Look at Yourself (song)
| "Look at Yourself" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single by Uriah Heep | ||||
| from the album Look at Yourself | ||||
| B-side | "What Should Be Done" "Love Machine" (US) | |||
| Released | 3 September 1971 | |||
| Genre | Heavy metal | |||
| Length | 5:09 (album version) 3:04 (single version) | |||
| Label | Bronze Mercury | |||
| Songwriter | Ken Hensley | |||
| Producer | Gerry Bron | |||
| Uriah Heep singles chronology | ||||
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"Look at Yourself" is a song by the British rock band Uriah Heep, originally released in 1971 on their third 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.
According to Hensley, the reason that he took over the lead vocals on the recording was that the band's frontman David Byron had throat problems during the recording session. However, Byron sang lead vocals on the song during Uriah Heep's live performances.
"Look at Yourself" was later included on the band's first live album, Uriah Heep Live, and on their first compilation album, The Best of Uriah Heep.
Billboard described the music as "a mirror… a driving, psychedelic flow that's sufficiently hypnotic, controlled and groovy to reflect the tastes of many youthful rockers." [1][2][3]
The track features African percussion played by Teddy Osei, Mac Tontoh and Loughty Amao from Afro Rock group, Osibisa, who later signed with Bronze Records. [4]
AllMusic's Donald A. Guarisco described the track as “a powerful rocker,” praising its “tribal-sounding drum jam,” deeming the track to be “a high point of 1970s heavy metal”.[3]
Personnel
- Ken Hensley – lead vocals, organ
- Mick Box – lead guitar, acoustic guitar
- Paul Newton – bass guitar
- Ian Clarke – drums
- David Byron – backing vocals
Additional musicians:
- Ted Osei, Mac Tontoh and Loughty Amao (from Osibisa) – percussion
Charts
| Chart (1971) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[5] | 4 |
| West Germany (GfK)[6] | 33 |
References
- ↑ "Album Reviews". Billboard. 18 September 1971. p. 14. ISSN 0006-2510.
- ↑ "OSIBISA: FULL ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- 1 2 Guarisco, Donald A. "Uriah Heep - Look at Yourself review". AllMusic. All Media Network. Retrieved 12 November 2018.
- ↑ "OSIBISA: FULL ILLUSTRATED BIOGRAPHY". Modernghana.com. Retrieved 18 April 2016.
- ↑ "Uriah Heep – Look at Yourself". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ↑ "Offizielle Deutsche Charts (West Germany)" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see the peak chart position, click 'TITEL VON', followed by the artist's name. Retrieved March 15, 2024.