Look at Yourself | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | September 1971 | |||
Recorded | July 1971 | |||
Studio | Lansdowne (London) | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 41:14 | |||
Label | Bronze | |||
Producer | Gerry Bron | |||
Uriah Heep chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Look at Yourself | ||||
|
Look at Yourself is the third studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in September 1971 by Bronze Records in the UK and Mercury Records in the US. It was the last Uriah Heep album to feature founding member and bassist Paul Newton.
Characterized as heavy metal and progressive rock, the album came to be viewed as a high point in the band's career and is regarded by many fans and critics as one of Uriah Heep's finest albums, [2] along with Demons and Wizards , released the following year. The title track was released as a single in various countries, followed by "July Morning" released in Japan in 1972.
The song "July Morning" was the inspiration for a Bulgarian tradition, known eponymously as July Morning or "Julaya", of gathering on the beach on the Black Sea coast on the morning of 1 July to watch the sunrise. [5]
The album was mentioned in the David Sedaris book Barrel Fever , in "Don's Story".
Look at Yourself was remastered and reissued by Castle Communications in 1996 with three bonus tracks, and again in 2003 in an expanded deluxe edition. In 2017, Sanctuary Records released a two-disc deluxe edition.
The original cover art on the LP featured a single sleeve with a die-cut opening on the front through which a reflective foil "mirror" was seen, conveying a distorted image of the person viewing it. The idea, by guitarist Mick Box, was for the cover to directly reflect the album title, and this theme is carried through the band photos on the rear of the LP sleeve, which have also been distorted. The LP itself was housed in a heavy-duty inner card, complete with lyrics.
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [2] |
Billboard | (positive) [6] |
Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 10/10 [7] |
In a favorable contemporary review, Billboard , noting that the band was "determined to break through", described the music in the album as "a mirror, as the hard rock five produce a driving, psychedelic flow that's sufficiently hypnotic, controlled and groovy to reflect the tastes of many youthful rockers." [6]
Retrospective reviews have also been positive. AllMusic's Donald A. Guarisco deemed Look at Yourself to be the point where "the group perfects its fusion of heavy metal power and prog rock majesty". The album was praised for its track selection, which ranged from "powerful" rockers to the prog-oriented "July Morning", and for singer David Byron's "multi-octave, operatic style." [2]
Look at Yourself was ranked at No. 97 in the 100 Heavy Metal albums of All Time list published by the magazine Kerrang! . [8]
All tracks are written by Ken Hensley, except where noted
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Look at Yourself" | 5:09 | |
2. | "I Wanna Be Free" | 4:00 | |
3. | "July Morning" | David Byron, Hensley | 10:32 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
4. | "Tears in My Eyes" | 5:01 | |
5. | "Shadows of Grief" | Hensley, Byron | 8:39 |
6. | "What Should Be Done" | 4:15 | |
7. | "Love Machine" | Hensley, Mick Box, Byron | 3:37 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
8. | "Look at Yourself" (single edit) | 3:07 |
9. | "What's Within My Heart" (outtake) | 5:23 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
8. | "What's Within My Heart" (outtake from Look at Yourself sessions) | 5:23 | |
9. | "Why" (outtake from Look at Yourself sessions) | Box, Byron, Hensley, Paul Newton | 11:18 |
10. | "Look at Yourself" (alternative single version) | 3:19 | |
11. | "Tears in My Eyes" (extended version, previously unreleased) | 5:38 | |
12. | "What Should Be Done" (outtake, original studio version) | 4:26 | |
13. | "Look at Yourself" (BBC session, previously unreleased) | 4:32 | |
14. | "What Should Be Done" (BBC session, previously unreleased) | 3:26 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "I Wanna Be Free" (Alternate Mix) | 4:20 |
2. | "Tears in My Eyes" (Alternate Mix Extended) | 5:55 |
3. | "What Should Be Done" (Alternate Mix) | 4:35 |
4. | "Shadows of Grief" (Alternate Mix) | 9:34 |
5. | "Look at Yourself" (Alternate Mix) | 5:14 |
6. | "July Morning" (Alternate Mix) | 11:18 |
7. | "Why Fourteen Minutes" (Alternate Mix) | 14:16 |
8. | "Love Machine" (Alternate Mix) | 3:55 |
9. | "What's Within My Heart" (Alternate Mix) | 5:34 |
10. | "July Morning" (Alternate Mix, live) | 11:28 |
11. | "Look at Yourself" (Alternate Single Version) | 3:19 |
Certifications
Related Research ArticlesUriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969. Their current lineup consists of guitarist Mick Box, keyboardist Phil Lanzon, lead vocalist Bernie Shaw, drummer Russell Gilbrook, and bassist Dave Rimmer. They have experienced numerous lineup changes throughout their 55-year career, leaving Box as the only remaining original member. Notable former members of the band are vocalists David Byron, John Lawton, John Sloman, and Peter Goalby; bassists Gary Thain, Trevor Bolder, John Wetton, Bob Daisley, Paul Newton, and John Jowitt; drummers Nigel Olsson, Iain Clark, Lee Kerslake, and Chris Slade; and keyboardists Ken Hensley, Gregg Dechert, and John Sinclair. Kenneth William David Hensley was an English musician, singer, songwriter and producer, best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s. David Garrick, better known by his stage name David Byron, was