Blue Cheer Albums Ranked

Blue Cheer was an American rock band that initially performed and recorded in the late 1960s and early 1970s and was sporadically active until 2009. Based in San Francisco, Blue Cheer played in a psychedelic blues-rock or acid rock style, and are also credited as being some of the earliest pioneers of heavy metal, with their cover of “Summertime Blues” sometimes cited as the first in the genre. They have also been noted as influential in the development of genres as disparate as punk rock, stoner rock, doom metal, experimental rock, and grunge. “Blue Cheer” was the name of a variety of LSD made by chemist and Grateful Dead patron Owsley Stanley and the band was probably named after that, although the name existed earlier, as the name of a laundry detergent after which the LSD variety itself was named. Here are all of Blue Cheer albums ranked.

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8. The Beast Is…Back (1985)

“The low tom drum and the bass against the shredding metal guitar work perfectly against the vocals, which shred as much as the guitar! The standouts are “Out of Focus”, “Parchment Farm” and “Ride with Me.” The whole album is wonderful however.”

7. Oh! Pleasant Hope (1971)

“Oh! Pleasant Hope back in about 1974 and good heavens it was like a completely different band. Much quieter, more mellow, laid back style, some a bit funky, almost country folk rock in places. But as I played it more I got to like it, especially the opening track Highway Man, which is a classic worth the price on its own.”

6. New! Improved! Blue Cheer (1969)

“This is a great album, filled with great tracks. The only thing is that there is a jarring gap between both sides of the record. Holden brought about a big change of style when he became guitarist after Leigh Stephens and both completely opposite each other in style, arrangement and attitude.”

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5. Blue Cheer (1970)

“The music within BLUE CHEER finds the band WAY beyond the three chord thump of the first two albums, or the psych-influenced blooze of the third, whether fans wanted to admit it or not, BLUE CHEER had gone mainstream. Which wasn’t bad however, much of the album is strong and quite enjoyable, from their should’ve-been-a-hit organ-drenched version of Delaney & Bonnie’s “Hello LA, Bye Bye Birmingham,” the funky “Fool” or the anthemic “Saturday Freedom,” BLUE CHEER was probably their most critically successful release, and still holds up quite well today.”

4. Hello Tokyo, Bye Bye Osaka – Live In Japan 1999 (1999)

“We have a pretty good balance of old and new tracks here, infuriating for the oldsters who seem hardly aware that the band has been together for years after their popular audience dried up, but pleasing to us who know their recent material still packs a giant wallop. Especially when played this mother jumpin’ LOUD.”

3. The Original Human Being (1970)

“I’m not going to sit here and say the Original Human Being is some kind of original or groundbreaking hard rock album, because it’s obviously not. However, it IS a pretty solid album songwriting-wise. Overall, a quality album by a forgotten hard rock band. Well, *almost* forgotten. Some of Blue Cheer’s work is still being remembered today thankfully, it’s just unfortunate the Original Human Being is not one of the albums being remembered because it most certainly should be.”

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2. Outsideinside (1968)

“There’s heavy rock here, but also delicate moments; psychedelic overtones; solid compositions; groovy riffs and juicy songs and singing that make this an important record that, thanks to the great reviews here, lead me to an easily overlooked and brilliant classic.”

1. Vincebus Eruptum (1968)

“Vincebus Eruptum artfully combines the subtly of professional wrestling with the acoustic dynamics of jackhammers. This group was only after two things – volume and intensity. While the “power trio” was not a new concept then – see Hendrix and Cream – Blue Cheer definitely kicked it up a notch. The album is surprisingly entertaining to listen to today, 40 years after its release. This is perhaps because – amazingly – it introduced a prodigiously influential sound.”