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Rating: We are in 1971, and Uriah Heep is still in the phase of maturing. The band's first album, Very 'eavy Very 'umble, presented the band in a yet "embryonic" state. The next one, Salisbury, however, while beginning to define what would become the band's distinctive sound, is a true experiment. Defining this album as rock (or hard rock) is rather reductive; inside it, we find jazz, blues, progressive rock, metal (!!), and classical. It's precisely this orgy of genres that elevates the quality of the album to make it a masterpiece, as well as technically rich and interesting.
The first genre touched by the band is hard rock, almost bordering on metal, in an engaging and powerful track, the first, Bird of Prey, in which the late Byron showcases all his vocal abilities. At the end of the track, the motif changes: it opens with the guitar in a bluesy solo and then returns to a more rock riff. The complete genre change occurs similarly in the next one, The park, consisting of a sweet melody of guitar and organ accompanied by Byron's falsetto; it all leaves room, three-quarters into the song, for an interesting jazz-flavored intermezzo. Time to Live and High Priestess, respectively the third and fifth tracks, are songs of a classical and simple hard rock, yet endowed with so much class, with a Mick Box in a state of grace. The fourth track is, along with The Wizard, the ballad par excellence of the band. Lady in Black is a true anthem to pacifism, a piece with a very simple structure but with an enthralling vocal performance (here sung by the great Hensley) and an unforgettable chorus. The album closes very soon, there are only six tracks, but the final piece is paradoxically the summa of the entire album, particularly of its experimental nature. The title track is an impressive suite of 16 minutes that combines classical, jazz, and other rock parts where all the band members showcase their high technical skills.
A small note should be made about the cover depicting a tank, which, along with the album title, refers to the town of Salisbury Plain in England, which hosts a military base.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Bird of Prey (04:21)
I can see that look that says beware
Try to move in closer if you dare
So I must sit and play my waiting game
And for a while I know she'll do the same
Fly away
Watches like an eagle from its eerie
Then like a bird of prey she captures me
But I am older and more wise than you
Bird of prey straight into me you flew
Fly away
Now every time I've tried to set her free
I'm glad to say she comes right back to me
But if I knew she didn't want to stay
I wouldn't try to keep that lovely bird of prey
02 The Park (05:47)
Let me walk awhile alone among the sacred rocks and stones.
Let me look in vain belief upon the beauty of each leaf.
There is green in every blade. The treetops lean, providing shade.
They are spining happy sounds, all nature's strength around.
And there's a horse that feels no pain,
its iron strength to take the strain.
Children rocking to and fro
and gayly drink its color glow.
Above, the sky, devoid of stars
thinks not to cast the thunder shroud.
And from this place, so full of joy,
a thing of gold that lies in blood.
"So why my heavy heart?" you say,
when tears would stain a sight so gay.
My brother's dreams, once hinted song,
until he died at the hand of needless wars.
04 Lady in Black (04:51)
She came to me one morning,
one lonely Sunday morning,
her long hair flowing in the mid-winter wind.
I know not how she found me, for in darkness I was walking,
and destruction lay around me from a fight I could not win.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa
She asked me name my foe then.
I said the need within some men
to fight and kill their brothers without thought of men or god.
And I begged her give me horses to trample down my enemies,
so eager was my passion to devour this waste of life.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa
But she would not think of battle that reduces men to animals,
so easy to begin and yet impossible to end.
For she the mother of all men had counciled me so wisely that
I feared to walk alone again and asked if she would stay.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa
"Oh lady lend your hand," I cried,
"Oh let me rest here at your side."
"Have faith and trust in me,"
she said and filled my heart with life.
There is no strength in numbers.
I've no such misconceptions.
But when you need me be assured I won't be far away.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa
Thus having spoke she turned away
and though I found no words to say
I stood and watched until I saw her black cloak disappear.
My labor is no easier, but now I know I'm not alone.
I find new heart each time I think upon that windy day.
And if one day she comes to you drink deeply from her words so wise.
Take courage from her as your prize and say hello for me.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa (repeat until fade)
05 High Priestess (03:46)
You, who brought
The sunshine to my eyes
You, who wondered
Through my sad disguise
And I have a love
That cannot die ... for you
High priestess of my heart
Tell me that we wont part
Then lets get together in the sky
To leave the lonely world
To wonder why
For we have a love
We cant denie ... so true
06 Salisbury (16:21)
Somewhere in your eye, that very special glow.
Something drawing me, to where, I do not know.
I never really thought that I would lose myself.
But now I'm going faster than anybody else.
You move without a sound, touch me with your hand
just like the rain that fondles every grain of sand.
This thing we're gonna do, it's just for you and me.
I'm gonna make it good, good as it can be.
Your kiss is sweeter now, your breath is getting warm.
We must take our time and last it through till dawn.
I wonder will it be? Oh, I expect it to.
There have been other girls, but no one else like you.
I feel a power here I've never felt before.
And I begin to see what drives us to want more.
Oh god of all my dreams, please tell me if I'm wrong.
Because I think you have been in love.
As time past, and all too fast, I just knew it couldn't last.
And I guess that the end was near at hand.
Oh we tried our love inside, it just crumbled up and died.
What went wrong I will never, never understand.
You tell me why.
Alone again - how could you leave me.
Alone again - I don't want to be.
Alone again - yeah!
There's a line, in a rhyme, I was going to send to you.
It says: All that is to be will surely be.
So, though you had to go 'cause you needed someone new,
is there still a chance that you'll come back to me?
I want you back you see.
Alone again - how could you leave me.
Alone again - I don't want to be.
Alone again - yeah!
Somewhere in your eye, that very special glow.
Something drawing me, to where, I do not know.
I never really thought that I would lose myself.
But now I'm going faster than anybody else.
You move without a sound and touch me with your hand
just like the rays that fondle every grain of sand.
This thing we're gonna do, it's just for you and me.
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By The Guitarist
Salisbury is the magic, the grandeur, the expressiveness, the delirium concentrated in fifty minutes of music.
"Gypsy" is undoubtedly the best track ever composed by the band: a progressive delirium dominated by the power of the Hammond organ and the rhythmic ferocity of a guitar.
