imported>Mike Novikoff: /* Track listings */ wl

2025-11-19T20:30:15Z

Track listings: wl

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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2013}}
{{Infobox album
| name = ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble
| type = studio
| artist = [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]]
| cover = VeryEavyVeryUmble.jpg
| alt =
| released = June 1970<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles |url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/859/mode/2up|page=859|title=Great Rock Discography |date=1995 |publisher=Canongate Press |isbn=978-0-86241-541-9 }}</ref>
| recorded = July 1969 – April 1970
| studio = [[Lansdowne Studios|Lansdowne]] (London)
| genre =
* [[Hard rock]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uriah Heep - Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble|url=https://www.metalreviews.com/reviews/album/6154|website=Metal Reviews.com}}</ref>
* [[progressive rock]]<ref name="Donald A. Guarisco">{{cite web|author= Donald A. Guarisco |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/very-eavy-very-umble-mw0000203517#:~:text=Very%20'Umble%20is%20a%20likable,Very%20'Umble. |title=Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble - Uriah Heep |website=[[AllMusic]] |quote=Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble finds the band trying on different stylistic hats as they work towards finding their own sound. At this juncture, their music falls halfway between the crunch of heavy metal and the dramatic arrangements of prog rock. |access-date=August 15, 2022}}</ref>
* [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref name="Donald A. Guarisco">{{cite web|author= Donald A. Guarisco |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/very-eavy-very-umble-mw0000203517#:~:text=Very%20'Umble%20is%20a%20likable,Very%20'Umble. |title=Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble - Uriah Heep |website=[[AllMusic]] |quote=Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble finds the band trying on different stylistic hats as they work towards finding their own sound. At this juncture, their music falls halfway between the crunch of heavy metal and the dramatic arrangements of prog rock. |access-date=August 15, 2022}}</ref>
| length = 40:07
| label = [[Vertigo Records|Vertigo]]
| producer = [[Gerry Bron]]
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = [[Salisbury (album)|Salisbury]]
| next_year = 1971
| misc = {{Extra album cover
| header = Alternative cover
| type = studio
| cover = UriahHeepAlbum.jpg
| alt =
| caption = US issue
}}
{{Singles
| name = ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Gypsy (Uriah Heep song)|Gypsy]]
| single1date = July 1970 (US)
| single2 = Wake Up (Set Your Sights)
| single2date = November 1970 (US)<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/greatrockdiscogr00stro/page/859/mode/2up|title=The Great Rock Discography|year=1995|page=859 |isbn=9780862415419 |last1=Strong |first1=Martin Charles |publisher=Canongate Press }}</ref>
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
|rev1= [[AllMusic]]
|rev1score={{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/uriah-heep-us-mw0000203517 |title=Uriah Heep – Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble review |last=Guarisco |first=Donald A. |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |accessdate=4 November 2018 }}</ref>
|rev2 = ''[[Martin Popoff|Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal]]''
|rev2Score = 9/10<ref name="martin" >{{cite book |last1 = Popoff |first1 = Martin |authorlink1 = Martin Popoff |title = The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 1: The Seventies |publisher = [[Collector's Guide Publishing]] |date = October 2003 |location = [[Burlington, Ontario]], Canada |isbn = 978-1894959025 |pages=300–301}}</ref>
|noprose = yes
|rev3 = [[Sputnikmusic]]
|rev3score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | title=Uriah Heep - Uriah Heep (Album review ) | Sputnikmusic | url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/39273/Uriah-Heep-Uriah-Heep/ }}</ref>
}}

'''''...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble''''' is the debut studio album by English rock band [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]]. It is recognized as a foundational album in [[heavy metal music]].<ref name="martin" /><ref name="UnstrungHeroes">{{cite book |author1=Pete Braidis |title=Unstrung Heroes: Fifty Guitar Greats You Should Know |date=June 28, 2016 |publisher=[[Schiffer Publishing]] |isbn=9781507300145 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hM0REQAAQBAJ&dq=%22uriah+heep%22+%22gypsy%22+%22metal%22&pg=PT53 |quote=Heep's debut album Very 'Eavy, Very 'Umble is one of the first heavy metal or heavy rock albums [...]}}</ref>

==Release==
The album was released in June 1970 by [[Vertigo Records]] in the UK. The original vinyl release was a [[gatefold]] [[record sleeve|sleeve]], featuring frontman [[David Byron]] on the front sleeve, almost unrecognisable beneath cobwebs.

It was issued in August 1970 by [[Mercury Records]] in the United States as just '''''Uriah Heep''''' with different sleeve artwork (a centipede type monster), and with the track "[[Bird of Prey (Uriah Heep song)|Bird of Prey]]" in place of "Lucy Blues". The album was reissued by [[Bronze Records]] in 1971 after the band signed to that label.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uriah-heep.com/newa/heepstory4.php |first= Kirk | last= Blows |title=Uriah Heep The Story: October 1970 – November 1971 |publisher=Uriah Heep Official Website |accessdate=4 November 2018 }}</ref>

The album shows the band trying out various genres{{spaced ndash}} a mix of [[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] and [[progressive rock]]{{spaced ndash}} rather than the [[hard rock]] that they would become known for on later albums.<ref name=allmusic/> Tracks 3 and 8 were recorded as [[Spice (British band)|Spice]] songs prior to the band's renaming as Uriah Heep, and featured session player Colin Wood on keyboards.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uriah-heep.com/newa/heepstory1.php |title=Uriah Heep The Story |first= Kirk | last= Blows |publisher=Uriah Heep Official Website |accessdate=4 November 2018 }}</ref> When [[Ken Hensley]] joined Spice in early 1970, the tracks were not re-recorded.

