Look at Yourself
Encyclopedia
Look at Yourself is the third album released by British rock
band Uriah Heep
.
It is Uriah Heep's most straight ahead "hard rock" album, with one notable foray into progressive territory on "July Morning". The album has come to be viewed as a highpoint in the band's career, and is today regarded by many fans and critics as Uriah Heep's finest album, contended by Demons and Wizards, released the following year. 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 Bulgaria
n Hippie tradition, known eponymously as July Morning
.
, except where noted.
Side 1
Side 2
Look at Yourself was remastered and reissued in 1996 with two bonus tracks:
An expanded De-Luxe CD was released in 2003 with seven bonus tracks:
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
band Uriah Heep
Uriah Heep (band)
Uriah Heep are an English rock band formed in London in 1969 and regarded as a seminal classic hard rock act of the 1970s. Uriah Heep's progressive/art rock/heavy metal fusion's distinctive features have always been massive keyboards sound, strong vocal harmonies and David Byron's operatic vocals...
.
It is Uriah Heep's most straight ahead "hard rock" album, with one notable foray into progressive territory on "July Morning". The album has come to be viewed as a highpoint in the band's career, and is today regarded by many fans and critics as Uriah Heep's finest album, contended by Demons and Wizards, released the following year. 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
Mick Box
Michael Frederick Box , better known by his stage name Mick Box, is the lead guitarist of British rock group Uriah Heep, having previously been a member of The Stalkers and Spice, both with original Uriah Heep vocalist David Byron. He is the only member from the band's founding in 1969 who is...
. 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 Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
n Hippie tradition, known eponymously as July Morning
July Morning
In Bulgaria, there is a tradition called July Morning as an echo from the hippie era of the 1970-1980s. People from across the country travel to the Black Sea coast on the night of June 30 to meet the first sun rays on the 1st of July...
.
Track listing
All songs written by Ken HensleyKen Hensley
Kenneth William David Hensley is a keyboard player , guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s....
, except where noted.
Side 1
- "Look at Yourself" – 5:09
- "I Wanna Be Free" – 4:00
- "July MorningJuly Morning (song)"July Morning" is a song by Uriah Heep. It is the third track of their 1971 album Look at Yourself.The song was written by the band's keyboardist Ken Hensley and original lead singer, David Byron. Approximately the last four minutes of the piece consist of an organ solo, serving as a fine example...
" (David ByronDavid ByronDavid Byron -Early Life 1967-1969:From mid-60's to early 70's David Byron did a lot of session work for a company called Avenue Recordings singing lead and backing vocals...
, Hensley) – 10:32
Side 2
- "Tears in My Eyes" – 5:01
- "Shadows of Grief" (Byron, Hensley) – 8:39
- "What Should Be Done" – 4:15
- "Love Machine" (Mick BoxMick BoxMichael Frederick Box , better known by his stage name Mick Box, is the lead guitarist of British rock group Uriah Heep, having previously been a member of The Stalkers and Spice, both with original Uriah Heep vocalist David Byron. He is the only member from the band's founding in 1969 who is...
, Byron, Hensley) – 3:37
Look at Yourself was remastered and reissued in 1996 with two bonus tracks:
- "Look At Yourself (Single Edit)" – 3:07
- "What's Within My Heart (Out-take)" – 5:23
- An out-take from the Look at Yourself sessions. First released in 1993 on The Lansdowne Tapes.
An expanded De-Luxe CD was released in 2003 with seven bonus tracks:
- "What's Within My Heart (Out-take)" – 5:23
- "Why (Early Version)" (Box, Byron) – 11:18
- "Look at Yourself (Single Edit)" – 03:19
- "Tears in My Eyes (Extended Mix)" – 05:38
- "What Should Be Done (Alternate Version)" – 04:26
- "Look at Yourself (Live at the BBC)" - 04:32
- "What Should Be Done (Live at the BBC)" – 03:26
Personnel
- David ByronDavid ByronDavid Byron -Early Life 1967-1969:From mid-60's to early 70's David Byron did a lot of session work for a company called Avenue Recordings singing lead and backing vocals...
- lead vocals - Ken HensleyKen HensleyKenneth William David Hensley is a keyboard player , guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer best known for his work with Uriah Heep during the 1970s....
– organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
, pianoPianoThe piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
, acoustic guitar, vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments... - Mick BoxMick BoxMichael Frederick Box , better known by his stage name Mick Box, is the lead guitarist of British rock group Uriah Heep, having previously been a member of The Stalkers and Spice, both with original Uriah Heep vocalist David Byron. He is the only member from the band's founding in 1969 who is...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, acoustic guitarAcoustic guitarAn acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound... - Paul NewtonPaul Newton (musician)Paul Newton was the original bass guitarist for Uriah Heep, and played on the band's first three albums. He subsequently played for a band called "Carnival" for several years on the Mecca Palais circuit and also worked as a studio musician and appeared on various recordings...
– bass guitarBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick.... - Ian Clarke – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Guest musicians
- Manfred MannManfred MannManfred Mann was a British beat, rhythm and blues and pop band of the 1960s, named after their South African keyboardist, Manfred Mann, who later led the successful 1970s group Manfred Mann's Earth Band...
- synthesizerSynthesizerA synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
on 'July Morning' - Ted, Mac and Loughty of OsibisaOsibisaOsibisa is a British Afro-pop band, founded in London in 1969 by four expatriate African and three Caribbean musicians. Osibisa were one of the first African bands to become widely popular, leading to claims of founding World Music.-History:...
- percussion on 'Look At Yourself'
Covers
- Gamma Ray covered "Look at Yourself" in their Heading for TomorrowHeading for TomorrowHeading for Tomorrow is the first studio album released by German power metal band, Gamma Ray on 19 February 1990 by Noise Records. In 2002 it was re-released with a different cover as part of the Ultimate Collection box-set...
album. - GrimSkunk covered "Look at Yourself" in their Grim Skunk album.