said he took an idea of orchestral arrangements of Salisbury from Purple's Concerto... but result is quite different: much more organic and perfect balance between orchestra and hard rock.
And what's most important: Uriah Heep's music creates some unique Heroic atmosphere. I really haven't heard any other band do it to this extent (again, please name one if you know), and for only this they should have been much loved and appreciated...
Anyway what I'm trying to say is that they are really criminally underrated (and underappreciated, also) "on the basis on uninformed preconceptions" like our dear Bob McBeath says, whom this thread does really need
 . |
Posted By: Tarkus31
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 00:02
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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.
I would love for the current band to tour the US, but alas, they have nowhere near the following as they do in Europe. From what I understand, they still have a very good following in Europe.
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. ------------- ~~~Brian~~~ "And if we all did the things we knew to be right, left would be the childish fears of danger in the night." -Graeme Edge |
Posted By: Real Paradox
Date Posted: January 22 2008 at 08:57
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Anyways I do see Uriah Heep as a grand-father of Prog Metal...But they have still much more Jazz and Classical music influences than Rush, and that is what makes the band so intresting! ------------- What is This? It is what keeps us going... |
Posted By: Certif1ed
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 04:04
Cue my old story of how Gary Moore was once my roadie (true!).
His first outing with Skid Row (NOT the US band!) in 1970 is nothing short of astonishing - especially considering he was 17 when he recorded it. Before they recorded the album "Skid", they unfortunately lost their original vocalist, who went by the name of Phil Lynott...
Anyway, on to Heep - I think they're over-rated as a Prog band - I hear very, very little Prog in their music.
I do like them an enornous amount, however - great hard rock band with prog pretentions (but no real Prog!). They were obviously a huge influence on Spinal Tap - and that only makes me like their music more. ------------- The important thing is not to stop questioning. |
Posted By: salmacis
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 04:43
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Heep had their prog moments, IMHO; 'Wake Up Set Your Sights', 'Salisbury', 'I'll Keep On Trying', 'July Morning', 'Paradise/The Spell'...Some of the slightly later epics like 'The Magician's Birthday' and 'Pilgrim' are really more excessive than progressive, really- definitely, those two tracks are really into Spinal Tap territory. Check out that CD of rarities called 'The Lansdowne Tapes'- there's some decent early prog material on there.
I don't know, I tend to find I don't play these guys anywhere near as I used to. The post-Byron albums in particular; perhaps I overdid it a few years ago as I'm not sure most of the albums they did after 'Firefly' stand up to it ('Sea Of Light' I still like though). The lyrics are often very much of their time, but no more so than most of Rush's 70s stuff or Led Zeppelin songs like 'Immigrant Song', 'No Quarter', 'Ramble On' et al.
Back onto Gary Moore; I got those early Skid Row albums a few months ago and I think there might be a place for them here. I'm loathe to use that 'if X is here Y should be too' kind of non-argument but those albums are pretty progressive IMHO- certainly as much as similar albums by Bakerloo, T2 and May Blitz. Was a bit disappointed with the blues turn Gary Moore took; it was OK for one or two albums but that's all he's done for almost 20 years!!
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Posted By: Okocha
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 09:02
| NO |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 10:26
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For me, Uriah Heep`s "Wizard" defined English art rock. Mystical. Magical. Ever see the video with all the hippie people dancing around the band doing this song ? Trippy trippy.
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Posted By: Real Paradox
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 13:02
No ,what are you refering? ------------- What is This? It is what keeps us going... |
Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 13:22
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I'm with Salmacis here - used to play them a ton but not so much anymore. I think Heep are responsible in large part for me finding prog in the first place, they were a good bridge between the heavy rock I was mostly into before...especially Deep Purple, Styx, and The Who. IMO Demons and Wizards (and most of the subsequent albums) suffers from terrible lyrics and the musicianship isn't exactly great aside from Thain of course...for me, Look at Yourself is the best one because the great songs overshadow their shortcomings. Salisbury is pretty damn good too, they had to have some serious canoles to record that title track. From the later ones, Firefly does it for me, there's some excellent late-70s hard rock on that one. ------------- Signature Writers Guild on strike |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 13:43
Terrible lyrics? I don't think so. Yes, they probably are not masterpieces of poetry, but UH lyrics are always honest and personal. IMO Heep is one of those bands, who created, musically and lyrically, their own world. Wonderworld, I can say using words of our heroes. I think "Sailing the sea of light" is the best definition of band's music.
