1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die - #118. Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum (1968)

Blue Cheer - Vincebus Eruptum (1968)

Label – Polygram
Producer – Eric Albronda and Abe “Voco” Kosh
Art Direction – Uncredited
Nationality – USA
Running Time – 32:06

Track Listing (standout tracks listed in bold)

1. Summertime Blues
2. Rock Me Baby
3. Doctor Please
4. Out Of Focus
5. Parchment Farm
6. Second Time Around

Now this is some heavy Rock & roll. When Blue Cheer emerged from San Francisco onto the national rock scene in 1968 with this their debut album, “Vincebus Eruptum”, their claim to fame became being known as the first genuine heavy metal band, but that in itself doesn't quite describe this loud and in your face “assault”. Perhaps it’s best to call them pioneers of heavy metal music. This album is crushingly forceful, and is widely accepted to be their best. To be honest a lot of the records “sounds” reminded me a lot of some of the early Jimi Hendrix records. There is even a much slower take on “Rock Me Baby” that Hendrix performed at Monterey Pop.
For a trio they have a huge sound. Paul Whaley's drumming combined with Dickie Peterson's bass lines laid out a thick rhythm for guitarist Leigh Stephens to lay down his massive noise.
From the opening frantic version of Eddie Cochran's "Summertime Blues" (which became a hit single), to the drug lyric influence “Doctor Please”, right down to the final punches of "Parchment Farm" and "Second Time Around," this record is just good rock and roll!! Maybe best described as Bluesey Metal! They definitely opened the door for bands like Led Zeppelin to come roaring through.
As mentioned a cover of “Summertime Blues" peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and #3 on the Canadian RPM magazine charts. It was their only such hit. The album peaked at #11 on the Billboard 200 chart.
It is recommended.


You can purchase the CD here

ROCK BIRTHDAYS FOR DECEMBER 4
Chris Hillman of the Byrds is 65; Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd and the Rossington Collins Band is 58; Vinnie Dombroski of Sponge is 47;

ON THIS DATE
1965 Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones gets knocked out by an electrical short during a concert in Sacramento, California
1980 The 3 surviving members of Led Zeppelin decide that they will no longer continue as a band due to John Bonham's recent death
1993 Doug Hopkins of Gin Blossoms is found dead of a self-inflicted gun shoot wound in his home in Tempe, Arizona. Hopkins was 32
2007 Good Times, Bad Times-10 Years Of Godsmack by Godsmack is released

IN CONCERT
Saturday, December 5 JOE PERRY The State Theatre St. Petersburg
Saturday, February 13 HEART Universal Studios Orlando
Thursday, March 25 BLUE OYSTER CULT Hard Rock Cafe Orlando