July Morning (song)
"July Morning" is a song by the English rock band Uriah Heep. It is the third track on their 1971 album Look at Yourself.
| "July Morning" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Uriah Heep | ||||
| from the album Look at Yourself | ||||
| Released | October 1971 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 10:32 | |||
| Label | Bronze (Japan) Mercury (US) | |||
| Songwriter(s) | David Byron, Ken Hensley | |||
| Producer(s) | Gerry Bron | |||
| Uriah Heep singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The song was written in July 1970 by the band's keyboardist Ken Hensley and lead singer, David Byron. Approximately the last four minutes of the piece consist of a virtuosic organ solo. The odd sounding calliope riffs are played by Manfred Mann who, according to the album's liner notes, "appears for the first time with his Moog synthesizer". The song also was released as a single from Uriah Heep's first live album Uriah Heep Live.[2]
The song is written in the key of C minor, and is played with eight chords: Cm, Fm, Bb, Eb, G, Ab, F and C. The song has four verses and four choruses, featuring an organ introduction and a guitar solo. There is a guitar bridge between the first and second parts of the song.[3]
AllMusic contributor Dave Thompson described the song as the best produced by Uriah Heep, with a "magnificent arrangement and performance",[2] and in 1995, Radiomafia added "July Morning" to their list of "Top 500 Songs".[4]
"July Morning" was first released on the Look at Yourself album and as a single in Japan and Venezuela.[5] The Venezuelan single split the song across both sides of the 7", while the Japanese single featured an edited version of the song, which was later released on the band's greatest hits album Your Turn to Remember in 2016. The live version from Uriah Heep Live was also released as a single.[6] In 2009 the band released a new version of the song on the album Celebration.[7]
Uriah Heep's manager Gerry Bron thought Manfred Mann not only played an important part in the original studio recording, but also played a crucial role in its development.[8]
Covers
| "July Morning" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Axel Rudi Pell | |
| from the album The Masquerade Ball | |
| Released | 10 April 2000 (album) |
| Recorded | November 1999 - February 2000 |
| Genre | |
| Length | 9:58 |
| Label | Sledgehammer/SPV |
| Songwriter(s) | David Byron, Ken Hensley |
- Soviet group VIA Iveria covered the song on their 1975 album Iveria.[9]
- Hideki Saijo西城秀樹(1955~2018), a Japanese singer and an actor covered in his solo stadium concert『BIG GAME '80』in Tokyo and Osaka in Japan. https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/BIG_GAME%2780_HIDEKI
- German heavy metal guitarist Axel Rudi Pell covered this song on his album The Masquerade Ball in 2000.
- On BBC Radio's Friday Rock Show, Tommy Vance played "July Morning" in tribute of David Byron.
- Every year on 30 June in Bulgaria, people from all over the country travel to the Black Sea coast to watch the sunrise on 1 July. During the event people often sing "July Morning". John Lawton performs the song at these events, backed by the Bulgarian band BTR.
- Polish band Kult covered this song on remastered version of their album Kaseta.
Other appearances
The song has been appeared on many Uriah Heep live, compilation and studio albums and videos.[2]
- Uriah Heep Live - 1973
- The Best of Uriah Heep - 1976
- Live in Europe - 1987
- Live in Moscow - 1988
- The Collection - 1989
- Still 'Eavy Still Proud - 1994
- Platinum: The Ultimate Collection - 1995
- A Time of Revelation - 1996
- The Best of... Part 1 - 1996
- King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Uriah Heep in Concert - 1997
- Rock Progression - 1998
- Classic Heep: An Anthology - 1998
- Three Classic Albums: ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble, Salisbury, Look at Yourself - 1998
- The Best of Pts. 1-2 - 1999
- Travellers in Time: An Anthology Vol. 1 - 1999
- Future Echoes of the Past - 2001
- 20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: The Best of Uriah Heep - 2001
- Electrically Driven - 2001
- Sailing the Sea of Light - 2001
- Radio Caroline Calling 70's Flashback - 2001
- Remasters: The Official Anthology - 2001
- The Box Miniatures - 2002
- The Magician's Birthday Party - 2002
- Two Sides of Uriah Heep - 2003
- The Ultimate Collection - 2003
- Revelations: The Uriah Heep Anthology - 2004
- Gold: Looking Back 1970-2001 - 2004
- From the Front Row... Live! - 2004
- The Anthology - 2004
- Best of Symfo Rock - 2005
- Chapter & Verse - 2005
- Between Two Worlds - 2005
- Wake Up: The Singles Collection - 2006
- Bird of Prey: Best of Uriah Heep - 2006
- Easy Livin': Singles A's & B's - 2006
- Very Best of Uriah Heep - 2006
- Celebration - 2009
- Live at Sweden Rock - 2010
- Wizards: The Best of Uriah Heep - 2011
- Live in Armenia - 2011
- Official Bootleg Vol. 3: Live in Kawasaki in Japan 2010 - 2011
- Official Bootleg - 2011
- Official Bootleg Vol. 4: Live From Brisbane 2011 - 2011
- Official Bootleg Vol. 2: Live in Budapest Hungary 2010 - 2011
- Uriah Heep Official Bootleg: 19.12.9 Gusswerk - 2011
- Official Bootleg Vol.5: Live in Athens, Greece - 2011
- Great British Rock - 2011
- Rock Legends - 2011
- Icon - 2012
- Totally Driven - 2015
- Your Turn to Remember - 2016
Personnel
- David Byron – lead vocals
- Mick Box – lead guitar, acoustic guitar
- Ken Hensley – keyboards, backing vocals
- Paul Newton – bass guitar
- Ian Clarke – drums
- Manfred Mann – Minimoog synthesizer
References
- Guarisco, Donald A. "Look at Yourself - Uriah Heep | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- Thompson, Dave. "July Morning - Uriah Heep | Song Info". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- "July Morning (Guitar tabs)". Home.online.no. Archived from the original on October 18, 2015. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- "Radiomafian Top 500". Radiomafia. 1995. Archived from the original on December 25, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- "LOOK AT YOURSELF Singles releases". Heepfiles.info. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
- "July Morning [live] / Tears in My Eyes [live]". Rate Your Music. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
- Henderson, Alex. "Celebration: Forty Years of Rock - Uriah Heep - Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved December 15, 2014.
- "Gerry Bron interview". dmme.net. November 2004. Retrieved June 20, 2019.
- "Июльское Утро". Discogs. Retrieved June 20, 2019.