About musicianship.
Mick Box, without being the most virtuostic guitarist, has his own style.
Ken Hensley also told that he could never play as virtuostic as Jon Lord or Keith Emerson do, but as organ player he has his own style.
Lee Kerslake and Trevor Bolder have good musical reputation - as a good drummer and "clever bassist" (words of Paul Newton).
IMO that's enough for a good band, especially taking into account their instantly recognizable, unique sound. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Real Paradox
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 13:54
Anyways , their best told story was defenatly from "The Magicians Birthday"...I guess of course.  ------------- What is This? It is what keeps us going... |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 14:18
Agree, though "Pilgrim" is very close. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 14:56
------------- Signature Writers Guild on strike |
Posted By: Vibrationbaby
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 16:04
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Even Peter gabriel said in an interview around the time that his Security album came out that rock music lyrics are for the most part lame. I agree with him. I don`t care who it is it`s all really bad poetry set to music. Some rock lyrics are mildly amusing though. As for musicianship, I wouldn`t draw comparisons to Deep Purple or Zeppelin. No virtuosos there either that`s for sure.
------------- |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 17:03
and a valid one it is... and those lyrics are priceless Again... for good lyrics.. read a book ..a poem.. or buy a Blue Oyster Cult album ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 17:59
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^ It's possible to take some bad lines from any band's (including LZ and DP) song and then conclude: their lirics are "nothing to write home about".
About reading books, poems etc - it was alredy discussed in other topics. I don't think anyone changed his/her mind after discussion. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 22:17
 you've got a good head on your shoulders ------------- Signature Writers Guild on strike |
Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 22:19
------------- Signature Writers Guild on strike |
Posted By: Thandrus
Date Posted: January 23 2008 at 23:56
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When it comes to lyrics, I find Uriah heep one of the most exciting Hard Rock bands. I think they all will be Shakespeare's masterpieces when compared to the lyrics of Smoke On The Water or Whole Lotta Love. Of oure this fire/desire thing make me smile sometimed, but I can live with it... Its' definitely better than rearranging my liver .
In no DP or LZ song can be found a thing like: dreams are the posession of a simple man/ reality is a fantasy of youth/ living is the problem that is common to us all/ and love's the only common road to truth. And Pilgrim's lyrics is masterpiece I think.
And about musicianship, I think their virtuosity is very high and it's enough for what they play. So let's judge them for what they play than for for what they don't.
Maybe I don't listen much to Uriah Heep these days but this does not and never will mean that they got any worse in my view. Their songs permanently keep turning in my head. Same for King Crimson also, I don't listen much to them now either, but when someone asks me to name my fave band I name these to (and maybe Camel too) immediately.
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Posted By: jammun
Date Posted: January 24 2008 at 21:21
| Their biggest obstacle was that they were competing with Deep Purple, who at the time were at their peak. I think this is what kept them from getting more commercial success and critical recognition. I still have Look at Yourself and Demons and Wizards, both good albums, but not on the level of, say, Machine Head. |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 24 2008 at 21:49
thank god for the mind you haven't seen the face.... the crooked nose, beady eyes, thin face, thinning hair. Surprised Raff doesn't make me wear a paper bag in public ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 24 2008 at 22:07
agreed... some will like.. or simply prefer Uriah Heep more and there is noting wrong with that. but if one wants to know why UR is underrated or overlooked or what have you. That is why. They were very similar...there are differnces.. but not profound.. or even particuarly noticeable ones. Deep Purple took that whole branch of music to another level as UR didn't.. as evidenced by the simple fact they resonated with the public which is simply the surest sign... empirical proof if you will. Deep Purple are going to get the lion share of fame or glory. Doesn't make Uriah Heep a less than great group... for they did some great albums... but they weren't on par with what DP was doing. Can't really say they were somehow more challenging as to limit commercial appeal. BOC were much in the same vein... and probably topped both in the 'challenging' category.. especially through the 'black and white' period of the 70's and had equal equivalent commercial success to UR.. at least in here in the states. ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: January 24 2008 at 23:46
And you also forget two important names:
Gary Thain: IMO one of the best bass players in Rock histoory (Prog and non Prog),. ghe did in a few years what some guys can't do in a whole lifetime, imagine that John Wetton (being outstanding) wasn't able to replace Gary.
