...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble
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| AllMusic |   [1] |
...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble is the debut album by British rock band Uriah Heep, released in 1970.
It was issued in the United States as just Uriah Heep with different sleeve artwork (a centipede type monster), and with the track "Bird of Prey" in place of "Lucy Blues". The album shows the band trying out various genres – a mix of heavy metal and progressive rock – rather than the hard rock that they would become known for on later albums.[1]
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. Rolling Stone magazine's Melissa Mills began her review by saying, "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."[2]
The original U.K. vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, featuring David Byron on the front sleeve, almost unrecognisable beneath cobwebs.
The album was first released on the Vertigo label in the UK, as was the follow-up Salisbury, but both were quickly reissued by Bronze when the band signed to that label.
Tracks 3 and 8 were recorded as Spice songs, with Colin Wood on keyboards. When Ken Hensley joined Spice in late 1969, the tracks were not re-recorded.
Track listing
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| 1. | "Dreammare" | Newton | 4:39 |
| 2. | "Real Turned On" | Box, Byron, Newton | 3:37 |
| 3. | "I'll Keep on Trying" | Box, Byron | 5:24 |
| 4. | "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)" | Box, Byron | 6:22 |
US release
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| 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, Ken Hensley, Newton | 4:05 |
|
|
| 1. | "Dreammare" | Newton | 4:39 |
| 2. | "Real Turned On" | Box, Byron, Newton | 3:37 |
| 3. | "I'll Keep on Trying" | Box, Byron | 5:24 |
| 4. | "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)" | Box, Byron | 6:22 |
1996 remastered CD
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| 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:
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| 9. | "Gypsy (Single Edit)" | 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 single edit of "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 the band Spice, just prior to Ken Hensley's entry to the band.
2003 expanded deluxe CD
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| 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 expanded deluxe 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 (Extended Mix)" | Box, Byron | 7:07 |
| 13. | "Wake Up (Set Your Sights) (Alternate Version)" | Box, Byron | 6:32 |
| 14. | "Born in a Trunk (Instrumental)" | Box, Byron | 4:31 |
| 15. | "Dreammare (Live at the BBC)" | Newton | 3:08 |
| 16. | "Gypsy (Live at the BBC)" | Box, Byron | 5:15 |
Personnel
- David Byron – lead vocals
- Ken Hensley – piano, organ, mellotron, slide guitar, vocals (except ("Come Away Melinda", "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)"))
- Mick Box – lead and acoustic guitars, vocals
- Paul Newton – bass guitar, vocals
- Nigel Olsson – drums, percussion (tracks: 4, 5)
- Alex Napier - drums (tracks: 1–3, 6–8)
- Keith Baker - drums ("Bird of Prey" (US Release))
- Colin Wood - keyboards ("Come Away Melinda", "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)")
References
