When this wonderful album
was first released in June 1970, it was
reviewed by the very influential Rolling
Stone magazine in an appalling manner.
I will briefly quote from the beginning
of that review.
If this group makes it I’ll have to
commit suicide. From the first note you
know you don’t want to hear anymore. Uriah
Heep is watered down tenth-rate. Jethro
Tull only even more boring and inane.
One wonders how this unnamed journalist
feels now that Uriah Heep are celebrating
30 years in the business and over 100
million album sales. Probably walking
very gingerly round sharp objects and
reviewing Mozart.
No such rash judgment from this dog though
as I’ve always rated this album very highly
since buying it for it’s cover alone,
having never heard the music before.
"...Very 'Eavy ...Very ’Umble" charges
in with opening belter. All time Heep
favorite “Gypsy” here in it’s original
6 minute 55 second version before it was
drawn out to nearly 20 minutes in the
stage show to allow lead guitarist Mick
Box and keyboard Wizard Ken Hensley to
stretch out. Or just possibly so they
could sort their hair out. This was the
seventies, remember.
But the star of the album has to be lead
vocalist Dave Byron. In the world of heavy
rock nobody had a voice with such range.
Just listen to him pleading on “Come away
Melinda” or riding the magic carpet ride
of Dreamscape.
Although Uriah Heep are still going strong,
the line up has never been stable (they
went through 3 drummers just trying to
get this album down).
Mick Box (still looking like one of the
wacky characters from W.W.F) leads the
band today after 4 lead vocalists, 5 keyboard
players, and umpteen bassists and drummers,
but last year's offering charmingly titled
“Sonic Origano” was one of the years best
Prog / Rock master pieces.
Pawed by Mott The Dog
Remastered by Ella Crew
E-mail: review@mott-the-dog.com