David Byron: He had one of the widest ranges in Rock, he could be sofy and gentle when required and frantic if he wanted, he went to extreme ranges in a second.
IMO Deep Purple was a more solid band in long term but no DP album reched the level of the Uriah Heep trilogy (Look at Yourself, Demons & Wizards and The Magician's Birthaday), while DP was more oriented towards Hard Rock, this three albums have a very solid atmospheric sound and much more Prog oriented, something hardly achieved by a Heavy band and if that is not enough, their chorus were incredibly superior to Deep Purple's.
Just listen the vocal work in "Tears in my Eyes", while David Byron was reaching the highest ranges, the chorus blended with the wah - wah guitar of Mick Box and the organ of Hensley, simply perfect.
Like both bands. but IMO Uriah Heep in their peak had no contest.
Iván ------------- 
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Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 02:56
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Ivan, I didn't forget David and Gary, I thought their talents are obvious.
I don't rememember much chorus of DP, at least in times of Mk II.
Slighly off-topic, look at great Uriah Heep (and not only UH) photos by Dima Brickman: http://www.pbase.com/dimabr/uriah_heep2007 - http://www.pbase.com/dimabr/uriah_heep2007
   IMO extremely gifted photograph. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 12:08
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^thanks for posting those, very gifted photography indeed. You can tell that they really love what they're doing and still manage to bring a ton of energy...very nice to see with all the empty "reunions" these days. ------------- Signature Writers Guild on strike |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 12:26
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^ Thanks for good words. Exceptional photographer, really.
If you click "all galleries" on Dima Brickman's, you'll see lots of wonderful photos. Not only from concerts, amazing. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Real Paradox
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 17:44
David Byron was one of the best realy...His voice so in tune with the music of the 70's, as for DP's Ian Gillian ,he has a good range too and his voice was so clear in concerts, but the true showman is Byron, Uriah Heep was a "different" band, not you're everyday heavy prog rock band...that's what makes them special! ------------- What is This? It is what keeps us going... |
Posted By: BrufordFreak
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 17:53
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I'm so glad some other people out there believe Uriah Heep belongs in the prog art category. I just joined this site today (just found it!) and was trying to put together my Top Ten All-time Favorite Prog Rock albums list and was seriously toying with some of Uriah Heep's works (espec. Demons & Wizards). Carry on! Am very excited to be a part of this site!! ------------- Drew Fisher https://progisaliveandwell.blogspot.com/ |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 18:53
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Welcome! Nice to see Heep fans here. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Thandrus
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 19:32
| Welcome! |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 21:24
Not many, but I'm listening Child in Time and Highway Star, both with some chorus or backing vocals and both from MkII.
Anyway, Heep's Chorus were outstanding.
BTW: Welcome Bruford Freak, is nice to have more Heepers.
Iván -------------
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Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 21:26
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there's no comparison in vocal harmonies between the two.. Heep has great ones.. DP?.. none come to mind
------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 21:59
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^how about that Neil Diamond song they covered?
haha I just mentioned Neil Diamond on a prog website ------------- Signature Writers Guild on strike |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 25 2008 at 22:02
clappies for you hahhahah ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: Real Paradox
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 14:07
DP is not a very vocal band anyways...But I guess we are comparing very different bands man...Deep Purple with Rainbow maybe...but Uriah Heep, is a whole different lvl...Its a very self-defined music,Its prog, but it can't be compared, that's special! ------------- What is This? It is what keeps us going... |
Posted By: everyone
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 15:14
| I own heeps of Heep albums and DP albums. I even own the Toe Fat album that Hensley is on. Rough Diamond was very disappointing. I have always liked UH since Look at Yourself. |
Posted By: kiwi
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 15:28
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Slightly off topic, but was one of the band members electrocuted on stage?
------------- We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high.. (Baha'u'llah) music |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 15:39
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^ At least two.
First Gary Thain and it finished dramatically - departure from the band and death soon. Though main reason of his death was his strong drag addiction.
Second - Jown Wetton, fortunately without noticable after-effects. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: kiwi
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 15:47
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^ Thanks for that. ------------- We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high.. (Baha'u'llah) music |
Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 16:25
The case of Gary was dramatic, they guy was clinically dead for a couple of minutes, he was already addicted to heroin but after the shock his addiction went totally out of control, the band had to ask him to leave in February 1975 because he wasn't reliable anymore.