a British singer, who was best known in the early 1970s as the original lead vocalist of the rock band Uriah Heep. Byron possessed a powerful operatic voice and a flamboyant stage presence. Salisbury is the second studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in January 1971 by Vertigo Records in the UK and Mercury Records in the US. It was produced by Gerry Bron. Demons and Wizards is the fourth studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released 19 May 1972 by Bronze Records in the UK and Mercury Records in the US. The Magician's Birthday is the fifth album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in November 1972 by Bronze Records in the UK and Mercury Records in the US. The concept was "based loosely on a short story" written by keyboardist Ken Hensley in June and July 1972. Sweet Freedom is the sixth studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released on 3 September 1973 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US. Wonderworld is the seventh studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in 1974 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US. Wonderworld was the last Uriah Heep album to feature bass player Gary Thain. Firefly is the tenth studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in February 1977 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US. It was their first album without lead vocalist and founding member David Byron, and the first of three albums with new singer John Lawton, formerly of Lucifer's Friend. Bassist Trevor Bolder made his Uriah Heep debut on this album. Barring a break of about 18 months in the early 1980s, he remained with the group until his death in 2013. High and Mighty is the ninth studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in May 1976 by Bronze Records in the UK and Warner Bros. Records in the US. High and Mighty was the last Uriah Heep album to feature bassist John Wetton, and vocalist and founding member David Byron who was fired later that year due to his troubles with alcohol and differences with band priorities. Fallen Angel is the 12th studio album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in September 1978 by Bronze Records in the UK and Chrysalis Records in USA. It is the last album to feature John Lawton on vocals, before his firing in 1979. Fallen Angel only reached No. 186 in the US Billboard 200, but in Germany, the band were at the height of their popularity. On this album, the band moved toward an AOR sound, as opposed to the progressive rock of previous albums. Conquest is the thirteenth studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep, released in 1980. It was released worldwide by Bronze Records; however, the album was never released in North America, where it was difficult to find even as an import. "July Morning" is a song by the English rock band Uriah Heep. It is the third track on their 1971 album Look at Yourself. "Bird of Prey" is a song by British rock band Uriah Heep, from the group's US version of their 1970 debut album Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble. A re-recorded version of the song would appear on the European version of 1971's album Salisbury. The original 1970 version of the song would later appear on the European 2003 remaster of Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble. Although not released as a single, the song is regarded by many fans as one of the band's most popular songs. The song is the B-side of the band's first ever worldwide single "Gypsy". The Lansdowne Tapes is a compilation album by the British rock band Uriah Heep and released in 1993. The recordings featured on the album date from the time before the change of name to Uriah Heep and during the early sessions that culminated in material eventually used on the bands debut album. ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble is the debut studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep. The Best of Uriah Heep is the title of the most successful compilation album by the British rock band Uriah Heep. It was released by Bronze Records and Mercury Records in three distinct editions with roughly the same songs, but different cover art and track listing. The first edition was released in 1974 in Canada, the second in 1975 in Europe and the third the following year in the US. Some European editions had the song "Lady in Black" substituted by "Suicidal Man". The compilation reached gold status in Germany. "Look at Yourself" is a song by British rock band Uriah Heep, originally released in 1971 on their third studio album, Look at Yourself, and the same month as a single, the first by the band in the United Kingdom. It was written and sung by Ken Hensley. "Gypsy" is the debut single by British progressive rock/hard rock band Uriah Heep. It is the opening track on their first album, …Very 'Eavy …Very 'Umble, released in 1970. "Gypsy" was written by Mick Box and David Byron. The album version of "Gypsy" lasts more than six and half minutes, while the single version lasts less than three minutes. The song was also included on the band's first compilation album, The Best of Uriah Heep, and on two live albums, 1973's Uriah Heep Live and the later Live in Armenia. The song is structured with an intro, outro and three verses with no chorus. "Return to Fantasy" is a song by British rock band Uriah Heep from their eighth studio album Return to Fantasy (1975). The song was written by David Byron and Ken Hensley and was the last single by the group to feature David Byron on lead vocals. The song was recorded in May 1975 in London in the Lansdowne and Morgan studios. References
|