« Back to Top Level | Uriah Heep

Uriah Heep - Look At Yourself (1971)

Track listing:
  1. Look At Yourself 5:11
  2. I Wanna Be Free 4:01
  3. July Morning 10:33
  4. Tears In My Eyes 5:01
  5. Shadows Of Grief 8:40
  6. What Should Be Done 4:13
  7. Love Machine 3:42
  8. What's Within My Heart 5:24
  9. Why 11:19
  10. Look At Yourself (Alternative Single Version) 3:19
  11. Tears In My Eyes 5:38
  12. What Should Be Done 4:26
  13. Look At Yourself [Bbc] 4:32
  14. What Should Be Done [Bbc] 3:26

Notes

Size: 152 MB
Bitrate: 256
mp3
Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
Artwork Included
Japan 24-Bit Remaster

Look at Yourself is the third album released by British rock band Uriah Heep.

The title track and "July Morning" were released as singles in North America in 1971 and 1973, respectively.

The original cover art (not pictured opposite) on the LP came in a single sleeve with a die-cut opening on the front through which a reflective foil 'mirror' was seen. This relates the cover art directly to the album title. The idea was that of guitarist Mick Box. Not being a perfect reflecting surface, one sees a distorted image of oneself. Indeed, this theme is carried on with the band photos on the rear of the LP sleeve, which have also been distorted.

The LP itself was housed in a heavy-duty card inner, complete with lyrics.

The song "July Morning" has become the inspiration for a Bulgarian Hippie tradition, known eponymously as July Morning.

The third time proved to be the charm for Uriah Heep: on Look at Yourself, the group perfects its fusion of heavy metal power and prog rock majesty, and the result is one of the best albums in the Heep catalog. The gauntlet is thrown down on the title track, a powerful rocker that layers its relentless hard rock attack with ornate vocal harmonies and quicksilver organ runs before climaxing with a tribal-sounding drum jam. The remainder of Look at Yourself presents an effective blend of gutsy guitar rock and organ-fueled prog excursions. In the rock arena, the gems are "Tears in My Eyes," a powerful rocker driven by an almost rockabilly-style riff that stops midway for a surprising vocal harmony break supported by smooth wah-wah guitar, and "Love Machine," a short, punchy slice of hard rock built on an infectious, stomping rhythm.

However, the best track on the album is one of the more prog-oriented ones: "July Morning" starts with a pastoral organ riff, then builds into a heavy yet symphonic rock tune that divides its time between gentle acoustic verses and emotional, organ-fueled choruses before climaxing in a monstrous jam dominated by a swirling Moog synthesizer lead. Special note should also be taken of David Byron's vocal performance; his multi-octave, operatic style was no doubt an influence on later metal vocalists like Rob Halford. All in all, Look at Yourself is both one of Uriah Heep's finest, most cohesive albums and a high point of 1970s heavy metal.

01."Look at Yourself" (Hensley) – 5:10
02."I Wanna Be Free" (Hensley) – 4:01
03."July Morning" (Byron, Hensley) – 10:32
04."Tears in My Eyes" (Hensley) – 5:01
05."Shadows of Grief" (Byron, Hensley) – 8:39
06."What Should Be Done" (Hensley) – 4:15
07."Love Machine" (Box, Byron, Hensley) – 3:37

Bonus:
08."What's Within My Heart (Out-take)" (Hensley) – 5:23
09."Why (11'18" version)" (Box, Byron) – 11:18
10."Look at yourself (alternate single version)" (Hensley) – 03:19
11."Tears in my eyes (extended mix)" (Hensley) – 05:38
12."What should be done (alternate version)" (Hensley) – 04:26
13."Look at yourself (BBC live version)" (Hensley) - 04:32
14."What should be done (BBC live version)" (Hensley) – 03:26