Very 'eavy... Very 'umble

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Very 'eavy... Very 'umble
Studio album by Uriah Heep
Released	June 1970
Genre	Heavy Metal Progressive rock Art rock
Length	40:07
Label	Mercury Records
Producer	Gerry Bron
Professional reviews
All Music Guide (UK) link All Music Guide (US) link
Uriah Heep chronology
Very 'eavy... Very 'umble (1970) Salisbury (1971)
Alternate covers
Uriah Heep US issue cover

Very 'eavy... Very 'umble is the debut album of British hard rock band Uriah Heep. It was released in the United States as Uriah Heep with alternate sleeve artwork, and with "Bird of Prey" in place of "Lucy Blues."

The album was generally panned by the mainstream critical press upon its release, although it has since been acknowledged as an early classic of the heavy metal genre. The most famous criticism came from Rolling Stone magazine reviewer Melissa Mills, who began her review, "If this group makes it I'll have to commit suicide. From the first note you know you don't want to hear any more." ^[1]

The original vinyl release was a gatefold-sleeve, featuring David Byron on the front sleeve, almost unrecognisable beneath the cobwebs - an image that now appears very macabre since his death in 1985.

The album was first released on the Vertigo label in the UK, as was the follow-up Salisbury (album), but both were quickly reissued by Bronze when the band signed to that label.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Personnel 2.1 Band members 2.2 Additional musicians 3 References

[edit] Track listing

1. "Gypsy" (Box, Byron) – 6:37
2. "Walking in Your Shadow" (Byron, Newton) – 4:31
3. "Come Away Melinda" (Hellerman, Minkoff) – 3:46
4. "Lucy Blues" (Box, Byron) – 5:08
5. "Dreammare" (Newton) – 4:39
6. "Real Turned On (Box, Byron, Newton) – 3:37
7. "I'll Keep on Trying (Box, Byron) – 5:24
8. "Wake Up (Set Your Sights) (Box, Byron) – 6:22

US Release Only

1. "Gypsy" (Box, Byron) – 6:37
2. "Walking in Your Shadow" (Byron, Newton) – 4:31
3. "Come Away Melinda" (Hellerman, Minkoff) – 3:46
4. "Bird Of Prey" (Box, Byron, Hensley, Newton) – 4:05
5. "Dreammare" (Newton) – 4:39
6. "Real Turned On (Box, Byron, Newton) – 3:37
7. "I'll Keep on Trying (Box, Byron) – 5:24
8. "Wake Up (Set Your Sights) (Box, Byron) – 6:22

1996 remastered CD

1. "Gypsy" (Box, Byron) – 6:37
2. "Walking in Your Shadow" (Byron, Newton) – 4:31
3. "Come Away Melinda" (Hellerman, Minkoff) – 3:46
4. "Lucy Blues" (Box, Byron) – 5:08
5. "Dreammare" (Newton) – 4:39
6. "Real Turned On (Box, Byron, Newton) – 3:37
7. "I'll Keep on Trying (Box, Byron) – 5:24
8. "Wake Up (Set Your Sights) (Box, Byron) – 6:22

This remastered CD added three bonus tracks and extensive liner notes:

9. "Gypsy" (single version) (Box, Byron) – 2:57
10. "Come Away Melinda" ("Spice" version) (Hellerman, Minkoff) – 3:42
11. "Born In A Trunk" ("Spice" version) (Box, Byron) – 3:45

The bonus track "Gypsy" was released for the "Best Of Uriah Heep" (1991 CD) and then remastered for "Rarities From The Bronze Age" (1995 CD). The two other bonus tracks were originally recorded in 1969 by SPICE just prior to Ken Hensley's entry to the band.

2003 expanded deluxe CD

1. "Gypsy" (Box, Byron) – 6:37
2. "Walking in Your Shadow" (Byron, Newton) – 4:31
3. "Come Away Melinda" (Hellerman, Minkoff) – 3:46
4. "Lucy Blues" (Box, Byron) – 5:08
5. "Dreammare" (Newton) – 4:39
6. "Real Turned On (Box, Byron, Newton) – 3:37
7. "I'll Keep on Trying (Box, Byron) – 5:24
8. "Wake Up (Set Your Sights) (Box, Byron) – 6:22

This remastered CD added eight bonus tracks and extensive liner notes:

9. "Bird Of Prey" (Box, Byron, Hensley, Newton) – 4:05
10. "Born In A Trunk (Alternate Version)" (Box, Byron) – 4:31
11. "Come Away Melinda (Alternate Version)" (Hellerman, Minkoff) – 4:15
12. "Gypsy (Extented Mix)" (Box, Byron) – 7:07
13. "Wake Up (Set Your Sights) (Alternate Version)" (Box, Byron) – 6:32
14. "Born In A Trunk (Instrumental Version)" (Box, Byron) – 4:31
15. "Dreammare (BBC live version)" (Newton) – 3:08
16. "Gypsy (BBC live version)" (Box, Byron) – 5:15

[edit] Personnel

[edit] Band members

• David Byron – lead vocals
• Ken Hensley – piano, organ, mellotron, slide guitar, vocals
• Mick Box – lead & acoustic guitar, vocals
• Paul Newton – bass guitar, vocals
• Nigel Olsson – drums, percussion

[edit] Additional musicians

• Alex Napier - drums (tracks 1–3, 6–8)
• Colin Wood - keyboards ("Come Away Melinda", "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)")
• Keith Baker - drums ("Bird of Prey")

[edit] References

v • d • e Uriah Heep Bernie Shaw • Mick Box • Trevor Bolder • Phil Lanzon • Russell Gilbrook Ken Hensley • David Byron • Gary Thain • Lee Kerslake • John Lawton • John Wetton • Paul Newton • Ian Clarke • Keith Baker • Peter Goalby • John Sloman • Bob Daisley • John Sinclair • Gregg Dechert • Chris Slade • Mark Clarke • Nigel Olsson • Alex Napier • Steff Fontaine Studio albums Very 'eavy... Very 'umble • Salisbury • Look at Yourself • Demons & Wizards • The Magician's Birthday • Sweet Freedom • Wonderworld • Return to Fantasy • High and Mighty • Firefly • Innocent Victim • Fallen Angel • Conquest • Abominog • Head First • Equator • Raging Silence • Different World • Sea of Light • Sonic Origami • Wake the Sleeper Live albums Uriah Heep Live • Live at Shepperton '74 • Live in Europe 1979 • Live in Moscow • Spellbinder Live • King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents In Concert • Future Echoes Of The Past • Acoustically Driven • Electrically Driven • The Magician's Birthday Party • Live in the USA • Magic Night • Between Two Worlds Compilations Anthology • Lady in Black • The Lansdowne Tapes • A Time of Revelation • Uriah Heep: The Collection • Remasters: The Official Anthology • 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection: The Best of Uriah Heep • Rainbow Demon: Live & in the Studio 1994-1998 • Chapter & Verse • Very Best of Uriah Heep • Easy Livin': Singles A's & B's • Loud, Proud & Heavy: The Very Best of Uriah Heep Songs "The Wizard" • "Sweet Lorraine" • "Stealin'" • "Lady in Black" • "The Magician's Birthday" • "July Morning" Related articles Discography • The Gods • Spice • Toe Fat • Colin Wood