Uriah Heep ..Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble
Original Released ; June 1970
Recorded ; July 1969 - April 1970 (Lansdowne Studios, London)
Extended CD Version Released :2003
Label : Vertigo (original release)
Format : [email protected]
This album was the debut of Uriah Heep, an English band that would become one of the Titans of the '70s heavy metal sound. Despite their eventual hard-rocking reputation, 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. When this style jells, the results are quite powerful: "Dreammare" blends psychedelic lyrics and a complex vocal arrangement with a stomping beat from the rhythm section to create an effective slice of prog metal fusion while "I'll Keep on Trying" presents a head-spinning, complex tune with enough riffs, hooks, and tempo changes to fill three or four songs. However, the album's finest achievement is "Gypsy": this heavy metal gem nails the blend of swirling organ riffs, power chords, and leather-lunged vocal harmonies that would define the group's classic tunes and remains a staple of the band's live performances today.
US Album cover.
The American edition of this album was retitled Uriah Heep and omits "Lucy Blues" in favor of the track "Bird of Prey" from Salisbury.
Extended 2003 Version
Track List:
01. Gypsy 6:37
02. Walking In Your Shadow [4:30]
03. Come Away Melinda [3:49]
04. Lucy Blues [5:10]
05. Dreammare [4:40]
06. Real Turned On [3:39]
07. I'll Keep On Trying [5:27]
08. Wake Up [6:27]
09. Bird Of Prey (US Album Version) [4:08]
10. Born In A Trunk (Mix 3 / Previously Unreleased Vocal Version) [4:31]
11. Come Away Melinda (Previously Unreleased Version) [4:16]
12. Gypsy (Extended Mix / Previously Unreleased Version) [7:08]
13. Wake Up (Set Your Sights) (Previously Unreleased Version) [6:32]
14. Born In A Trunk (Previously Unreleased Instrumental Version) [4:36]
15. Dreammare (BBC Session) [3:08]
16. Gypsy (BBC Session) [5:15]
[size=4]Personnel
Mick Box – lead & acoustic guitars, vocals
David Byron – lead vocals
Ken Hensley – piano, organ, mellotron, slide guitar, vocals
Paul Newton – bass guitar, vocals
Alex Napier - drums (tracks 1–3, 6–8 )
Nigel Olsson – drums, percussion (tracks 4 & 5)
Keith Baker - drums ("Bird of Prey")
Additional Personnel
Colin Wood - keyboards ("Come Away Melinda", "Wake Up (Set Your Sights)")