He died of OD on December 8, 1975 less than a year after he left the band.
The case almost repeated a year after when David Byron was asked to leave by Ken Hensley, due to his erratic behaviour product of alcoholism in 1976 after he recovered he was invited to rejoin Uriah Heep in 1980 but he refused, he died of epyilepsy and liver faillure comsequence of alcohol abuse in 1985.
What a waste of talent.
 Iván -------------
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Posted By: Raff
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 16:38
You should probably give "Burn" a listen if you want to hear vocal harmonies... Though I'd probably call them "vocal duels" more than harmonies . |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 16:45
hahah.. putting that one now... I always tend to reach for mk 1 when I want to hear some DP ------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: micky
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 16:49
RP.. vocal harmonies aside.. they are quite similar groups.... UR is not self defined music at all.. you can't go 10 ft from a write up on UR without some sort of a DP mention .. they are tied to together, for better or worse, in some sort of psychic loop or continuum hahhahaha------------- The Pedro and Micky Experience - When one no longer requires psychotropics to trip |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 16:56
I can add David Byron actually saved Gary's life then, because he pulled bass guitar away from Gary's hands, i.e. 'switched off the electricity'.
I read, in Dave Ling's and other books, that after Ken's departure Mick Box and Trevor Bolder came to Byron and offered him to join the band. But he didn't want to talk about it.
Why? I often thought about it, but I don't know the answer till now. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 26 2008 at 17:02
And "Smoke On The Water" performed by Coverdale/Hughes - it's real cats' choir
.Though I love all DP line-ups. ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: Thandrus
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 04:57
Perhaps he was greatly offended when they kicked him out in 1975, I don't know...
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Posted By: Thandrus
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 05:07
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[/QUOTE] RP.. vocal harmonies aside.. they are quite similar groups.... UR is not self defined music at all.. you can't go 10 ft from a write up on UR without some sort of a DP mention .. they are tied to together, for better or worse, in some sort of psychic loop or continuum hahhahaha[/QUOTE] I think Uriah Heep still has a melodic world different to others. Songs like Wonderworld, Sympathy, If I Had The Time or their balads will prove my opinion, I guess.
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Posted By: Ivan_Melgar_M
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 11:26
Agree with you thandrus, Uriah Heep is probably the only Heavy Prog band that worked with sytrong atmospheres.
While DP was making their own Hard Rock and blending it with some Classical sections (I still don't believe they were ever Prog), Uriah Heeep was working with structures, they were adapting Ken Hensley's unique mysterious sound to fit perfectly with Mick Box's wah guitar and making very complex vocxal harmonies in which all the band members participated (Yes I seen Gary Thain also singing in the Masters from the Vault DVD).
At least the sound of Look at Yourself, Magician's Birthday and Demons & Wizards can't be confused with anything, I can't find any Deep Purple reference, which BTW is very hard, because they were coetaneous.
BTW; People often forget that Ken Hensley and Lee Kerslake worked with Greg Lake and John Glascock from Uriah Heep in a Proto Prog project called "The Gods", so even their background is related with Prog.
Iván -------------
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Posted By: NotAProghead
Date Posted: January 27 2008 at 12:27
Exactly what I always tell! Quite obvious thing, but, strangely, not everyone sees it.
P.S. And Georgia's always on my mind! ------------- Who are you and who am I to say we know the reason why... (D. Gilmour) |
Posted By: DragonRojo
Date Posted: January 29 2008 at 14:28
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Great band! Let down over the years by personal excesses and some bad decisions. Like most, my preference would be the classic era line up, but I was also a fan (and still am) of the great John Lawton! There's still many fans worldwide but information has never been that forthcoming from the official sources. There's no official fan forum in existence now AFAIK, but there's a bunch of oldschool Heep (Byron/Hensley/Lawton) diehards over at www.uriah-heep.org Apparently the official sources won't acknowledge their existence due to their tendency to criticise the present Heep incarnation!
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Posted By: Real Paradox
Date Posted: January 30 2008 at 13:54
Thank you for you're post , and welcome!:) ------------- What is This? It is what keeps us going... |
Posted By: wolfvaga
Date Posted: February 21 2008 at 19:06
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I like only song "The Wizard" from this band... Maybe they are a little bit ordinary to me, I got nothing specific in their music... But no doubt, they are a big band (maybe not as Rush, but second one of heavy prog definitive. Why? They don't have Geddy Lee. That's what make difference)...