==Reception==
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.<ref name="martin" /> Canadian music critic [[Martin Popoff]] classifies the album as "proto-heavy metal".<ref>{{cite book |last=Popoff |first=Martin |authorlink=Martin Popoff |date=2019 |title=10 Albums That Changed My Life |publisher=Penguin |page=54 |isbn=9781440249082}}</ref> ''[[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."<ref>{{cite magazine |first= Melissa|last= Mills |title= Uriah Heep: Music Reviews|url= https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/uriahheep/albums/album/150141/review/6067513/uriah_heep|magazine= [[Rolling Stone]]|date= 1 October 1970|accessdate=6 December 2006 |url-status= dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430080934/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/uriahheep/albums/album/150141/review/6067513/uriah_heep |archivedate=30 April 2009}}</ref>

==Track listings==
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| title1 = [[Gypsy (Uriah Heep song)|Gypsy]]
| writer1 = [[Mick Box]], [[David Byron]]
| length1 = 6:37
| title2 = Walking in Your Shadow
| writer2 = Byron, [[Paul Newton (musician)|Paul Newton]]
| length2 = 4:31
| title3 = [[Come Away Melinda]]
| writer3 = [[Fred Hellerman]], [[Fran Minkoff]]
| length3 = 3:46
| title4 = Lucy Blues
| writer4 = Box, Byron
| length4 = 5:08
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title5 = Dreammare
| writer5 = Newton
| length5 = 4:39
| title6 = Real Turned On
| writer6 = Box, Byron, Newton
| length6 = 3:37
| title7 = I'll Keep On Trying
| writer7 = Box, Byron
| length7 = 5:24
| title8 = Wake Up (Set Your Sights)
| writer8 = Box, Byron
| length8 = 6:22
}}

===US release===
{{Track listing
| headline = Side one
| title1 = Gypsy
| writer1 = Box, Byron
| length1 = 6:37
| title2 = Walking in Your Shadow
| writer2 = Byron, Newton
| length2 = 4:31
| title3 = Come Away, Melinda
| writer3 = Hellerman, Minkoff
| length3 = 3:46
| title4 = [[Bird of Prey (Uriah Heep song)|Bird of Prey]]
| writer4 = Box, Byron, [[Ken Hensley]], Newton
| length4 = 4:05
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side two
| title5 = Dreammare
| writer5 = Newton
| length5 = 4:39
| title6 = Real Turned On
| writer6 = Box, Byron, Newton
| length6 = 3:37
| title7 = I'll Keep On Trying
| writer7 = Box, Byron
| length7 = 5:24
| title8 = Wake Up (Set Your Sights)
| writer8 = Box, Byron
| length8 = 6:22
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = 1996 remastered CD
| title1 = Gypsy
| writer1 = Box, Byron
| length1 = 6:37
| title2 = Walking in Your Shadow
| writer2 = Byron, Newton
| length2 = 4:31
| title3 = Come Away Melinda
| writer3 = Hellerman, Minkoff
| length3 = 3:46
| title4 = Lucy Blues
| writer4 = Box, Byron
| length4 = 5:08
| title5 = Dreammare
| writer5 = Newton
| length5 = 4:39
| title6 = Real Turned On
| writer6 = Box, Byron, Newton
| length6 = 3:37
| title7 = I'll Keep On Trying
| writer7 = Box, Byron
| length7 = 5:24
| title8 = Wake Up (Set Your Sights)
| writer8 = Box, Byron
| length8 = 6:22
| title9 = Gypsy
| note9 = single edit
| writer9 = Box, Byron
| length9 = 2:57
| title10 = Come Away, Melinda
| note10 = [[Spice (British band)|Spice]] version
| writer10 = Hellerman, Minkoff
| length10 = 3:42
| title11 = Born in a Trunk
| note11 = Spice version
| writer11 = Box, Byron
| length11 = 3:45
}}
This remastered CD added three bonus tracks and extensive liner notes:
*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]] joining the band.

