THE ELECTRIC BIBLE | CHAPTER 034

THE ELECTRIC BIBLE | CHAPTER 034

VINCEBUS ERUPTUM

BLUE CHEER

(1967)

A1: SUMMERTIME BLUES (3:43); A2: ROCK ME BABY (4:18); A3: DOCTOR PLEASE (8:50).

B1: OUT OF FOCUS (3:52); B2: PARCHMENT FARM (5:48); B3: SECOND TIME AROUND (6:18).

CATEGORY: HEAVY ROCK | DURATION: 32 MINUTES

A foundational recording of blues-based heavy rock, if more abortion than birth. Based in San Francisco and named after a potent brand of street acid, Blue Cheer was a trio whose music was founded on drug-inspired extreme guitar noise with deranged psycho-delic soloing and riffing. Although Vincebus Eruptum, the band’s first album, betrays the band’s lack of original material by including three cover versions, their unprecedented extremity in approach reduces/elevates all six album tracks to the same level of head-crushing mania. An affirmation both of rock and roll’s primitive power, and of electric music’s potential for sonic mutation.

 

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ROBERT YOUNG (1964-2014)

ÆTERNUM VORTICE LACRIMARUM SOMNIAT”