------------- Lupus in fabula :) |
Posted By: The Rock
Date Posted: February 21 2008 at 22:06
Then,Hensley,Kerslake and Glassckock all played in a band called Head Machine and released an album titled ''Orgasm''.They used pseudonyms to remain confidential for some reason.Ken Leslie,Lee Poole,ect... ------------- What's gonna come out of my mouth is gonna come out of my soul."Skip Prokop" |
Posted By: Thandrus
Date Posted: February 22 2008 at 05:51
Yeah right, they had only Byron, Lawton, Sloman, Goalby and now they have Shaw... Yeah, and only the Four-men backing vocals...
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Posted By: Jim Garten
Date Posted: February 22 2008 at 07:22
My two pennys worth - I love most of their output up to about 1975, after which I feel they lost their way for a while, but before they did so, they were responsible for some of the most powerful, atmospheric music out there.
The combination of Box's power chords & the wall of sound from Hensley's Hammond B3 (let's not forget he was a very good guitarist as well) backed by Thain & Kerslake, and fronted by David Byron... classic! They never reached the heights of popularity attained by Deep Purple, but they've never gone away either - they've retained a strong fan base & the current lineup are always good value, as there is always a sense of humour onstage with them (something they always had... I mean, check out Hensley's stage clothes )
A lot's been said of the vocal harmony work, but am I the only one who sees comparisons with the harmonies employed by Queen in the 1970s? Could it be that one of the most popular prog/rock/pop bands ever to come out of the UK were influenced by the Heep...? ------------- 
Jon Lord 1941 - 2012 |
Posted By: wolfvaga
Date Posted: February 22 2008 at 10:57
I'm not talking about his voice (vocals). It's all about his energy and stile, which are quite unique... I find that Uriah Heep don't have that what he has... Sorry  ... ------------- Lupus in fabula :) |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: February 22 2008 at 11:07
| Well I'm gonna talk some stuff what I said in my reviews. I started to listen this band when I searched for wikipedia hard rock bands. Having this one being very influential by Deep Purple my fave band I thought why don't give it a try. Although there is shown tiny influence from DP Hensley's hammond is very similar to the play of Jon Lord although being Ken prog... I don't really think it should be considered as far as Floyd, Yes, Genesis, King Crimson, others. But still I think this band has to be in your prog catalog. Being their debut, Salisbury, Demons and Wizards and Magician's birthday all 3.5, 4 and 5 star albums. Having Demons and Wizards my fave and think it has no filler the best one behind Salisbury (the most prog one) and Magician's Birthday (another intemped of Demons and Wizards). And then having their debut pretty well, this could be the most DP influential album cause being recorded in the same studio where In Rock was recorded. Having Heep metal oriented songs is the only problem (for me). |
Posted By: The Quiet One
Date Posted: February 22 2008 at 11:14
| Having a very poweful voice from Byron and very good heavy rythm section. Still I think Byron when he tries to similate Gillan's howls they don't really fit and don't they're good. But still Byron has a very good voice and having exceptional voice in some excpecific songs. Perhaps they will never be in my top 10 of prog bands but it will always be my top 1 heavy prog band, being the only one I know. Having Rush never has been for me cause the voice is like a cat being chocked up to death. |
Posted By: Alberto Muńoz
Date Posted: February 22 2008 at 11:28
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Hello Uriah Heep (UH) was one of the best example of british hard rock with touces of progressive rock i have listen to all his 70's albums and they are damn consistent and well carfted from his first record to the Fallen Angel and there are very professional and good hooks and harmonies.
I think that they have disolved when they can reach and mantain the succes of early albums like Demons and Wizards or The Magician's Birthday, and also internal turmoils spoils the group to be consider of, but to my ears they are one of the very to five bandsof the 70's
cheers
Alberto  -------------  |
Posted By: jimmy_row
Date Posted: February 22 2008 at 11:53
------------- Signature Writers Guild on strike |
Posted By: aapatsos
Date Posted: February 23 2008 at 10:10
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Ken Hensley's melodies are remarkable and unforgettable. For me, July Morning is on the same level with 'A Child in time' and similar epics. Everything they have done until Firefly is worth mentioning. And I believe they are under-appreciated in this site. |