{{Track listing
| headline = 2003 expanded deluxe CD
| title1 = Gypsy
| writer1 = Box, Byron
| length1 = 6:37
| title2 = Walking in Your Shadow
| writer2 = Byron, Newton
| length2 = 4:31
| title3 = Come Away, Melinda
| writer3 = Hellerman, Minkoff
| length3 = 3:46
| title4 = Lucy Blues
| writer4 = Box, Byron
| length4 = 5:08
| title5 = Dreammare
| writer5 = Newton
| length5 = 4:39
| title6 = Real Turned On
| writer6 = Box, Byron, Newton
| length6 = 3:37
| title7 = I'll Keep On Trying
| writer7 = Box, Byron
| length7 = 5:24
| title8 = Wake Up (Set Your Sights)
| writer8 = Box, Byron
| length8 = 6:22
| title9 = Bird of Prey
| writer9 = Box, Byron, Hensley, Newton
| length9 = 4:05
| title10 = Born in a Trunk
| note10=Alternate Version
| writer10 = Box, Byron
| length10 = 4:31
| title11 = Come Away, Melinda
| note11=Alternate Version
| writer11 = Hellerman, Minkoff
| length11 = 4:15
| title12 = Gypsy
| note12=Extended Mix
| writer12 = Box, Byron
| length12 = 7:07
| title13 = Wake Up (Set Your Sights)
| note13=Alternate Version
| writer13 = Box, Byron
| length13 = 6:32
| title14 = Born in a Trunk
| note14=Instrumental
| writer14 = Box, Byron
| length14 = 4:31
| title15 = Dreammare
| note15=Live at the BBC
| writer15 = Newton
| length15 = 3:08
| title16 = Gypsy
| note16=Live at the BBC
| writer16 = Box, Byron
| length16 = 5:15
}}

{{Track listing
| headline = 2016 Sanctuary expanded deluxe edition disc 2: ''An Alternate ...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble'' (all tracks previously unreleased)
| title1 = Gypsy
| length1 = 6.57
| title2 = Real Turned On
| length2 = 3:47
| title3 = Dreammare
| length3 = 5:10
| title4 = Come Away, Melinda
| length4 = 4:01
| title5 = Born in a Trunk
| length5 = 4:53
| title6 = Wake Up (Set Your Sights)
| length6 = 6:56
| title7 = I'll Keep On Trying
| length7 = 5:33
| title8 = Walking in Your Shadow
| length8 = 5:11
| title9 = Lucy Blues
| length9 = 5:20
| title10 = Born in a Trunk
| length10 = 4:47
| title11 = Magic Lantern
| length11 = 7:57
| title12 = Bird of Prey
| note12=Alternate U.S. Version
| length12 = 4:06
}}

==Personnel==
;Uriah Heep
* [[David Byron]] – lead vocals
* [[Mick Box]] – lead guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals
* [[Ken Hensley]] – organ, slide guitar, [[Mellotron]], piano, backing vocals
* [[Paul Newton (musician)|Paul Newton]] – bass guitar, backing vocals
* [[Nigel Olsson|Ollie Olsson]] – drums, percussion
* Alex Napier – drums (except "Lucy Blues", "Dreammare" and "Bird of Prey")
* [[Keith Baker (musician)|Keith Baker]] – drums on "Bird of Prey"

;Additional personnel<ref>{{Cite AV media notes |id=6360 006 |title=Very 'Eavy, ...Very 'Umble |publisher=[[Vertigo Records]] |type=liner notes |year=1970}}</ref>
* [[Colin Wood]] – keyboard on "Come Away Melinda" and "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)"

;Production
* [[Gerry Bron]] – producer
* Peter Gallen – engineer, mixing
* Peter Olliff – mixing

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (1970–72)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
! scope="row"| Australian Albums ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name=aus>{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|author-link=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6}}</ref>
| align="center"| 15
|-
{{Album chart|Canada|84|chartid=3721|artist=Uriah Heep|album=...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 21, 2025}}
|-
! scope="row"| Finnish Albums ([[The Official Finnish Charts]])<ref name=FINI>{{cite book|last=Pennanen|first=Timo|title=Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972|edition=1st|publisher=Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava|location=Helsinki|year=2006|isbn=978-951-1-21053-5 | page= 166 | language= fi}}</ref>
| align="center"| 14
|-
{{Album chart|Germany|22|id=11112|artist=Uriah Heep|album=...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 21, 2025}}
|-
! scope="row"|Italian Albums (''[[Musica e Dischi]]'')<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaedischi.it/classifiche_archivio.php|title=Classifiche|work=[[Musica e Dischi]]|language=it|access-date=May 21, 2025}} Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Uriah Heep".</ref>
| align="center"| 11
|-
!scope="row"|Japanese Albums ([[Oricon]])<ref name="JPN">{{cite book|title=Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005|publisher=[[Oricon|Oricon Entertainment]]|location=Roppongi, Tokyo|year=2006|isbn=4-87131-077-9|language=ja}}</ref>
| align="center"| 41
|-
{{Album chart|Billboard200|186|artist=Uriah Heep|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 21, 2025}}
|}

{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
|-
! Chart (2016)
! Peak<br/>position
|-
{{Album chart|UKProgressive|23|date=20161102|rowheader=true|accessdate=May 21, 2025}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Uriah Heep}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Very Eavy Very Umble}}
[[Category:Uriah Heep (band) albums]]
[[Category:1970 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Gerry Bron]]
[[Category:Vertigo Records albums]]
[[Category:Mercury Records albums]]
[[Category:Bronze Records albums]]

...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble - Revision history

imported>Mike Novikoff: /* Track listings */ wl