Gli Uriah Heep sono il gruppo che per primo ha unito la psichedelia di gruppi come gli Iron Butterfly con l’Hard Rock anni '70; il gruppo che prima ancora dei Led Zeppelin ha inserito le tematiche fantasy nella musica rock: il gruppo in sostanza che più di tutti ha gettato le basi per l’avvento della musica metal (non mi sono dimenticato dei Black Sabbath, come molti potrebbero pensare, ma sto solo dicendo che gli Uriah hanno influito maggiormente sull'evoluzione futura del metal).
Sono francamente stupito quindi, di non trovare traccia nel sito del loro più celebre capolavoro. Si'ore e si'ori, ecco a voi “Salisbury”. Ovvero la magia, la grandiosità, l’espressività, il delirio concentrato in cinquanta minuti di musica, per un full-lenght che va di sicuro a piazzarsi nella top ten della storia del Rock. Tutte le canzoni di questo disco sono splendide, alcune indimenticabili.
“Gypsy” è indubbiamente il migliore brano mai composto dalla band: un delirio progressivo dominato dalla potenza dell’organo Hammond e dalla cattiveria ritmica di una chitarra che sembra presa in prestito dai colleghi e contemporanei Black Sabbath. Nell’Olimpo entrano poi quella ballata country-rock mozzafiato, che è “Lady In Black” insieme al progressive triste e sognante di “The Park”. La title-track poi, è tutto: è il Progressive trionfale, è la suite più bella del rock, probabilmente seconda solo a “Valentyne Suite” dei Colosseum, in poche parole, sono gli Uriah Heep. Fra i pezzi meno noti amo ricordare “Bird Of Prey”, che personalmente considero l’antenato più diretto dell’Epic metal.
Non ho null’altro da dire su quest'opera se non di procurarsela il più presto possibile qualora non la possedeste e foste anche solo minimamente attratti da quell’incredibile giostra di emozioni che è la musica rock.
Elenco tracce testi e video
01 Bird of Prey (04:21)
I can see that look that says beware
Try to move in closer if you dare
So I must sit and play my waiting game
And for a while I know she'll do the same
Fly away
Watches like an eagle from its eerie
Then like a bird of prey she captures me
But I am older and more wise than you
Bird of prey straight into me you flew
Fly away
Now every time I've tried to set her free
I'm glad to say she comes right back to me
But if I knew she didn't want to stay
I wouldn't try to keep that lovely bird of prey
02 The Park (05:47)
Let me walk awhile alone among the sacred rocks and stones.
Let me look in vain belief upon the beauty of each leaf.
There is green in every blade. The treetops lean, providing shade.
They are spining happy sounds, all nature's strength around.
And there's a horse that feels no pain,
its iron strength to take the strain.
Children rocking to and fro
and gayly drink its color glow.
Above, the sky, devoid of stars
thinks not to cast the thunder shroud.
And from this place, so full of joy,
a thing of gold that lies in blood.
"So why my heavy heart?" you say,
when tears would stain a sight so gay.
My brother's dreams, once hinted song,
until he died at the hand of needless wars.
04 Lady in Black (04:51)
She came to me one morning,
one lonely Sunday morning,
her long hair flowing in the mid-winter wind.
I know not how she found me, for in darkness I was walking,
and destruction lay around me from a fight I could not win.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa
She asked me name my foe then.
I said the need within some men
to fight and kill their brothers without thought of men or god.
And I begged her give me horses to trample down my enemies,
so eager was my passion to devour this waste of life.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa
But she would not think of battle that reduces men to animals,
so easy to begin and yet impossible to end.
For she the mother of all men had counciled me so wisely that
I feared to walk alone again and asked if she would stay.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa
"Oh lady lend your hand," I cried,
"Oh let me rest here at your side."
"Have faith and trust in me,"
she said and filled my heart with life.
There is no strength in numbers.
I've no such misconceptions.
But when you need me be assured I won't be far away.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa
Thus having spoke she turned away
and though I found no words to say
I stood and watched until I saw her black cloak disappear.
My labor is no easier, but now I know I'm not alone.
I find new heart each time I think upon that windy day.
And if one day she comes to you drink deeply from her words so wise.
Take courage from her as your prize and say hello for me.
Aaaaaaaaa, Aaaaaaaaa (repeat until fade)
05 High Priestess (03:46)
You, who brought
The sunshine to my eyes
You, who wondered
Through my sad disguise
And I have a love
That cannot die ... for you
High priestess of my heart
Tell me that we wont part
Then lets get together in the sky
To leave the lonely world
To wonder why
For we have a love
We cant denie ... so true
06 Salisbury (16:21)
Somewhere in your eye, that very special glow.
Something drawing me, to where, I do not know.
I never really thought that I would lose myself.
But now I'm going faster than anybody else.
You move without a sound, touch me with your hand
just like the rain that fondles every grain of sand.
This thing we're gonna do, it's just for you and me.
I'm gonna make it good, good as it can be.
Your kiss is sweeter now, your breath is getting warm.
We must take our time and last it through till dawn.
I wonder will it be? Oh, I expect it to.
There have been other girls, but no one else like you.
I feel a power here I've never felt before.
And I begin to see what drives us to want more.
Oh god of all my dreams, please tell me if I'm wrong.
Because I think you have been in love.
As time past, and all too fast, I just knew it couldn't last.
And I guess that the end was near at hand.
Oh we tried our love inside, it just crumbled up and died.
What went wrong I will never, never understand.
You tell me why.
Alone again - how could you leave me.
Alone again - I don't want to be.
Alone again - yeah!
There's a line, in a rhyme, I was going to send to you.
It says: All that is to be will surely be.
So, though you had to go 'cause you needed someone new,
is there still a chance that you'll come back to me?
I want you back you see.
Alone again - how could you leave me.
Alone again - I don't want to be.
Alone again - yeah!
Somewhere in your eye, that very special glow.
Something drawing me, to where, I do not know.
I never really thought that I would lose myself.
But now I'm going faster than anybody else.
You move without a sound and touch me with your hand
just like the rays that fondle every grain of sand.
This thing we're gonna do, it's just for you and me.
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di rly?
Definire rock (o hard rock) quest’album è alquanto riduttivo; al suo interno troviamo jazz, blues, progressive rock, metal (!!) e classica.
La title-track è un imponente suite di ben 16 minuti che unisce parti classiche, jazz e altre rock in cui tutti i membri della band mostrano le loro alte doti tecniche.
