...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble Explained

...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble
Type:	studio
Artist:	Uriah Heep
Cover:	VeryEavyVeryUmble.jpg
Released:	June 1970^[1]
Recorded:	July 1969 – April 1970
Studio:	Lansdowne (London)
Genre:	Hard rock^[2] progressive rock^[3] heavy metal^[4]
Length:	40:07
Label:	Vertigo
Producer:	Gerry Bron
Next Title:	Salisbury
Next Year:	1971

...Very 'Eavy ...Very 'Umble is the debut studio album by English rock band Uriah Heep.

Release

The album was released in June 1970 by Vertigo Records in the UK. The original vinyl release was a gatefold 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" in place of "Lucy Blues". The album was reissued by Bronze Records in 1971 after the band signed to that label.^[5]

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. Tracks 3 and 8 were recorded as Spice songs prior to the band's renaming as Uriah Heep, and featured session player Colin Wood on keyboards.^[6] 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. Canadian music critic Martin Popoff classifies the album as "proto-heavy metal".^[7] 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."^[8]

Track listings

US release

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.

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 – bass guitar, backing vocals
• Ollie Olsson – drums, percussion
• Alex Napier – drums (except "Lucy Blues", "Dreammare" and "Bird of Prey")
• Keith Baker – drums on "Bird of Prey"

Additional personnel^[9]

• 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

Chart (1970-1972)	Peak position
Australian Albums (Kent Music Report)^[10]	15
Finnish Albums (The Official Finnish Charts)^[11]	14
Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)^[12]	11
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[13]	41

Notes and References

1. Web site: Great Rock Discography. 859.
2. Web site: Uriah Heep - Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble. Metal Reviews.com.
3. Web site: Donald A. Guarisco . Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble - Uriah Heep . . 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. . August 15, 2022.
4. Web site: Donald A. Guarisco . Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble - Uriah Heep . . 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. . August 15, 2022.
5. Web site: Uriah Heep The Story: October 1970 – November 1971 . Kirk . Blows . Uriah Heep Official Website . 4 November 2018 .
6. Web site: Uriah Heep The Story . Kirk . Blows . Uriah Heep Official Website . 4 November 2018 .
7. Book: Popoff, Martin . Martin Popoff

   . Martin Popoff . 2019 . 10 Albums That Changed My Life . Penguin . 54 . 9781440249082.

8. Melissa. Mills . Uriah Heep: Music Reviews. Rolling Stone. 1 October 1970. 6 December 2006 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20090430080934/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/uriahheep/albums/album/150141/review/6067513/uriah_heep . 30 April 2009.
9. 6360 006 . Very 'Eavy, ...Very 'Umble . . liner notes . 1970.
10. Book: Kent, David. David Kent (historian). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992. illustrated. Australian Chart Book. St Ives, N.S.W.. 1993. 0-646-11917-6.
11. Book: Pennanen, Timo. Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972. 1st. Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. Helsinki. 2006. 978-951-1-21053-5 . 166 . fi.
12. Web site: Classifiche. Musica e Dischi. it. 27 May 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Uriah Heep".
13. Book: Oricon Album Chart Book: Complete Edition 1970–2005. Oricon Entertainment. Roppongi, Tokyo. 2006. 4-87131-077-9. ja.