Uriah Heep
Look At Yourself

THE REVIEW

"I see you runnin' - don't know what you're runnin' from
Nobody's comin' - what'd you do that was so wrong?
Look back and turn back - look at yourself.
Don't be afraid just look at yourself"
Look At Yourself

I will never stop repeating it, Uriah Heep have always been an underrated band in the English hard rock scene of the 70s; always compared to the Purple sound, (although in my opinion unable to fully match their technical peaks) they even prompted a Rolling Stone magazine critic to say "if this band makes it... I'll kill myself!" judging by the results, did he really do it?

Fortunately, the initial critics' slams do not affect the band, Uriah have no qualms: fascinated by Jon Lord's Hammond (Deep Purple played in the room next door!) they recruit the excellent organist Ken Hensley, who, as a true leader, will totally revolutionize the future group: he will become the band's main songwriter; just think of the subsequent Salisbury of 1971 (Lady in Black, High Priestess, just to mention two songs that are entirely his own...)
In the same year LOOK AT YOURSELF is released: it is, in my opinion, a hard rock masterpiece (which many compare to In Rock by Purple) which I will attempt to analyze track-by-track:
It starts with the legendary title track, over 5 minutes of outstanding hard rock fired at full throttle, a song with impeccable solos and vocals... truly a fiery start where Hensley's Hammond rides the track like a fury, constantly followed by Byron's wonderful voice...
the second track, I Wanna Be Free momentarily refreshes the listener by offering guitar riffs and arpeggios justly mixed with Byron's high notes and Hensley's keyboards...
Then comes July Morning, a wonderful song of more than 10 minutes, which pales only slightly in comparison to the legendary Child in Time by Purple. Here Byron's voice moves the listener, and Hensley with his Hammond aims for the heart of even the toughest audience. The song ends with probably overdubbed guitars... and with it ends the first side of the vinyl: there is no doubt, July Morning is the compositional peak of the album!
Flip the LP, and here we are with another surprising track: Tears In My Eyes! an initial riff so modern it makes you forget the release year of the album. Surprise within the surprise are Byron's choral interludes! The song fades out and gives way to another strong piece: Shadows Of Grief! a perhaps not very original riff opens up the dance, but then the track evolves and it's great music... Kinsley sparks... and the piece ends in an unusual way, leaving you truly amazed!
Next is What Should Be Done, perhaps the least important track of the album, a guitar-piano ballad that provides a particular atmosphere.
As the final track, we find Love Machine, another hard rock romp with a determined and sparkling taste (here Byron's voice is practically identical to Gillan's)
The album couldn't end with any other kind of piece...

I highly recommend anyone who has never listened to "Look At Yourself" to get a copy, you will not be disappointed at all! Of course, this also applies to those who have never heard anything by Uriah Heep!!