Faces / Uriah Heep / Deep Purple (August 18 1973) –The Napa Valley Register

This Napa Valley Register article from August 1973, written by Bruce Meyer for United Press International, reviews several major rock releases of the era — including albums by The Faces, Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, and Iggy Pop. The piece captures the critical tone of early‑’70s rock journalism, balancing praise and skepticism toward the decade’s most influential acts.

Publication: The Napa Valley Register   Date: August 18 1973 Country: United States

Under the headline “Faces Heep, Deep Purple: New Wax Reviewed,” Meyer opens by lamenting the overwhelming flood of new rock releases, then dives into critiques of several standout albums.

He calls The Faces’ Ooh La La (Warner BS‑2665) “a weak studio effort” despite fine guitar work from Ron Wood and vocals by Wood and Ronnie Lane, noting that Rod Stewart’s heart “doesn’t seem to have been in it.”

Still, he assures fans that a live album is forthcoming. Uriah Heep’s Live (Mercury SRM‑2‑7503) fares better, praised as “a huge improvement” over The Magician’s Birthday and featuring a strong “Rock ’N’ Roll Medley.”

Deep Purple’s Made in Japan (Warner 2WS‑2701), however, is dismissed as “a failure” due to poor recording quality, losing the intensity of Machine Head. Meyer also mentions a rare Columbia promotional LP by Blue Öyster Cult, calling it “the most powerful, searing electric sound ever pressed into vinyl.”

He closes with Iggy Pop’s Raw Power (Columbia KC‑3211), describing it as “pure, rhythmic noise” and declaring that “Iggy makes the kind of music only a fanatic could love.”

CONTEXT AND NOTES

By 1973, rock music was diversifying rapidly — from glam and hard rock to proto‑punk and heavy metal. This review reflects the transitional moment when critics were grappling with the genre’s expanding boundaries. Meyer’s commentary on Iggy Pop’s abrasive style and Blue Öyster Cult’s intensity highlights the growing appetite for louder, more experimental sounds. The article stands as a snapshot of American rock criticism at its most candid, capturing both admiration and fatigue toward the relentless pace of new releases.

FEATURE HIGHLIGHTS  

Event: Review of major 1973 rock album releases

Era: 1973 – Hard Rock and Proto‑Punk Expansion Tone: Analytical, sardonic, and opinionated

Photography: None included; text‑only review in newspaper column format

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